CAIRO: Ahly coach Manuel Jose set the record straight that he will not extend his deal with the African champions when it comes to an end next season.
The Portuguese, who rarely appears on TV, spoke to “Al-Beit Beitak on Channel 2 as he was taking part in a charity campaign organized by the renowned show.
I am delighted with my Ahly experience, but I will not renew my contract next year, the Portuguese said on Saturday.
I will have some rest before deciding on my future, but I will not work with any other team in Egypt. I also reject the idea of managing the Egypt national team.
Jose, who has been enjoying a staggering second-stint with Ahly since 2003, expressed his gladness at working in Egypt throughout the past few years.
Egypt gave me a lot. I spent the best times of my life here and I really feel like an Egyptian. It s as if I m living with my people, he added.
Despite the positives, Jose admitted that his relationship with the Egyptian media is poor, citing the latter s “untrue claims as the main reason behind that.
I know I have a bad relationship with the media in Egypt, that’s because 99 percent of news related to me is untrue, the 63-year-old said.
Some times I am approached at a conference by reporters who put the answers they like, with disregard to my opinion.
Some of them take pictures with me and then I see a fully fabricated interview based on that picture.
That’s why I m done with the media, I only speak to Ahly TV and magazine. And I am only here for the campaign.
Jose usually sends assistant coach Hossam Al-Badri as his representative in post-match conferences of local games.
