Former Egypt head coach Bob Bradley has reflected on his time managing the Pharaohs while revealing that Mohamed Aboutrika is the best leader he ever coached.
Bradley took over Egypt in 2011 and guided them in the 2014 World Cup qualifiers as they managed to reach the playoffs.
Despite winning their first six games in the qualifiers, Egypt suffered a shocking 7-3 defeat on aggregate to Ghana in the playoffs, failing to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.
Speaking to Sports Illustrated recently, Bradley was asked about his most memorable defeat, where the American coach replied, saying: “Kumasi, 6-1, Ghana over Egypt [in the qualifying playoff for World Cup 2014].
“The amount of pressure that was on the Egyptian players, everything on them on that day, they weren’t themselves. And the only game that I’ve ever watched where I had a similar feeling was when Brazil got crushed by Germany [in 2014].
“That day I just looked in the eyes of so many of the players, and I just saw a blank. And they were incredible guys.
“On the bus back to the hotel after the game, I realized that if they had their way, they would all just go back to their rooms and that would be it.
“We were staying in a small hotel in Kumasi, and I told them that when we got back we were going to meet up on the floor where all the players had their rooms. And I told them how proud I was of them. I told them that I knew how much they loved their country and that they weren’t themselves that day.
“We had won the six games in our group. That was the only game we lost in qualifying. And I just wanted them to still know how I felt about them.
“I said, ‘Look, we still play Ghana [in the return leg]. There’s a small chance, and it’s pretty likely that when we get back my head will roll. But I’m going to tell all you guys right now, I’m going to fight like crazy to stand with you one more time. And if we get that chance, we’re going to still go after that game and try as best we can to turn this thing around.’
“So the next few weeks were crazy. It did look at some moment like I was going to be out the door. But maybe the fact that from day one in Egypt, when [the] Port Said [stadium massacre] happened and everything else, I never looked to leave, maybe in some way that helped me. And we beat Ghana. 2-1 wasn’t enough,” he added.
The 62-year-old was also asked about the best leader he has coached, and Bradley revealed it was Al Ahly legend Mohamed Aboutrika.
“When I arrived in Egypt, people said he [Aboutrika] was too old. I didn’t pick him for the first game. We played a friendly against Brazil in Qatar. Instead of complaining about it, he publicly said—because he wasn’t playing much at Ahly at the time—’I’m not playing much. I have to show Bob what I can do.’
“And then he started to play a little bit and immediately I thought: he’s still different than all the other players. And Port Said happened. And we marched. And a day later I went to the memorial, and I saw the players and I saw their faces. And I knew what they had seen in the locker room [where fans died that day].
“And I spoke quickly to Trika that night and said, ‘I’m going to come to training at Ahly next week, and then I want to speak to you.’ And I went to Ahly, and at the end I said, ‘Can we find a time to speak?’
“And when no one knew about it, he came to my hotel and the two of us sat upstairs and we talked about the possibility of the World Cup, and he brought a T-shirt that he gave me.
“And it was a Brazil 2014 T-shirt. And I said at the end of that meeting, because he still wasn’t playing 90 minutes: ‘Look, I don’t know whether you’re going to play 90 minutes or 45, but I need you in this.’
“And he was incredible. He got his fitness back. He played at an incredibly high level. Everyone looked up to him. He’s a fantastic man. And so just for everything that he represents, I think that’s Trika.”
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