Spanish manager Juan Carlos Garidho watched from the stands as Ghazl El Mahalla fell 3-1 to National Bank of Egypt on Monday, September 7, 2026. While the defeat left El Mahalla anchored at the bottom of the Egyptian Premier League, Garidho denied any ongoing negotiations to take over the managerial post.
Ghazl El Mahalla Flounders at the Bottom as Managerial Speculation Swirls
Monday night’s fixture at Cairo International Stadium ended in a 3-1 victory for the National Bank of Egypt over struggling Ghazl El Mahalla in round four of the Egyptian Premier League. Osama Faisal scored a brace for the winning side alongside a goal from Ahmed Yasser Rayan, while Abdo Yehia supplied El Mahalla’s lone response. The result leaves Ghazl El Mahalla stuck in 20th and last place in the league table with just a single point collected across their opening four matches. The match had also seen National Bank of Egypt trail 2-1 at the end of the first half before the final score settled at 3-1 in favor of the home side, lifting National Bank of Egypt to 6 points and the ninth position in the standings.
The club’s poor start has put current manager Ahmed Khattab under intense pressure. According to club sources, Khattab’s job is in serious jeopardy due to poor results, prompting intermediaries to scout for replacements. In the midst of this turbulent run, former Al Ahly and Ismaily coach Juan Carlos Garidho appeared prominently in the stands, sparking immediate speculation about an impending appointment.
National Bank of Egypt also faced adversity on the sideline during the contest, playing without their manager Ayman El Ramadi due to a health scare that required hospital admission and a medical procedure to install a stent. Consequently, Assem Salah took charge of the team from the touchline for the fixture.
Behind Garidho’s Presence in the Cairo Stadium Stands
The 57-year-old Spanish manager’s appearance at the stadium set off waves of rumors regarding a potential return to Egyptian football. An internal source at Ghazl El Mahalla revealed that an agent had nominated Garidho to take over the team once a managerial change is made official. Club officials reportedly favor handling any transition following El Mahalla’s upcoming fixture against Zamalek, which would give a newly appointed head coach sufficient time to settle in during the upcoming international break. Sources noted that Garidho intended to observe both the National Bank match and the upcoming Zamalek fixture before deciding, while other candidates including Abdel Hamid Bassiouny, Haitham Shaaban, and a Moroccan coach were also mentioned in connection with the vacancy.
However, Garidho firmly pushed back against the narrative linking him directly to the bench. Speaking to the outlet Stad El Mahwar, the Spanish coach dismissed the reports entirely.
All that is being said about me coaching Ghazl El Mahalla is completely untrue, and these are incorrect news items. Juan Carlos Garidho
When questioned about his presence at the venue, Garidho offered a simple explanation, asking whether there was any issue with him attending a football match in the Egyptian league.
Garidho’s extensive managerial background includes a stint with Ismaily in 2022 where he oversaw 5 league matches consisting of two draws and three defeats. He also notably managed Al Ahly between 2014 and 2015, directing the team across 33 matches in all competitions with 18 victories, 7 draws, and 8 losses, capturing the Egyptian Super Cup and the CAF Confederation Cup for the first time in the club’s history. Beyond Egypt, his resume features stops with Saudi Arabia’s Ettifaq, Morocco’s Raja Casablanca and Wydad, the United Arab Emirates’ Al Ain, Algeria’s USM Alger and MC Oran, and Libya’s Al-Ittihad.
