Al Ahly SC has reached a final agreement with Danish manager Jess Thorup to terminate his contract by mutual consent, marking the end of his tenure with the “Red Giants.”
Thorup took over in October following the departure of Jose Ribeiro, but despite a strong start, the team’s performance significantly declined since the beginning of 2026.
Difficult Season and Financial Settlement
Under Thorup’s leadership, Al Ahly suffered an early exit from the Egypt Cup, was knocked out of the CAF Champions League by Esperance, and is currently on the verge of losing the Egyptian Premier League title.
While his contract stipulated a full payout of nearly $6 million upon dismissal, reports indicate that Mahmoud El Khatib’s administration negotiated a settlement where Thorup will receive five months’ salary as compensation instead.
Official Announcement and Potential Successors
The official announcement of Thorup’s departure is expected following the match against Al Masry on May 20th at Borg El Arab Stadium.
While fans have strongly voiced their opposition to a fourth stint for Hossam El Badry, Al Ahly management is reportedly prioritizing the appointment of another foreign head coach to lead the rebuilding phase.
