The days of coach Ihab Galal at the helm of the Egypt national team are numbered, following the announcement by the Egyptian Football Association officials about their intention to appoint a foreign coach to oversee the "Pharaohs." Among the prominent names suggested to lead the Egypt national team in the near future is the French coach Patrice Bommell, as the officials of the Egyptian Football Association, headed by Jamal Allam, have decided to thank Ihab Galal after his brief stint with the national team.
Bommell is 44 years old and played as a defender during his playing career before transitioning to coaching. He began his coaching journey as a fitness trainer and assistant coach at various French clubs and African national teams before starting his career as a head coach. Bommell served as an assistant coach to the former manager of Egypt's Al Ahly club, Portuguese Manuel Jose, when the latter was the head coach of the Angola national team in the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations.
In 2011, Bommell worked with his compatriot Hervé Renard in coaching the Algerian club ES Sétif and later transitioned with Renard to assist him with the Zambia and Ivory Coast national teams, winning the Africa Cup of Nations with both teams. He continued his journey with Renard at the Morocco national team as well.
Bommell parted ways with Renard to take charge of the Ivory Coast national team on his own in 2020. He led the Ivory Coast national team to qualify for the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations in Cameroon, topping their qualifying group with 13 points. Under Bommell's leadership, the Ivory Coast made it to the Round of 16 in the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations but was eliminated after a penalty shootout loss to Egypt.
Bommell is not currently associated with any national team or club, which significantly increases the chances of him taking over the Egypt national team.
