Al Ahly football club announced the departure of coach Jess Thorup after a disappointing campaign. The Danish coach, 56, left the club by mutual consent on Thursday, having signed a settlement agreement and received his full contractual dues, the club said [1, 2].
Thorup was hired in October 2025 on a two-and-a-half-year contract, replacing Spaniard Jose Riveiro, with expectations to lead the team back to continental glory [1, 2].
During his tenure, Thorup guided Al Ahly to the Egyptian Super Cup title, securing a 2-0 win over arch-rivals Zamalek, the club’s biggest domestic rival [1, 2]. Despite this success, the overall season fell short of expectations.
Al Ahly finished the league campaign in third place, which was insufficient to earn a spot in next season’s African Champions League. Instead, the club qualified for the Confederation Cup, the continent’s secondary club tournament [1, 2].
The team was also eliminated in the quarter-finals of the continent’s premier competition, further adding to the sense of an underwhelming season [1, 2].
The club statement noted Thorup had “signed a settlement agreement after receiving his full dues in line with his contract terms,” signaling an amicable split [1].
Thorup’s departure ends a brief period at the helm that began just 10 months ago. The club has yet to announce a successor or outline plans for the head coach role.