Stoke City‘s legendary manager Tony Pulis looks set to return to the world of football with an off-field role with a major African side.
The Welshman, who led The Potters across seven seasons in the Championship, Premier League and reached an FA Cup final, has been without a role in the sport since being sacked by Sheffield Wednesday after just 10 games in charge back in 2020.
Pulis Set For Zamalek
According to local reports in Egypt, Pulis is set to become the sporting director at Zamalek, who currently sit third in the Egyptian Premier League’s Championship Group with four games remaining. The 14-time champions last won the league in 2022.
Whilst he has not yet agreed fully to join the club, it is believed that his upcoming visit to Giza was confirmed by the club president and orchestrated by former Middlesbrough and Wigan Athletic player Mido. The trip is for the two parties to agree on financial terms before Pulis takes charge.
Pulis has not been regularly active within the game, but one report suggested he may have been in the frame to take over at Rangers in the past. This return to football in Egypt will see him organise a restructuring of Zamalek and oversee training regimes and youth development.
Writers’ View
It is certainly a strange move for Tony Pulis to make his return to football. Zamalek are one of Egypt and Africa’s biggest sides but the club look to be unhappy with their current status and are set to bring Pulis in to revitalise the culture. It marks that Pulis’ managing days are likely over and is transitioning into a more off-field role, despite recent reports he was in the frame to take over at Rangers. Having Tony Pulis, a man famed for wearing a coat and tracksuit in the cold and wet Stoke-on-Trent climate now taking up a role in North Africa of all places.
