Pyramids head coach Krunoslav Jurčić says winning the CAF Champions League against Mamelodi Sundowns is the biggest success of his career that hasn’t quite sunk in yet.
The Croatian who joined the Egyptian Premier League club in February 2024, won their first trophy for the club with the Egypt Cup and has led them on Sunday evening to a historic African Champions League trophy – in only their eighth year of existence.
- ALSO READ: Pyramids Win First-Ever CAFCL To Break Downs Hearts
- Jurčić Confident Pyramids Can Beat Sundowns In Cairo
A club that has divided opinion, with no fans, no history and major investment from their owners from the Gulf, they are now starting the first chapters of what could potentially be a huge force in African football.
“It’s very difficult to say how I feel in this moment, we will see in a couple of days, what I can say in this moment? This is a miracle, this is a miracle, we are one club… I won’t say strange, we have good support, excellent owners, staff, President, Directors,” he said.
“But we don’t have this part, which is tradition of the club, it’s difficult, for tradition you need time, we don’t have time, but in this short time we have made excellent things. What do I want to say now? Thank you for all of Egypt.”
With the 3-2 aggregate victory over Masandawana, Pyramids have also booked their place in the 2029 FIFA Club World Cup and could defend their Egypt Cup title this week when they face Zamalek in the final.
Jurčić arrived with a decent reputation, having won four league titles as a player with Dinamo Zagreb and three as a coach before also securing silverware in the United Arab Emirates with Al Nasr, before the club’s owners lured him to North Africa.
He was also part of the national team that reached third in the 1998 FIFA World Cup, but he ranks his latest achievement, as the best of his career.
“Gentlemen, want to take pictures with me, fans of Zamalek, this is a big victory for all of Egypt. Today, Egypt shows Africa, shows the world, they are united, they want to support good things, good teams, playing good football and congratulations to my players,” he continued.
“The first place, the last place, one coach without good players, without good characters, is nothing, congratulations to players, my staff, this board, the Egyptian board, our owners from Emirates, for the support all season. Thank you for everyone working at this club who build this big success every day.
“I’m very emotional – this is the biggest success in my career, I can’t think about the future but right now I am very happy.”
Did you know that the iDiski Times Digital Newspaper is completely free! Download it now by clicking the button below or fill in the form to have it sent to you every week.
