CAIRO — Egypt’s Minister of Youth and Sports, Dr. Ashraf Sobhi, led a high-profile press conference at Cairo International Stadium to unveil Spanish tactician Xavier Pascual as the new head coach of the men’s national handball team.
Also in attendance were Dr. Kamal Darwish, head of the scientific committee, Egypt Handball Federation (EHF) president Khaled Fathi, and senior officials.
In his remarks, Dr. Sobhi described Pascual’s appointment as part of the state’s strategic plan to advance the national sports system—particularly in team sports where Egypt has achieved significant recent success.
“Egyptian handball has become a global force, and it deserves a technical staff of the highest caliber,” said Sobhi.
“By hiring a coach like Pascual, we’re aligning with the aspirations of Egyptian fans and targeting podium finishes at the World Championship and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.”
The EHF confirmed Pascual’s appointment as head coach of the senior men’s team, making him the fourth consecutive Spaniard to lead the Pharaohs, following the stints of David Davis, Roberto Garcia Parrondo, and Juan Carlos Pastor.
A giant in European handball coaching, Pascual brings a decorated resume. The 57-year-old previously coached Romania’s national team across two spells (2016–2018, 2021–2024) and enjoyed club success with Dinamo Bucuresti and, more recently, Hungary’s Veszprem HC. With the latter, he captured both the domestic league title and the IHF Men’s Club World Championship in 2024.
Pascual signed a three-year contract through 2028, coinciding with Egypt’s Olympic ambitions and marking what could be his first appearance as a head coach at the Games.
“I’m proud to lead a team of such quality and potential,” Pascual said. “My ambitions with the Pharaohs have no limits. I’m here to win titles and help write a new chapter in Egyptian handball history.”
Egypt’s men’s team has consistently ranked among the top contenders in global handball. The Pharaohs reached the quarter-finals in the last three editions of the IHF Men’s World Championship, finishing 8th in 2019, 7th in 2021, and 5th in 2025.
At the Olympic level, Egypt narrowly missed the podium, placing 4th at Tokyo 2020 and 5th at Paris 2024. Their most recent campaign ended in heartbreak, losing to Spain in the quarter-finals.
