Despite retiring from football nearly 19 years ago, Hossam Hassan continues to prove himself an icon of Egyptian football.

Hossam Hassan, the Egyptian national team's manager, became the first coach to lead the Pharaohs to the FIFA World Cup finals after participating in the tournament as a player in the 1990 World Cup in Italy.

After 36 years, "The Dean," as he is known to Egyptian football fans, returns to lead his country to its fourth World Cup qualification, this time as the team's manager, aiming to make history with Egypt at the upcoming World Cup hosted by the United States, Mexico, and Canada.

During his playing career, Hossam Hassan achieved numerous international accomplishments. Besides qualifying for the 1990 World Cup in Italy and winning several continental titles with Al Ahly and their arch-rivals Zamalek, for whom he also played, he won the Africa Cup of Nations three times with the Egyptian national team in 1986, 1998, and 2006. He also remains his country's all-time leading scorer with 68 goals.