Mohamed Aboutrika

Mohamed Aboutrika

Mohamed Aboutrika was born on November 7,1978 is an Egyptian footballer. Aboutrika plays as a second striker and attacking midfielder for Egyptian club Al-Ahly as well as the Egyptian national football team. He has been dubbed as the Egyptian Zinedine Zidane for his technical skill and excellent vision of the field.

He was nominated for the 2006 CAF African Footballer of the Year award, and he came second in the 2008 African Footballer of The Year 2008

Aboutrika started playing professionally for Egyptian club Tersana before transferring to Al-Ahly in January 2004. He was the main reason for his team winning the national league and the CAF champions League two successive times, and maintaining a 71 match unbeaten run. He helped Al-Ahly to get the bronze medal in FIFA Club World Cup 2006. He also helped the Egyptian national team to win the African Cup of Nations Egypt 2006, and scored the winner to help Egypt win the 2008 tournament.

Aboutrika's contribution came not only in finding the net but also in creating from his playmaking role behind the strikers. His offensive skills were best demonstrated in his timing, as he often chose the right moment to come forward for shots on goal. He has recently been dubbed "The Smiling Assassin" by foreign media because of his two main trademarks: goalscoring and smiling. He is renowned in Egypt for his modest personality and kind heart. His trade mark celebration after a goal is to prostrate on the ground in submission and praise of Allah.

Personal information

Full name Mohamed Mohamed Mohamed Aboutrika
Date of birth November 7, 1978 (1978-11-07) (age 30)
Place of birth Giza, Egypt
Height 1.82 m (5 ft 11+1/2 in)

Club information

Current club Al Ahly ?Al-Ahly
Number 22
Youth career
Tersana
Senior career*
Years Club Apps (Gls)
2000–2004 Tersana 50 (27)
2004– Al Ahly ?Al-Ahly 127 (63)
National team
2004– Egypt 63 (24)

Aboutrika's career

Aboutrika was born in a poor simple quarter in Giza. Like most football players, he lived a simple life playing football in the streets and honing his skills. When he turned 12, his friend, Magdi Abed, suggested he take the fitness test at Tersana Club, the second biggest club in Giza after Al-Zamalek. Indeed, Aboutrika passed all the tests and joined the club, "I joined the club through personal effort and without favouritism" is what Aboutrika has to say about that experience. He Was A G

With Tersana, Aboutrika demonstrated a proficiency which led to his promotion to the First Squad at the tender age of 17. He helped his team, who was playing in the second division, to reach the Egyptian League, being their top scorer in two successive seasons.

His first appearance close to the spotlight was in 2000-2001 Egyptian League, Aboutrika scored 6 goals and made many assists to his teammates, forming a link with the Syrian striker Mohannad Al-Boshi leading him to score 11 goals, most of them was with the help of his accurate passes. As a result, he was offered a place in the Egyptian national Olympic team, and the Egyptian national military team.

In 2001-2002, Aboutrika continued his playmaking skills and scored 7 important goals helping his team to stay in the Egyptian League. In 2002-2003, Aboutrika started to show his ability to score as well as making goals, he scored 11 goals for his team, and this is a very good rate for a midfielder player playing in a relatively weak team in the Egyptian League. The Egyptian newspapers started then to turn the spotlight on this player's promising talent.

African Footballer of the Year 2008

Mohamed Aboutrika (Al-Ahly, Egypt), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal, Togo), Amr Zaki (Wigan Athletic, Egypt), Didier Drogba (Chelsea F.C., Cote d'Ivoire) and Michael Essien (Chelsea F.C., Ghana) make up the shortlist for the Glo-CAF African Footballer of the Year across the world.

The Confederation of African Football (CAF) on Wednesday in Lagos, Nigeria, announced the final shortlist of categories for the Glo-CAF Awards 2008. The final three for the title was decided following votes from the head coaches of the 53 national associations affiliated to CAF.

For the topmost honour, Glo-CAF Player of the Year across the world, the contenders are Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo), Michael Essien (Chelsea and Ghana) and Mohamed Aboutrika (Al-Ahly and Egypt).

The shortlist for the Glo-CAF Best Player on the Continent are Mohamed Aboutrika (Al-Ahly, Egypt), Ahmed Hassan (Al-Ahly, Egypt), Flavio Amado (Al-Ahly, Angola).

The winner of the two categories will be announced at the awards gala on February 10, in Lagos, Nigeria.


Honours

National Team

* Winner of African Cup of Nations Ghana 2008 playing for Egypt.
* Winner of African Cup of Nations Egypt 2006 playing for Egypt.

Club

* Bronze Medalist at FIFA Club World Cup 2006
* Winner of CAF Champions League (2005) , (2006) , (2008).
* Winner of Egyptian League : (2004-2005) , (2005-2006) , (2006-2007) , (2007-2008),(2008-2009).
* Winner of African Super Cup (2006), (2007), (2009).
* Winner of Egyptian Soccer Cup (2006) , (2007).
* Winner of Egyptian Super Cup (2005) , (2006) , (2007) , (2008).

Individual

* Came 2nd in the 2008 CAF African Footballer of the Year award.
* Nominated for the 2006 CAF African Footballer of the Year award.
* Winner of the 2008 BBC African Footballer of the Year award.
* Nominated for the 2006 BBC African Footballer of the Year award.
* Winner of the 2008 CAF Best African player in Club Competitions.
* Winner of the 2006 CAF Best African player in Club Competitions.
* The World's most Popular Footballer amongst active Players in 2008 (IFFHS).
* The World's most Popular Footballer amongst active Players in 2007 (IFFHS).
* Top scorer in the FIFA Club World Cup 2006 with 3 goals.
* Top scorer in the CAF Champions League 2006 with 8 goals.
* Top scorer in the Egyptian League (2005-2006) with 18 goals.
* Top scorer in the Egyptian Soccer Cup (2007) with 4 goals.
* Best Player in Egypt (2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008).
* Named in the CAF Starting XI in the CAN Egypt 2006.
* Named in the CAF Starting XI in the CAN Ghana 2008.
* Named in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup dream team((top 11 player)).
* Man of the final match in the 2008 African Cup of Nations after scoring the winning goal.