Mohamed ABOUTRIKA #22

Date of Birth: 

7 November 1978
Height: 181 cm
Shirt number: 22
Position: Forward
Current club: Al Ahly

Profile

Arguably the most gifted Egyptian player of his generation, it is somewhat surprising that Mohamed Aboutrika spent half his professional career to date with modest Egyptian side Tersana. Despite having helped promote the club to the top flight at the age of just 17, it was not until January 2004, after seven years at Tersana, that Cairo superpowers Al Ahly finally made their move.

At the time Al Ahly were going through a difficult period, with Portuguese supremo Manuel Jose in the process of building an exciting new squad – with Aboutrika set to play a central role. Indeed, he made an immediate impact, topping the team’s scoring charts with 11 goals in 13 appearances after joining midway through the 2003/04 campaign. He also scored in his first Al Ahly-Zamalek derby which, though it ended in a 2-1 Al Ahly defeat, sowed the seeds of the club’s subsequent run of over a dozen derby clashes without defeat.

Things would only get better after such promising beginnings, with Aboutrika and Al Ahly winning every title available, including a remarkable three editions of the CAF African Champions League (2005, 2006 and 2008), as well as a highly-prestigious third-place finish at the FIFA Club World Cup Japan 2006. Meanwhile, the gifted schemer was also busy making a name for himself at international level, scoring five goals in his first six matches for the Pharaohs’ senior side.

His first trophy with Egypt came at the 2006 CAF African Cup of Nations on home soil, with Aboutrika himself scoring the decisive penalty kick in the shootout against Côte d’Ivoire in the final. As if that were not enough, at the continental showpiece two years’ later in Ghana it was ‘Trika’ who scored the only goal of the final against Cameroon to ensure the Egyptians retained their African crown.

Clearly a man who relishes the big occasion, Aboutrika scored for Al Ahly when they beat Etoile Sportive du Sahel of Tunisia in the 2005 African Champions League final, only to top that feat in the following year’s decider. On the verge of losing their continental title on away goals to CS Sfaxien, Aboutrika scored quite possibly the most memorable goal in the history of Egyptian football when volleying home in stoppage time of the second leg in Tunisia to secure a 2-1 aggregate win.

Twice nominated for the CAF African Player of the Year award, in 2006 and again in 2008, he finished second in the latter edition of the prestigious event behind Arsenal and Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor. Yet the year 2009 has been more of a struggle for the Egyptian genius, who spent three months on the sidelines due to a knee injury and remains short of form and fitness.

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.
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. [17]
 * Nominated for the 2006 BBC African Footballer of the Year award.[18]
 * Winner of the 2008 CAF Best African player in Club Competitions.[19]
 * Winner of the 2006 CAF Best African player in Club Competitions.[20]
 * The World's most Popular Footballer amongst active Players in 2008 (IFFHS).[21]
 * The World's most Popular Footballer amongst active Players in 2007 (IFFHS).[22]
 * 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)).[23]
 * Man of the final match in the 2008 African Cup of Nations
   after scoring the winning goal.

Player in Action Video: