Mohamed Aboutreika

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Personal information
Mohamed Aboutreika
Full name	Mohamed Aboutreika
Date of birth	November 7, 1978 (age 28)
Place of birth	Giza, Egypt
Height	6 ft 0 in (183 cm)
Nickname	Treka Al Fanan (The Artist) El Saher (The Magician) Al Maestro (The Maestro)
Playing position	Attacking midfield
Club information
Current club	Al-Ahly
Number	22
Youth clubs
	Tersana
Senior clubs¹
Years	Club	App (Gls)*
2000-2003 2004–present	Tersana Al-Ahly	? (29) ? (46)
National team²
2004–present	Egypt	33 (10)
¹ Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 January 2007. ² National team caps and goals correct as of 30 January 2007. * Appearances (Goals)

Mohamed Aboutreika (Arabic: محمد أبو تريكة) (born November 7, 1978) is an Egyptian footballer. Aboutreika plays the offensive midfield position for Egypt's African Super Cup Championship club Al-Ahly as well as Egypt's National Football Team. He is considered one of the best African players, and he has been dubbed the Egyptian Zinedine Zidane. He was nominated for the 2006 CAF African Footballer of the Year award.

Aboutreika started playing professionally for Egyption club Tersana before transferring to Al-Ahly in January 2004. Wearing his famous number 22 shirt, he was a main reason for his team winning the national league and CAF champions League two successive times, and a 65 match unbeaten run. He helped Al-Ahly to get the bronze medal in FIFA Club World Cup 2006. He also helped Egyptian national team to win the African Cup of Nations Egypt 2006.

Aboutreika's contribution came not only in finding the net but also in creating from his play making role just behind the strikers. His real class came in his timing, as he seemed to continually choose the right moment to burst into the action and grab the goals.

1 Memorable Shots
2 First Steps
3 Real Start
4 African footballer of the year 2006
5 Personal life
6 Honours
7 Notes and references
8 Other References
9 External links

[edit] Memorable Shots

Stroking a superb flighted free-kick over the wall scoring the second goal for Al-Ahly against Auckland City FC of New Zealand. The game ended 2-0 for Al-Ahly, in the opening match of FIFA Club World Championship 2006. Aboutreika once again scored on a set piece against Club America of Mexico in the 3rd place match and in the second half he scored the winning goal for Al-Ahly through an outstanding one-two exchange with Flavio that split the Club America defense.

An unexpected left-shot volley in the 92nd minute in CAF Champions League 2006 final against CSS Sfaxien in Rades Tunisian Stadium, giving Al-Ahly a 1-0 lead and Al-Ahly win the title for the fifth time.

Scoring the winning penalty against Ivory Coast in the penalty shoot-out to decide the winner of the African Cup of Nations in the final in Cairo, Egypt 2006. The penalty gave his national team a continental record, which is, winning the African Cup of Nations five times.

An outrageous effort from 30 yards out in the CAF Champions League 2005 final against Etoile Sportive du Sahel of Tunisia in Egypt's Military Academy Stadium.

[edit] First Steps

Aboutreika was born on 7th of November 1978 in the city of 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 Egyptian giants, Al-Zamalek. Indeed, Aboutreika did pass all the tests and joined the club. "I joined the club through personal effort and without favouritism".

With Tersana, Aboutreika demonstrated a proficiency which led to his promotion to the First Squad at the tender age of 17. He helped his team whose was playing in the second division, to promote to the Egyptian League, being their top scorer in two successive seasons. His first appearance close to the spotlight was in 2000-2001 Egyptian League, Aboutreika scored 6 goals and made many assistants 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 Aboutreika's accurate passes. As a result, Aboutreika was offered a place in the Egyptian national Olympic team, and the Egyptian national military team, but he didn't take his full chance, because Egyptian coaches concentrated their attention only on the players playing in famous clubs.

In 2001-2002, Aboutreika continued his playmaking skills and scored 7 important goals helping his team to stay in the Egyptian League. In 2002-2003, Aboutreika 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 spot the light on this player's promising talent.

[edit] Real Start

2004

In the first part of Egyptian league 2003-2004, Aboutreika scored 3 goals for Tersana, but demonstrated a high proficiency, with his skills and killing passes. So, he was offered a position on Egypt's and one of Africa's best football teams, Al-Ahly. He scored 11 goals in his first and only 13 appearances with Al-Ahly in 2003-2004 league, coming in the second place between top scorers in the Egyptian League with 14 goals. Since 2004 when he joined Al-Ahly club, Aboutreika scored 6 goals in Egypt Derby against Al-Zamalek, the Egyptian record is 7 goals scored, and he have a great chance to break.

Aboutreika's efforts with Ahly since day one meant that he was given an Egyptian National Team position, and he debuted against Trinidad and Tobago in a friendly match before the World Cup 2006 qualifiers in March 31 2004 in Arab Contractors Stadium. His National debut game ended 2-1 for the Egyptians. He started as an attacker, but was found to excel when he played his normal position behind the attackers in the midfield position.Aboutreika scored his first national goal in this game. He scored 5 goals in his first 6 appearances with Egypt.

2005

Aboutreika dictating his team rythm with his skill and vision

In 2005, Al-Ahly regained the Egyptian League Championship after four years out of top position. Aboutreika came in the third place between topscorers in the Egyptian League with 9 goals, and helped his team mate Emad Moteab to be the top scorer of competition. Also in 2005, Aboutreika played a great role in Al-Ahly victory of the CAF Champions League 2005, he scored an amazing goal in the final with an outrageous effort from 30 yards out against Etoile Sportive du Sahel of Tunisia in a game ended 3-0 for Al-Ahly.

Al-Ahly qualified for FIFA Club World Championship 2005 but finished last, Aboutreika told FIFA.com the reason saying: "Our problem was that we lost our form, for some reason we could not play like we had before arriving in Japan".

Before Japan, with Aboutreika on-board, Al-Ahly was about to make a new world record for the longest winning-streak for a football club. Some have commented that the combination with Emad Motab and Mohamed Barakat formed the most formidable triangle in African Soccer, and they were given the moniker of "The Bermuda Triangle". The Angolan striker Flavio Amado replaces Barakat sometimes, playing a great role in forming this dangerous triangle.

Aboutreika won the title Best Player in Egypt, three successive times 2004, 2005 and 2006, which is a personal Egyptian record, of the award given by the Egyptian Football Association.

Superb Player in 2006

Aboutreika's goal against Ivory Coast, African Cup of Nations 2006

Serving a powerful cocktail of skill and strength in every game he played in the year 2006, Aboutreika was certainly the key player for his team Al-Ahly, and his national team Egypt.

He proved his international team trump card en route to victory in the African Cup of Nations Egypt 2006, in February 2006, where he scored two important goals against Libya and Ivory Coast. He was the winning goal assistant, in the Semi-final match against Senegal when Amr Zaki scored in the 80th minute. He was very dominant in that game, but his accurate shot hit the bar. In the final match, Aboutreika scored the decisive penalty shootout which gave Egypt the title.

Aboutreika led his team Al-Ahly to the African Champions title CAF Champions League 2006 for the second successive time in Nov 2006. He was the top scorer of the competition with 8 goals, and scored the final match winning goal against CS Sfaxien in the 92nd minute.

He participated Also with Al-Ahly in winning the African Super Cup against FAR Rabat of Morroco, days after the African Cup of Nations in February.

Locally, he got the Egyptian League in June when he was the top scorer by 18 goals, and won Egyptian Soccer Cup, then the Egyptian Super Cup in July when he scored the winning goal against ENPPI , in the 92nd minute which seems to be his minute of luckiness, although he was a bit injured since the first half.

So, It wasn't strange that Japanese newspapers nominates Aboutreika to be the between the best players in FIFA Club World Championship 2006 in Japan, the last tournament in Aboutreika's great year, Where Al-Ahly was the African representatives, and the first team ever to be qualified two successive times to this championship, and the first African team to win a medal in that competition.

In the opening match of the tournament against Auckland City FC of New Zealand ,Dec 10th 2006, Aboutreika helped Al-Ahly to secure and book a semi-final date with Internacional of Brazil. Al-Ahly won 2-0 easily, and Aboutreika capped a fine display by stroking a superbly flighted free-kick over the wall scoring the second goal for his team. As well as netting with his delightful right-foot effort, Aboutreika was at the heart of most his side's best moves, dictating the rhythm with his skill and vision.

In semi-final, Al-Ahly faced Brazilian Internacional on Dec 13th 2006, and Aboutreika played a good game, but his accurate shot hit the Brazilian right-hand post to deprive his team from a deserved draw. Al-Ahly lost the match 2-1, but proved a good efficiency, yet the ball refused to be netted in many available chances to score in Brazilian goalkeeper.'Match Report'

Aboutreika scoring his second goal against Club America, the 3rd place match, Fifa Club World Cup 2006

Al-Ahly faced Club América of Mexico, for the third place, and Aboutreika gave Al-Ahly the lead with an amazing free-kick over the wall, ending the first half 1-0 for Al-Ahly. In the second half, America made the draw, but as usual, Aboutreika appears in the 79th minute with a skilled ball, he showed yet again why he is on the shortlist for the African player of the year. After surging out of midfield and finding Flavio Amado with a pinpoint pass, the mercurial playmaker latched on to the Angolan's return ball and calmly slotted the ball past Mexican goalkeeper for his third goal of the tournament. Al-Ahly won the third place, after Aboutrika lifted his team to an unprecedented result for the Egyptian club or any African outfit. Personally, he became the top scorer of tournament by 3 goals in 3 matches.

Aboutreika won all the competitions he participated in this year, and got the bronze medal for Al-Ahly in FIFA Club World Championship 2006. He was the top scorer in three competitions, which are FIFA Club World Championship 2006 with 3 goals, Egyptian League with 18 goals and CAF Champions League 2006 with 8 goals. Aboutreika scored in other competitions, and made brilliant assistants to strikers.

[edit] African footballer of the year 2006

Aboutreika celebrates winnig African Cup of Nations 2006

Aboutreika, who is Egypt's newest idol according to the FIFA.com expression^[1], has a great chance to win the 2006 CAF African Footballer of the Year award. Mohamed Aboutreika has been nominated for the Award along with Chelsea striker Didier Drogba and Barcelona forward Samuel Eto'o. The other nominees for the honour are Ghana international midfielder Michael Essien, who plays for English champions Chelsea, and Nigeria's Nwankwo Kanu, who has twice grabbed the award. The winner will be announced at an awards ceremony which was scheduled to be staged in Nigeria on the January 18, but has been postponed to March 1st 2007 and the new venue now will be in Accra, Ghana.

Aboutreika said in November 2006: 'I would love to be nominated for the CAF Best Player award. That would make 2006 a very special year!'. ^[2]

Aboutrika is the only African based player between nominees, but he is also the only one who made an achievement for his national team this year by winning African Cup of Nations 2006. Aboutrika's brace in FIFA Club World Cup 2006 and his dazzling performances throughout the season made him a serious contender for the upcoming CAF African Footballer of the Year award and secured his standing as Egypt's most popular personality.

"Aboutrika has won the highest prize any person can achieve, that is the love of the people," sports columnist Hassan Mistikawi wrote in the top-selling state-owned Al-Ahram daily.

Al-Ahly Portuguese coach Manuel Jose de Jesus describes Aboutreika as "the best football player in Africa". He said that Aboutreika has more and more skills that didn't appear in Japan. He said: "Aboutreika didn't introduce all what he have in FIFA Club World Cup 2006, but he got the top scorer title and helped leading his team to the third place". Jose sees Aboutreika as one of the best players he ever trained. He assured this meaning saying: "Aboutreika is priceless for us. I can't imagine my team without him".

[edit] Personal life

Aboutreika is a player known off the pitch for his humility and good manners. His personality is said to be as great as his silky skills.

After winning the title of African Champions League 2006 for Al-Ahly, he gave a declaration which had been chosen by many newspapers and programs as 'The Declaration of the year'. When newspapers reporters praised him and his goal which they considered the main reason for winning the tournament, he replied humbly:

" We need to stop this habit of praising a definite player. It isn't Aboutreika, but the whole team who got the Cup. Without the others' efforts, I can't ever make anything. Football is a game played by many players, it isn't Tennis or Squash"

Hassan Al-Shazli, the former famous Egyptian player, was the first one to discover Aboutreika's talent and develop it. He narrates a story about Aboutreika's manners when he was in Tersana. He said that when the chairman of Tersana club want Aboutreika and a team-mate defender to sign their new contracts, he put a very high salary for Aboutreika compared to that of his team-mate, but Aboutreika refused to sign, and insisted to take the same salary as his team-mate although it was much lower. Al-Shazli's attempts failed to persuade Aboutreika that his role for the club is much greater than this defender, and finally, Aboutreika insisted on equality and signed his contract as lower as his team-mate.

As his soccer star status grew in Africa, he turned his sights to humanitarian issues. Aboutreika says:

“Every athlete has a humanitarian role in society. He doesn't live solely for himself, but for others too. I like to participate in charity work and try my best to help the poor and penniless. I'm also seeking to use soccer in humanitarian work."

Based on that idea, Aboutreika joined UNDP Goodwill Ambassadors the Brazilian player Ronaldo, and French player, Zinedine Zidane, in addition to 40 international soccer stars in 2005 for a ‘Match Against Poverty’ in Germany, with the aim of raising funds and increasing awareness about the issue worldwide.

“In that humanitarian match, sports people said ‘no to poverty’ in one strong voice, standing up to beat it once and for all," Aboutreika explains. The match was held in Düsseldorf, Germany with the support of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association FIFA.

One of Aboutreika’s soccer role models, is the Egyptian player, Mahmoud El-Khateeb. Meanwhile, off the pitch he follows the example of the Prophet Mohammed. ^[3]

He volunteered to appear in a WFP 30-second Public Service Announcement (PSA) in which he draws attention to the tragic fact that 25,000 people die from hunger every day, 18,000 of them children.

“Hunger takes away a child every five seconds. We have to move immediately and lend each other a hand because every second counts. This is a game we have to win,” says Aboutreika in the PSA. The PSA is being aired on Middle Eastern TV stations which are broadcasting it for free.

Aboutreika is a WFP Ambassador Against Hunger. He believes that poverty is a double-edged sword, as it can either give rise to feelings of despair, or help the poor person to persevere and be determined. Aboutreika wishes that all those who suffer from despair could develop determination and face their difficulties with strength.

"Islam deals with the problem of poverty through Zakat (spending a fixed portion of one's wealth for the poor or needy), where the rich feel the plight of the poor," says Aboutreika. "We have to help the poor as much as we can so that they don’t feel alienated in their own society" he says. ^[4]

Aboutreika shoted another PSA in Egypt, for helping the children infected by cancer. He made it for free, and donated for the infected Children to help building a hospital for them.

In January 2007, Aboutreika led the Blood Donation Campaign held by Egyptian Ministry of Health. He appeared in PSAs for free and donated with his blood.

Aboutreika is a graduate from Cairo University, he has an Arts Bachelor degree in History. He is married and has twin, Ahmad and Seif.

[edit] Honours

National Team

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 2006.
Winner of CAF Champions League 2005.
Winner of Egyptian League(2005-2006).
Winner of Egyptian League(2004-2005).
Winner of African Super Cup (2006).
Winner of Egyptian Soccer Cup (2006).
Winner of Egyptian Super Cup(2006).
Winner of Egyptian Super Cup(2005).

Individual

Nominated for the 2006 CAF African Footballer of the Year award.
Nominated for the 2006 CAF Best African player in Club Competitions. ^[5]
Nominated for the 2006 BBC African Footballer of the Year award.^[6]
Top scorer in the Egyptian League (2005-2006) with 18 goals.
Top scorer in the CAF Champions League 2006 with 8 goals.
Top scorer in the FIFA Club World Cup 2006 with 3 goals.
Best Player in Egypt 2006.
Best Player in Egypt 2005.
Best Player in Egypt 2004.
Participated in 2 successive FIFA Club World Cups with Al-Ahly in 2005 and 2006.
Participated in the World Stars Football match Ronaldo vs. Zidane in Dec 2005.