Today, October 18, marks the anniversary of the match in which the late Mahmoud El-Gohary scored his last goal for Al Ahly, during a clash against Al Tram Alexandria in the Egyptian Premier League in 1963. The game ended in a painful defeat for the Red Devils, losing 3-1 at the Alexandria Stadium in the fourth week of Group A.
El-Gohary Scores as Al Ahly Faces Heartbreaking Defeat
Al Ahly started the match strongly, with their star Mahmoud El-Gohary giving the team the lead by scoring the only goal of the first half in the 33rd minute, leaving his final mark in the opponent's net while wearing the red jersey.
However, the second half unfolded quite differently, as the players of Al Tram rallied and managed to score three consecutive goals, turning their deficit into a 3-1 victory.
Al Tram's Hat-Trick Seals the Match Against the Red Devils
Ibrahim Afifi opened the home side's comeback in the 63rd minute, scoring the equalizer from a penalty, before Abdel Nabi added the second goal 15 minutes later.
With just nine minutes remaining in the match, Farouk El-Sayed completed the hat-trick, securing a crucial victory for Al Tram Alexandria over Al Ahly, marking the Red Devils' first defeat of the season and the fifth in the history of their encounters in the league.
The match was officiated by referee Mohamed Diab El-Attar, known as "El-Diba," a former star of Al Ittihad Alexandria.
Mahmoud El-Gohary: From Al Ahly to Coaching Greatness
Mahmoud El-Gohary was born on February 20, 1938, and joined Al Ahly's youth team at the under-18 level in the 1954-1955 season, before catching the eye and joining the military national team the following season.
Over his 11 seasons as a player, El-Gohary won 12 titles, including six Egyptian Premier League titles and three Egypt Cups in 1956, 1958, and 1961, as well as the Cairo Zone League in 1958 and the United Arab Republic Cup in 1961.
He also joined the Egyptian national team, participating in international competitions and being part of the generation that won the Africa Cup of Nations in 1957 and 1959, where he stood out for his scoring abilities during his playing career.
From Al Ahly Star to One of Egypt's Top Coaches
After retiring, El-Gohary began a new chapter in his coaching career, becoming the first coach to lead both Al Ahly and Zamalek, achieving notable successes with both Egyptian football giants.
He guided Al Ahly to their first title in the CAF Champions League in 1982, before winning the African Cup of Champions Clubs with Zamalek in 1993, followed by the African Super Cup.
Historic Achievements with Egypt and Jordan National Teams
El-Gohary left an unforgettable legacy with the Egyptian national team, leading them to win the Africa Cup of Nations in 1998 in Burkina Faso, becoming the first person to win the title as both a player and a coach, having previously won it as a player in 1957 and 1959.
He also led the Pharaohs to the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, marking the second time in the national team's history, and won the gold medal at the Arab Games in 1992 in Syria.
His coaching career extended to the Gulf, where he managed several clubs, including Al Hilal and Al Ittihad in Saudi Arabia, and Al Sharjah and Al Wahda in the UAE. He also coached the Oman national team in the Gulf Cup in 1996.
In 2002, he took charge of the Jordan national team and oversaw Jordanian football, successfully leading the national team to the 2004 AFC Asian Cup for the first time in its history, reaching the semifinals.
Thus, the match between Al Ahly and Al Tram on October 18, 1963, was not just a game that ended in a loss for the Red Devils, but it is also associated with the memory of Mahmoud El-Gohary's last goal as a player, before embarking on a coaching career that secured him an exceptional place in the history of Egyptian and Arab football.
