On the anniversary of his first goal, the story of Hossam Ghaly’s rise from youth ranks to leading Al Ahly.
Today, Tuesday, marks the anniversary of Hossam Ghaly, the former captain of Al Ahly, scoring his first goal in the red jersey when he found the net against Senegal's Jeanne d'Arc on October 13, 2000, during the fourth round of the group stage in the CAF Champions League.
Al Ahly secured a 3-1 victory in the match held at Cairo International Stadium, with Ibrahim Said scoring the first goal from a penalty, followed by Alaa Ibrahim adding the second, before Hossam Ghaly, who was just nineteen at the time, completed the team's hat-trick.
This goal marked a significant starting point in the career of one of the most prominent midfielders to wear the Al Ahly jersey and don the captain's armband, as Ghaly later became one of the shining names in the history of the Red Castle.
Hossam Ghaly's Journey with Al Ahly Began in March 2000
Hossam Ghaly's journey with Al Ahly's first team began on March 1, 2000, when German coach Rainer Zobel gave him the opportunity to participate in a match against Al Shams, as part of the first round of the Egypt Cup.
Al Ahly won that match 4-0, with goals from Sayed Abdel Hafiz, Ahmed Bilal, Ishaq Awal, and Alaa Ibrahim, marking the start of Ghaly's journey with the first team, which included numerous achievements and titles, culminating in him wearing the captain's armband.
15 Goals and 297 Matches in Al Ahly's Jersey
During his time with Al Ahly, Hossam Ghaly participated in 297 matches in the red jersey and succeeded in scoring 15 goals, leaving a clear mark in the team's midfield thanks to his technical skills and leadership qualities.
The captain also managed to win 13 titles with Al Ahly, including four Egyptian Premier League titles, two Egypt Cups, two CAF Champions League titles, three Egyptian Super Cups, one CAF Confederation Cup, and one CAF Super Cup.
Professional and International Milestones in the Captain's Career
Hossam Ghaly's career was not limited to Al Ahly; he had professional stints with several European and Arab clubs, including Feyenoord in the Netherlands, Tottenham Hotspur and Derby County in England, Al Nassr in Saudi Arabia, and Lierse in Belgium.
On the international level, Ghaly participated in 74 matches wearing the Egypt national team jersey, bridging his career with Al Ahly and his international and professional experiences outside Egypt.
May 11, 2018.. The End of the Captain's Journey in Football
On May 11, 2018, Hossam Ghaly announced his retirement from football, bringing an end to a career filled with achievements and significant milestones, amidst emotional scenes from Al Ahly fans who had a strong connection with their former captain.
Ghaly played his farewell match in the UAE against Ajax Amsterdam, and Al Ahly won 1-0 with a goal from Salah Mohsen, thus closing the chapter on the journey of one of the most prominent leaders of the red team, whose name remains etched in the memories of the Red Castle's fans thanks to his career and personality on the pitch.
