On this day, November 5, 1948, the journey of maestro Saleh Selim with Al Ahly began when the late coach Labib Mahmoud gave him the opportunity to participate in a friendly match against Al Masry. At that time, he was just over 18 years old.
Saleh Selim managed to score the winning goal for Al Ahly, leading the team to a 2-1 victory. This marked the start of a legendary football career closely associated with the history of the Red Castle. His first official appearance was against Ittihad Alexandria in the third week of the inaugural season of the Egyptian League for 1948-1949, which ended with Al Ahly winning 2-0.
Saleh Selim: From Al Ahly youth to Red Castle legend
Born on September 30, 1930, in the Dokki neighborhood of Giza, Saleh Selim joined Al Ahly's youth team in 1944 before moving up to the first team and starting his journey with the seniors. He played until 1963, then had a professional stint with Austrian club Graz before returning to Al Ahly, where he concluded his football career in 1967.
The maestro left a significant mark on Al Ahly's history, contributing to 20 titles, including 11 league championships and 8 Egypt Cups, in addition to the United Arab Republic Cup. He also holds a record for scoring 7 goals in a single match against Ismaily during the 1958 season, in a game that ended with Al Ahly winning 8-0.
Saleh Selim with the Egypt National Team
On the international stage, Saleh Selim joined the national team in 1950, participating in 24 international matches and scoring 5 goals. He was part of the generation that won the Africa Cup of Nations title in 1959 in Cairo and also competed in the 1960 Rome Olympics. His last international appearance was in the Africa Cup of Nations held in Addis Ababa in 1962.
