Sayed Abdel Hafiz celebrates his birthday today; he scored 30 goals and won 14 titles with Al Ahly.
Sid Abdel Hafiz, a member of the Al Ahly board, celebrates his 49th birthday today, having had a distinguished football career with the Red Castle, where he achieved numerous titles and accomplishments before continuing his journey within the club in an administrative role.
Abdel Hafiz is considered one of the most prominent figures in Al Ahly's history, both during his playing days and through his administrative roles, as his name is linked to many decisive moments in the Red team's journey.
Sid Abdel Hafiz's Statistics with Al Ahly and National Teams
Sid Abdel Hafiz played 220 official matches with Al Ahly across various competitions, scoring 30 goals. He also participated in 68 matches with the youth and Olympic national teams, netting 18 goals, in addition to 28 matches with the senior national team where he scored 6 goals.
Abdel Hafiz began his journey with the youth national team under the guidance of Sid Al Tabbakh, before joining the youth and Olympic teams managed by Helmi Toulane.
Beginning and End: Key Highlights of His Career with Al Ahly
Abdel Hafiz's first official match with Al Ahly's first team was against Al Ittihad Al Sakandari on April 27, 1997, in the semi-finals of the Egypt Cup, which ended in a 3-1 victory for the Reds.
His last official match in the Al Ahly jersey was against Al Mokawloon Al Arab in the 2005-2006 season, which also concluded with a 3-1 win for Al Ahly, marking the end of an important phase in his career on the pitch.
The Historic Goal Against Esperance from Midfield
Al Ahly fans still remember many memorable moments from Abdel Hafiz, most notably his famous goal against Tunisian side Esperance during the second leg of the CAF Champions League semi-finals in 2001.
Abdel Hafiz scored the equalizer for Al Ahly from midfield, making it 1-1 in a match held at the Stade de la Marsa in Tunisia, contributing to the team's qualification for the final, where they went on to win the African title.
In addition, he made his mark in the match against South Africa's Sundowns, scoring a goal in the first leg of the same tournament final in 2001.
14 Titles in 9 Seasons with the Red Castle
Sid Abdel Hafiz won 14 titles during his 9 seasons with Al Ahly's first team, with his achievements listed as follows:
6 Egyptian Premier League titles: 1996-1997, 1997-1998, 1998-1999, 1999-2000, 2004-2005, and 2005-2006.
2 Egypt Cup titles: in 2001 and 2003.
2 Egyptian Super Cup titles: in 2002 and 2005.
2 CAF Champions League titles: in 2001 and 2005.
CAF Super Cup: in 2002.
Arab Champions Cup: in 1998 in Tunisia.
Individual Awards Highlighting His Football Brilliance
Sid Abdel Hafiz's achievements were not limited to team titles; he also received several individual awards during his career, including the Best Young Player in Egypt for the 1996-1997 season, and the Best Player in Egypt for the 1997-1998 season, in addition to finishing second in the Best Egyptian Player award for the 1998-1999 season.
He also won the Best Player award in the Arab Olympic Teams Championship, and his famous goal against Esperance holds a special place among the goals of the CAF Champions League in 2001.
With this rich career, Sid Abdel Hafiz remains one of the names associated with significant memories in Al Ahly's history, having excelled on the pitch and achieved titles before continuing his journey with the club through administrative work.
