On this day, October 3, 1975, Mokhtar Mokhtar began his journey with Al Ahly after Hungarian coach Hidy Koti decided to include the young player, who came from Isco, in the match against Kafr El Sheikh in the second round of the group stage.
Al Ahly, the defending champions, secured a victory over Kafr El Sheikh with a score of 2-0, with goals from Taher El Sheikh and Mahmoud El Khatib, marking the start of a player who left a significant mark in the history of the Red Castle.
Starting at Isco, then moving to Al Ahly
Mokhtar Mokhtar was born on August 17, 1954, and began his football career at Isco, which at that time featured a group of distinguished players, including Hamdi Nouh, Ahmed Abu Rahab, and Yasser El Mohamadi.
With the start of the 1975-1976 season, Mokhtar moved to Al Ahly, beginning a new chapter in his career. He quickly scored his first official goal with the Red team, netting against Minya in his second match for Al Ahly during the encounter held in Cairo on October 12, 1975.
Nine years filled with titles at the Red Castle
During his time at Al Ahly, Mokhtar Mokhtar participated in over 190 official matches, scoring 32 goals, and during nine years, he won 10 titles with the team.
Mokhtar's achievements with Al Ahly included 6 Egyptian league titles, 3 Egypt Cup titles, and a CAF Champions League title, making him one of the standout players of his generation within the Red Castle.
Painful injury ends Mokhtar Mokhtar's football career early
Mokhtar Mokhtar remained with Al Ahly until the end of the 1983-1984 season, before an injury forced him to retire from football in his late twenties.
His last official match was against Al Mokawloon Al Arab on November 11, 1983, which ended in a 1-0 victory for Al Ahly, with Mokhtar scoring the goal himself. During the match, he suffered a severe injury after a challenge with Said El Shishiny, who fell onto Mokhtar's knee, exacerbating the injury and affecting his right leg.
Mokhtar underwent several surgeries and engaged in rigorous training in an attempt to regain his form and speed, but the pain persisted, ultimately forcing him to make the decision to retire.
Human gesture from Mokhtar Mokhtar in front of Al Ahly fans
Mokhtar Mokhtar's story with Said El Shishiny did not end with the injury; it transformed into one of the most notable human gestures in the history of Egyptian football.
During Mokhtar's tribute match held on January 24, 1986, he made sure to be present around the pitch holding Said El Shishiny's hand, assuring the fans that the injury was not intentional and that he bore no grudge against the Al Mokawloon Al Arab player.
This gesture came after fans were calling for Mokhtar's teammates to take revenge for him, as he emphasized at that time that sportsmanship is more important than any conflict on the field.
Because of this gesture, Mokhtar Mokhtar received the "Sportsmanship Award" from the International Fair Play Committee of UNESCO in Paris in 1985, and he accepted the award on September 25, 1986.
International career with the Egyptian national team
Mokhtar Mokhtar's journey was not limited to Al Ahly, as he donned the Egyptian national team jersey and participated with the Pharaohs in the Africa Cup of Nations in 1976, and also appeared in the 1980 edition.
Throughout his international career, Mokhtar played around 43 matches with the national team, scoring 6 goals.
From player to coach
After retiring from football, Mokhtar Mokhtar turned to coaching, starting in the youth sector at Al Ahly before moving to work with the first team.
He took on the role of assistant coach at the beginning of the 2000-2001 season, then led Al Ahly as head coach for a period before the German coach Dixie took over, and Mokhtar remained with the team for two years, during which he achieved three titles.
Coaching experience with numerous clubs
Mokhtar Mokhtar began his managerial career with Egyptian clubs through Ghazl El Mahalla in the 2002-2003 season, and then continued his coaching journey with several teams.
One of his most notable experiences was with Petrojet, where he led the team to promotion to the Premier League in the 2006-2007 season, and he also coached Enppi, achieving the Egypt Cup title in 2011 after defeating Zamalek.
He also managed clubs such as Al Masry, Ittihad Alexandria, and El Entag El Harby, along with several Arab experiences, most notably Al Wahda in Saudi Arabia, and Dhofar and Al Urooba in Oman.
His last coaching experience was with El Entag El Harby in 2021.
Return to Al Ahly through the Planning Committee
In August 2024, Mokhtar Mokhtar returned to Al Ahly as the head of the football planning committee, succeeding Mohsen Saleh, before the committee was later dissolved.
From his beginnings as a youth player in October 1975 to his rich career filled with titles as both a player and coach, Mokhtar Mokhtar remains one of the names associated with the history of Al Ahly and Egyptian football, both on and off the field.
