Taher El-Sheikh, the former star of Al Ahly and the Egyptian national team, celebrates his seventy-fourth birthday today, Sunday. Born on October 4, 1952, in the Smoha district of Alexandria, he began his career in his hometown before moving to Cairo, where he wrote one of the most notable chapters of his career wearing the Al Ahly jersey.
Taher El-Sheikh's beginnings in Smoha before moving to Olympic
Taher El-Sheikh started his football career at Smoha Club before moving to the youth sector of Olympic Club in 1966, where he continued until he caught the attention of Al Ahly officials.
In the 1974-1975 season, El-Sheikh joined the Red Castle, marking the beginning of a new phase in his career, during which he shone and won numerous titles.
Taher El-Sheikh, the first signing of "The Deal Fox" Adli Kiai
El-Sheikh's transfer to Al Ahly was the first deal associated with Adli Kiai, who later became one of the club's key figures in player signings.
According to Kiai's previous statements, attempts to sign the player began in 1973, but Olympic's management demanded a hefty sum of 50,000 Egyptian pounds, making the deal difficult to finalize.
To complete the transfer, it was agreed that El-Sheikh would travel abroad for a year, moving to Lebanon and then Canada, with rumors in Alexandria suggesting he would not return to Egypt and would settle in Canada.
After the agreed period ended, Al Ahly successfully completed the transfer for just 5,000 pounds, which the club paid through a friendly match with Olympic, with the proceeds going to the Alexandria club.
8 seasons filled with titles for Taher El-Sheikh at Al Ahly
Taher El-Sheikh spent 8 seasons at Al Ahly, during which he won 6 Egyptian league titles and 2 Egypt Cup titles.
Throughout his time with the team, he played around 135 matches, scoring 36 goals, in addition to his numerous contributions to setting up goals for his teammates.
Taher El-Sheikh, "The Prince of Egyptian Football"
Taher El-Sheikh was known for his elegant ball control, earning him great popularity among Al Ahly fans and the Egyptian football community.
The fans nicknamed him "The Prince of Egyptian Football," and he was often compared to German star Günter Netzer, one of the standout figures in European football during the 1970s.
A memorable night against Zamalek
The 1977 Egypt Cup final against Zamalek remains one of Taher El-Sheikh's most famous memories in an Al Ahly shirt.
Al Ahly had lost the league title to Zamalek on goal difference, making the cup final a crucial opportunity for the team to redeem itself and secure another title.
El-Sheikh was not part of the initial plans for the match, having taken a leave from Hungarian coach Hidy Kuti and returning from Alexandria to Cairo just five days before the game.
However, numerous absences within the Al Ahly squad led the coaching staff to include El-Sheikh in the matchday squad, alongside Mahmoud El Khatib, who was struggling with an injury, with both starting the match on the bench.
El Khatib and El-Sheikh turn the final around
Al Ahly was trailing Zamalek 2-1 with just 17 minutes remaining, prompting Hidy Kuti to bring on the duo of Mahmoud El Khatib and Taher El-Sheikh in place of Abdel Aziz Abdel Shafi and Hazem Khaled.
The substitution proved to be a turning point in the match, as the pair helped turn the tide in favor of Al Ahly, who finished the game victorious with a score of 4-2.
Taher El-Sheikh assisted the equalizing goal scored by El Khatib and then netted the fourth goal himself, following a third goal from Jamal Abdel Hamid for Al Ahly.
Retirement and farewell match
Taher El-Sheikh ended his football career at the conclusion of the 1980-1981 season, before a farewell festival was held for him in December 1981.
The farewell festival featured a match between Al Ahly and stars from Egyptian clubs, which ended in a 3-3 draw, with El-Sheikh managing to score one of the goals.
Cinematic experience and return to Al Ahly
Taher El-Sheikh's experience was not limited to football, as he appeared in the film "Journey of Forgetting" in 1978.
After a long absence from the sports scene, El-Sheikh returned to the Al Ahly scene when he was elected as a member of the club's board of directors in 2014, as part of the council led by Mahmoud Taher.
Thus, Taher El-Sheikh remains one of the names associated with the memories of Al Ahly fans, thanks to his distinctive style on the pitch and the titles he helped secure, most notably the night of the 1977 Egypt Cup final against Zamalek.
