Zamalek

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Zamalek

Full name

Zamalek Sporting Club

Nickname(s)

The White Knights,
The White Castle

Founded

1911

Ground

Cairo Stadium,
Cairo, Egypt
(Capacity 74,100)

Chairman

Mamdouh Abass

Manager

Ruud Krol

League

Egyptian League

2007-08

Egyptian League, 4th





Home colours





Away colours

Zamalek Sporting Club (Arabic: نادي الزمالك) is one of Egypt's best sports clubs. The club was established in 1911 under the name of "Kasr El-Nil" and is currently based in Giza (a suburb of Cairo), Egypt. It promotes numerous different sports for all ages. The most famous part of Zamalek Sporting Club is the football team known as just Zamalek. It is a leading club side in Egyptian, Arabian and African football. The team is the 2nd most crowned African team with 5 Champions Leagues, 1 Cup-Winners Cup, 3 African Super Cups, and 2 Afro-Asian Cups, a record second only to their arch-rivals Al-Ahly. Zamalek is the 1st African-Asian club to top the FIFA World Club Ranking (Feb, 2003). The team's trademark look is two horizontal red stripes on a white shirt.

The club has a fierce rivalry with its Cairo rival Al-Ahly. Derby matches between teams of the two clubs are so fierce that foreign referees are always asked to officiate them. The biggest result of these derbies was in 1944 when Zamalek defeated Al-Ahly 6-0 in the Egyptian Cup final.^[1]^[2]

1 History
- 1.1 Name Changes
2 Supporters
- 2.1 Links with other clubs
3 Team colours
4 Current squad
- 4.1 2007-08 transfers
5 Managers (coaches)
6 Club Honours
- 6.1 Domestic
- 6.2 International
7 Presidents of the Club
8 Notable players
9 Notes
10 External links

[edit] History

The history of the club goes back to 1911 when it was founded by the Belgian gentleman Merzbach as a rival to the British founded club Al-Ahly. It was administrated mostly - as was the case at that time in Egyptian football - by foreign expatriates. The first football team in the club was formed in 1913. The team took part in domestic competitions along with Al-Ahly, Al Seka AlHadid club, British army teams and school and college teams.

However at this time, an Egyptian player who had just returned from his studies in Cambridge, UK, named Hussien Hegazy established his own squad, that was named "Hegazy's Eleven" and started to rally with the British Army teams at that time. One of the British teams was a team named "Stanley's Team", that was formed by a British man named Stanley and was made up of a group of British soldiers who were stationed in Egypt. Both teams met twice, and in both matches, Hegazy's Eleven won. Excited by their symbolic resistance to the British, both Egyptian clubs Al-Ahly and Al-Zamalek sought to bring member's of "Hegazy's Eleven" to their squads. Hegazy joined Al-Ahly, while the rest of his team mates joined Al-Zamalek. In 1919, Hegazy joined Al-Zamalek and the team became the most powerful team in Egyptian soccer at that time. He later rejoined Al-Ahly in 1924.

In 1916, the idea of establishing a league in the sultanate of Egypt at that time, where Egyptian teams plays with teams from the allies' military clubs, including the British was getting more developed. Al-Zamalek was the first and only Egyptian club to participate in 1916. In 1917 Al-Ahly followed Zamalek's footsteps and took part. Both Al-Zamalek and Al-Ahly also agreed on creating their own two-game competition, the first was on 9 October 1917, which Al-Zamalek lost at home 0&ndash1, and the second was on 2 March 1917 which Al-Zamalek won on Al-Ahly's turf 1–0.

A Belgian Lawyer and former judge in the "Mixed Courts" named Merzbach became the first President of the club under the name "The Diverse Club" or "Mokhtalat". It is believed the club got this name because the club promoted diversity and was a place where Europeans and Egyptians meet to socialize and practice sports. Some also say that the club was initially built for the Belgian community in face of the British existence.

In 1930, the club's 60 member board met and decided to expel the foreign members of the club. Al-Zamalek continued its glory days, winning many titles. The most impressive result was winning against Al-Ahly 6–0.^[3] The club changed its name from Al-Mokhtalat to "Farouk". After the 1952 Revolution, the club name was changed to "Al-Zamalek".

In recent years the club has seen success in sveral national competitions. The success on the field is in contrast to financial worries off the pitch. In 2004 their financial worries were highlighted after the government’s central auditing agency, along with the youth ministry, accused the club of tax evasion in. The state demanded that the club pay some E£14 million in taxes on several player-transfer deals signed in 2000 and 2001.^[4]

[edit] Name Changes

Kasr El-Nil : (1911-1913)
Al-Mokhtalat Club : (1913-1941)
Farouk Club : (1941-1952)
Nadi Al Zamalek : since 1952

[edit] Supporters

Zamalek fans

It is widely believed that Zamalek is the club of choice of Egyptian free-thinkers, those who have a propensity for supporting the underdog, and Egypt's aristocratic class. Zamalek have been known to have a large following, being second only to Al Ahly in fan support. Zamalek fans have been largely known as a club supported by aristocrats and the upper class, whereas Al Ahly have traditionally been supported by the working class. Nowadays, these stereotypes exist to a lesser degree since Al Ahly now have some rich and influential fans, and Zamalek have now been gaining large support from lower-class areas as well.

Recently fans have been seen to protest against Ahmad Shobair and other members of the Egyptian FA due to decisions that Shobair and co. have made including the suspension of Shikabala and Ahmed Ghanem Sultan from the national team. They were suspended for "not co-operating with their team mates" during the African Olympics 2007 in Algeria. Another decision that has invoked the ire of fans was the large fine given to Amr Zaki for allegedly insulting an opponent. Shikabala has been fined and suspended by the Egyptian FA as well as the Zamalek board due to his violent reactions to taunts during the 100th Cairo derby.

[edit] Links with other clubs

Zamalek fans

Ismaily, a club situated in Ismaileya, in the North Coast of Egypt, didn't have a stadium to train in since their stadium required renovation in the early 1960s. The Ismaili Board of Directors sent an official request to Al Ahly club asking if they could share their training stadium (Mokhtar El-Tetsh Stadium). Al Ahly refused, which infuriated Ismaili S.C forcing them to ask Zamalek. Zamalek allowed Ismaili to train with Zamalek players on Mit Okba Stadium which was the beginning of the links between the two sets of fans.

Some El-Masry fans are seen to be "allies" with White Castle fans. Tersana fans are regarded as Zamalek supporters as well (and vice-versa) because the two used to share the training stadium and also because of their close geographic location; they are the only two Egyptian clubs to hail from Giza. It is common to see Zamalek banners and flags at Ismaili, El Masry and Tersana games (and vice-versa). In the south of Egypt, support for Al Ahly or Zamalek is not entirely clear where cities like Aswan have more Zamalek supporters, whereas El Minia, for example, have more Al Ahly fans. In Cairo, districts like Mohandessin, Dokki, 6th of October, Sheikh Zayed and Zamalek have a large number of Zamalek fans. They also have a small following in Alexandria.

[edit] Team colours

White Knights fans see the traditional white kit with 2 red stripes as a good luck omen since the periods of greatest successes for the White Castle came when they were wearing their traditional trademark kit. Currently they are not wearing the traditional kit and have not been wearing it since 2004 which also happens to be the last time they won a title. Many fans are actually requesting the return of that kit.

[edit] Current squad

Correct as of 20 July 2007

No.	Position	Player
1	GK	Mohamed Abdel Monsef
2	DF	Amr El-Safti
3	DF	Osama Hassan
4	DF	Wisam El-Abdy
5	DF	Besheer El-Tabei
6	DF	Ahmed Hossam
7	DF	Ahmed Ghanem Soltan
8	MF	Alaa Abdel-Ghany
9	FW	Amr Zaki
10	FW	Gamal Hamza
11	MF	Mohamed Aboul Ela
12	MF	Magdy Atwa
13	DF	Tarek El-Sayed
14	MF	Hazem Emam
15	DF	Karim Zekry
16	GK	Abdel Wahed Al Sayed

No.	Position	Player
17	FW	Mostafa Gaafar
18	FW	Shikabala
20	MF	Tamer Abdel Hamid
21	DF	Emad El-Sayed
22	MF	Ahmed Magdy
23	GK	Wael Zenga
24	FW	Abdel Halim Ali
26	MF	Ahmed Abdel-Raouf
27	DF	Mohamed Ibrahim
28	DF	Mahmoud Fathalla
29	DF	Yamen Ben Zekry
30	MF	Khaled Saad
32	FW	Sherif Ashraf

(note: no more than 3 foreign players are allowed on any side in the Egyptian Premier League)

[edit] 2007-08 transfers

Zamalek bought several players before the 2007-08 season. These included bringing in highly rated international defenders Besheer El-Tabei, Karim Zekry and Mahmoud Fathalla, the captain of the Jordanian national team Khaled Saad, defensive midfielder Ahmed Magdy from Greece and Sherif Ashraf from the Al Ahly youth squad.

[edit] Managers (coaches)

1982-83:Vasovicz (Yugoslavia)+ Mahmoud Saad
1983-84:Mahmoud Abouregaila + Ahmed Rifaat
1984-85:Mahmoud Abouregaila + Ahmed Rifaat

Ahmed Rifaat
1985-86:Ninkovicz (Yugoslavia) + Zaki Othman

Hassan Shehata

Parker (England) + Mahmoud Saad
1986-87:Parker (England) + Mahmoud Saad

Essam Baheeg + Farouk Gaafar
1987-88:Essam Baheeg + Mahmoud Saad
1988-89:Zaki Othman + Farouk Gaafar

Zaki Othman

Hamada El-Sharkawi
1989-90:Carlos (Brazil)
1990-91:Mahmoud Abouregaila
1991-92:Dave Mackay (Scotland) + Farouk Gaafar
1992-93:Dave Mackay (Scotland) + Farouk Gaafar
1993-94:Dave Mackay (Scotland) + Farouk Gaafar

Mahmoud El-Gohary + Mahmoud Saad
1994-95:Reidl (Austria) + Mahmoud Saad.

Taha Basry + Hassan Shehata.

Hassan Shehata.
1995-96:Werner Olk (Germany) + Farouk Gaafar

Ahmed Rifaat + Farouk Gaafar
1996-97:Werner Olk (Germany) + Mahmoud Saad

Werner Olk (Germany) + Mahmoud Abouregaila

Werner Olk (Germany) + Mahmoud Saad

Farouk El-Sayed + Ahmed Abdel Halim
1997-98:Ruud Krol (Holland) + Farouk El-Sayed
1998-99:Ruud Krol (Holland) + Farouk El-Sayed

Ruud Krol (Holland) + Ismail Youssef

Farouk Gaafar + Nabil Nosair

Mahmoud Abouregaila + Ahmed Moustafa
1999-2000:Mahmoud Abouregaila + Ibrahim Youssef

Helmi Toulan + Ashraf Quasem / Ahmed Ramzy

Otto Pfister (Germany) + Helmi Toulan / Ashraf Quasem / Ahmed Ramzy
2000-01:Otto Pfister (Germany) + Helmi Toulan / Ashraf Quasem / Ahmed Ramzy
2001-02:Otto Pfister (Germany) + Helmi Toulan / Ashraf Quasem / Ahmed Ramzy

Otto Pfister (Germany) + Mahmoud Saad / Ahmed Ramzy / Essam Marei
2002-03:Carlos Roberto F. Cabral (Brazil) + Mahmoud Saad / Tarek Yehia / Ahmed Ramzy

Carlos Roberto.F.Cabral (Brazil) + Ahmed Rifaat / Ahmed Ramzy
2003-04:Nelo Vingada (Portugal) + Mahmoud El-Khawaga / Ayman Mansour
2004-05:Dragoslav Stepanovic (Germany) + Ibrahim Youssef / Gamal Abdullah / Hesham Yakan

Carlos Roberto F. Cabral (Brazil) + Ibrahim Youssef / Ahmed Ramzy / Samir Mohamed Ali
2005-06:Theo Bucker (Germany) + Ahmed Rifaat / Gamal Abdel Hamid / Essam Marei / Khaled El-Ghandour / Emad El-Mandouh

Farouk Gaafar + Gamal Abdel Hamid / Essam Marei / Khaled El-Ghandour / Emad El-Mandouh

Manuel Cajuda(Portugal)/Ahmed Ramzy
2006-07:Henri Michel (France) / Mahmoud Saad

Henri Michel (France) / Ayman Mansoor

Henri Michel (France)
2007-08:Ruud Krol (Holland)

[edit] Club Honours

Zamalek have won a total of 57 Soccer Titles. While Al Ahly are by far the most crowned team on a domestic scale, Zamalek have won more African titles than any team in Egypt (13 titles) and more Arab titles than any other Egyptian side (5 titles).

[edit] Domestic

Sultan Hussein Cup: 2

1921, 1922
Egyptian Cup: 20

1922, 1932, 1935, 1938, 1941, 1943, 1944, 1952, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1962, 1975, 1977, 1979, 1988, 1999, 2002,
Egyptian Premier League: 11

1960, 1964, 1965, 1978, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1993, 2001, 2003, 2004
Egyptian Super Cup: 2

2001, 2002
Cairo League: 10

1940, 1941, 1944, 1945, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1951, 1952, 1953,

[edit] International

Afro-Asian Cup: 2

1988, 1997,
CAF Champions League: 5

1984, 1986, 1993, 1996, 2002
CAF Super Cup: 3

1994, 1997, 2003
African Cup Winners' Cup: 1

2000
Arab Club Championship: 1

2003
Saudi-Egyptian Super Cup: 1

2003

[edit] Presidents of the Club

1-Merzbach (Founder) : (Belgium) 1911-1915
2-Bianchi (Belgium) : 1915-1917
3-Dr. Mohamed Badr : 1917-1919
4-Mohamed Heidar : 1923-1952
5-Mahmoud Shawki : 1952-1955
6-Abdel Hamid El-Shawarbi : 1955-1955
2nd Term -Mahmoud Shawki : 1955-1956
7-Abdel Latif Abou Regaila : 1956-1961
8-Elwi El-Gazzar : 1961-1962

9-Hassan Amer : 1962-1967
10-Mohamed Hassan Helmi : 1967-1971
11-Tawfik El-Kheshin : 1971-1972
2nd Term -Mohamed Hassan Helmi : 1974-1980
3rd Term -Mohamed Hassan Helmi : 1980-1984
2nd Term -Hassan Amer : 1984-1988
12-Hassan Aboul Fotouh : 1988-1990
13-Nour El-Dali : 1990-1992
14-Galal Ibrahim : 1992-1996

15-Dr. Kamal Darwish : 1996-2001
2nd Term -Dr. Kamal Darwish : 2001-2005
16-Mortada Mansour : 2005-2005
17-Morsi Atallah : 2005-2006.
18-Mortada Mansour : 2006-2006.
19-Raouff Gasser : 2006-2006.
20-Mamdouh Abaas : current

[edit] Notable players

Mido Has played for Ajax Amsterdam, Olympique Marseille, AS Roma, Tottenham Hotspur and Middlesbrough.
Ibrahim Hassan
Taha Basry
Farouk Gaafar A midfield king that held the Number 4 jersey when playing for Zamalek and formed the most feared Egyptian midfield trio of all-time which comprised of him, Taha Basry and Hassan Shahata.
Hassan Shahata The current Egyptian National Team manager, won the African Nations Cup 2006.
Hazem Emam is a famous Egyptian playmaker who won the Pepsi challenge for best soccer skills.^[5]
Emmanuel Amuneke gained recognition at Sporting Lisbona and then Barcelona.
Rami Shaaban A current Swedish international that once played for Zamalek.
Shikabala
Hossam Hassan The most capped Egyptian player of all time as well as the 3rd most capped worldwide.
Amr Zaki
Nader El-Sayed
Ali Khalil
Ashraf Kasem, awarded the best Egyptian player 1992-93 as well as Arab footballer of the year in 1994. Won 12 titles with Zamalek.
Ahmed El-Kass, was the Egyptian Premier League's top goalscorer from 1991-1994 and scored a total of 107 goals in the Egyptian League with Zamalek, also won the Military World Cup in 1993 with Egypt.
Mohamed Latif, was the first professional in Egyptian history, playing for Rangers F.C. He was in the Egyptian side that reached the 1934 World Cup as well as the Olympic side at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.
Ayman Mansour won the Pan Arab Games Gold Medal 1992 as well as scoring the fastest goal in the history of the African Nations Cup - it was in 1994 against Gabon after 23 seconds.
Ismail Youssef was a starter in the Egyptian side that reached the 1990 World Cup and participated in 3 African Cups of Nations winning one. He was capped 97 times for the Egyptian National team and won 13 titles with Zamalek. Is the brother of defender Ibrahim Youssef.
Mohamed Salah El-Din Was voted as the best defender in Africa in 1980 and won a total of 7 titles with the Zamalek.
Magdy Tolba A dynamic midfielder who played for Egypt's big three, winning 6 titles with Zamalek and 5 titles with Al Ahly. Had successful stints at PAOK and Levski Sofia.
Hesham Yakan The defender was a starter in the 1990 Egyptian World Cup squad and won 10 titles with the White Knights.
Tarek Yehia The left-winger won the African Nations Cup in 1986, was awarded a bronze medal in the Mediterranean Games of 1983, as well as winning 8 titles with the all-whites of Zamalek.
Ibrahim Youssef He participated in the 1984 L.A Olympics as well as the African Nations' Cup the same year where he was voted the best defender of the tournament. He also won a bronze medal at the Mediterranean Games of 1983. He was voted as the best Egyptian player on 3 occasions (1981, 1984 and 1985) and won the award of 2nd best African player in 1984 and the 3rd best African player the following year. He also won the All Africa Games Gold Medal 1987.