Abdel-Karim Sakr

Abdel Karim Sakr was considered a magician with the ball and a rare talent as a striker. Born in Cairo’s Abbasiya district, he joined Al-Ahly in 1936. In 1939 he was transferred to archrival El-Mokhtalat SC (later Farouk Club, since 1952 Al-Zamalek SC) for the then record amount of £50 Egyptian. He stayed with the club until returning to his home club Al-Ahly, but played just one more game against an Austrian team and retired. In 1959 he came back and played again, at the age of 48.

Sakr joined the Egyptian squad for his first Olympics in 1936, when he was only 15-years-old, and scored their only goal (against Austria). He attended the Olypics again in 1948 in London. He was offered a £40,000 deal to turn professional with Huddersfield Town in England, which he refused. He earned four Egyptian Cup titles (one with Ahly and three with Zamalek). In 1972 he was appointed as a technical consultant to the Supreme Council for Youth and Sports.