After making such a promising start at Ajax Amsterdam, the former http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Egypt-c2890 international is now struggling to return to full form at Egyptian giants Zamalek
http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Ahmed-Hossam-c4003 Mido is an enigma beyond comprehension for many people who have followed the gifted striker’s career. Born in Cairo in February 23, the striker started out as a young hopeful at local side Zamalek.
After scoring three goals in his first five games, Belgian Jupiler League giants, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Racing-c40298 Gent saw enough in him to bring him to the club in 2000. His first and only season with the Belgian outfit was full of promise as Mido scored 11 goals in 23 games.
Mido’s first season in Europe was enough to convince Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam into offering him a five-year deal with the club. Everything was going fine for a striker who was named the “Discovery of the Year” in http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Belgium-c2850.
At Ajax, Mido showed signs of maturity. The native of Cairo could do nothing wrong as he scored 21 league goals in 40 games. However, due to some disciplinary issues, the Egyptian was sent on loan to Celta Vigo where he scored four goals in 8 games. The
centre forward was shining in Europe and Ligue 1 giants, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Olympique-de-Marseille-c40127 knew that the time was right to splash the cash on a budding talent.
In July 2003, Ajax sold the player to the Rhone club for 12 million euros as Mido became the most expensive Egyptian player ever. After a strong pre-season, many expected Mido to take his game to the next level. The signs were good as the Egyptian scored
a goal on his league debut.
Even Marseille legend, Jean-Pierre Papin became a big fan of the Egyptian striker and said that “it is down to players like Mido that the French Ligue 1 is among the top leagues in Europe.”
The best highlight to Mido’s career at the Canebiere club was perhaps the goal he scored against Real Madrid in a Champions League game.
However, the rapid rise of one http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Didier-Drogba-c11044 was set to change the status quo of the Cairo-born striker. The Ivorian had overshadowed Mido in his first season at the Velodrome. Being a man whose ego has been criticised throughout his career, Mido chose to
leave Marseille at the end of the 2003/2004 campaign.
Several English and Spanish clubs were watching the player’s situation.
After being linked with him for several months, Italian Serie A giants, AS Roma signed him up for 6 million Euros. Former Lupi owner, http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Franco-c14050 Sensi was a big fan of the striker and said “I want Mido”.
However, Mido failed to meet expectations at http://www.senore.com/Football-soccer/Francesco-Totti-c13940. In January 2005, Mido signed English Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur on loan and on his debut, the striker showed that he still
has what it takes to being a top striker in Europe by scoring a brace on his debut against Portsmouth.
However, after a great first season at White Hart Lane, the striker fell down the pecking order as game-time became hard to come by.
Subsequent spells at Middlesbrough, West Ham and Wigan followed but Mido never returned to his former self. All attempts for a revival at Ajax were cut short as Mido left Europe for boyhood club Zamalek.
However, his nightmares were not over by any means as conflicts with management, poor form and physical condition resulted in the club terminating his contract.
Now, the striker is without a club and at the age of 29, one can only wonder if the talented striker will ever bounce back from so many disappointments.
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