Egyptian footballers who graced PL for Trezeguet to follow

CAIRO – 26 July 2019: On Wednesday, Aston Villa completed the signing of Egyptian International Mahmoud Hassan Trezeguet from Kasimpasa for an undisclosed fee. He becomes the 4th Egyptian player currently playing in the English Premier League after Mohamed Salah, Ahmed Elmohamady and Mohamed Elneny.

After Trezeguet’s move to Aston Villa, we take a look at Egyptian players who graced the Premier League and the impact they had.

Mohamed Salah

He needs no introduction; Mohamed Salah is by far the most successful in terms of achievements of any Egyptian who has played in not just England but Europe as a whole. His ridiculously long list of personal accomplishments didn’t just shock Egypt but it sent shockwaves around the world. PFA player of the year, African player of the year (x2) and most goals in a premier league season (32) are just fragment of his accomplishments, especially after his first season with European champions Liverpool. Salah is now known as one of the best players in the world and firmly on his way to becoming a kop legend.

Ahmed Elmohamady

One of the most unappreciated Egyptian players ever, Ahmed Elmohamady has never really got the recognition he deserves ever since moving to Steve Bruce’s Sunderland in 2010. That brings questions, maybe it is due to the fact he never played for two of Egypt’s most popular clubs Al Ahly and Zamalek both of which dominate Egypt’s overall fan base, or maybe it’s due to him not having the most luxurious of positions as a right back. However, he’s entering his 10th year playing in England and has 328 appearances for Sunderland, Hull City and Aston Villa, which makes him a true Egyptian great.

Ahmed Hossam ‘Mido’

One of the most well known Egyptian players around the world and most known in England for his time at Tottenham where he made 48 appearances and scored 14 goals. Despite his controversial manner in his previous clubs, Mido was a huge Egyptian figure during his time in Europe but despite his immense talent and eye for goals his time in England wasn’t always rosy, loan spells at West Ham, Wigan Athletic and Barnsley didn’t produce much but overall he goes down as easily one of the Egyptian greats.

Amr Zaki

Amr Zaki earned his dream move to the Premier League playing for Wigan Athletic came after his breakthrough season for Cairo giants Zamalek, scoring 35 goals in 88 appearances which was enough to convince Latics boss Steve Bruce that Zaki was the real deal. The Egyptian striker also nicknamed as “The Bulldozer” was at one stage top scorer of the Premier league that included a stunning brace at Anfield against Liverpool. However, his “unprofessionalism” according to both Wigan manager and Chairman was the reason that Zaki did not get a permenant move. An unsuccessful loan move to Hull City ended the Striker’s English dream.

Mohamed Shawky

Probably the most unheard of all the Egyptian footballers abroad on this list however Mohamed Shawky was one of the most talented midfielders of Egypt’s golden generation. Most popular for his goal against Brazil in the 2009 Confederation Cup, the Egyptian played 18 games for Middlesbrough, some of those games with fellow Egyptian Ahmed Hossam ‘Mido’ despite not making as memorable a mark as he would like, Shawky will go down as one of Egypt’s most talented players to play abroad.