Saad Samir, former defender for Al Ahly Club and the Egyptian national team, has drawn the curtain on a decorated football career in which he claimed 28 titles, most of them with Al Ahly, before retiring while wearing the Ceramica Cleopatra shirt at the age of 37.
Samir wrote on his Facebook account: "I knew this moment was inevitable, and I was certain that every journey has a beginning and an end, but I never imagined that bidding farewell to the game I lived for would be this difficult."
He added: "Football was not merely a profession or a means to achieve dreams — it was my entire life. On its green pitch I learned the meaning of responsibility, within its bounds I came to know the value of work and perseverance, and throughout its journey I found a sincere love from supporters who gave me the greatest thing in life: the love of people. Today I hang up my boots, summoning from within me feelings of pride and gratitude for every moment I experienced inside the stadium, for every shirt I wore with loyalty and honour, and for every coach, teammate, and official who was part of this journey, one I will cherish for as long as I live."
Samir reserved special thanks for Al Ahly, saying: "Thank you to my great home, the magnificent Al Ahly Club — the fortress of glory and pride — which made the name Saad Samir and gave me something beyond price, granting me the honour of wearing its shirt for 14 years, during which I won 26 championships. I remember every detail of them all, for whoever passes through the gates of the Club of the Century immortalises his memories through numbers, championships, and achievements. That is how I was raised, and that is what I learned from its loyal icons."
Samir also reflected on his international career, saying: "I will never forget a single match I played or training session I took part in while wearing the shirt of my country. The honour of representing Egypt was the greatest medal I received in my career — from the youth national teams, then the Under-20 national team at the World Cup, to the Olympic team at the Olympic Games, and finally the senior national team in the Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the 2018 World Cup in Russia."
He concluded: "Today my playing career ends, but my relationship with football will never end. I will leave the pitches carrying in my heart unforgettable memories, and I leave behind years in which I gave everything I had, hoping that I have left a good mark in the hearts of all those who followed my journey."