Ex-Egypt, Zamalek striker Amr Zaki retires from football

Egypt and Zamalek’s 32-year-old former striker Amr Zaki, also known as ‘The Bulldozer,’ officially announced on Sunday his retirement from football after playing for multiple teams during his career.

“This day seven years ago I scored my first goal in the English Premier League and today I say thank you, football for 15 years of playing,” Zaki wrote on his official twitter account.

Zaki has been struggling with injuries over the past two years as he has been axed by Turkish side Elazigspor, Raja of Morocco, and Lebanese team Al-Ahed.

“I thank my fans for supporting me and helping me to reach this level in football, as well as the people who pushed me to succeed.”

“I hope I achieved something memorable for my country,” the former Egypt and Zamalek star concluded.

Last winter, Zaki joined Egyptian Premier League side Arab Contractors to reunite with former Egypt coach Hassan Shehata, but he failed to play again due to injury.

Zaki rose to stardom when he joined Wigan Athletic in 2008, scoring ten English Premier League goals in the first half of the season.

He later fell out of favour with then coach Steve Bruce after failing to attend training sessions. Disciplinary action was taken and Zaki was eventually let go by the Latics. His career then took a downward slide.

The former Wigan and Hull City striker was a key member of a hugely successful Egyptian side in the late 2000s, helping the Pharaohs win two straight African Nations Cup titles in 2006 and 2008 as well as bagging 30 goals in 63 games for Egypt.

He was unleashed by Shehata in 2006 when the then Egypt coach brought him on against Senegal to score a crucial win and take Egypt to the final for the Africa Cup of Nations following a 2-1 victory.

However, his last international appearance was in November 2013 when he was on target in Egypt’s 2-1 victory over Ghana, which condemned them to a 7-3 aggregate defeat in a World Cup qualifying playoff.

Zaki only won two Egypt Cup trophies 2005 with ENPPI and 2008 with Zamalek.

He was nominated for the 2008 CAF African Footballer of the Year award.

Source: Reuters