Zamalek (Egypt),
AA Gent (Belgium), Ajax Amsterdam (Holland), Celta Vigo (Spain),
Olympique Marseille (France), AS Roma (Italy), Tottenham Hotspur
(England)
Honours
2002
Dutch Eresedevisie
Amstel Cup
Super Cup
CAF Best African Young Player of the Year
Biography
Mido (born
February 23, 1983 in Cairo) is an Egyptian footballer who is
currently a striker for Tottenham Hotspur F.C. in the English
Premiership.
Mido is almost as well known for his volatile temperament as his
footballing prowess. He was reported to be the highest ever paid
Egyptian professional. In 2002 Mido was named African Youth
Player of the Year. He made his first full international
appearance against the UAE scoring Egypt's first goal in a 2-1
victory. Recently he established the "Mido Football Academy"
which is recognised as a step in revolutionizing Egyptian
football.
At Ajax, he averaged a goal every other game, but clashed with
coach Ronald Koeman and reportedly threw a pair of scissors at
fellow Ajax striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic after an argument. He has
earned 34 caps for Egypt, but lost his place in the national
team after a bitter falling-out in 2004 with then-coach Marco
Tardelli. He claimed to be unavailable for the national team due
to an injury, but played in a friendly match with Roma 24 hours
later. Tardelli immediately dropped him from the team, and the
national federation announced that he would not play again for
the team.
In January 2005, Mido was signed by Spurs on an 18-month loan
deal with Roma, expressing many regrets for his volatile past.
He scored two goals in his Spurs debut. Despite this he found
acclimatisation to the rigours of English football difficult. By
this time Tardelli had been sacked as Egypt coach, and the
federation signaled that they would consider a return by Mido if
he were willing to apologise for his past behavior. In February,
while his new teammates were playing in an FA Cup tie for which
he was ineligible, Mido flew to Cairo and made a public apology.
The following month, he was recalled to the national team.
At the start of the 2005-06 season, Mido looked in far fitter
form and scored in pre-season friendlies as well as the second
league game of the new term.
He has continued to impress and is currently the top scorer as
the club pushes for a champions league spot
He has 9 goals this term, and is the spearhead of the Spurs
attack, he has also established a great following at the club
where the fans chant "Miiiiddooo, Yidddoooo". Yiddo being a
nickname given to spurs fans. His relationship with manager
Martin Jol is excellent, every game the two can be seen hugging
and sharing jokes. Martin Jol said in late 2005 that Mido is one
of the best headers of the ball in Europe. His loan spell is due
to end in the summer of 2006, however he had said he will not
return to Roma and wishes to sign permanently with Tottenham.
On February 8, 2006 it was announced that Mido had been thrown
out of the Egypt squad at the African Cup of Nations as a
consequence of a touchline row with coach Hassan Shehata (the
argument had started after Mido reacted badly to being
substituted in the semi-final game against Senegal). The
Egyptian Football Association subsequently ruled Mido out of the
international team for six months. However Mido made an apology
to the coach, the team and the fans and it looks as if his ban
will be overturned, although he still did not feature in the
squad for the final of the African Cup of Nations 2006, which
Egypt won on penalties.
