Former Egyptian football star Ahmed Hossam 'Mido' has turned down an offer to coach Egyptian Premier League club Masry.

The Pharaohs' former striker recently announced that the Port Said-based club was in talks with him to take charge of the team after a series of poor results since the season's start.

After three matches, Masry currently lies at the bottom of the league's Group B with only two points, six behind leaders Petrojet.

"I have apologised to Masry officials for [not being able to] coach the team at the time being," Mido said via his Twitter account on Saturday.

"I want to thank Masry's president for his confidence in me and I wish the club good luck.

"I appreciate the people from Port Said. They were magnificent while supporting us when we played there with the national team," he concluded.

On June 2013, the 31-year old striker announced his football retirement after failing to find a club since leaving English Championship side Barnsley in January.

The former Zamalek, Ajax, Marseille, Roma and Tottenham striker signed a one-year contract with Barnsley in the summer of 2012, but left by mutual consent six months later.

Plagued with persistent fitness problems, Mido only appeared once for the Tykes before leaving in January. He has been without a club ever since.

The towering frontman came through the youth ranks of Cairo's Zamalek before beginning a European adventure at the age of 17, playing for nine teams, including two spells with Tottenham Hotspur and two with Ajax Amsterdam.

He failed to realise his potential at the international level, though, and was absent during Egypt's African Cup of Nations triumphs in 2008 and 2010.

He was part of their squad in 2006 but missed the final victory over the Ivory Coast in Cairo, following an infamous touchline altercation with then-coach Hassan Shehata.

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