File Photo. Egyptian striker Mohamed Zidan (photo: AP)
Former Egypt star Mohamed Zidan has returned to football after more than two years of inactivity, joining Egyptian Premier League club El-Entag El-Harby.
"Zidan officially joins El-Entag El-Harby SC Club on a one-year contract," read his official Facebook page on Tuesday.
The 33-year-old forward has not played competitively since terminating his contract with United Arab Emirates side Bani Yas in July 2013.
Zidan was a Bundesliga star, turning out for Borussia Dortmund, Hamburg and Mainz before successive injuries stunted his career and he moved to the UAE.
At his peak Zidan was an inspirational player for a massively successful Egyptian national team which, led by then coach Hassan Shehata, won successive African Cups of Nations in 2008 and 2010.
Throughout the last 12 months his return to Egyptian club football has been speculated with reports of him joining Ahly, Zamalek, Ismaily and Arab Contractors, who are coached by Shehata.
Finally however Zidan has made his move, joining the military-owned El-Entag El-Harby, who bounced back from relegation to be promoted at the end of last season under the stewardship of former Egypt assisstant coach Shawky Gharib.
"Gharib is the reason I agreed to join El-Entag El-Harby. I decided that I would only play in Egypt under Gharib or Shehata," Zidan was widely quoted as saying after his surprise move.
"I am so excited to play in the Egyptian Premier League for the first time in my life and I am sure I can make it back to the national soon," Zidan concluded.
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