Former Zamalek midfielder Tarek Hamed retires from football

Ahmed Abd El Rasoul , Saturday 18 Apr 2026

Former Egypt and Zamalek midfielder Tarek Hamed announced his retirement from football on Friday after a glorious career of almost 25 years.

Photo courtesy of Tarek Hamed's Instagram account.

After attending the Whites’ 0-0 draw against Algeria’s CR Belouizdad in the CAF Confederation Cup semi-finals, the 37-year-old veteran player left the stands of Cairo International Stadium and went onto the pitch after the game ended to say a final goodbye to the fans as a player.

Hamed had been a free agent since departing Saudi side Damac FC last summer.

The tough-tackling midfielder began his professional career in 2008 with Egyptian club Talae El-Geish, then moved to Smouha in 2010 before joining Zamalek in 2014.

Hamed spent eight years with the Cairo giants, shining as he helped guide them to a host of titles, including three league titles, five Egypt Cups, two Egyptian Super Cups, one CAF Confederation Cup, and one CAF Super Cup, cementing his place among the club’s icons.

He scored six goals in 292 appearances across all competitions during his time with Zamalek.

In the summer of 2022, he moved overseas to join Saudi side Ittihad Jeddah, where he also shone for one season, winning the domestic league and the Super Cup.

The final stop in Hamed’s career was with Saudi club Damac FC, which he joined from Ittihad in September 2023. He made 32 appearances for the club across different competitions but did not win any trophies.

Also a star with the Pharaohs

At the international level, Hamed represented Egypt’s national team from 2013 to 2023 and was a key figure in the Pharaohs squad during that 10-year stint.

Hamed made 58 appearances for the seven-time African champions as a midfielder, scoring one goal.

He notably participated in the 2018 World Cup and also helped Egypt reach the finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in 2017 and 2021, where he played every match in both tournaments.

His last appearance for the national team came in October 2023, when he came on as a substitute in a friendly match against Algeria.

He announced his retirement from international football two months later, just a month after being excluded from the Pharaohs’ squad for the Sierra Leone 2026 World Cup qualifier.

(For more sports news and updates, follow Ahram Online Sports on Twitter at @AO_Sports and on Facebook at AhramOnlineSports.)