File Photo: Ceramica Cleopatra Egyptian defender Saad Samir. Photo courtesy of Saad Samir Facebook page.
The 35-year-old centre-back, who spent last season with Ceramica Cleopatra, confirmed the decision in a lengthy statement posted on his personal Facebook page, saying he had long known the moment would come but had never imagined how difficult it would be to say goodbye to the game.
"Football was never just a profession or a means to chase dreams for me—it was my entire life," Samir wrote, thanking his family, teammates, coaches and Ahly's fans for their support throughout his career.
Samir made 226 appearances for Ahly, scoring 13 goals and providing two assists over a 14-year association with the club, during which he won 26 trophies. He also won two Egyptian Cup titles with Ceramica Cleopatra, where he made 18 appearances last season and scored once.
Over the course of his career, Samir also turned out for Talaea El Gaish, Arab Contractors, and Masry. Internationally, he represented Egypt's youth side at the 2009 U-20 World Cup in Cairo and the Olympic team at the Olympic Games, before earning 10 caps with the senior national team, including an appearance at the 2018 World Cup in Russia and multiple editions of the Africa Cup of Nations.
"Today my career as a player comes to an end, but my relationship with football will never end," Samir said, adding that he hoped to have left a positive mark on those who followed his journey.
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