Gamal Hamza

Full Name: Gamal Mohamed Said Hamza
Date of Birth: December 5, 1981
Age: 42 years old
Place of Birth: Cairo, Egypt
Nationality: Egyptian
Height: 1.74 meters (5 feet 9 inches)
Position: Forward
Nickname: "The Maestro"

Football Career:

Club Career:

1. Zamalek (2000–2009):
   Gamal Hamza started his football career at Zamalek SC, joining the first team in 2000 after a training period at the club's academy.

   • Appearances and Achievements:
     • Hamza played a key role in Zamalek's attack and scored many important goals.
     • During his time with Zamalek, the team won the Egyptian Premier League 3 times (2000/2001, 2002/2003, 2003/2004) and the Egyptian Cup twice (2001/2002, 2007/2008).
     • He helped the club win the CAF Champions League in 2002, as well as the CAF Super Cup in 2002 and the Arab Club Championship in 2002.
     • He was also part of Zamalek's victory in the Egyptian-Saudi Super Cup in 2002.

2. Mainz 05 (2009):

   • In June 2009, Gamal Hamza transferred to Mainz 05 in Germany on a free transfer after long negotiations.
   • Experience in Germany:
     • His time at Mainz was unsuccessful, as he did not play any official matches with the team.
     • Despite high expectations for his arrival, Hamza struggled to adapt to the European football scene and left the club after a short stint.

3. El Gouna (2010–2012):

   • After his brief experience in Germany, Hamza returned to the Egyptian Premier League in 2010, joining El Gouna.
   • He had a good run at El Gouna, scoring important goals and playing a significant role in the team's attack.
   • Achievements at El Gouna:
     • He managed to score several key goals, though he could not replicate the level of success he had at Zamalek.

4. Loans and Later Stints:

   • After his time at El Gouna, Hamza moved on loan to Misr El-Makasa and Tala'ea El-Gaish, but his stints with these clubs were not as successful as his time at Zamalek.

5. Zugdidi and Haras El-Hodood (2014):

   • He had short stints with Zugdidi (Georgia) and Haras El-Hodood (Egypt) in 2014 before retiring from football.
   • He decided to retire after his time with these clubs, bringing an end to his professional playing career.

International Career:

• Egypt U-20 National Team (2001):

  • Hamza was part of the Egypt U-20 national team that participated in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Argentina in 2001, where the team won the bronze medal.
  • He delivered outstanding performances and was one of the key players in the tournament.

• Egypt National Team (2001–2007):

  • After his success with the youth team, Hamza was called up to the Egypt senior national team in 2001.
  • He earned 16 international caps and scored 4 goals for the Pharaohs.
  • Hamza played in several international tournaments, including World Cup qualifiers and Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.

Player Profile:

• Technical Skills:

  • Hamza was known for his high technical skills, with exceptional dribbling ability, long-range shooting, and key passes.
  • He could play in various attacking positions, whether as a winger or as a central forward, which made him a versatile player in the attack.

• Goal Scoring:

  • Hamza was an adept goal scorer, netting several important goals in crucial matches.
  • His goals often came in high-stakes games, showing his ability to perform under pressure.

• Speed and Agility:

  • He was known for his speed and agility, which allowed him to outpace defenders and make dangerous runs in the final third.
  • His dribbling skills were another strength, enabling him to create chances for himself and his teammates.

Achievements:

With the Egypt National Team:

• Bronze Medal in the FIFA U-20 World Cup (Argentina 2001).

With Zamalek SC:

• Egyptian Premier League: 3 times (2000/2001, 2002/2003, 2003/2004)
• Egyptian Cup: 2 times (2001/2002, 2007/2008)
• CAF Champions League: 1 time (2002)
• Egyptian Super Cup: 2 times
• CAF Super Cup: 1 time (2002)
• Arab Club Championship: 1 time (2002)
• Egyptian-Saudi Super Cup: 1 time (2002)

Dispute with Al Ahly:

Gamal Hamza’s move to Al Ahly in January 2009 came as a surprise, especially since he had just joined from Mainz 05 in a free transfer. However, his quick departure from Al Ahly raised questions. The reasons for his exit were:

• Fitness Issues:
  • Medical tests revealed that Hamza’s fitness levels were subpar, making him incapable of playing full matches (90 minutes). This was a recurring issue, including during his time at Mainz and El Gouna.
• Lack of Commitment in Training:
  • It was reported that Hamza showed some “laziness” in training, a trait that had been known since his time at Zamalek. He did not train as hard as his teammates, which led to his fitness problems.
• Competition within Al Ahly:
  • With the arrival of new players like Mohamed Nagy "Gedo" and Abdel Hamid Shabana, along with the return of Amir Sayoud, it became increasingly difficult for Hamza to secure a starting spot. Additionally, established players like Mohamed Barakat and Mohamed Aboutrika occupied the same position, further limiting Hamza’s opportunities.
• Early Departure Plans:
  • Al Ahly’s management, led by Hossam El Badry and Hossam Ashour, began to devise a strategy to “push out” Hamza due to the problems arising from his lack of fitness and the growing competition for places in the squad.
  • One of the key moves was not registering Hamza in the CAF Champions League squad for the new season and informing him that he would not play a major role in the team.
• Salary Reduction:
  • Another factor in his departure was the club’s decision to reduce his salary, a move that did not sit well with Hamza. This made him feel that the club was pushing him out, and he decided to leave amicably.

Conclusion:

Gamal Hamza is considered one of the best forwards in the history of Zamalek SC and is remembered for his technical ability, goal-scoring prowess, and pace. While his experiences in Europe and at Al Ahly were less successful, his time at Zamalek and his contributions to the Egyptian national team remain significant. His career, filled with both triumphs and challenges, solidified his place as one of Egypt’s top footballers in the early 2000s.