egyptian handball legend Ahmed El-Ahmar announced that he will be retiring from playing with the national team after the 2021 Tokyo olympics.
El-Ahmar is considered by many as being the best Handball player in Egypt's history, which he has proven on various occasions with his performances and consistency.
Since his debut with Zamalek in 2004, the 37-year-old became an instant star for club and country. While he spent the majority of his career in the White Castle, he had his fair share of experience abroad.
His first move away from Cairo was in 2012 when he signed for Qatari side Al-Jaish, where he spent three years of his career before moving to Germany with SG Flensburg-Handewitt and won the 2015 German Cup.
El-Ahmar was also sent on various brief loan spells in Saudi Arabia with Al Ahli Jeddah, Lebanon's El-Saad and Club Africain (CA) from Tunisia. In each of these spells he managed to win a large number of domestic and continental trophies.
With CA he was able to lift the 2014 african champions league, and as for the Asian continent he won four Champions League medals with Al-Jaish (2), Al Ahly Jeddah (1) and El-Saad (1).
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However, he will mostly be remembered by Egyptian fans for his exploits with boyhood club Zamalek, where he was able to earn 12 continental trophies (four African Championship trophies, three African Cup for Cup winners and five African Super Cups). Additionally, El-Ahmar guided the White Knights to six Egyptian League titles.
The two-time Club World Cup top scorer was also quite successful on the international level, guiding Egypt to three African games titles, three africa cup of nations and has appeared in six World Cup editions and three Olympics.
El-Ahmar is set to have one more tournament to play with the Pharaohs, which will be at this summer's Tokyo Olympic games.
“I have not decided the final date for my retirement yet, but I will most probably retire on the international level after the Tokyo Olympics,” El-Ahmar told MBC Masr.
