Mido, once known for his controversial playing days, is now dedicated to uncovering and nurturing the next generation of football talent in Egypt. While Mohamed Salah has become one of the Premier League’s top stars at Liverpool, and his national teammate Omar Marmoush joined Manchester City in January, Mido believes Egypt is not reaching its full potential in football.
“Compared to other top African countries, the number of Egyptian players in Europe is very small,” said Mido, 42. “With 120 million people, physical strength, and a rich football history, we have plenty of talent. Having only four or five players in Europe is not enough.”
Mido is applying the lessons he learned during his career to develop young talent at his academy, The Maker, in Cairo. Over his 14-year playing career, Mido moved between 11 clubs in seven countries before retiring at 30 in 2013. He also faced challenges with coaches, including at Ajax under Ronald Koeman and with Egypt under both Marco Tardelli and Hassan Shehata.
“I’m not ashamed to use myself as an example,” Mido said. “I played for big clubs, but I could have done better. I don’t regret anything because this is who I am, and I know I’d make the same mistakes again. But the lesson is that having the right mindset is key. Sometimes I gave up too easily, or chose the easier option of moving to another club.”
At The Maker, Mido currently trains around 100 boys and plans to expand to include girls. He emphasizes the importance of mental strength and adaptability to help his players succeed in Europe.
“We have a great psychology team working with the kids daily,” he said. “Most of our boys speak excellent English, which helps with communication and adapting to new cultures. Being able to handle cultural differences is crucial. If you have the right mindset, are physically strong, speak multiple languages, have tactical awareness, and of course, possess the skills, you can make it in Europe.”
Mido started his career at Zamalek and later returned to the club for two more stints. Egyptian clubs have recently dominated the African Champions League, but Mido’s ultimate goal is for his players at The Maker to establish themselves in Europe.
“Our goal is to get four or five players into Europe,” he said. “In 10 years, we hope to have 60-70 graduates playing across Europe. We’ll continue to follow and support them, helping them develop even after they’ve made it abroad.”
For Mido, the most rewarding part of his work is helping young players achieve their dreams. “The best part is seeing the boys with bright eyes, full of hope,” he added. “We’re all here to dream.”