Popyrus | Profile
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| Saleh Selim |
Consider a period before smartphones, the internet, and even color television. Football was played with passion and an unadulterated intensity back then. Saleh Selim became a legend during this time. A wizard on the field and a real gentleman off it, he is more than just a football player—he is a representation of Egyptian pride. Discover the fascinating tale of Salah Selim, a name that continues to resonate in the hearts of millions, as we take a trip back to the heyday of Egyptian football.
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| Saleh Selim |
September 11, 1930, was Saleh Selim's birthdate. Since he was a little boy, Saleh Selim has liked football, and he frequently played the game with the kids from Giza's Dokki area. His passion for football started on Okasha Street, near Cairo University and Al-Masaha Square. She joined the Al-Ahly Club's young ranks in 1944 after being found by Professor Hassan Kamel, who oversaw the team of cubs at the club. Before being promoted to the first squad at the age of seventeen, Saleh was able to demonstrate his presence and skill. In 1948, he played his first game with the first team against Al-Masry, and the team won by a score of two goals to one, with Saleh Selim scoring the game-winning goal. In addition to scoring almost 100 goals for the team during his playing career and helping them win 20 different titles before retiring from football in 1967, he created a record by winning the League Shield Championship with his club for nine years. His decision to resign signaled a new chapter in his journey of service to Al-Ahly Club.
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| Saleh Selim |
Saleh Selim became the club's Director of Football in 1971 and 1972 and successfully ran for Al-Ahly Club president in 1980. He won the African Champions League Championship for the first time in 1982, among many other titles and accomplishments, while serving as president of Al-Ahly Club. His effective leadership of the team and the implementation of stringent regulations and an administrative structure helped the club establish a strong reputation in the Arab world. After his first tenure as club president expired in 1988, Saleh Selim took over again in 1992 and served for another ten years, until 2002. He was successful in rebuilding the team and putting in place a rigorous management system during that time, and he won numerous titles in sports other than football. The Al-Ahly club won 13 league titles under Saleh Selim's leadership, including nine straight. It was by accident that Saleh Selim became involved with art. The maestro attracted the attention of artists and was shown on the screen when Al-Ahly fans were chanting his name because he had all the characteristics of the side and was "handsome and charismatic," making him a unique kind of Don Juan.
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Saleh Selim
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As a result, filmmakers tried to capitalize on his immense popularity by starring him in several films, such as The Seven Girls (1961), which was directed by Atef Salem, and The Black Candles (1961), which was directed by Najat Al-Saghira. The success of Saleh Selim's second film, which was directed by Ezz El-Dine Zulfikar in 1962, enabled him to star opposite Faten Hamama, the Lady of the Arab Screen, in Henry Barakat's "The Open Door" in 1963.
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Saleh and Faten
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It is important to note that Saleh Selim was offered numerous roles in the film industry following his involvement in several productions. However, he turned down all of these offers, citing his artistic failure as the reason. Saleh Selim received a diagnosis of "liver cancer" in 1998 and was treated till his death on May 6, 2002, at the age of 72. His remains were interred at the Al-Ahly Club.
