Friday 27/February/2026 – 06:01 AM
Mohamed Zidane’s career was not just an ordinary professional journey for an Egyptian player in Europe. Rather, it was a story of rebellion against rejection, insistence on proving oneself, and a talent that made a difference in the largest German stadiums, and from the streets of Port Said to the podiums in the German League, and from disputes with the technical staff to moments of glory in the Egyptian national team’s shirt. Zidane lived a volatile but exceptional career that created a special place for him in the memory of the fans.
In the following report, Cairo 24 reviews Mohamed Zidane’s career during the Ramadan Stars series that we publish throughout the days of the holy month of Ramadan.
From a rejected youth in Egypt to a dream of immigration
Mohamed Abdullah Mohamed Zidan was born on December 11, 1981 in the city of Port Said. He grew up in a popular, football-loving environment. He joined the youth sector in the Egyptian Club, but his beginning was not strewn with roses, as he was excluded from the first team under the pretext of not completing some technical aspects of his performance. This decision constituted a major turning point in his life, so his family moved to Denmark in search of a new opportunity, and there he began a completely different journey, amidst a new culture and a different language, but he carried with him a dream that could not be achieved. It breaks.
A professional departure from Denmark to European brilliance
Zidane began his professional career at the Academic Boldclub club in 1999, and quickly attracted attention with his talent. Then he moved to FC Midtjölland, and that step was the most prominent at that stage, where he exploded in goals and was crowned top scorer in the Danish League in the 2003-2004 season. He received widespread praise that made German clubs put him under the microscope, and his remarkable brilliance contributed to opening doors for him to move to the German League, to begin a new chapter in one of the… Europe’s strongest competitions.
Werder Bremen and Mainz station… proving oneself in the Bundesliga
Zidane joined Werder Bremen, but he did not get enough continuity, so he went out on loan to Mainz, where he presented his best individual periods, scoring decisive goals, most notably a goal just 14 seconds after the start of one of the matches, becoming one of the fastest goals in that season, and his strong performance brought him back to the forefront strongly, and made his name resonate among the leaders of the German League.
Dortmund and Jurgen Klopp…the pinnacle of German glory
The biggest transformation in Zidane’s career came with his move to Borussia Dortmund under the leadership of the young coach at the time, Jurgen Klopp. Zidane lived in Dortmund, the most important moments of his career, and contributed to winning the German League titles in the 2010-2011 and 2011-2012 seasons. Despite suffering a severe knee injury that kept him out for a long time, he remained an influential element within the team, especially with his individual skills and his ability to play in more than one attacking position.
Egypt national team… African championships and unforgettable moments
Internationally, Zidane represented the Egyptian national team between 2005 and 2012, and was one of the members of the golden generation led by coach Hassan Shehata. He contributed to the Pharaohs’ crowning of the African Cup of Nations in 2008 and 2010, and he provided a remarkable performance in both versions, whether with goals or assists. He also left a distinctive mark in the 2009 Confederations Cup, when he scored two goals against Brazil, and played a great match against the world champions, despite some disagreements that arose between him and the staff. Technically, his presence remained influential in decisive moments.
Short experiences and a quiet end to the journey
After his German adventure, Zidane had an experience in the UAE League, then returned to Egypt through the Military Entag Gate, but injuries and lack of physical preparedness hastened his decision to retire in 2015, bringing the curtain down on a professional career that spanned nearly 16 years.
Controversial personal life
Away from the green rectangle, Zidane lived a personal life full of details, whether through his marriage to a Danish woman and later an Egyptian, or his previous relationship with the artist Mai Ezz El-Din, which aroused widespread media interest at the time. After retirement, he turned to sports analysis on satellite channels. He also entered the world of investment and business, and launched his own brand, in addition to his participation in the management of an Egyptian club, with a residence between Cairo and Dubai. Mohamed Zidan remains a model for the Egyptian player who made his way in… Europe with his pure talent, and he was not always the most disciplined, and his career was not without controversy, but in his day he was one of the most dangerous Arab strikers on European stadiums.
