Club History


In 1911, the club was founded under name “Kasr Al Neel” after its location in what is now known as “Casino Al-Nahr” at “Al Gezeerah”. In 1913, the club moved to its second home near the buildings of the high supreme court and legislation offices at the intersection of 26 July Street and Ramsis Street under the new name “ Al Moukhtalat” meaning “ The Mixed”,and it was more than a culture meeting points for bachelors.

The first football clubs in Cairo emerged from its non-English expatriate communities. They formed sports and social clubs each with its own identity. A very important aspect of Zamalek was that it was a club for all people and not for any specific social, economical, or ethnic status. Zamalek started out and continued through World War I under the presidency of the Belgian lawyer Mr. Merzbach, and its Belgian secretaries (first Mr. Shoduan, then Mr. Bochu). The next president was Mr. Nicola Arfagi who also played left wing for the club's soccer team

Following the 1919 revolution, the club became Egyptian controlled in 1923 under the presidency of General Haidar Basha and secretary Youssef Mohamad. In winter 1924, the club moved for the third time to what is now known as “El Balloon” Theater. Then in 1940, the club was re-named “Farouk Al Awal” after being honored by its acknowledgement from the King of Egypt and Sudan, King Farouk. Following the army coup against the King in 1952, the club was re-named “Al Zamalek” after the area where the club was situated. The club then moved yet again for the fourth time in its history to its final destination on “26th of July” street, just 500 meters west of the Zamalek bridge, occupying an area of 35 acres and hosting 24 different sports.

There is a mistaken belief that Zamalek does not have patriotic roots as it was established by foreigners and due to its former name “Al Moukhtalat” meaning "mixed", but early in its history, its Egyptian members demonstrated their patriotism. In one incident, Ibrahim Alama (known as “Guhaina”), the club representative at the Sports Federation, stood in front of Federation members who were mostly foreigners speaking French and challenged them for taking control of the Sports Federation in a country which was not their own. This caused the meeting to be cancelled and the incident was not reported, but as a result Ibrahim was demoted and forbidden from attending any future meetings of the Federation. Subsequently, the Olympic Committee honored his actions and gave Ibrahim a medal for his brave stand.

A further instance relates to the first competition which the “Al Moukhtalat” team participated in, the Sultan Hussein Cup. At the time, the “Al Ahly” club refused to participate, claiming it was not convinced that it would promote sports activities among the Egyptian population. But by taking part, “Al Moukhtalat” increased its popularity among Egyptians fans, and on seeing this, “Al Ahly” agreed to participate in the competition from 1917.

In 1917 Egyptian members sttempted to form a first Egyptian board for the club, but this was blocked by the President of the club, a Frenchman called M.Piankie and the secretary M.Shoudoi who was Belgian, and as a result, no general members meetings were held for the next few years. The Egyptian members realised that it was important to increase the number of Egyptian members to gain a majority at the next general members meeting. As a result, the elections were held and the first Egyptian board was elected with Dr. Mohammad Badr as President, Mr. Mostafa Hassan as Deputy President, Mr. Ibrahim Allam as General Secretary, and Mr. Nicola Arkaji, Mr. Mahmoud Bassyouni, Mr. Hussein Fawzy and Mr. Abdo Al Jabalawy as board members. This new board came as a big shock to the previous board members and the former secretary Mr. Shoudoi tried to hide important papers from the new members. As a result, the new board called the police; the documents were returned and the outgoing secretary ordered to make new documents and files for the club. One funny order was to hire the services of 20 strong men from Upper Egypt who lived in “Boulak” to guard the club and not to let any foreigner in unless this foreigner has the new membership card. From this stage the club became a purely Egyptian club.

After the first board came a new board in 1923 with General “Mohammad Haidar” as a president. At the beginning for the 1940 General “Mohammad Haidar” was selected to be from the assistants of the king. Due to being the favorites of the king, the club’s name was changed from “AL Moukhtalat” to “Farouk Al Awal” and General “Mohammad Haidar” stayed as a president at the club for almost 30 years which was unusual at an Egyptian club at the time. Then came the Egyptian army revolution in 1952 and a new club’s board was formed with Dr. “Mohammad Shawky” as a president who was also the secretary general of the legislation office with high social status right then. In the same board there was Mr. “Mohammad Hassan Helmy” who is one of the most popular Zamalek figures taking the position of the secretary assistant. Due to the rules right then, half the club board was changed every year and Mr. “Mohammad Hassan Helmy” took the position of secretary general. In 1954 the idea of renovating the club stadium was emerging due to the bad state of the current stadium right then. This led the board to look for a businessman to take over the club and thus help in the stadium renovation. Mr. “Abd El Hamid El Shawarbi” took the presidency and although he was elected for a second period but he was not able to do the job wanted. Right then some Zamalek Faithful figures as General “Haidar Basha”, and Haj “Sayed Al Annany” contributed to setting the VIP stand and the first class stand in a way that suits the high status of the club. All of this happened while Mr. “Abd El Hamid Al Shorby” outside Egypt, so when he came back he resigned without helping the club in any aspect and the board continued after Dr. “Mohammad Shawky” stepped up from his Deputy position (after he left the presidency kindheartedly) to continue till September 1955. Still the idea of bringing a businessman to help the club did not subside, and thus the famous businessman Mr. “Abd El Latif Abo Regeila” came as the club president in 1956 where by then, the rules have been changed allowing the board to stay for 3 years. And once again Dr. “Mohammad Shawky” steps down for the new businessman although he was reelected as a club president and all for the sake of the club’s prosperity Although Mr. “Abd El Latif Abo Regeila” was reelected for a second presidency period, he had to leave Egypt after he lost his money due to the governmental policy against private property (Bus Company and a mansion at Marg which was the hiding place for many players during the season of resignations). But still the club continued to search for another businessman, and Mr. “Alwe Al Gazzar” came as a president who was the owner of “ Al Sheikh Sherieb” Company and also the president of the board of the Coca Cola Company right then. Although he was only president for a short period he was able to bring Real Madrid at his own expense in 1961 to play against Zamalek. But still he lost his property due to governmental rules and he left Egypt. In 1962 came a new board with Eng. “Hassan Amer” as a president and emeritus deputy was given to Dr. “Mohammad Shawky”, Mr. “Mohammad Lateef”, Mr. “Galal Kereitam”, Mr. “Mahmoud Emam”, and Mr. “Mahmoud Hafez”. Eng. “Hassan Amer” stayed as president till the defeat of Egyptian army in 1967. In 1967, the minister of youth and sports Mr. “Talat Khairy” decided that the club boards will be appointed rather than elected and hence Mr. “Mohammad Hassan Helmy” took the presidency to become the first sportsman in Egypt to become a president of a club. He stayed in presidency till July 1971 where the rules came back to let the board come from elections and not to let anyone to become a president if this person hold presidency for two consecutive boards. Thus came Mr. “Tawfeek Al Kheshen” who took the presidency of the board and the honorary presidency was given to Mr. “Mohammad Hassan Helmy”. In 1973 Mr. “Mohammad Hassan Helmy” was elected to become the president and stayed as the head of the board till 1984 and during this period he was continually elected as the president of one of Egypt’s biggest clubs. Then in 1984 came the”. Eng. “Hassan Amer” and after him came the Eng. “Hasan Abo el Fetouh” in 1988. During his period came a new rule by the ministry of youth increasing the number of elected board members to 10 which was removed again in 1990. Eng. “Hasan Abo el Fetouh” helped in building many of the new building the club is proud of as the gymnasium building which is considered one of the biggest in the Middle East. He also increased the funding for most of the sports teams in the club assisting the winning of many championships during his era.

In 1990 came Mr. “Galal Ibrhim” as the president of the club due to the death of Eng. “Hasan Abo el Fetouh”. This temporary board was held till September 1990 when the general club meeting was held with the elections of which Eng. ”Mohamad Nour El Daly” became the president of the new board till 1992. In 1992 Mr. “Galal Ibrhim” came as the new president of the club. As the rules were changed right then and the vice treasurer was to be selected mostly by the board members, and then “Hamada emam” was selected by default to that position while Mr. ”Abd El Hamid Shaheen” was elected to the treasurer position. As for the board members, it consisted of: Dr. “Ahmed Shereen Fawzy”, Mr “Mahmoud Marouf”, Mr. “Mohamad Fayez Al Zummur”, Mr. “Raouf Gaser”, and Mr. “Tarek Ghonaim”. As per the rules, it was also new to have two members of the board under the age of 30. For these two spots, “Samy Abo El Kheir” and “Ihab Ibrahim” were elected. As for the appointed members by the high committee for youth and sports, Dr. “Mohamad Amer”, General “Hanafy Reyad”, and Mr. “Farouk Abo El Nasr” were added to the board. By 1994 Mr. ”Abd El Hamid Shaheen” was not able to continue his duties due to his sickness, but the board chose to keep him in the position in honor of his devotion to the club, and thus Mr. “Farouk Abo El Nasr” was appointed to take the duties while keeping Mr.”Abd El Hamid Shaheen” in the position. In 1995 changes came to the board due to the court removal of four members in the board due to their absence from the board meetings for 6 times. These members were Mr “Mahmoud Marouf”, Mr. “Mohamad Fayez Al Zummur”, Dr. “Mohamad Amer”, and General “Hanafy Reyad”. The newly appointed members were Mr. “Mortada Mansour”, Mr. “Mahmoud Abdallah”, Mr. “Mounnir Hassan”, and Mr. “Ibrahim Latif”. Still the he high committee for youth and sports objected on linking the appointed members with the elected ones and as a result Mr. “Mounnir Hassan”, and Mr. “Ibrahim Latif” forfeited their positions for the better good of the club and to remove any embarrassment happening to the board. And as a surprise, the newly two appointed members for the club board were Dr. “Mohamad Amer” and Mr. “Farouk Abo El Nasr” in support of their abilities and their dedication. As a result Dr. “Shereen Fawzy” was selected to be treasurer till the new elections. On Thursday 4 July, came the decision by Dr. “Abd El Menem Emarah” to release the club board and the Egyptian Football Federation board after the sad incidence in the game between Ahly and Zamalek season 95/96. as the board decided to freeze the soccer activity in the club. Meanwhile the EFF made a series of wrong decision which casued it to be released too. As a result a one year temporary club board was selected of which Dr. “Kamal Darweesh” was the president and General “Abd EL Aziz Kabil” as s vice president with the board members consisting from General “Hanafy Reyad”, Mr. “Magdy Sharaf”, Mr. Ismail Selim”, Mr. “Azmy megahed”, and Mr. “Mohamad Abd El Rahman Fawzy. Also accountant Mr. “Mahmoud Badr Al Deen” was appointed as treasurer .