Ahmed Hegazy announces international retirement at 35

Egypt centre-back Ahmed Hegazy has announced his retirement from international football, bringing the curtain down on a distinguished career with the Pharaohs at the age of 35.

Hegazy leaves the national team after more than a decade of service, having established himself as one of Egypt’s most dependable defenders and captained the side through several major tournaments. He earned 88 international caps after making his senior debut in 2011 and represented the Pharaohs at the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

The centre-back also enjoyed considerable success on the continental stage. He was part of the Egypt teams that finished as Africa Cup of Nations runners-up on two occasions, first in 2017 and again in 2021, narrowly missing out on lifting the continent’s biggest prize. His performances at the 2017 tournament earned him a place in the CAF Team of the Tournament.

Earlier in his career, Hegazy represented Egypt at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where the Pharaohs reached the quarter-finals before being eliminated by Japan. He later returned as one of the overage players for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games (held in 2021), helping Egypt once again reach the quarter-finals, making him a two-time Olympic quarter-finalist.

Away from the national team, Hegazy enjoyed spells with Ismaily, Fiorentina, Perugia, Al Ahly, West Bromwich Albion, Al-Ittihad and Neom. Among his career highlights were winning two Egyptian Premier League titles with Al Ahly and the Saudi Pro League title with Al-Ittihad in the 2022/23 season.

His retirement marks the end of an era for Egyptian football, with Hegazy departing as one of the country’s most accomplished defenders of the modern generation after featuring at the World Cup, twice reaching AFCON finals and twice guiding Egypt to the Olympic quarter-finals.