Tarek Taha, the former Ismaily and Pyramids FC defender, has officially retired from professional football at the age of 34.
The announcement, made via his official Facebook account, marks the end of a career that saw him represent several top Egyptian clubs, including Smouha, Future, Military Production, and Pyramids.
In a heartfelt message to fans, Taha reflected on the emotional weight of leaving the sport he described as more than just a game.
“Football was never just a game, but a whole life full of passion, loved by millions, and I lived its details as a dream and a reality within the green rectangle. But every story, no matter how beautiful, has a moment when it reaches the word ‘end’,” Tarek wrote.
Taha spoke candidly about the challenges of stepping away from a career that defined much of his life.
“Today I am writing the most difficult lines of my career. It is not easy to willingly distance yourself from what you have loved to the point of life. Since I was a youngster, through all the stages and experiences, and until recently, football was my first and last world,” Tarek added.
The defender praised the journey that football had given him, noting both triumphs and trials.
“After many years of giving and experience, I officially announce that I am hanging up my boots and retiring from football, the most beautiful game that gave me so much before I gave it what I could,” Taha said. “It was not an easy decision, but it came after long thought and complete satisfaction, thanking God Almighty for the blessing of this journey, which carried moments of joy and victory, and others of sadness and challenge, but all of them made a human being before they made a player.”
Expressing gratitude to those who supported him, Taha added: “I stand here grateful to everyone who was part of this journey, my extended family, my father, mother and brothers, my immediate family, my wife and children, all the technical, administrative and medical staff, the locker room workers in all the clubs whose jerseys I had the honor of wearing, and every colleague and fan who believed in me and supported me.”
Taha concluded his message by emphasizing his enduring connection to football.
“I am completely satisfied with my journey in the world of football, in which I never spared any effort or drop of sweat for the entity I play for and whose jersey I wear, to raise its flag and make its fans happy. Thank you to football… Thank you for all the memories… And thank you to everyone who was ever a reason for this dream. Today my career as a player ends, but my love for football will remain as long as I live.”
Taha’s retirement closes a significant chapter in Egyptian club football, leaving behind a legacy of dedication, professionalism, and loyalty to every team he represented.
