The Smiling Assassin

Mohamed Aboutreika (sometimes also credited as Mohamed Abo Treika, Arabic: محمد أبو تريكة) (born November 7, 1978) is an Egyptian footballer. Abo Treika plays as a playmaker and attacking midfielder for Egyptian club El Ahly as well as the Egyptian national football team. He has been dubbed as the Egyptian Zinedine Zidane for his technical brilliance and exceptional vision of the field. He was nominated for the 2006 CAF African Footballer of the Year award.

Abo Treika started playing professionally for Egyptian club Tersana before transferring to El-Ahly in January 2004. He was the main reason for his team winning the national league and the CAF champions League two successive times, and maintaining a 65 match unbeaten run. He helped El-Ahly to get the bronze medal in FIFA Club World Cup 2006. He also helped the Egyptian national team to win the African Cup of Nations Egypt 2006, and scored the winner to help Egypt win the 2008 tournament.

Abo Treika's contribution came not only in finding the net but also in creating from his playmaking role behind the strikers. His real class was best demonstrated in his timing, as he seemed to continually choose the right moment to burst into the action and grab the goals. He has recently been dubbed "The Smiling Assassin" by foreign media because of his two main trademarks: goalscoring and smiling. (read less)

Mohamed Aboutreika (sometimes also credited as Mohamed Abo Treika, Arabic: محمد أبو تريكة) (born November 7, 1978) is an Egyptian footballer. Abo Treika plays as a playmaker and attacking midfielder for Egyptian club El Ahly as well as the Egyptian national football team. He has been dubbed as the Egyptian Zinedine Zidane for his technical brilliance and exceptional vision of the field. He was nominated for the 2006 CAF African Footballer of the Year award.

Abo Treika started playing... (read more)