Alia El-Zenouki, a player for the Z women’s soccer team and the Egyptian national team, announced her retirement.
Alia revealed her desire to stay at home next to her daughter and live every moment with her family at the present time.
Alia El-Zenouki decided to retire at the age of 27.
Alia El-Zenouki wrote on her official Instagram account:
“As I sit down to write this, I find myself thinking about the years I spent on the field, the laughter, the victories and the moments of pure joy that made every drop of sweat worth it.”
“Football has been my heart and my refuge ever since I can remember. It shaped my character and every time I stepped on the field I felt unstoppable.”
“Returning to playing after giving birth was like magic. It reminded me of the strength and flexibility I possess. Watching my body regain its strength and fitness was like regaining a part of myself that I thought I had lost, but after a lot of thought, I made the difficult decision to step back and retire from football.”
“This decision was not easy. After giving birth, I faced the huge challenge of balancing motherhood and my love for the game. I fought hard to come back, overcoming sleepless nights and endless training sessions.”
“Every time I got back on the field, I felt energized and ready to compete, but slowly, I realized that my priorities were changing. I saw for myself how quickly time flies.”
“I want to enjoy every second I spend with my loved ones. Their happiness means everything to me, and I feel the need to be there for them in every possible way. With every training and every match, it has become clear that my heart is at home now.”
“I want to be by my daughter’s side now, to care for her every step of her journey and guide her. Even the simple moments we spend together are things I never want to miss.”
“Thank you to every friend, teammate and every coach I trained under. You were all my second family, supporting me in every challenge and celebrating every success. I will cherish these memories forever.”
“The matches, the laughter in the locker room, the bus rides, I will always be a football fan and I will carry the lessons I learned on the pitch into my future.”
Alia El-Zenouki began her football career in 2009 before retiring in November 2024.
