Ismaily SC

It wasn't until forty-four years after Ismaily was founded that the Daraweesh finally achieved their first title. Ismaily had been slowly climbing to the top after returning to the Premier League, but it all came together in the 66/67 season.

Salah Abu Greisha Like every other League title Ismaily won, a long and hard battle was fought against Ahly, throughout the season. Ismaily secured the title however, after defeating Ahly by Ali Abu Greisha's penalty-spot goal, two weeks before the end of the season.

The 1966/67 season had 22 weeks. Ismaily won 15 games, tied 6, and lost one against Ahly. The Daraweesh scored 34 goals and conceded 17. Ali Abu Greisha was the leading scorer with 15 goals; Shehta, Sayed Abdel Razek, and Reeo scored 4 each; Sayed Hamed, El Araby, Tarboush, Mostafa Darwish, and Mohamed Maaty each scored once.

Coach Thompson Salah Abu Greisha coached the team for the first half of the League, but after a few shaky performances, Eng. Osman Ahmed Osman traveled to London, and returned with Ismaily's first ever foreign coach: English Thompson. Thompson worked with Salah Abu Greisha to keep the team in top form.

Ismaily's results for the season:

• Masry (3–1), (1–0)
• Zamalek (1–1), (2–1)
• Tayran (2–0), (1–1)
• Ittihad (1–0), (2–1)
• Domyat (2–0), (1–0)
• Olympic Club (1–0, 3–1)
• Ahly (1–3 [only defeat]), (1–0)
• Suez (1–0), (0–0)
• Seka (2–1), (1–0)[2]

In 1969, Ismaily became the first Egyptian and Arab team to become the African Champion with the support of All league clubs' fans in the game that was held in Cairo Stadium.

After the League victory of 1967, Ismaily entered the African Champions League of 1969, despite gruelling local conditions following the war. Ismaily made it to the top, undefeated, and won the title in Cairo Stadium, which was packed over-capacity.

Ismaily players ready for the final match, 1969

Ismaily champion of Africa

Ali Abu Greisha Ismaily played 8 games, winning 5 of them and tying three. A total of 22 goals were scored; Ali Abu Greisha scored 8, Sayed "Bazooka" scored 6, Amiro scored 4, Hendawy scored 2, and Anoos and Senary each scored 1. Only 9 goals were scored in Ismaily's goal. Ismaily was being coached by Ali Osman and Salah Abu Greisha at the time.

Ismaily also participated in the next African Champions League as defending Champion, and borrowed several players from other Egyptian clubs. Despite this, Ismaily was knocked out in the semi-finals by a Ghanaian team.

Ismaily then participated in the next tournament (the 7th), but was again eliminated by the same team. In the eighth tournament, Ismaily was eliminated early by the Ahly of Libya. In the ninth tournament, Ismaily made it to the quarter-finals but was then forced to withdraw due to the October war.

Ismaily would not play any African championships for several years, until participating in the African Cup of Cup Winners. Ismaily was knocked out in the semi-finals by Ahly.

Ismaily participated in the Champions League again in 1990, but was eliminated in the semi-finals by Al Hilal of Sudan.

In 1995, in the Cup of Cup Winners, Ismaily was eliminated by Asec Abidjan after an embarrassing 5–1 loss. In the CAF Cup a few years later, Ismaily achieved second place, after Shabibat Al Kaba'il of Algeria after tying 1–1 at home and 0–0 away.[3]

Ismaily also participated in the Champions League in 2019 but was defeated in the group stage.[4]

Ismaily players celebrating after winning the CAF Champions League in 1969

It took 24 years for Ismaily to win the League a second time. In the 1990/1991 season, Ismaily won their second Egyptian League title. Ismaily defeated Ahly, 2–0 in a decisive match in Mahala Stadium.

The competition was between Ahly, Zamalek, and Ismaily. Ismaily played 35 matched, including the final match against Ahly, . The team had 53 points, and scored 47 goals. The team won 20 matches:

• Port Fouad (4–0)
• Tersana (1–0)
• Olympic (3–0)
• Sekka (2–1), (1–0)
• Mansoura (3–0)
• Mahala (2–1)
• Ittihad (4–0), (1–0)
• Mokawiloon (3–0)
• Al Minya (2–0)
• Aswan (2–0), (1–0)
• Al Kroum (1–0), (2–0)
• Suez (3–0), (1–0)
• Shibeen (1–0), (3–0)
• Ahly (2–0) (decisive match)

The team tied 13 matches against: Marreekh, Zamalek, Ahly, Mokawiloon, Mansoura (1–1); Al Minya, Mahala, Port Fouad, Olympic, Masry (0–0).

Ismaily lost twice, once to Ahly and once to Tersana, 1–0.

Fekry El Sagheer was the top scorer for the daraweesh, scoring a total of 13 goals. Besheer Abdel Samad scored 6, Atef Abdel Aziz scored 4, Yaser Ezzat and Hamza El Gamal scored 3, Ayman Ragab and Mohamed Salah Abu Greisha and Adham El Selehdar scored 2, and each of Shams Hamed, Hamadah Marzouk, Essam Abdel Al and Ahmed Kinawy scored 1.[5]

Ismaily fans had experienced the League and the African Championship titles, so it was natural to expect a Cup victory soon. Ismaily won its first Cup title in the 1996–1997 season.

Ismaily faced several hard matches in the playoff. In the quarter-finals, Ismaily faced Zamalek in Ismailia Stadium and barely managed a 4–3 victory, with the last goal being scored in extra time. Ahmed Fekry and Magdy el Sayad each scored two. Ismaily then faced Port Fouad, the Black Horse of the tournament. Ismaily defeated Port Fouad 2–0 in Port Said; Ahmed Fekry scored both.

The final game was against Ahly in Cairo Stadium. Almost all Egyptian football fans expected a Red victory. Earlier that season, Ahly had crushed Ismaily 6–0 at home, which had resulted in the replacement of the team's board of directors. It seemed that Ismaily was not ready to take on Ahly. The match also witnessed the return of star defender Hamza El Gamal, who had been playing in Kuwait for one year.

Surprisingly, Ismaily defeated Ahly, by Ahmed Fekry's famous goal: a beautiful shot from outside the 18-yard box.

Ismaily was coached by Ali Abu Greisha and Ismail Hefny at the time.[6]

Ismaily fans had to wait only three more years for the second Egyptian Cup victory. Ismaily was crowned Egyptian Cup Champion for the second time in history in the 1999–2000 season.

It seemed only fair that Ismaily should win at least this competition that season. Ismaily played an excellent season beginning the League's second half, and ended up second, narrowing the gap between them and Ahly to six points.

After that, however, the team was totally dedicated to winning the Cup. In the quarter-finals, Ismaily defeated Mansoura 2–0 in Ismailia Stadium. The two goals were African: Mamado Kita scored the first and John Otaka added the second. In the semis, Ismaily faced Ahly in Ismailia in a historical game. Ismaily was fired up to win the Cup; Ahly wanted to avenge a 4–3 loss in the same stadium a few months prior to this game.

The match ended 4–2 for Ismaily. Mohamed Barakat and John Otaka each scored two goals.

In the finals, Ismaily met Mokawiloon, who had eliminated Zamalek in the semis. However, Mokawiloon was no match for Ismaily's spirit and talent, and despite playing an excellent match, lost 4–0. John Otaka and Barakat each scored once, and Mohamed Salah Abu Greisha scored two.

The following players participated in the Cup that season: Abdel Kader El Brazy, Ibrahim Farag, Mohamed Sobhy, Islam El Shater, Ayman Ramadan, Emad El Nahas, Reda Seka, Mohamed Younis, Sayed Moawwad, Hamam Ibrahim, Mohamed Hommos, Hossam Abdel Al, Saad Abdel Baky, Ahmed Salem, Mohamed Barakat, Ayman El Gamal, Tarek Fahiem, Mamado Kita, John Otaka, Sayed Ghareib, Khaled Bebo, Mohamed Salah Abu Greisha.

Mohsen Saleh managed the team, and was assisted by Mahmoud Gaber and Besheer Abdel Samad.[7]

• Egyptian Premier League

Winners (3): 1966–67, 1990–91, 2001–02

• Egypt Cup

Winners (2): 1996–97, 1999–2000

• CAF Champions League

Winners (1): 1969

As of 3 February 2023

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  EGY Mohamed Fawzy 2 DF  EGY Baher El Mohamady (Vice-Captain) 3 MF  EGY Mohamed Desouki 4 MF  EGY Emad Hamdy 6 DF  EGY Mohamed Nasr 7 FW  EGY Mahmoud Shabrawy 8 MF  EGY Omar El Wahsh 10 FW  EGY Abdel Rahman Magdy 11 FW  EGY Mohamed El Shamy 12 DF  EGY Ahmed Mohsen 13 GK  EGY Ahmed Adel (3rd Captain) 14 MF  EGY Saleh Gomaa 15 DF  TUN Hamdi Nagguez 16 GK  EGY Mohamed Koko 18 MF  EGY Mohamed Hassan 20 FW  EGY Mohamed Abdelsamia 21 MF  EGY Ahmed Madbouly

No. Pos. Nation Player 22 DF  EGY Essam Sobhy 23 DF  EGY Mohamed Ammar 24 DF  EGY Karim Arafat 25 MF  EGY Mohamed Khalifa 27 MF  EGY Mostafa Fares 28 FW  TUN Firas Chaouat 29 DF  EGY Mohamed Hashem 30 FW  TOG Yaw Annor 33 MF  EGY Mohamed Bayoumi 34 DF  EGY Eyad El Askalany 39 MF  EGY Omar El Saaiy 40 MF  EGY Marwan Hamdi 45 FW  CIV Abdoul Kader Coulibaly 77 FW  PLE Khaled Al-Nabris — GK  EGY Mohamed Sobhy — MF  CIV Serge Arnaud Aka — FW  EGY Karim El Deeb

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW  EGY Ahmed El Gendy (at El Qanah until 30 June 2019)

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  EGY Alaa Abdel Azim (at Olympic Club (Egypt))

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — FW  EGY Mahmoud Abdallah

No. Pos. Nation Player — DF  EGY Mohamed Ammar — DF  EGY Youssef Mansour 31 GK  EGY Kamal Elsayed — FW  EGY Gabry Youssef

Osman Ahmed Osman

The Osman Ahmed Osman family has played a major role in the development of the club. Five out of the club's six tournaments were won under the leadership of an Osman-family member. The club's first golden era, in which two tournaments were secured (Egyptian League and African Champions League), was established under the leadership of Osman Ahmed Osman, who continued to reside as President of the club for several years after that. Between 1996 and 2004, the Osman family entered the scene. This time, it was the second generation of Osman's leading the club. Osman Ahmed Osman's nephew, Ismail Osman, acted as Club President and chairman of the Board of Directors, while three of Osman's sons, Ibrahim Osman, Ahmed Osman, and Mahmoud Osman, held seats in the Board. In particular, Ibrahim Osman held the post of Vice President and was given the responsibility of running the club's football team and youth school. During this period, the team effectively doubled its tournament chest by winning three tournaments: the Egyptian Cup twice (1997, 2000) and the Egyptian League once (2002). In addition, the team became a powerful regional/continental force, reaching advanced stages of several African club competitions (2nd place in CAF Cup 2000, semi-finals of CAF Cup Winner's Cup 2001, and the 2nd place in CAF Champions League 2003, as well 2nd place in the first Arab Champions League, 2004). Most of this team's players ended up either abroad or at the two local rivals (Ahly/Zamalek), sometimes after an expired contract and sometimes after a direct sale. The club also fell victim to massive financial problems, prompting the resignation of the Osman family. Fans have debated fiercely about this sequence of events, with some blaming the Osman family for the club's problems, while others defending the administration as a highlight in the club's history. Since no tournaments have been achieved since their departure, many fans currently call for a return of Osman administration.

• Osman Ahmed Osman
• Ismail Osman
• Ibrahim Osman

• Adel Abou Greisha
• Ahmed Abou Greisha
• Ali Abo Greisha
• Atef Abou Greisha
• Awad Abou Greisha
• Dawod Abou Greisha
• Ibrahim Abou Greisha
• Ismail Abou Greisha
• Mohammed Abou Greisha
• Mohammed Mohsen Abou Greisha
• Mohammed Salah Abou Greisha
• Said Abou Greisha
• Salah Abou Greisha
• Yousif Abou Greisha