Mohamed Salah Career Journey: From Egypt to Liverpool Legend

Childhood and Schooling

Salah was born in the sleepy town of Nagrig, and her early years were anything but glitzy. He grew up in a modest family where football was a beloved aspect of neighborhood life. Salah went to a nearby school in Basyoun, but he found it difficult to juggle football practice with coursework. But football was always his top priority, and he frequently traveled long distances to join Cairo training sessions.

Even though his community lacked the resources and infrastructure, Salah’s innate brilliance was apparent at an early age. His father was supportive of his aspirations and frequently urged him to put in a lot of effort and have faith in his abilities.

Motivators & Examples

Growing up, Mohamed Salah watched football greats like Francesco Totti, Ronaldo Nazário, and Zinedine Zidane. But what really motivated him was Totti’s dedication and professionalism, something Salah would eventually imitate during his time at Roma.

Salah has also acknowledged in interviews that his early discipline and attitude were shaped by his parents and trainers at Arab Contractors. His character, both on and off the field, is also greatly influenced by his Islamic beliefs.

Upbringing and Introduction to Football

Salah started playing football with neighborhood teams in his village. One of Cairo’s biggest clubs, Arab Contractors (Al Mokawloon), scouted him when he was fourteen years old. He traveled for training sessions for four to five hours every day, demonstrating an unmatched level of dedication. He began participating in the Egyptian Premier League by the age of 17.

After the Port Said Stadium tragedy in 2012, the Egyptian league was banned, which prompted Salah to look for work elsewhere. He eventually signed with FC Basel in Switzerland, which was his first experience playing in Europe.

Career Stats (as of June 2025)