Hazem Emam
A graceful playmaker for Egypt's most storied club, whose midfield elegance later translated into a surprising second act in national politics.
Born 1975 (age 51)·Egyptian footballer·Birthday: May 10·Generation X
Biography
Hazem Emam's story is one of loyalty and unexpected transitions. For over a decade, the attacking midfielder was synonymous with Cairo's Zamalek SC, a club where his father was also a legend. On the pitch, Emam was a technician, known for his slick dribbling, incisive passing, and a knack for scoring in critical continental matches. He was a central figure in Zamalek's domestic and African successes in the late 1990s and early 2000s, embodying a classic style of creative midfield play. His post-football life took a dramatic turn away from sports administration, which many expected, and into the heart of Egyptian governance. He successfully ran for parliament, swapping the roar of the stadium for the debates of the chamber, a move that surprised fans and completed his journey from local sporting icon to a figure on the national political stage.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Hazem was born in 1975, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Hazem Was Born
The biggest hits of 1975
#1 Movie
Jaws
Best Picture
One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Hazem's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1975Born
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1980Started school
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1988Became a teenager
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1991Could drive
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1993Could vote
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1996Turned 21
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2005Turned 30
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 40
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2025Turned 50
AI agents go mainstream
Gas: $3.10/galHome: $385,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"APT." — Rose & Bruno Mars
2026Age 51 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the CAF Champions League with Zamalek SC in 2002, scoring in the second leg of the final.
- Captained the Egyptian national team during the latter part of his international career.
- Helped Zamalek secure multiple Egyptian Premier League titles and Egypt Cup victories throughout the 1990s and early 2000s.
- Elected as a member of the Egyptian House of Representatives for the Dokki district in 2015.
Did You Know?
He is the son of Yehia El Horria, a famous former goalkeeper and captain for Zamalek SC.
His nickname is 'The Black Pearl,' a common moniker for skilled players in African football.
He played his entire club career in Egypt, solely for Zamalek, apart from a brief loan to Denizlispor in Turkey.
He served on the board of directors for the Egyptian Football Association after retiring as a player.
“My heart has always been with Zamalek; it is more than a club.”
