Mohamed Salah from Nagrig, a remote village in Egypt, kicked off his career kicked off his career at “Al Mokawloon Al Arab, travelling nine hours a day by bus, from the age of 14, for training in Cairo.” By the time you read this piece, Salah would have finished his career at Liverpool Football Club as one of the greatest players to have played for one of the greatest football clubs there has ever been.
“….Jürgen Klopp hailed him as “one of the all-time greats”. The ex-Reds boss managed him for his first five seasons at Anfield – in which Salah scored 156 goals, winning the Champions League, Premier League, three domestic cups, the Super Cup and the Club World Cup. He is indeed an exceptional footballer.”
But what makes Salah interesting is not just the unbelievable level of success he had on the field with Liverpool (eg. a goal or an assist every 90 minutes) but how he dealt with his body and his identity off the field.
Salah became the first football superstar of Arabic descent and his pride in his identity rubbed off not just on Liverpool fans but also on the rest of the Premiership. “Acknowledging Salah’s self-proclaimed pride in his Muslim identity, the fans sing: “If he’s good enough for you, he’s good enough for me, If he scores another few, then I’ll be Muslim too, If he’s good enough for you, he’s good enough for me, He’s sitting in the mosque, that’s where I want to be.””
Salah also took diet and fitness to a different level even in the context of the high standards prevalent in European pro football:
“An “inverted winger”, he attacks from wide on the right flank but then cuts inside, using body feints and rapid shifts in pace to dribble past defenders and shoot with his stronger left foot. Not content with this effective tactic, however, Salah has also undergone intensive training to gradually strengthen his right foot.
“I work on my weaknesses and try to improve all the time — in the gym alone after training, before training,” Salah told Sports Illustrated….
But for Salah, the hard work really starts when he comes home from training. He follows a strict routine built around diet, exercise and recovery. He uses elite-level gym and rehabilitation facilities, including his own home hyperbaric oxygen chamber to aid recovery and reduce fatigue.
And as well as at least twice daily gym sessions – followed by ice baths, to minimise soreness and inflammation – Salah also practises yoga and Pilates, to improve flexibility and prevent injuries….
Salah follows a strict diet rich in protein and greens. He typically eats five or six balanced meals a day that include foods such as eggs, avocado, broccoli, sweet potatoes, oats, almond milk and fruit. He stays away from sugar and eats only gluten-free brown bread. But when he returns to Egypt, he still enjoys traditional koshary, the national dish, of fried rice with lentils and onions.
Mental health is also a priority. Salah meditates for 15–20 minutes every day, either before sleep or upon waking, focusing on his goals and maintaining clarity. He plays regular games of chess, which helps his concentration and decision-making.”
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