Ceramica Cleopatra, competing in the Egyptian Premier League, announced on Thursday the appointment of former Egypt and Al Ahly defender Saad Samir as football director, one day after he announced his retirement from playing.

Samir (37) ended a decorated football career on Wednesday, having won 28 titles, most of them with Al Ahly, before finishing his journey with Ceramica Cleopatra.

The club said in a statement: 'Ceramica Cleopatra announces the appointment of Saad Samir as football director of the first team, as part of the club's strategy to enhance the administrative work system and benefit from national talents who possess experience, vision, and the ability to make a difference.'

It added: 'Samir is one of the most prominent defenders in Egyptian football, having written his name in golden letters on the fields, achieved an exceptional career full of local, continental, and international titles and achievements, and was known over many years for professionalism, discipline, and leadership personality, making him one of the distinguished figures inside and outside the green rectangle.'

It continued: 'The decision to retire from football was not the end of his career, but rather the beginning of a new phase of giving.'

Saad Samir has prepared for this role by developing himself scientifically and practically, and his selection as football director comes from the great confidence in his abilities and the cumulative experience he gained over many years within the biggest clubs and tournaments, along with his leadership personality and ability to manage the system with a team spirit, serving the club's goals and enhancing its ambitions in the coming phase.

Samir played for 14 years with Al Ahly, winning 26 titles during that period, and also won two League Cup titles with Ceramica Cleopatra. He represented the Egyptian national team at all age levels, starting from the youth teams to the Olympic team and the senior team, and participated in the Africa Cup of Nations tournaments, and was also in the national team's squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.

He also played for a number of other Egyptian clubs.