In Egyptian football, there are clubs that have not only been names but have been an integral part of the game's history, producing champions and writing pages that fans still remember today. However, times have changed, and the map has changed, with clubs that once competed with the big teams and filled the stands and produced stars for the national team, now some of them are far from the spotlight, searching for a way back to their former position.
The story of منتخب السويس, the sole representative of Suez city, begins in 1966 when two clubs, اتحاد السويس and السويس الرياضي, merged to form the club. The club's history dates back to 1923 when اتحاد السويس was first registered. The club has participated in the Egyptian Premier League under the name منتخب السويس بتروجيت, as announced by the Egyptian Premier League Association, although the Egyptian Football Association has not recognized the merger due to not meeting the necessary criteria.
Football in Suez began to spread in the streets and neighborhoods of the city before the Suez Canal Authority established the first social sports club in the Portofik area. The club, يونيون سبورتيف, was initially intended for company employees, mostly French and foreign, in addition to some Egyptians. In 1947, علي أفندي فايز, a petroleum company employee, and some young athletes and school students, founded the first sports club under the name الطلبة.
In 1948, the club's name was changed to السويس الرياضي. اتحاد السويس made its first appearance in the Egyptian Premier League in the 1955-1956 season, finishing seventh. السويس الرياضي participated in the top division for the first time in the 1957-1958 season. Following the end of the 1967 season, اتحاد السويس merged with السويس الرياضي to form منتخب السويس.
The club has participated in the Egyptian Premier League for 15 years, starting from the 1974-1975 season. They reached the Egypt Cup final in the 1989-1990 season but lost to المقاولون العرب 2-1. In the 1999-2000 season, they finished fourth in the Egypt Cup after beating المعادن 2-1, but the Egyptian Football Association canceled the result due to the club fielding an unregistered player.
The club has produced several notable players who have made an impact on Egyptian football, including كمال فريد, يوسف أبو العلا, حلمي شعراوي, أمين الأسناوي, and خالد بيبو. The club's achievements include finishing fourth in the Egyptian Premier League twice and winning the Egypt Cup runner-up twice.
Despite its rich history, the club is currently searching for a way to regain its former position in Egyptian football. With a loyal fan base and a determination to succeed, منتخب السويس is working hard to return to the top division and make its fans proud once again.
Key points
- The club's decline from a top division team to a team searching for a way back to its former glory.
- The club's rich history and notable players produced over the years.
- The club's current efforts to regain its former position in Egyptian football.
