Ice baths, almond milk, meditation and a 'house like a hospital': The secrets of Salah's success

A significant story is unfolding on the international scene. Ice baths, almond milk, meditation and a 'house like a hospital': The secrets of Salah's success2 hours ago Share Save Add as preferred on GoogleNada HeshamBBC News ArabicGetty ImagesWhen Mohamed Salah announced he would be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, 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 that is only one of the many elements that have made him a global icon and role model to people way beyond the city of Liverpool, in the UK, Europe, throughout Africa, across the Arab world and to Muslims everywhere. Salah's journey reflects an exceptional level of commitment, persistence and passion. Getty ImagesGrowing up in Nagrig, a remote village in Egypt, he 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.

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His route to success has been a rocky one but Salah recalls a moment when everything changed. "I was on the bench for two months," he told Sports Illustrated. "I told my father, 'I can't go… every day and be on the bench.

He said, 'Listen, everyone who became a big name after a long time, he suffered a lot . It's not going to be easy. Just keep focused, train hard and I'm sure you will play again and be great.

' That's a moment that I still remember… After a short period, I started playing again - and everything has worked out. "But it was only after several years of Egyptian club football that Salah's skills finally took him to Europe, where he signed for Basel, in the Swiss Super League. "From the first day I left Egypt for Basel's assessment, I told myself I had to become a different player," Salah told Egyptian television's Kol Youm programme.

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"I wanted to do a great achievement, to attract attention, and to become a player people love and follow. "Getty ImagesTo request: Complete the translations here: Fill-in the commissioning form with this title in English: Mo Salah graphics - 2026052020European acclaim did not come overnight, however. Salah struggled for game time at Chelsea and had to switch to Italy's Serie A to rebuild his career with Fiorentina and, from 2015-17, Roma.

On returning to England with Liverpool, he announced: "I like to play here in the Premier League. I'm happy to be back and I'm excited. "I will give everything for the club.

I am happy to be here - and I really want to win something for this club. ""If you look at me now and five years ago, everything has changed both mentally and physically," Salah told Sport in his first season at Anfield. "I'm trying to improve myself every day.

The development has drawn wide international attention, with diplomatic circles watching closely.