Karim Hendawy’s handball career has been far more than an ordinary journey for a goalkeeper. It has been the story of a player who represented Egypt’s biggest clubs, embarked on a wide range of professional experiences, and left his mark on the national team, becoming one of the standout goalkeepers of Egypt’s golden generation.

Nicknamed “The Octopus,” Hendawy continues to add new chapters to his career after Greek club Olympiacos announced his signing ahead of the new season. The move marks the Egyptian goalkeeper’s return to European handball through the Greek league following a number of experiences across Europe and the Arab world.

From Football to “The Octopus”

Karim Hendawy began his sporting journey in football, playing for Al Mokawloon Al Arab before switching to handball, where he would eventually find his true path to stardom.

His talent began to emerge at Al Shams, before he went on to represent Egypt’s two traditional handball giants, Al Ahly and Zamalek. During his spells with both clubs, he enjoyed successful periods filled with domestic and continental titles, establishing himself as one of the most prominent names in Egyptian goalkeeping.

Hendawy also took a unique path in professional handball, moving between a number of European and Arab clubs, including Turkish side Beşiktaş, Romanian club Constanța and Saudi Arabia’s Mudhar.

In the summer of 2025, he took one of the most notable steps of his professional career by joining HSG Wetzlar, one of the clubs competing in Germany’s highly competitive Bundesliga. He later continued his journey in the Arab region with Libyan club Al-Ittihad, while also representing Qatar’s Al-Duhail in the Asian Championship.

From Egypt to Olympiacos

Now, the Egyptian goalkeeper is opening a new chapter in his career with Olympiacos, a move that highlights his ability to continue competing at the highest level while drawing on years of experience in international handball.

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At international level, Karim Hendawy has been closely associated with some of the most significant achievements in Egyptian handball in recent years. He was one of the key figures in a remarkable generation that restored Egypt to the global handball elite.

Hendawy has represented Egypt at every World Championship since 2011. He was also one of the heroes of the historic achievement at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, where the Pharaohs finished fourth in an unprecedented result for Egyptian and African handball.

His impact was not limited to the Olympics. He also played an important role in Egypt’s campaigns to win the African Handball Championship, with his name becoming synonymous with crucial saves and decisive moments for the national team.

Hendawy’s move to Olympiacos comes as Zamalek’s handball team undergoes major changes ahead of the new season, with several prominent players leaving the club, including Ahmed El-Ahmar, Mahmoud Khalil “Felfel” and Omar El-Wakil “Bakar.” Mohamed Tarek has also joined Olympiacos, while a number of other players have departed.

At the same time, Zamalek is working to rebuild its squad. The club is set to bring back goalkeeper Bassem El-Sebky after spells with Smouha and Tunisia’s Espérance, while also working on the return of Omar Bibo as part of its plans to reshape the team for the new season.

As the landscape of Egyptian handball continues to change, Karim Hendawy continues along his own remarkable path—from Al Shams to Al Ahly and Zamalek, and from Turkey, Romania and Germany to the Arab world, before arriving in Greece.

It has been a long journey that has made him one of the most experienced and widely traveled goalkeepers in Egyptian handball—and proved that “The Octopus” still has what it takes to make a difference and open new doors in the world of professional handball.