DBasia.news – Essam El-Hadary’s name is not as famous as Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, or Neymar. But for the people of Egypt El-Hadary is as famous – one tier – Mohamed Salah or the legend: Mido.
Throughout his career El-Hadary has never played at a top European club, but he has traveled to Switzerland, Sudan, Saudi Arabia apart from Egypt, winning three consecutive African Cup titles with Egypt in 2006, 2008 and 2010.
Some of the clubs he has worked for are Al-Ahly, Sion, Al Merreikh, and most recently in 2019 with Nogoom. In his homeland El-Hadary was known as The High Dam.
Not without reason, El-Hadary has a body posture with a height of 1.90 meters and long hands, his large figure makes his opponent reluctant. Now El-Hadary has decided to hang up his gloves, aka retire.
“I started from the beginning. I set a dream and strive for it, and ambition has always been my highest goal … and that ambition will remain my leader to write new history after I retire from football,” El-Hadary said on his official Twitter account @ElHadary.
Having 159 caps with the Egyptian national team that he has defended from 1996 to 2018, one of El-Hadary’s golden moments highlighted by FIFA occurred at the 2019 World Cup.
Egypt played Saudi Arabia in the group stage and El-Hadary saved the Saudi Arabian player’s penalty. When he played El-Hadary broke the record previously held by Colombia goalkeeper Faryd Mondragon.
At the 2018 World Cup El-Hadary also made a golden record in the history of the World Cup. He became the oldest player in the World Cup playing at 45 years 161 days. El-Hadary left a legacy at the World Cup that is difficult to pass and he is now focused on a coaching career.
“I will not join any club and all these rumors are completely false. I took many courses in Europe and on probation with several world class teams. And now, thanks for your support, I am ready to start my coaching career,” said El-Hadary.
“I want to thank my teammates, who have shared the pitch with me for generations. I also want to thank every coach I’ve worked with as well as the administrative and medical staff.” “And to all the workers, whom I consider brothers, who helped me throughout my career. And a special thanks to my country, Egypt. I hope one day I can close the curtain of my football career and look back without regrets,” he explained.