Egypt and Al Ahly legend Essam El-Hadary has suggested that he is the best goalkeeper produced in the north African country.
El-Hadary officially retired from football in 2019 after a brief stint at former Egyptian Premier League side Nogoom.
The 49-year-old had a successful career at club and international levels. He won four Africa Cup of Nations titles with Egypt. He made history by becoming the oldest player ever to make a Fifa World Cup appearance at 45 years old as he started against Saudi Arabia at the 2018 World Cup in Russia.
With Ahly, he clinched 21 domestic and continental trophies during a 12-year stint. El-Hadary also featured for Switzerland’s FC Sion, Zamalek, Sudan’s Al Merreikh, Ittihad of Alexandria, Wadi Degla, Ismaily, and Saudi side Al Tawwon.
In an interview on Saudi TV channel Al-Riyadiyah, El-Hadary said: “I am one of the very few Egyptian players who have won championships in Europe.
“I played for Sion for one-and-a-half years, and I managed to win the Swiss Cup. I am the best goalkeeper in the history of Egypt. The numbers simply prove it, and this is not my personal opinion.”
There were rumours of a dispute between El-Hadary and Ahly and Egypt’s number one goalkeeper Mohamed El-Shenawy but, El-Hadary says that’s not true.
“There is no dispute with El-Shenawy; these are just rumours. I love El-Shenawy, and I was delighted when I heard him say that I am his idol,” he concluded.
