Essam El Hadary

El Hadary was born in Kafr El Battikh, Damietta.{{cite news|url=http://m.youm7.com/story/2017/2/4/أهالى-كفر-البطيخ-بدمياط-يدشنون-مبادرة-عصام-الحضرى-يرجع-الأهلى/3087031|script-title=ar:أهالى كفر البطيخ بدمياط يدشنون مبادرة عصام الحضرى يرجع الأهلى |website=youm7.com |date=4 February 2017 |language=ar|access-date=9 October 2017}} His father was a craftsman who owned his own workshop making furniture. El Hadary took up playing football without his parents' knowledge, washing his muddy clothes in a local river after playing in order to avoid them knowing. He was spotted by his local football team before being signed by Second Division club Damietta at age 17. In his first training session, he was offered goalkeeping gloves, having previously never worn a pair, but refused to wear them and would run the {{convert|7|km}} to training every day.{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2018/may/30/essam-el-hadary-egypt-goalkeeper-45-world-cup-oldest-player|title=Essam El-Hadary: Egypt's 45-year-old goalkeeper stands on brink of history|last=Yousef|first=Ahmad|date=30 May 2018|work=The Guardian|access-date=30 May 2018}} He made his first team debut for Damietta in 1993 at the age of 20, and after two seasons signed a pre-contract with Egyptian champions Al Ahly. In 12 years at the Cairo club he won eight Egyptian Premier League titles, four Egypt Cups, four Egyptian Super Cups, four CAF Champions League titles, three CAF Super Cups, one Arab Club Champions Cup, and two Arab Super Cups.

Swiss club FC Sion announced that they had signed El Hadary on a four-year contract in February 2008, despite objections from his club, Al Ahly, due to the fact that he was still under contract with them.{{cite web|title=Ahly fume over El-Hadary move |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/7259018.stm |access-date=22 June 2018 |website=BBC Sport |date=25 February 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7269503.stm|title=Sion unveil Egypt's El-Hadary|access-date=8 October 2011|date=28 February 2008|website=BBC Sport}} El Hadary was fined and suspended by Al Ahly,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7290167.stm|title=Battle for El Hadary continues|access-date=8 October 2011|date=11 March 2008|website=BBC Sport}} before world governing body FIFA gave permission for Sion to complete the deal.{{cite press release|title=FIFA rule on El Hadary dispute |url=https://www.fifa.com/live-scores/news/y=2008/m=4/news=fifa-rule-hadary-dispute-744739.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180623112918/https://www.fifa.com/live-scores/news/y=2008/m=4/news=fifa-rule-hadary-dispute-744739.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=23 June 2018 |publisher=FIFA |access-date=22 June 2018 |date=18 April 2008}}{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/7352662.stm|title=El Hadary free to play for Sion|access-date=8 October 2011|date=17 April 2008|website=BBC Sport}}

In 2009, FIFA suspended El Hadary and penalized Sion,{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/8006957.stm|title=Fifa takes El-Hadary decision|access-date=8 October 2011|date=19 April 2009|website=BBC Sport}} even though he had already decided to return to Egypt.{{cite web|title=El Hadary banned for four months |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8079834.stm |access-date=22 June 2018 |website=BBC Sport |date=2 June 2009}} In July, while his suspension was stayed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS),{{cite web|title=El Hadary's Fifa ban blocked |access-date=22 June 2018 |website=BBC Sport |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8138911.stm |date=7 July 2009}} El Hadary moved to Egyptian Premier League side Ismaily.{{cite news|url=https://www.filgoal.com/articles/145996/ismaili-conclude-al-hadari-deal|title=Ismaili conclude Al-Hadari deal |last=Hassan |first=Amro |date=20 July 2009 |work=FilGoal |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140827033125/http://www.filgoal.com/English/News.aspx?NewsID=57879|archive-date=27 August 2014|url-status=live|access-date=22 June 2018}} In 2010, his four month suspension was upheld by the CAS,{{cite web|title=El Hadary ban confirmed by CAS |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/8716370.stm |access-date=22 June 2018 |website=BBC Sport |date=1 June 2010}} and in January a Swiss civil court upheld the ban and fines and additionally ordered him to pay FIFA's court costs.{{cite press release|title=FIFA statement on Swiss Federal Court ruling |url=https://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2011/m=1/news=fifa-statement-swiss-federal-court-ruling-1367296.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151023004253/http://www.fifa.com/about-fifa/news/y=2011/m=1/news=fifa-statement-swiss-federal-court-ruling-1367296.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 October 2015|publisher=FIFA| access-date=22 June 2018|date=19 January 2011}}{{cite web|title=El Hadary ordered to pay Fifa |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/africa/9366734.stm |access-date=22 June 2018 |website=BBC Sport |date=19 January 2011 |quote=Switzerland's supreme court has ordered Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary to pay Fifa $12,500 in legal costs over his failed appeal against a ban for breaking his contract.}}

In December 2010, after a brief stint with Zamalek, he played for the Cairo giants for only one season. In 2011, El Hadary moved to Sudanese club Al-Merreikh.{{cite news| title=El-Hadary joins Sudanese side Al-Merreikh|url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/2185.aspx |newspaper=Al-Ahram |access-date=8 October 2011|date=19 December 2010}} After boycotting practices due to a pay dispute, he was loaned to Al-Ittihad Alexandria,{{cite news |last1=El Rasoul |first1=Ahmed Abd |title=Egypt's Ittihad to sign Merriekh's goalie El-Hadary |url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/6/0/32052/Sports/0/Egypt%E2%80%99s-Ittihad-to-sign-Merriekh%E2%80%99s-goalie-ElHadary.aspx |access-date=23 June 2018 |newspaper=Al-Ahram |date=18 January 2012}} but after a stadium riot in Port Said led to the suspension of the 2011–12 Egyptian Premier League season he returned to Sudan again.{{cite news |last1=Mohamed |first1=Mahmoud |title=Egypt's El-Hadary back to Sudan after Port Said violence |url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/6/51/33746/Sports/Egyptian-Football/Egypt%E2%80%99s-ElHadary-back-to-Sudan-after-Port-Said-vio.aspx |access-date=23 June 2018 |newspaper=Al-Ahram |date=5 February 2012}}{{cite news |title=Egypt keeper El-Hadary officially rejoins Sudanese Merriekh |url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/44070.aspx |access-date=23 June 2018 |newspaper=Al-Ahram |date=6 June 2012 }}

After his contract with Al-Merreikh expired, he returned to Egypt, joining Wadi Degla in 2013,{{cite news |last1=Elassal |first1=Mahmoud |title=Veteran keeper El-Hadary joins Wadi Degla: Agent |url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/6/51/89252/Sports/Egyptian-Football/Veteran-keeper-ElHadary-joins-Wadi-Degla-Agent.aspx |access-date=22 June 2018 |newspaper=Al-Ahram |date=16 December 2013 }} moving back to Ismaily in 2014,{{cite news |last1=Zaazou |first1=Omar |title=Veteran Egypt keeper El-Hadary joins Ismaily |url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/107057.aspx |access-date=22 June 2018 |newspaper=Al-Ahram |date=25 July 2014 }} and returning again to Wadi Degla in 2015.{{cite news |last1=El Rasoul |first1=Ahmed Abd |title=Egypt's veteran keeper El-Hadary extends contract at Wadi Degla |access-date=22 June 2018 |newspaper=Al-Ahram |url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/6/51/238653/Sports/Egyptian-Football/Egypts-veteran-keeper-ElHadary-extends-contract-at.aspx |date=13 August 2016 }} Throughout this period, he continued to be acclaimed one of the best footballers ever to play for Egypt or anywhere in Africa; in 2013 he was included in Bleacher Report's "50 Greatest African Players of All Time" list, ranked number 6.{{cite news |last1=Dove |first1=Ed |title=The 50 Greatest African Players of All Time |url=http://bleacherreport.com/articles/1781781-the-50-greatest-african-players-of-all-time#slide46 |access-date=23 June 2018 |work=Bleacher Report |date=25 September 2013}}

In 2017, an argument with a teammate led to El Hadary being thrown off the Wadi Degla team briefly.{{cite news |title=Wadi Degla offer Egypt goalkeeper El-Hadary for transfer |url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContent/6/51/258731/Sports/Egyptian-Football/Wadi-Degla-offer-Egypt-goalkeeper-ElHadary-for-tra.aspx |access-date=23 June 2018 |newspaper=Al-Ahram |date=23 February 2017 |quote=El-Hadary was dismissed from the Wadi Degla squad for the game against Ahly in the Egyptian Premier League on Thursday for misconduct after he quarreled with the team's second choice goalie Khaled Walid during trainings.}}{{cite web|title=Essam El Hadary: Egypt hero denies slapping Wadi Degla team-mate |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/39080003 |access-date=23 June 2018 |website=BBC Sport |date=24 February 2017 |quote=Wadi Degla president Maged Samy has suggested he will transfer El Hadary.... El Hadary said he later received a call from Samy, who told him that he could resume training after Thursday's game, but did not dismiss the possibility of a transfer.}} In June of that year, he signed for Al-Taawoun to become the first foreign goalkeeper to play in Saudi Arabia.{{cite news |title=Egypt's evergreen keeper El-Hadary joins Saudi's Al-Taawoun |url=http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/271717.aspx |access-date=23 June 2018 |newspaper=Al-Ahram |date=29 June 2017 }}{{cite web|title=Egypt's Essam El Hadary moves to Saudi Arabia |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/40444559 |website=BBC Sport |access-date=30 June 2017 |date=29 June 2017}}

On 2 July 2018, it was confirmed that El Hadary had joined Ismaily for the third time in his career.{{Cite web|title=Egypt's veteran keeper Essam El-Hadary rejoins Ismaily for third stint |first=Salma |last=Abdallah |website=KingFut |date=2 July 2018 |access-date=2 July 2018 |url=https://www.kingfut.com/2018/07/02/hadary-rejoins-ismaily-third/}}

On 28 January 2019, El Hadary signed with Nogoom.{{cite web|url=https://www.kingfut.com/2019/01/28/nogoom-fc-sign-essam-el-hadary/|title=OFFICIAL: Nogoom FC announce signing of Essam El-Hadary|website=KingFut|date=28 January 2019}} However, he left the club following their relegation at the end of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.elbalad.news/3824950|title=بعد الهبوط للقسم الثانى.. عصام الحضرى يرحل عن النجوم|website=elbalad.news|language=ar|date=13 May 2019}}

On 18 November 2020, El Hadary announced his official retirement in order to start his coaching career.{{cite web|url=https://www.kingfut.com/2020/11/18/el-hadary-announces-official-retirement/ |title=El-Hadary announces official retirement, denies return rumors |website=KingFut |date=18 November 2020 }}

El Hadary represented Egypt a total of 159 times from his debut in 1996 until his retirement in 2018. He won the African Cup of Nations four times with his country. He was chosen as the best goalkeeper in the 2006 African Cup of Nations, held in homeland Egypt, in the 2008 African Cup of Nations, held in Ghana and for the 2010 African Cup of Nations, held in Angola.

In January 2013, his agent tweeted that El Hadary had retired from international football after being benched for a run of games, being the 23rd most capped international player in history and also the player with most African Cup of Nations titles. He returned to the national team in a match against Bosnia Herzegovina on 5 March 2014, winning 2–0.

File:KSA-EGY (9).jpg at the 2018 FIFA World Cup]]

On 4 June 2016, El Hadary played the full 90 minutes in a 2–0 win against Tanzania which secured Egypt's qualification for 2017 Africa Cup of Nations. On 17 January 2017, two days after his 44th birthday, he became the oldest player to ever appear in an Africa Cup of Nations match after replacing Ahmed El-Shenawy in Egypt's first match of the tournament then on 5 February 2017 on a final match of the tournament against Cameroon he was then 44 years and 21 days.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/38565653|title=Africa Cup of Nations: Mali 0-0 Egypt|date=13 November 2017|website=BBC Sport|quote=Egypt goalkeeper Essam El Hadary became the oldest player at an Africa Cup of Nations tournament as he kept a clean sheet in their draw against Mali}}

On 1 February 2017, El Hadary saved two penalties as Egypt defeated Burkina Faso 4–3 in a penalty shoot-out to advance to the 2017 Africa Cup of Nations Final.{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2017/feb/01/burkina-faso-v-egypt-afcon-2017-semi-final-live|title=Burkina Faso 1-1 Egypt (3-4 pens): Afcon 2017 semi-final – as it happened|first=Niall|last=McVeigh|newspaper=The Guardian |date=1 February 2017|via=www.theguardian.com}}

In June 2018, at the age of 45, he was named in Egypt's 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He was the oldest of all players selected for the tournament, beating the record by Colombian goalkeeper Faryd Mondragón in the previous edition of the tournament.{{cite news|last=Pimiento |first=Juan |date=1 June 2018 |access-date=9 June 2018 |url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/90minutes/ct-90mins-from-oldest-player-to-most-world-cups-played-the-records-at-stake-in-russia-2018-story.html|title= From oldest player to most World Cups played, the records at stake in Russia 2018 |work=Chicago Tribune }} On 25 June, El Hadary was handed a start in Egypt's final group match against Saudi Arabia to become the oldest player ever to play in and debut at a World Cup at the age of 45 years and 161 days, once again breaking Mondragón's record of 43 years and three days. El Hadary stopped a penalty kick in the first half of the match, but subsequently conceded from a second penalty just before half time; his team eventually lost the game 2–1 after conceding a goal in stoppage time.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/live/football/43969305 |title=Injury-time goal gives Saudis first World Cup win since 1994 |website=BBC Sport |author1=Neil Johnston |date=25 June 2018 |access-date=25 June 2018 }}{{cite web |url=http://www.espn.co.uk/football/egypt/story/3543534/egypts-essam-el-hadary-now-world-cups-oldest-player-saves-penalty |title=Egypt's Essam El-Hadary now World Cup's oldest-ever player, saves penalty |publisher=ESPN FC |date=25 June 2018 |access-date=25 June 2018 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/live/2018/jun/25/saudi-arabia-v-egypt-world-cup-2018-live |title=Saudi Arabia 2–1 Egypt |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Barry |last=Glendenning |date=25 June 2018 |access-date=25 June 2018 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/el-hadary-world-cup-history-2968573 |title=El Hadary makes World Cup History |publisher=FIFA |author1=Belal Mostafa |date=25 June 2018 |access-date=26 June 2018 }}

On 7 August 2018, El Hadary announced his international retirement at the age of 45.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.in/football/egypt/story/3587776/veteran-egypt-goalkeeper-essam-el-hadary-retires|title=Essam El Hadary finally calls it quits|date=7 August 2018 |publisher=ESPN FC|access-date=7 August 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/45094714|title=Essam El-Hadary: World Cup's oldest player retires from Egypt duty|work=BBC Sport |date=7 August 2018 |access-date=7 August 2018}} In November 2019, the FIFA World Football Museum exhibited El Hadary's gloves of his World Cup match for being the tournament's oldest player and the first African goalkeeper ever to save a penalty.{{cite web|url=http://www.fifamuseum.com/stories/blog/egypt-s-record-goalkeeper-essam-el-hadray-the-fifa-museum-brings-the-h-2621576/|title=Egypt's Record-Goalkeeper Essam El Hadary: 'The FIFA Museum brings the history of football to life'|website=FIFA Museum|date=6 November 2019}}

In September 2021, El Hadary became the goalkeeping coach of Egypt national team until March 2022,{{cite web |url=https://english.ahram.org.eg/NewsContentP/6/487572/Sports/Egypt-legendary-keeper-Essam-ElHadary-joins-Cuper-.aspx |title=Egypt legendary keeper Essam El-Hadary joins Cuper staff in Syria |work=ahram.org |date=5 February 2023 }} before joining Rogério Micale's Egypt U23 staff in August 2022.{{cite web |url=https://www.kingfut.com/2022/08/14/essam-el-hadary-rogerio-micale-staff/ |title=Essam El-Hadary included in Rogério Micale's Egypt U-23 backroom staff |work=KingFut |date=14 August 2022 }} In February 2023, he became part of Héctor Cúper's coaching staff of Syria national team.{{cite web |url=https://www.kingfut.com/2023/02/06/el-hadary-hector-cuper-syria/ |title=OFFICIAL: El-Hadary joins Hector Cuper's coaching staff in Syria |work=KingFut |date=6 February 2023 }}

File:Essam El Hadary (cropped).jpg, during the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations.]]

Sources:{{NFT player|id=2084}}{{cite web |first=Roberto |last=Mamrud |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/hadary-intl.html |title=Essam El-Hadary – Century of International Appearances |publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation |date=5 July 2018 |access-date=8 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241226171251/https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/hadary-intl.html |archive-date=26 December 2024 |url-status=live}}

Al Ahly

• Egyptian Premier League: 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07
• Egypt Cup: 2000–01, 2002–03, 2005–06, 2006–07
• Egyptian Super Cup: 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007
• CAF Champions League: 2001, 2005, 2006
• CAF Super Cup: 2002, 2006, 2007

Sion

• Swiss Cup: 2008–09{{cite news |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesz/zwitcuphistfull.html |title=Switzerland Cup Details |publisher=RSSSF |access-date=18 August 2022}}

Al Merreikh

• Sudan Premier League: 2011, 2013
• Sudan Cup: 2012, 2013

Egypt

• Africa Cup of Nations: 1998, 2006, 2008, 2010
• Pan Arab Games: 2007

Egypt Military

• World Military Cup: 2001

Egypt U23

• All-Africa Games: 1995

;Individual

• CAF Champions League Best Goalkeeper: 2001, 2005, 2006
• Africa Cup of Nations Best Goalkeeper: 2006, 2008, 2010

• List of footballers with 100 or more caps

{{Reflist}}

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Category:1973 births

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