Egypt’s Essam El-Hadary is the 45-year-old keeper whose daughter was engaged to his team-mate
Pharaohs star will become oldest ever World Cup player if he plays against Uruguay on Friday afternoon
HE is the 45-year-old keeper who is about to become the World Cup’s oldest player.
But Egypt’s veteran captain Essam El-Hadary has revealed he still has no plans to retire!
The stopper will break the record set in 2014 by 43-year-old Colombian Faryd Mondragon if, as expected, he starts against Uruguay on Friday afternoon.
And El-Hadary, who plays for Saudi side Al-Taawoun, said: “This moment will be in the history books forever.
“I'm 45 years old but I have trained very well like a teenager. By working hard, age is just a number.
“I have ambitions to play a great World Cup with Egypt and I hope to be in the last 16 at least. I can’t say if I will retire from football after the World Cup.
“Anything is possible and who knows if I carry on? You may see me with another team from next season.
“After the World Cup, I will announce a surprise for all football fans around the world.”
El-Hadary was born in 1973 in the small town of Kafr al-Battikh, which in English means ‘Watermelon Village’ - and is why he sometimes celebrates wins by eating that fruit.
As a kid he kept football a secret from his family, who had ordered him to work hard at school or follow his father into making furniture.
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He finally told his dad about his new career after he signed for Egyptian second-division side Damietta, which he would get to by running 7km from his home - and then train without gloves.
El-Hadary made his senior debut for them in 1993 but signed for Egyptian giants Al Ahly three years later.
That was when he also won the first of his 158 international caps - ten months before the youngest player in their World Cup squad, Ramadan Sobhi, was even born!
After 12 years at Al Ahly, El-Hadary joined Swiss side Sion but he was banned by Fifa for four months because he left while under contract and without telling his employers!
El-Hadary has played for six different clubs in Egypt since then, as well as spending two seasons in Sudan and having a trial at Hull in 2011.
He has won four African Nations Cup but it has always been his dream to play in the World Cup - and this is Egypt’s first since 1990.
Road To Russia
QUALIFYING RESULTS:
Second Round
14/11/2015 Chad A 0-1
17/11/2015 Chad H 4-0
Third Round
09/10/2016 Congo A 2-1
13/11/2016 Ghana H 2-0
31/08/2017 Uganda A 0-1
05/09/2017 Uganda H 1-0
08/10/2017 Congo H 2-1
12/11/2017 Ghana A 1-1
TOP SCORERS:
5 Mohamed Salah
3 Abdalla El Said
2 Koka
MOST APPEARANCES:
8 Mohamed Elneny
6 Ahmed Hegazy
6 Abdalla El Said
El-Hadary, who is nicknamed the High Dam after his country’s famous water-blocking barrier, said: “I feel proud of being captain of this team. They always want to learn from my experiences.
“I played with a great generation of Egyptian football, but this generation is characterised by the ambition of so many players who are shining in Europe.”
El-Hadary’s daughter, Shadwa, was actually engaged to his World Cup team-mate Kahraba last year - but they split up after it emerged the winger was already due to wed an actress!
Yet if that has created one frosty relationship in the dressing room, the golden oldie goalie has a lot of time for Mo Salah, who is fighting to be fit for their Group A opener in Ekaterinburg.
The Liverpool superstar turns 26 on Friday - 19 years younger than his skipper.
But El-Hadary said: “Like me, he plays with a desire to be the best.
“He deserved what he has achieved with Liverpool, and he is a leader like me, even though I am the one who is wearing the captain's armband.”
Whether or not Salah starts, Egypt will have their work cut out against Luis Suarez & Co, who are strong favourites to top their group.
El-Hadary added: “I respect Suarez and Edinson Cavani but I don’t fear them.
“Any positive result in the first match will give us a great push, because how we start is the most important thing in any competition.
“Getting a win or a draw against Uruguay would open the road for Egypt and give us more stability in the group.”