With Egypt's World Cup fast approaching, much of the talk surrounding Egypt’s first appearance at a finals since 1990 has been around whether or not Mo Salah will be fit following his injury in the Champions League final.
But while the hopes of nation fret on his fitness there are other reasons to be cheerful – just ask goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary.
The 45-year old shot-stopper who is known in his home country as the ‘High Dam’ is set to become the oldest player in World Cup history when he is likely to captain his side in their opening Group game against Uruguay in Yekaterinburg on June 15.
Should he do so as expected he will eclipse the previous record with ease, beating Colombian keeper Faryd Mondragon who came on as an 85th-minute substitute in Colombia’s final group game at Brazil 2014 just days after turning 43.
Now playing his football in Saudi Arabia with Al-Taawoun, El-Hadary shows no signs of slowing down and has been in bullish mood ahead of his historic appearance in Russia.
Like many , he did not have an easy path to the top of his sport and for that reason he enjoys every day of his career.
In a recent interview with French newspaper L’Equipe the goalie said: “I’ve always been a goalkeeper. But my father did not want me to be a footballer. For him, it was not a life. He even burned my equipment in front of me! I was destroyed. It was my mother who allowed me to continue hiding it from my father.
“I went to football by hiding my clothes in my pants. I sometimes went to training by jumping out of my window, dressed in city clothes. When I returned full of mud, I went in from the window not to pass in front of my father. I had to do all this to make my dream come true. I was not good at school, all I wanted was to be a goalkeeper.”
Born on the Northern costal city of Damietta in 1973, El-Hadary made his breakthrough with his hometown club before signing for Egyptian giants Al Ahly where he spent 12 seasons winning eight league titles.
After a season in Switzerland with FC Sion he returned to his homeland with Ismaily before signing for Al Ahly’s great rivals Zamalek. Spells at Al-Merrikh in Sudan and then back in Egypt with Wadi Degla and Ismaliy again led to him moving to his current side last year.
And his incredible career shows no sign of ending anytime soon.
Asked if he had any plans to retire following the World Cup, El-Hadary was as stoic as ever:
“Many people ask me if I’m tired of doing this job after twenty-five years. No! It’s a grace to be in this environment. As long as I feel that, I continue. As long as God wants, I will stay. As long as God gives me, I continue.
“If my body starts to refuse, then I’ll stop. No one on earth can tell El-Hadary stop, do something else, take your retirement. It’s me who decides.”
