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Essam Kamal Tawfik El Hadary

Essam Kamal Tawfik El Hadary

Age53
PositionGoalkeeper
Nationality🇪🇬 Egyptian
StatusRetired

About Essam Kamal Tawfik El Hadary

Essam Kamal Tawfik El Hadary is a retired Egyptian Goalkeeper born on January 15, 1973. During a career spanning 27 years across 12 clubs, Essam Kamal Tawfik El Hadary carved out a memorable legacy in the world of football. Their journey through various leagues and countries tells the story of a player who left a lasting mark on the beautiful game.

Career Journey

Essam Kamal Tawfik El Hadary began their professional career at Damietta in 1993. Over the course of 27 years, they went on to play for 12 different clubs across 4 countries, experiencing football in diverse leagues and cultures. Their longest spell was at Al Ahly, where they spent 12 years. Throughout their career, Essam Kamal Tawfik El Hadary played football in Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Switzerland, gaining international experience that few players can match.

Playing Style & Position

Essam Kamal Tawfik El Hadary plays as a Goalkeeper, the last line of defense and often the most specialized role on the pitch. Modern goalkeepers are expected to be more than just shot-stoppers — they must command their area, distribute the ball accurately, and read the game to sweep behind the defensive line. A goalkeeper's career trajectory often tells a unique story, as they tend to have longer careers than outfield players and frequently remain loyal to a single club for extended periods. Their journey through different leagues reveals how goalkeeping styles vary across football cultures.

Historical Context

Born in 1973, Essam Kamal Tawfik El Hadary emerged during a transformative period in football history. The 1970s and 1980s saw the sport evolve from a largely regional affair into a global phenomenon, with the expansion of international competitions and the beginning of commercial television coverage. Players of this generation witnessed the transition from the total football revolution to the tactical innovations that would define the modern game, and their careers often spanned multiple eras of football philosophy.

Career Timeline

Nogoom

2019 — 2020🇪🇬 Egypt

Ismaily

2018 — 2019🇪🇬 Egypt

Al-Taawoun

2017 — 2018🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia

Wadi Degla

2015 — 2017🇪🇬 Egypt

Ismaily

2014 — 2015🇪🇬 Egypt

Wadi Degla

2013 — 2014🇪🇬 Egypt

Al-Merreikh

2011 — 2013🇸🇩 Sudan

Zamalek

2010 — 2011🇪🇬 Egypt

Ismaily

2009 — 2010🇪🇬 Egypt

Sion

2008 — 2009🇨🇭 Switzerland

Al Ahly

1996 — 2008🇪🇬 Egypt

Damietta

1993 — 1996🇪🇬 Egypt

Career Statistics

2
Goals
0
Assists
930
Matches Played

Scout's notes

The clues Daily Play reveals, in order, to anyone trying to name Essam Kamal Tawfik El Hadary.

  1. Clue 1He is the oldest player to play a match in the FIFA World Cup (45 years and 161 days old).
  2. Clue 2He won the Africa Cup of Nations four times, a tournament record.
  3. Clue 3He spent most of his career at Egyptian club Al Ahly.
  4. Clue 4Nicknamed 'The High Dam' for his imposing stature and shot-stopping ability.

Fun Facts

1He started playing football in secret, washing his muddy clothes in a river so his parents wouldn't find out.
2He is the player with the most Africa Cup of Nations titles, with four, a tournament record.
3In his 2018 World Cup debut, at 45 years old, he saved a penalty in the match against Saudi Arabia.

Test Your Football Knowledge

How well do you really know Essam Kamal Tawfik El Hadary's career? In Daily Play, mystery players are revealed through their career timeline — clubs, dates, and country flags. The challenge is to identify the player before your attempts run out. With 12 clubs across 4 countries, Essam Kamal Tawfik El Hadary's career makes for a moderate challenge in our daily football trivia game.

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