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Celebrated Egyptian goalkeeper, Essam El Hadary has finally retired from football at age 47.
The former Zamalek SC shot-stopper announced retirement from football on a live television show on Thursday.
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“Football Iis my second wife and I have divorced it. I am not returning to play football again, the entire system has errors and club heads attacking each other, and may God be in the help of the players.” El Hadary said.
“There is nothing to add to my footballing history. There is no goalkeeper in Egypt better than me. I only sat on the bench in 1998 for goalkeeper Nader El-Sayed.” he added.
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El Hadary called it a quit with the Egyptian national team when he was snubbed for the 2019 AFCON after over 150 international appearances since his debut in 1996.
He is a four times AFCON winner and was named the tournament’s best goalkeeper on three occasions.
He was the oldest player during the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He was at the age of 45 years and 161 days then.
El Hadary played for Al Ahly SC from 1996 to 2008 where he won eight Egyptian Premier League titles, four Egypt Cups, four Egyptian Super Cups, three CAF Champions League titles, three CAF Super Cups, one Arab Club Champions Cup, and two Arab Super Cups.
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He is also a Swiss Cup winner when he had stint with FC Sion in Switzerland from 2008 to 2009 and made 32 appearances.
El Hadary also had stints with Sudanese side El Merreikh SC, Al Taawon in Saudi Arabia, Ismaily SC, Wadi Degla SC, Zamalek SC, Ittihad Alexandria and Nogoom FC.
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