Egyptian football legend El-Hadary close to retirement

Goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary of Egypt reacts during the FIFA World Cup 2018 group A preliminary round soccer match between Saudi Arabia and Egypt in Volgograd, Russia, 25 June 2018. EPA-EFE/Zurab Kurtsikidze

by Austin Ditlhobolo

Thursday Nov 29, 2018. 16:00

Legendary Egyptian goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary is close to announcing his retirement from professional football.

This is according to the 45-year-old shot-stopper's agent Mohamed Sheha, who revealed when El-Hadary is most likely to hang up his boots.

El-Hadary is one of the most decorated players in the history of African football having won the African Cup of Nations (AFCON) title four times in 1998, 2006, 2008 and 2010 with Egypt.

The Damietta-born keeper is currently on the books of Egyptian Premier League side Ismaily.

The club is competing in the 2018 CAF Champions League having been pitted against Burundian outfit Le Messager in the preliminary round.

“El-Hadary is waiting for the return of Ismaily from Burundi, then he will end everything with the club and announce his retirement,” Sheha said in radio comments to ON Sport FM.

El-Hadary became the oldest player to ever participate in the FIFA World Cup when he featured for the Pharaohs in the 2018 finals in Russia earlier this year.

The former Al Ahly and Zamalek keeper has also 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.