He is like an experienced bus driver or a veteran construction worker, who’s navigating his co-workers from the back seat of the tractor.
In certain moments, he is the tractor itself. But mostly, he is a relentless superhero, a modern national symbol and an important ambassador of his country.
Essam El-Hadary is on the verge of becoming one of Egypt’s biggest symbols in modern post-revolution times. The 44 years old Damietta-born goalkeeper is having an extraordinary tournament in Gabon so far, and final against Cameroon it is the last piece of his puzzle, or maybe his construction project, to be put in place.
El-Hadary wasn’t the first pick for the Egypt’s goal when Cúper took the job at the Pharaohs.
He wasn’t the first pick for this Africa Cup of Nations, and if Ekramy and Al-Shenawy, the other goalkeepers on the roster, weren’t injured, this fairy tale of his maybe wasn’t been told at all.
His premier in the national team was back in 1996 (21 years ago) and he started playing first team football in 1993. He spent 12 years at Al-Ahly, played 4 games for Zamalek and also went for a season in the Swiss football. He trains at pushing tennis balls for being more accurate in his saves at the real pitch and he became the oldest ever footballer to take part in a big tournament.
For his teammate he’s an idol, an example and a father. He saw the Egyptian football evolves and change throughout the years, and he is a consensus between both of countries biggest crowds – Al-Ahlawyies and Zamalekawiyes.
Iker Casillas learned from him, Gianluigi Buffon respects him and Didier Drogba entitled him as “the hardest opponent I’ve ever played against”.
El-Hadary is a titles machine. He won four AFCON titles (1998, 2006,2008,2010), one Arab Games football tournament (2007), one World Military Cup (2001), one gold medal with Olympic team in the African games (1995), eight Egyptian titles, four Egyptian Cups, four Egyptian Supercups, four African Champions League trouphies and three African Supercups with Al-Ahly (1996-2008). He won the Swiss Cup with Sion (2008). With Al-Merreikh from Sudan he grabbed the Bronze CECAFA and twice the Sudanese title and cup (2011-2013). In the personal level he has been chosen as the goalkeeper in Africa in six different occasions. El-Hadary is a rare living legend in world football. Period.
Many tipped Egypt for glory in this tournament and marked Mohamed Salah to lead the team. Salah is doing great for Egypt so far. He is involved in every goal of the team, scoring and assisting twice each. But the real hero of Egypt in Gabon is El-Hadary. Spectacular saves, leadership and clutch actions at critical moments made him the face of this successful Egyptian campaign.
But beyond his super displays along the tournament, El-Hadary is symbolizing something different for the Egyptians. He wasn't there in the 2011 Revolution, nor in the 2013 one. At the time he was playing in Sudan.
In an interview in 2011 he said that the revolution has exposed him to things he couldn't even imagine on former regime of Hossni Mubarak. He did not shared support of the Muslim Brotherhood, but confessed that his time out from the country changed his views, made him smarter about the ways the country was running.
In another interview, he described himself as a "supporter of the revolution, but a supporter of Mubarak too". He acknowledged the change needed in Egypt as country and as state, and discovered that his wife and family "participated in the revolution".
With these declarations, El-Hadary earned the 'All Egyptian' ticket for his character - the one who loves the country, but is not an extremist towards none of the conflicted sides.
Another mark for his positions was the fact that he played for both of the biggest clubs and rivals of the country and always have put the national team on top of his priorities. A kind of an old-fashion character, that is rare in nowadays modern football. Needless to mention - Al-Ahly fans already started a campaign to bring him back to the club from Wadi Degla.
El-Hadary aims for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. If he’ll be able to help Egypt to qualify, he’ll be remembered as the oldest player to ever play at World Cups.
Regardless this goal of his, and regardless of the result tonight, after this tournament El-Hadary broke in officially to the respectable list of the best Egyptian footballers of all time. Mahmoud Mukhtar, Ahmed Al-Shubair, Hossam Hassan and Mohamed Aboutrika are already waiting for the professional veteran.
Actually, if Egypt wins Cameroon in the final with another display by El-Hadary, there will be people in Cairo who will tip him for presidency. Not less.
After years of absence from the most important competition in African football, the Egyptians want to win the title.
When you look at his story, at his story of success and hard work you starting to get it.
El-Hadary is a humble hard worker, a dedicated patriot, beloved by all parts of society, who never gives up and doesn't let anything destruct him from his goals.
If there's a thing called the 'Egyptian Dream', in football and in general, El-Hadary must be its model.
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Thumbnail photo by Getty Images