Essam el hadary biography of donald
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Veteran Egypt goalkeeper El-Hadary eyes World Cup history
Egypt goalkeeper Essam El-Hadary, who at 45 could become the oldest man to play at a World Cup, says he hopes his story inspires others to follow their dreams.
El-Hadary is desperate to man Egypt's squad for Russia where he hopes to make his World Cup debut.
"I'm very happy to play at the World Cup, and that is a message to all footballers and others around the world, that you should believe in your dreams and fight to man them come true," El-Hadary told BBC Sport.
"My age is 45 years old, but for me, this is just a number on paper.
"I train hard every day, I don't know what the word 'impossible' means. inom will keep fighting until the World Cup to have the chance to play and defend my homeland colours," he added.
Faryd Mondragon of Colombia became the oldest man to play at the World Cup when he featured against Japan in Brazil in aged 43 years and 3 days.
El-Hadary,
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Essam El-Hadary is about to break a World Cup record just don't ask him about his hands
Chris JonesMay 28, , PM ET
Close- Chris Jones is a feature writer for ESPN The Magazine. He is also a Writer at Large for Esquire.
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ZURICH, Switzerland -- Essam El-Hadary's face is broad and unlined. He has a majestic head of midnight-black hair. His eyes are clear, his smile is full, and his frame -- 30 pounds lighter than it has been -- is lean and unbent. He does not look 45 years old, like he's about to become the oldest man to play in a World Cup. Sitting in a hotel lobby in Zurich, he looks more like a man at ease, like a titan of industry, content in his skin and the surrounding luxury. Only his hands betray the truth of his life and trade. He has the hands of a working man twice his age.
He holds them up for examination with equal parts pride and reticence. Seeing El-Hadary's hands without gloves is a little jarring, like seeing a lion shaved of its mane. "Egyp
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Didier Drogba once called him his 'best opponent' and he was playing football before some of his team-mates were born the remarkable story of year-old Essam El-Hadary
As he strolled past the assembled media, Essam El-Hadary allowed himself a smile before taking a bite from the apple grasped in his left hand.
It was a gesture of complete satisfaction, from a man who knew his work for the night was done - and done perfectly.
El-Hadary knows that feeling well - he has been doing a job between the posts for Egypt for more than 20 years.
Essam El-Hadary saves a penalty for Egypt during the shootout against Burkina Faso
The year-old wheels away in celebration after sealing Egypt's place in the AFCON final
In fact, when he made his international debut, on March 26, , his opposite number from Wednesday night, the talented Kouakou Herve Koffi, was still six months from being born.
El-Hadary became the Africa Cup of Nations' oldest player when he came off the bench in Egypt's f