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Ahmed Fathy

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Ahmed Fathy
Fathy with Egypt at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Ahmed Fathy Abdelmonem Ahmed Ibrahim[1]
Date of birth (1984-11-10) 10 November 1984 (age 40)[1]
Place of birth Benha, Egypt
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[2]
Position(s) Full-back
Youth career
Ismaily
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001–2007 Ismaily 73 (7)
2007 Sheffield United 3 (0)
2007–2014 Al Ahly 106 (12)
2007–2008Kazma (loan) 21 (4)
2013Hull City (loan) 7 (0)
2014–2015 Umm Salal 17 (1)
2015–2020 Al Ahly 114 (4)
2020–2024 Pyramids 62 (0)
Total 403 (28)
International career
2012 Egypt Olympic (O.P.) ? (?)
2002–2021 Egypt 136 (3)
Medal record
Representing  Egypt
Africa Cup of Nations
Winner 2006 Egypt
Winner 2008 Ghana
Winner 2010 Angola
Pan Arab Games
Gold medal – first place 2007 Cairo
African Youth Championship
Winner 2003 Burkina Faso
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 August 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 16 August 2024

Ahmed Fathy Abdelmonem Ahmed Ibrahim (Arabic: أحمد فتحي; born 10 November 1984) is an Egyptian former professional footballer who played as a full-back.

Considered by some as one of Africa's best-ever full-backs, Fathy started his career with Egyptian side Ismaily SC before moving to England to play in the Premier League with Sheffield United in 2007. Fathy returned to Egypt after only a few months however, signing to Al Ahly where he has remained until April 2020 where he signed to Pyramids FC, whilst also spending some time on loan at both Kuwait side Kazma and Hull City back in England. Alongside his club career, Fathy has represented Egypt since 2002, playing over one hundred games and scoring nine goals for his country.

Club career

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Early career: Ismaily and Sheffield United

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Fathy was b.orn in Banha,[3] He played as a midfielder and right-back for Ismaily in Egypt, where he won the 2001–02 Egyptian Premier League. In early 2007, Egyptian newspaper Al-Ahram reported that Fathy's club had accepted Sheffield United's £700,000 offer for the player,[4] and after a number of weeks of protracted negotiations, Fathy signed a three-and-a-half-year contract on 24 January 2007.[5] Fathy made his Premier League debut for United as a substitute in the closing minutes of a 2–1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur at Bramall Lane on 10 February 2007,[6] and made his full first team debut at Anfield against Liverpool on 24 February 2007,[7] but failed to hold down a regular spot for the Blades.[8]

Al Ahly

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Fathy had been linked with a move to the Egyptian club El Zamalek for €2 million after discussions with Sheffield United's management, but the player refused the transfer even though the clubs had agreed a fee – with Fathy insisting he wanted to continue his career as a professional player outside of Egypt. However, El Zamalek's Egyptian rivals Al Ahly succeeded in gaining Fathy's consent for a move and Sheffield United's agreement to a deal. On 10 September 2007 Fathy joined El-Ahly for a fee of £675,000 after making just three senior appearances for United in the eight months he had spent with the club.[8][9]

Fathy had been signed after the transfer window in Egypt had closed however, and with Al-Ahly being unable to register him to play until the following January, they looked to place Fathy on loan outside of the country to help to regain match fitness. Al Ahly managed to broker a deal with Kuwaiti side Kazma to accept the player on a loan, where Fathy played regularly for the first team, scoring four goals. Fathy finally made his Al Ahly debut in an away game against Arab Contractors on 10 March 2008, and went on to become Ahly's first choice in central midfield alongside Hossam Ashour. Following the departure of Ahmed Sedik in 2009, Fathy was moved to right back where he once again became a regular for the team.

Loan to Hull City

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In January 2013, English Championship side Hull City expressed an interest in signing Fathy, along with his teammate Gedo, on loan until the end of the 2012–13 season.[10] On 31 January 2013, Hull City had finalized a six-month loan deal for Fathy and Gedo, with Hull paying £500,000 for each player's services.[11] Fathy made his debut on 16 February 2013 at home in a 1–0 win against Charlton Athletic, appearing as a second-half substitute for Paul McShane.[12]

Umm Salal

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Fathy left Al Ahly after his contract expired in June 2014 and joined Umm Salal in Qatar in August 2014 after an unsuccessful trial with English giants Arsenal.[13]

Return to Al Ahly

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Fathy rejoined Al Ahly in 2015.[14] In April 2020, he decided to leave the club by the end of the season.[15]

Pyramids FC and retirement

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On 11 April 2020, Pyramids FC announced that Fathy would be joining their side at the end of the season on a free transfer after Al Ahly's failure of securing a contract renewal with the 35 year old defender.[16] On 21 September 2024, he announced his retirement from football.[17]

International career

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Fathy playing for Egypt at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Fathy became the Egypt national team's youngest ever international when he was capped at 17 years old in 2001 against South Africa. Fathi was picked for the National team by Egyptian Coach Mohsen Saleh even before playing in his club's first team Ismaily SC, although this followed soon after, and was then called up for the Egyptian youth team. Fathy was a member of the Egyptian youth team that won the African Youth Cup 2003 in Burkina Faso, and was part of the Egypt squad at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in the United Arab Emirates in 2003, and at one point Fathi was part of Egypt's U-20, U-23 and senior squads at the same time. Fathy was also part of the Egypt squad that won the Africa Cup of Nations at the Cairo International Stadium in 2006, when they beat Ivory Coast on penalties in the final.

In the 2010 Africa Cup of Nations, Fathy was named as the fair player of the tournament and he was named in the team of the tournament.

In May 2018, he was named in Egypt's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[18] He scored an own goal in the match against Russia.[19]

Career statistics

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As of match played 16 November 2021[20]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Egypt 2002 1 0
2003 3 0
2004 10 0
2005 12 0
2006 9 0
2007 3 1
2008 10 1
2009 15 0
2010 12 1
2011 8 0
2012 5 0
2013 11 0
2014 9 0
2015 1 0
2016 4 0
2017 11 0
2018 6 0
2019 2 0
2020 0 0
2021 2 0
Total 134 3
Scores and results list Egypt's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Fathy goal.
List of international goals scored by Ahmed Fathy[21]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 7 February 2007 Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt  Sweden 2–0 2–0 Friendly
2 7 February 2008 Baba Yara Stadium, Kumasi, Ghana  Ivory Coast 1–0 4–1 2008 Africa Cup of Nations
3 11 August 2010 Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt  DR Congo 3–1 6–3 Friendly

Honours

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Ismaily

Al Ahly

Pyramids

Egypt

Egypt U20

Individual

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018™: List of Players: Egypt" (PDF). FIFA. 4 June 2018. p. 9. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 June 2018.
  2. ^ "Ahmed Fathy". Pyramids FC. Retrieved 10 December 2023.
  3. ^ "إنفوجراف: أحمد فتحي تاريخ من البطولات مع الأهلي ومنتخب مصر". as.com (in Arabic). 10 November 2019.
  4. ^ "From team to team". Al-Ahram Weekly. 7 February 2007. Archived from the original on 8 May 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  5. ^ "Fathi completes move to Sheff Utd". BBC Sport. 24 January 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  6. ^ "Tactical Formation". Football-Lineups.com. Retrieved 28 February 2007.
  7. ^ "Liverpool v. Sheff Utd". Sheffield United F.C. 24 February 2007. Archived from the original on 13 February 2008. Retrieved 11 September 2007.
  8. ^ a b "Sheff Utd sell midfielder Fahti". BBC Sport. 11 September 2007. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  9. ^ "Fathi leaves the Lane". Sheffield United F.C. 10 September 2007. Archived from the original on 30 March 2012. Retrieved 12 May 2011.
  10. ^ "Hull on the verge of landing Al-Ahly duo Fathi and Gedo". KingFut.com. 29 January 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  11. ^ "Hull City land Ahly's key players Fathi and Gedo". Ahram Online. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 22 January 2014.
  12. ^ "Hull 1 – 0 Charlton". BBC Sport. 16 February 2013. Retrieved 16 February 2013.
  13. ^ "الحياة - أم صلال القطري يتعاقد مع المصري أحمد فتحي لثلاثة مواسم". alhayat.com. Retrieved 28 January 2017.[permanent dead link]
  14. ^ "OFFICIAL: Ahmed Fathi rejoins Al Ahly on three-year deal". kingfut.com. 28 July 2015.
  15. ^ "OFFICIAL: Ahmed Fathi announces departure from Al Ahly". kingfut.com. 1 April 2020.
  16. ^ "OFFICIAL: Pyramids sign Ahmed Fathi on a free transfer". KingFut. kingfut.com. 11 April 2020. Retrieved 13 August 2020.
  17. ^ "Egypt & Al Ahly icon Ahmed Fathi retires from football". KingFut. 21 September 2024.
  18. ^ "World Cup 2018: All the confirmed squads for this summer's finals in Russia". BBC Sport. 4 June 2018.
  19. ^ "World Cup 2018: Russia beat Egypt 3-1 to close in on last-16 spot". BBC Sport. 19 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  20. ^ Ahmed Fathy at National-Football-Teams.com
  21. ^ "Fathy, Ahmed". National Football Teams. Retrieved 21 June 2018.
  22. ^ "IFFHS (International Federation of Football for History & Statistics". IFFHS. 28 January 2021. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
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Sporting positions
Preceded by Al Ahly SC captain
2020
Succeeded by