Hazem Emam

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Hazem Emam
Personal information
Full name Hazem Mohamed Yehia El-Horria Emam
Date of birth May 10, 1975 (1975-05-10) (age 33)
Place of birth    Cairo, Egypt
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 9+1⁄2 in)
Playing position Attacking Midfielder/Striker
Club information
Current club Al-Zamalek
Number 14
Youth clubs
Shooting SC
Al-Zamalek
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1993-96
1996-2001
1998-2000
2001-present		 Al-Zamalek
Udinese Calcio
→De Graafschap (loan)
Al-Zamalek		  ? (5)
11 (0)
38 (4)
102 (25)   
National team2
1995-2005 Egypt 87 (16)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of January 31, 2007.
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of January 31, 2007.
* Appearances (Goals)

Hazem Emam (born on May 10, 1975) is an Egyptian footballer who is a midfielder for Al-Zamalek. He is a member of the Egypt national football team. He's the son of former Egypt national football team and Zamalek footballer Hamada Emam and grandson of former goalkeeper Yehia Emam. One of the most prolific playmakers in Africa, he started his career at Cairo's shooting club before joining Al-Zamalek where he had good years before moving to Europe. He joined Italian side Udinese, In the summer of 1996 after being chosen Best playmaker in African Cup 1996 in South Africa. On the day he signed for Udinese, Sir Alex Ferguson called his father who was the president of Al Zamalek club at that time, and asked him about the possibility of Hazem wearing the red of Manchester. This story has never been mentioned by Hazem or his father except on a TV show on Ramadan 2003.

After a good start with the Italian club, he got hammered by injuries that got him sidelined for the rest of the season. Life in Italy was tough for young Hazem who was just 20 when he moved there. In 1998 Hazem was signed by De Graafschap on a loan deal, he spent there 18 months he returned to Udinese in the summer of 2000. Hazem found himself on bench. He decided to put an end to his spell in Europe and returned to Al-Zamalek on 6 months load deal from Udinese. Six months after the loan deal became a permanent deal.

Contents

[edit] Club career

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[edit] Al-Zamalek 1986-1996

He started his career at Cairo's shooting club before joining Al-Zamalek. His first match with Al-Zamalek first team was on 12 November 1993 against Ithad. Hazem entered as a substitution for Effat Nassar. Zamalek won that match 2-0 two goals by Emmanuel Amunike.

In his first season with the first team Hazem played few games most of them as a substitute. In the following season 94/95 after Emmanul Amunike left Zamalek and joined sporting Lisbone Hazem started to shine and he played regularly for the team. He made more than 10 assists and scored twice that season.

After his great performance with Al-Zamalek and the Olympic team he was chosen by Ruud Krul for the national team and made his International debut vs South Africa 24 November 1995. After being chosen the best playmaker in African cup 1996 in South Africa Udinese Sporting Director Pierpaolo Marino and nominated him for Udinese head coach Alberto Zaccheroni and Hazem joined Udinese and became the first Egyptian and Arab footballer to play in Italian Serie A.

[edit] Udinese 1996-2001

After being chosen the best playmaker in African Cup 1996 in South Africa, Udinese Sporting Director Pierpaolo Marino chose him and nominated him for Udinese head coach Alberto Zaccheroni. Pierpaolo Marino described him as the new Zico (Zico of the Pyramids). Zaccheroni decided to use Hazem as a striker, not a playmaker. Due to the presence of Marcio Amoroso and Oliver Bierhoff hazem failed to secure a place in the startup list for Udinese in the first season and he played only 4 games as a substitution.

Before the beginning of the 97/98 season Hazem excelled in the pre-season games and scored a nice header against Sampdoria. The first official game for Hazem in 97/98 season was against Reggina in Coppa Italia and he scored the second goal for Udinese. Despite his good pre-season Zaccheroni used Hazem only seven times during the season due to great partnership between Marcio Amoroso and Oliver Bierhoff which led Udinese to the third place and Udinese qualified to the UEFA Cup.

Hazem realised that he has no chance to play regularly for Udinese and decided to go to De Graafschap on a loan deal to save his career.

[edit] De Graafschap 1999/2000

After going to the Dutch club, Hazem played regularly and was touted to be the next big thing in the Dutch league. His great performances, and fine assists made him a fan favorite. Hazem received an offer from Ajax F.C. to join them, but Udinese refused and asked to have him back after his loan period was over.

[edit] Al-Zamalek 2001-present

Hazem knew he had no future in Europe, so he decided to return to his beloved childhood team, Zamalek. With his decent performances, he helped Zamalek win 3 league titles, 1 cup title, 2 super cup titles, and 1 African cup title. Hazem was Zamalek's leader and captain in all of these tournaments, and he was a fan favorite and all the fans carried a huge flag with his number on it whenever Zamalek played.

Hazem is known to be the only player in Egyptian history who has been loved by all of the fans in Egypt, even by his rivals Al Ahly.

Hazem has always been known for his bad fitness, and if had an improved match fitness he would have been something great. Since 2004/2005 season, Hazem Emam has been out of form and never showed any signs of his talent. The fans still have been faithful with him, and stayed supporting him all the time. Though, on the start of the 2007/2008 season, Hazem came in late in the second half, on the 80th min while Zamalek was in a draw with Al Ismaily. He played his worse game ever, and didn't even get a pass right, the fans have had it and kept insulting him all 10 minutes, Zamalek eventually ended up losing the game. The fans kept shouting after the game "Hazem Retire". Such an act has been offending for everybody around Egypt, as Hazem is the last player anybody should do this to him.

After the game his comments were "These fans have always supported me in my career, without them I'm nothing. Of course that's their opinion and I have to respect it." These comments were followed by him announcing his retirement on the same day. All the fans around Egypt are now trying to convince Hazem to return to football, along with his friends and the Zamalek staff.

And now, with the date of 25/May/2008 in the 2007/2008 season finals,Zamalek was playing against Enppy in the Egyptian Cup final match. Before the start every one saw a real new thing, such as a love song that every one sing to Hazem Emam, starting with all this huge crowd of fans who wrote "No For Hazem Retirement",going throw alot of words the fans were shouting, ending with the Zamalek football feam members who all ware a T-shirt printed on it Hazem photo,his holy number 14 and "Hazem Plz Don't Retire".No one will ever belive how much evey one and i mean every one in the stadium loves Hazem Emam.Finally Zamalek won the cup 2/1 againes Enppy.All Zamalek players where waring "14" T-shirt.

And here he comes to the stage,Hazem Emam the Zamalek team captin,he got the cup and he rise it up and all the fans shout "Oh lovely Hazem Emam Plz dont Retire and leave us behind"

[edit] National team

Hazem first achievement was winning All Africa Games 1995 in Zimbabwe scoring vital goal against Zambia in the group stage leading Egypt to the top of the group. His great performance against Zimbabwe in the final helped Egypt Olympic Team to win the title. His best achievements will be sharing with the Egyptian team winning the 1998 CAN trophy. Hazem's most favorite goal is the one against Tunisia in the CAN 2002. Since 2004 he hasn't been back in the national team.

[edit] Titles

2 titles for national team

  • 1 African Cup of Nations for Egypt (Burkina Faso 1998)
  • 1 African All-Games soccer title for Egypt (Zimbabwe 1995)

11 titles for Al-Zamalek

[edit] Personal titles

  • World Best Soccer Skills Pepsi Challenge Winner 2001
  • Egyptian Footballer of the Year 2003 (Egyptian Football Association)
  • Egyptian Footballer of the Year 2001 (Akhbar El-Yom Poll)
  • Best playmaker in African cup 1996 in South Africa
  • Selected in best team of African cup 2002
  • Top scorer of African Qualifications for African Cup of Nations 1998
  • Best player in Egyptian Super Cup 2000/2001

[edit] Trivia

  • Hazem Emam is one of the most beloved players in the history of Zamalek, and he is also loved by Ahly and other clubs' spectators. He has many nicknames like the Egyptian magician.

[edit] External links

[edit] Other references