Mahmoud Fathalla

Mahmoud Fathalla
Personal information
Full nameMahmoud Fathalla Abdo El-Henawy
(Arabic:محمود فتح الله عبده الحناوي)
Date of birthFebruary 12, 1982
Place of birthDakahlia , Egypt
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing positionCentre-back
Club information
Current team
Tala'ea El-Gaish SC
Number20
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2004–2007Ghazl El-Mehalla74(13)
2007–2014Al-Zamalek107(29)
2014-El-Gaish21(0)
National team
2005–Egypt48(2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 10/6/2012

Mahmoud Fathalla (Arabic: محمود فتح الله) (born 12 February 1982) is an Egyptian footballer who lastly played for Zamalek SC and currently plays for El-Gaish.

Career

Central defender Mahmoud Fathala has managed the impressive feat of earning a regular starting place for the Egyptian national team despite playing his club football for relatively modest Egyptian top-flight outfit Ghazl Al-Mehalla.

Fathala first began making waves on the national-team scene after being selected for Egypt's U-23 side, before breaking into the Pharaohs' senior squad for the first time three years ago under the command of Hassan Shehata. Fathala is also able to play as a roving sweeper, with many considering his best performance in an Egyptian shirt to have come at the CAF African Cup of Nations in Ghana in 2008. There he was deployed alongside fellow defenders Wael Gomaa and Hani Said in a 3-5-2 formation as Egypt won their sixth Cup of Nations crown.

On his return from Ghana he made the switch to current club Zamalek after turning down a move to French side Paris Saint-Germain. An excellent man-marker, Fathala's positional sense and reading of the game offset his lack of pace. He is also a player to watch out for at set pieces, having scored a host of goals at club level thanks to his powerful aerial ability.

In 2010, Fathalla has been linked to Zamalek rivals, Al-Ahly. But He denied the rumors and stated that he will never play for Al-Ahly.

On Sunday December 5, 2010 after 6 months of negotiations Fathalla signed a four year contract with Zamalek ending all speculation about his future.

In August 2014, the defender joined El Gaish on a free transfer.

International career

Fathalla is now from the pillars of Egypt national football team, he has played in two Africa Cup of Nations tournaments for Egypt, winning the tournament two times, in 2008 and 2010.[1]

International goals

Correct as of 1 June 2012

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. September 3, 2010 Cairo International Stadium, Cairo, Egypt  Sierra Leone
1 – 1
1 – 1
2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
2. June 1, 2012 Borg El Arab Stadium, Alexandria, Egypt  Mozambique
1 – 0
2 – 0
2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honors

With Egypt

With Zamalek

References

External links