Full Name: Hossam Hassan Hosny Ahmed
Date of Birth: August 10, 1966
Place of Birth: Al-Azba Al-Bahariya, Helwan, Cairo, Egypt
Nationality: Egyptian
Height: 1.78 meters (5 feet 10 inches)
Playing Position: Forward
Nickname: "The Colonel," due to his numerous international appearances and leadership on both his club and national teams.
Siblings: Ibrahim Hassan (his twin brother), who was also a famous footballer and played alongside him as a player and coach in many stages of their careers.
Football Career:
Early Years with Al Ahly (1983-1990):
- Hossam Hassan started his football career at Al Ahly Club in 1983, where he grew up in the club's academy.
- He made his first appearance in the Egyptian Premier League in the 1984/1985 season.
- He played for Al Ahly until 1990, showcasing his remarkable attacking skills and winning several titles with the club, including the Egyptian league and the Egypt Cup.
- During this period, he scored 41 goals in 107 matches.
European Experience (1990-1992):
- In 1990, Hossam Hassan moved to PAOK Thessaloniki in Greece, where he had a European stint, scoring 6 goals in 21 appearances.
- He then transferred to Neuchâtel Xamax in Switzerland in 1991, where he scored 7 goals in 11 matches. One of his most memorable games was in the European Cup against Celtic, where he scored four goals in a single match.
Return to Al Ahly (1992-1999):
- Hossam Hassan returned to Al Ahly in 1992 after his European experience and enjoyed great success, scoring 96 goals in 194 matches.
- He won many local and international titles with the club, such as the Egyptian league, the CAF Champions League, and the African Super Cup.
- He was also a key player for the national team, helping Egypt qualify for the 1990 World Cup in Italy.
Move to Al Ain and Zamalek (1999-2004):
- In 1999, he moved to Al Ain in the UAE for one season, scoring 3 goals in 10 matches.
- In 2000, he returned to Zamalek on a free transfer, achieving great success, scoring 57 goals in 110 matches.
- With Zamalek, he won several local and African titles such as the Egyptian league, the Egypt Cup, and the CAF Champions League in 2003.
El-Masry and Final Stages (2004-2008):
- In 2004, he moved to El-Masry, where he played until 2006 and scored 18 goals in 53 matches.
- He then transferred to Al-Tersana and later to Ittihad Alexandria, where his role in these teams was more limited.
International Career with Egypt (1985-2006):
Early Start with the National Team:
- Hossam Hassan began his international career in 1985, making his debut against Norway.
- He played 170 international matches for Egypt, becoming the fourth player in history with the most international appearances.
- He scored 83 international goals, making him the all-time top scorer for Egypt and setting a record for Africa (only Ali Daei of Iran and Ferenc Puskás of Hungary surpassed him).
AFCON 1998:
- Hossam Hassan played a pivotal role in Egypt's victory at the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations in Burkina Faso.
- He scored 7 goals in the tournament, becoming the top scorer, including a memorable goal in the final against South Africa.
Final International Goal:
- His final international goal was at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations against the Democratic Republic of Congo, making him the oldest player to score in the tournament at the age of 39.
World Record Holder:
- In 2001, Hossam Hassan earned the title of "The Colonel of the World Players" after surpassing 151 international matches, surpassing German legend Lothar Matthäus.
Coaching Career:
Starting in Coaching:
- After retiring in 2006, Hossam Hassan began his coaching career at Al-Masry in 2007, leading the team to stay in the Egyptian Premier League.
Various Coaching Experiences:
- Egyptian Telecommunications (2009): He coached the team and successfully helped them stay in the Premier League.
- Zamalek (2009-2011): He became Zamalek's coach, where he raised the team's ranking to second place in the league.
- Ismaily (2011): He briefly coached Ismaily before being dismissed due to disagreements with the management.
- Jordan National Team (2013-2014): He coached the Jordan national team, helping them qualify for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup and improving their global ranking.
- Pyramids FC (2018): He coached Pyramids for a short period.
- Ittihad Alexandria (2020-2022): He coached Ittihad Alexandria, leading the team back into competition in the Egyptian league.
Return to Egypt National Team (2024-Present):
- In February 2024, he was appointed as the head coach of the Egyptian national team, replacing Portuguese coach Rui Vitória, with the goal of restoring the team's high level and succeeding in upcoming tournaments.
Titles and Personal Achievements:
- The Colonel of World Players (2001)
- Best African Player in the Last 50 Years
- Top Scorer of the 1998 Africa Cup of Nations (7 goals)
- Top Scorer of the CAF Champions League 2003 with Zamalek
- Top Scorer of the Egyptian League in Two Seasons with Al Ahly and Zamalek
- Best Arab Coach of 2010 (Award from "Al-Hadaf" Libyan newspaper)
- All-time Top Scorer for Al Ahly and Egypt
- Oldest Player to Score in Africa Cup of Nations at Age 39
Personal Life:
- Hossam Hassan is married with three children: "Yara – Omar – Zeina."
- He shared a successful career with his twin brother Ibrahim Hassan, as both played together in several teams, making their partnership one of the most famous in the history of Egyptian football.
Conclusion:
Hossam Hassan is not just a footballer but one of the greatest athletes in the history of Egypt and the Arab world. He emerged as the all-time top scorer and a legend in the Egypt national team and clubs like Al Ahly and Zamalek, leaving a profound impact on Egyptian and African football.
