People often let players who are less on the flamboyant side of the game slip their mind once their career is over. One such star was Mr AFCON himself, Ahmed Hassan.
As the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations draws nearer, it provides an opportunity to saunter down memory lane and take a look at one of the only two players to have ever won the tournament on four occasions.
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Hassan proved to be a pivotal figure during what could be argued was the peak of Egypt's dominance over the continent. It was a period in which the country won a hat-trick of Afcon titles, bagging the trophy in 2006, 2008, and 2010 while being recognised as the player of the tournament in the 2008 and 2010 editions of the competition. Before that, however, Hassan first won the competition in 1998, demonstrating incredible longevity at the game's highest level. In total, he competed in eight AFCON tournaments — a record equalled only by Cameroonian Rigobert Song.
As his career progressed, he seemed to have developed great leadership skills, wearing the captain's armband during the Pharoah's 2008 and 2010 Afcon triumphs. Winning the continent's showpiece competition is a feat shared only by a former teammate and compatriot of his, goalkeeper Essam El Hadary.
His accomplishments for his national side, though, go beyond Afcon. He is the country's most-capped player with 184 appearances and ranks fourth in the list of players with the most caps in men's international football, according to Sporting News, behind Malaysia's Soh Chin Ann (who has 195 caps), Bader Al-Mutawa (196), and Cristiano Ronaldo (205).
He was an asset to any team he was part of because of the abilities he had, making him a dynamo in the heart of the midfield. His ability to find the sweet spot when striking a ball was evident in the 33 goals he scored for his national side across his 184 caps.
He, however, seemed to have chosen not to allow himself to be limited by continental boundaries, as his influence stretched all the way into Europe, with even Ronaldo praising his impact.
"I do not know many Egyptian players, but I know Ahmed Hassan who was an excellent player who played for some European clubs. He left a good impression in Europe," The Portugal international said in an interview with Egyptian magazine Al-Ahram Al-Reyadi.
Hassan spent 10 years touring around Europe, from 1998 to 2008, representing various Turkish clubs that include Kocaelispor, Denizlispor, Genclerbirligi, and Besiktas. The former midfielder then concluded his time in Europe with a two-year spell at Belgian side RSC Anderlecht where he won one league title as well as a domestic cup before returning to Egypt to represent Al Ahly and Zamalek before hanging up his boots in December 2013.
Even during the latter part of his career, Hassan was still reeling in an incredible amount of silverware. During his time with the Red Devils, he won two Egyptian Super Cups, three league titles, one CAF Champions League, and a CAF Super Cup. The talismanic midfielder was also recognised as the best African-based player in 2010, winning CAF's African Inter-Club Player of the Year award.
In 488 professional appearances, Hassan was able to amass 138 goals and 67 assists.
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