Hassan Shehata

Hassan Shehata

As former Zamalek Club player and as National Team coach, Hassan Shehata has earned the title: "Master of Egyptian Football". He is the only Egyptian footballer to be chosen best player in Asia in 1971 when he played for the Kuwaiti Kazhmah Club, pulling up it from third to first league team. He was so excelled that the Kuwaiti Armed Forces recruited him to take part in the World Military Football Championship in Bangkok, Thailand.

Shehata was born in June 1947 to a sports-loving family. He started playing football at age 10 as a primary stage student at Kafr al-Dawar school.

Zamalek, Shehata's local club, incorporated a clause in his contract with Kazhmah which made it possible for him to play for Egypt's national team. In 1969, he participated in his first international match against Libya. Since then, he became the team's number one player, with the formation being built around him. During his career as a player, he took part in 70 international matches and four African Championships.

Shehata left Kazhmah Club in October 1973, playing one game with Zamalek on October 5, only to have the 1973 October War break out a day later. In 1974, Cairo hosted the African Cup of Nations championship in which Shehata was crowned best player.

With a long résumé of training Zamalek, Suez, Minya and the Arab Contractors clubs, he was chosen to coach the National Team in 2005. Under his tenure, Egypt won the Africa Cup of Nations – 2006 – Cairo, Egypt, the Pan-Arab Games – 2007 – Cairo, Egypt and the Africa Cup of Nations – 2008 – Accra – Ghana.