Egyptian football manager dies celebrating winner goal
An Egyptian football manager has died at the age of 53 after suffering a heart attack while celebrating his team’s stoppage-time winner.
Adham El-Selhadar’s El Magd side netted a goal in the second minute of added on time in their 1-0 victory against El Zarqa in an Egyptian Second League match on Thursday.
The goal sparked jubilant celebrations, before the mood quickly turned sombre when El-Selhadar suffered a heart attack following the goal and was rushed to hospital.
After the announcement of his death, two of Egypt’s biggest clubs have led the tributes to the late coach.
Ismaily SC – who El Selhadar used to manage – wrote in a statement: ‘The Ismaily Board of Directors, headed by Engineer Yahya El-Komy, mourns the death of Adham El-Selhadar, a star and former coach of the team, who passed away as a result of a sudden heart attack, following his team’s match, ‘El-Majd’ Alexandria, in the second division league competitions.
‘Against this background, the Board of Directors has declared three days of mourning for the passing of his soul.’
Their rivals Al Ahly also paid tribute to El-Selhadar as their statement read: ‘Captain Mahmoud Al-Khatib, president of the club, and the members of the board of directors, mourn with great sadness and sorrow, Coach Adham El-Selhadar, the former Ismaily player, who passed away on Thursday.
‘Praying to the Almighty to cover the deceased with his vast mercy and enter him into his vast gardens.’
El Magd also announced a six-day period of mourning while their next fixture against Pioneers FC has been suspended.
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El-Selhadar enjoyed a successful playing career winning the Egyptian Premier League and Egyptian Cup with Ismaily.
In the 1990s, he won the Egyptian Premier League and also the Egyptian Cup with Ismaily.
He later returned to the club as a manager, establishing himself as a highly respected coach in the country.
The incident is just the latest in a spate of recent heart issues at football stadiums.
Most recently, Watford’s clash with Chelsea was temporarily halted after a supporter collapsed following a cardiac arrest.
That followed a similar incident when a fan also suffered a cardiac arrest during Newcastle’s clash with Tottenham in October.