Ramzi Saleh reveals all in sit-down interview

Saleh still bears marks of a broken finger suffered during the 2014

Palestine’s all-time record appearance holder, Ramzi Saleh, recently featured on DMC Sports’s program Al-Hareef. The goalkeeper was quizzed on several topics mostly related to his time in Egypt with some of the biggest clubs in the country.

His unexpected move to Egyptian giants Al-Ahly came more than two years after a trial at Sheffield United which did not result in a move due to work permit problems.

Ahmad Nagy, who was Al-Ahly’s goalkeeper during the 1980s and went on to coach the side’s goalkeepers under Manuel Jose, brought the Gazan to the African Club of the Century.

The move in 2009 only came to fruition after former Egyptian Prime Minister, Omar Suleiman signed an executive order to open the Rafah crossing. The goalkeeper was one of only two people during that time period to be allowed out of Gaza.

His move however, was not sealed until after a trial period, which put the keeper under pressure to succeed as fans back in Palestine were already celebrating his not yet secured contract. 

The interview also delved into his testy relationship with Hosam El-Badary who replaced him with Essam El-Hadary at Sudanese giants El-Merrikh. Saleh had lobbied El-Merrikh’s board to hire El-Badary and was less than pleased to be replaced after he went out of his way to help the Egyptian coach.

His next move was set to be Al-Hilal of Saudi Arabia or Al-Ahly’s arch rivals Zamalek. His lack of an ACL in one of his knees scuppered the move and he underwent surgery in Germany to put one in to allay fears of future clubs.

After an injury in 2000, a botched surgery saw his LCL incorrectly repaired instead of his ACL. As a goalkeeper he was able to continue playing without his ACL, at a high level, for the next 10 years.

The show also put the Palestinian shot stopper through a lightning round of questions about his career in Egypt:

Ramzi Saleh also informed viewers that he was considering several options and was keeping fit by training with Ahmad Nagy who currently serves on Hector Cuper’s staff with Egypt. 
You can watch the full interview (in Arabic), here