Egyptian football rocked as El Magd manager Adham El-Selhadar dies at the age of 53 from heart attack while celebrating a stoppage-time winner
- Football manager Adham El-Selhadar died from a heart attack at the age of 53
- He suffered the heart attack while celebrating his team’s stoppage-time winner
- Egypt’s biggest clubs have paid their respects to El-Selhadar in statements
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.’
Egyptian football manager Adham El-Selhadar passed away from a heart attack, aged just 53
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.
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.
He suffered the heart attack while celebrating El Magd’s stoppage time winner on Thursday
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.
The fans on both occasions were later reported to be stable after treatment from medical staff in the stadium.
There also been a number of heart problems among players in recent times.
Wigan striker Charlie Wyke, 28, collapsed in training after a cardiac arrest, while Barcelona striker Sergio Aguero, 33, was diagnosed with cardiac arrhythmia having been forced off with chest pains in a 1-1 draw against Alaves last month.
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