Muscat,(ONA) - Ali bin Abdullah Al Habsi, goalkeeper of the first national football team, announced his permanent retirement from playing after announcing last January that he was retiring from international football.
“After years in which I had the honour to represent a number of clubs, today I announce the end of my career as a football player. I express my sincere thanks to everyone who has supported me throughout my career, confirming my continued service to my country from other locations,” Al Habsi wrote on his official Twitter handle.
Al Habsi, who spent 19 years in his football career, played at the beginning of his career for Al Mudhaibi and Al Nasr in the Sultanate, Al Hilal in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lyn in Norway, in addition to Bolton, Wigan, Reading and West Bromwich in England.
Al Habsi is the first Arab player to win the FA Cup, and he also won the Best Goalkeeper award in the Gulf 5 times.
The official FIFA account, on Twitter, congratulated and praised the Omani goalkeeper, on his wonderful football career.
FIFA described Al Habsi as a “legendary goalkeeper”, due to his achievements and efforts throughout his football career.
FIFA said, “Our sincere congratulations to the legendary goalkeeper, Ali Al Habsi, for his wonderful football career, after he decided to retire after years of brilliance at the level of clubs and the national team.”
It added, “Thanks for the high memories and morals, we wish you all success in all your future choices.”
Web sites reported the news of Al Habsi’s retirement and he was praised by many of his long drive companions, in addition to Arab football stars, coaches, commentators, media professionals and sports journalists, in addition to the Omani and Arab fans.
“The retirement age of goalkeepers is higher than the players, and the decision to retire for every football player comes after deep reflection, to be with complete conviction,” said Ali Al Habsi, the former captain of our national team.
He explained in an interview with the Sultanate of Oman TV, “Through the years I spent serving my country, whether in the national team or even the clubs for which I played along my professional career, I am very happy to have a page different from other football players in the Gulf countries and with a footprint in the oldest league in the world, which is the English Premier League. These were stages that were not easy, and everyone standing by me helped me reach this stage.”
Al Habsi added, “When a football player is connected to the national team and his club, a decision must be made. My decision was to retire at the appropriate time last January, after I represented the Sultanate’s teams for more than 19 years and with other team players, we made great achievements and raise the name of the Sultanate, such as our first winning of the Gulf cup, which was held in the Sultanate.
He explained in his interview, “In addition to playing with the national team, I played with Al-Mudhaibi, Al-Nasr clubs where we won His Majesty the Sultan's Football Cup, the Norwegian Lynn Club where I made many personal achievements. Then I moved to the English Premier League, playing with Bolton and Wigan, moving to Brighton and then Reading, as well as West Bromwich Albion. I also played for Al Hilal for three years.”
On his next step after his retirement, Al Habsi confirmed that he aspires to create Omani players who are able to reach and play in the European championships through Al Habsi Football Academy. He also made it clear that he will join training courses for coaches to qualify himself.
Regarding the chances of our national team in the double qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup and the AFC Asian Cup 2023, Al Habsi said, “The national team is a step closer to qualifying for the World Cup final qualifiers, stressing the need to make more effort in the preparatory side and focus to achieve this.”
Al Habsi’s football career began with Al Mudhaibi Club, one of the second division clubs in the Sultanate, then moved to Al Nasr Club in Dhofar Governorate and won the His Majesty the Sultan’s Football Cup.
Then he moved to the Norwegian club Lyn in 2003 and played with them until 2005. During that period, he participated in 49 matches with the club. Al Habsi contributed to the team's reaching the final of the local cup in 2004 and finished third in the league in 2005. He won the best goalkeeper award in Norway in the two seasons.
After that, he moved to the English club Bolton Wanderers in January 2006, but he played only in 18 matches until the summer of 2010.
The scarcity of participation and remaining as a bunch player pushed him to move to English club Wigan Athletic in July 2010 on loan for a full season to compensate for the absence of injured Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland. Al Habsi excelled with his new team, as he was the main goalkeeper in the Spanish coach Roberto Martinez's squad and participated in 39 matches during his loan period.
Al Habsi also was named Wigan's player of the season and the Away Player of the Year, after a public referendum.
In view of this brilliance, Al Habsi reached an agreement to finally sign the contract to join Wigan Club in a deal valued at 4 million pounds.
On April 16, 2016, Ali Al Habsi became the first Arab goalkeeper to wear the captaincy in England, and that was with Reading FC against Leeds United, and the match ended with Leeds United winning 3 to 2.
After that, Al-Habsi moved to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, specifically with Al-Hilal Club, after the club's president, Prince Nawaf bin Saad, signed a professional contract with him until 2020.
Ali Al Habsi started participating with the national football team in 2002, and he participated in the 2004 Asian Cup of Nations tournament, in which he performed well.
Despite the misfortune of the national team, which put him in a difficult group with both the Japanese national team and the Iranian team, this did not prevent Al Habsi from making three big matches.
Al Habsi also participated in the 2003 Gulf Cup, 2004 Gulf Cup and 2007 Gulf Cup, and has won the title of best goalkeeper in all three tournaments.
With the national team, he won the 19th Gulf Cup in the Sultanate and was awarded the best goalkeeper in the tournament for the fourth time in a row.
(ONA)