Monday - 03/09/2012
Captain Mahmoud El-Gohary, advisor to HRH Prince Ali Bin Al
Hussein and Technical Director at the Jordan Football Associated passed away
this morning in the Jordanian capital, Amman, after suffering a stroke on
Friday August 31, 2012. Below is a eulogy by HRH Prince Ali Bin Al Hussein,
President of the Jordan Football Association and FIFA Vice President-Asia.
The Captain
By Ali Bin Al Hussein
I grew up watching and admiring Mahmoud
El Gohary as a true football coaching great and hearing about his legendary
start as a player and top scorer for Egypt in 1959 when the Egyptian National
Team were crowned champions of the African Cup of Nations.
He was destined to become one of the
greatest players ever from our region had he not suffered a serious injury in
his prime, at 26 years of age, which effectively ended his football playing
career. What really cemented his legendary status was his determination to
continue in the sport he loved as a coach. To name only a few of his
achievements; securing a victory for Egypt in the African Cup of Nations as
team manager, taking his nation to the World Cup in Italy in 1990 for the first
time since 1934, which stands to be an historic milestone for Egypt. On the
club level, El-Gohary took both the esteemed Egyptian clubs of Al Zamalik and
Al Ahly to win both their league titles and the CAF Champions League.
His achievements as a coach have also won
him the title of Best Arab Coach three times (89, 93, 98), Best African coach
in 1998 and one of the best 20 coaches of the year chosen by FIFA in 1998.
Above and beyond his achievements, what I
truly admired about El-Gohary was his strength of character, his principles and
his composure under pressure; rare traits whether in the football world or
otherwise. That is why I decided to approach Captain El-Gohary in 2002 about
the possibility of coaching the Jordan National Team. At the time, Jordan’s
national team was not considered a powerhouse of football in our region. Many
coaches would not have accepted the job. But Captain El-Gohary took the
challenge with all his heart.
As the national team coach of Jordan, he
turned us into a highly respected team in Asia as we reached the quarterfinals
of the 2007 Asian Cup, only losing to Japan on penalties in a dramatic fashion.
On the world stage, El-Gohary took Jordan to our highest ever FIFA World
ranking of 37.
Since 2009, after having retired from
coaching, I have had the privilege of having Captain El-Gohary as my football
advisor and technical director of the Jordan Football Association where he
oversaw the development program of youth national teams of Jordan as well as
grassroots activities. Under his leadership and guidance, all Jordanian
national teams qualified to Asian championship finals.
Captain El Gohary, a loving father and
husband, spent his time dedicated to football, particularly to the players, who
he cared for as children of his own both on and off the pitch. His humanity was
unmatched in his service to others. He was a great advisor and a dear friend
who would size me up as one of his own players; something I always looked
forward to.
His guidance and wisdom have been
invaluable to me throughout my football career. In our last conversation, he
said he is preparing a five-year plan for our youth football development in
Jordan because in his words; “it doesn’t matter if I’m here or someone else is
here, what matters is the plan itself.” Unfortunately, I did not have the
chance to be briefed on the plan. However, it is complete and sits on his desk
today.
Thank you Captain El-Gohary. In Jordan,
this plan will be your legacy. You will remain to inspire generations to come
with your total dedication to football, your dignity, and elegant humility.
May you rest in peace, Captain.
