Happy Birthday: Aboutrika, Ferdinand, de Gea

Sport360 staff 14:40 07/11/2016
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  • Mohamed Aboutrika, Rio Ferdinand, David de Gea.

    One of the greatest Egyptian footballers of all time, Aboutrika was a true institution.

    The Giza-native, who turns 38 today, was an inspirational figure not just for his long-time club Al Ahly and the Egyptian national team, but for his country as a whole.

    Aboutrika was named Africa’s Best Player of the Year four times and in 2008, came second in the African Footballer of the Year award behind Emmanuel Adebayor, and was the BBC’s African Footballer of the Year.

    He claimed 100 caps with Egypt, scoring 38 goals, and helped guide them to back-to-back African Cup of Nations triumphs in 2006 and 2008, where he scored the winning goal in the final.

    With Ahly, he led them to the bronze medal in the FIFA Club World Cup in 2006, and scooped seven Egyptian Premier League titles, and five CAF Champions Leagues.

    1974: Brigitte Foster-Hylton, Jamaican retired hurdler, who was world champion in 100m hurdles in 2009 (42).

    1978: Rio Ferdinand, ex-Manchester United and England centre-back, who claimed 81 national team caps (38).

    1988: Alexandr Dolgopolov, Ukrainian tennis player, who ranked 13 in the world in 2012 (28).

    1990: David de Gea, Spanish footballer, who is the goalkeeper for Manchester United and Spain (26).

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