The Goalkeeper and His Son: The Shobeir Family, Legends of Goalkeeping for Al Ahly and Egypt!
4 min read
Mustafa Shobeir with his father, the legendary goalkeeper Ahmed Shobeir
“Like father, like son” and “The magician father bore a son who surpassed him” are Egyptian proverbs that accurately describe the legendary Egyptian goalkeeper Ahmed Shobeir and his outstanding son Mostafa Shobeir. While the father carried the torch high in Egyptian and international football, the son seems to be following the same path to create his own legacy.
From guarding the goal for Al Ahly and the Egyptian national team to winning domestic and continental championships and creating unforgettable history in derby matches and the World Cup, the story of the Shobeir family deserves to be told in all its details.
Ahmed Shobeir: The Beginning of a Legend
Ahmed Abdel Aziz Shobeir was born on September 28, 1960, in Tanta, Gharbia Governorate. He began his football career at the Zeytouna Tanta team, but his talent quickly drew him to the youth academy of Al Ahly in the mid-1970s.
Shobeir made his first appearance with Al Ahly’s first team in the early 1980s and quickly became the first-choice goalkeeper. He continued to shine for Al Ahly until 1997, concluding a football career full of achievements.
Shobeir and the Egyptian National Team: The Golden Goalkeeper
Shobeir played 119 international matches with the Egyptian national team between 1986 and 1996. He was the team’s primary goalkeeper in many tournaments, most notably the 1990 FIFA World Cup in Italy, where he shone in the group stages.
He contributed to Egypt’s victory in the 1986 African Cup of Nations and the 1987 All-Africa Games gold medal in Nairobi.
A Dream Move to Everton
After his stellar performance in the 1990 World Cup, Shobeir received an offer to join the English club Everton. However, due to England’s work permit regulations at the time, the transfer could not be completed. Despite this setback, he returned to Al Ahly and continued his contributions to the club and the national team.
Shobeir by the Numbers: An Undisputed Legend
Lowest Goals Conceded Rate
Ahmed Shobeir is considered one of Egypt’s best goalkeepers in history, with the lowest rate of goals conceded compared to other top international goalkeepers.
| Name | Goals | Matches | goals/match |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shobeir | 88 | 119 | 0.7 |
| Essam El-Hadary | 141 | 161 | 0.8 |
| Nader El-Sayed | 96 | 115 | 0.8 |
| Thabet El-Batal | 47 | 52 | 0.9 |
| Ikramy El Shahat | 50 | 45 | 1.1 |
World Cup and Qualifiers
Shobeir holds the best record in history during World Cup qualifiers, conceding only 7 goals in 17 matches.
Essam El-Hadary conceded 23 goals in 27 matches, while Nader El-Sayed conceded 14 goals in 15 matches.
In the World Cup itself
Ahmed Shobeir conceded only 2 goals in 3 matches during the 1990 World Cup.
Essam El-Hadary conceded 2 goals in 1 match during the 2018 World Cup.
Mohamed El-Shenawy conceded 4 goals in 2 matches during the 2018 World Cup.
Outstanding Derby Records
Shobeir played 23 matches for Al Ahly against Zamalek in all competitions, conceding just 17 goals. In league matches, he played 18 matches and conceded 12 goals.
Essam El-Hadary played 24 matches in all competitions against Zamalek, conceding 23 goals. In the league, he played 21 matches and conceded 22 goals.
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Mostafa Shobeir: Following in His Father’s Footsteps
Mostafa Shobeir led Al Ahly to win the 2023 CAF Champions League, keeping a clean sheet in all 9 matches.
He became the first African goalkeeper to achieve a clean sheet in an entire Champions League campaign.
He made decisive saves in every match, particularly in Algeria, Tunisia, and Congo, earning him the record for most saves in a Champions League season.
The Shobeir and Schmeichel Families: A Fair Comparison
Mostafa Shobeir has a chance to achieve a unique milestone.
Kasper Schmeichel reached 50 clean sheets with Denmark after keeping clean sheets in two Nations League matches last September.
This achievement is significant as it represents the first father-son duo to each achieve over 50 international clean sheets.
Peter Schmeichel, Kasper’s father, kept 56 clean sheets with Denmark in 129 matches.
According to the International Federation of Football History & Statistics, Ahmed Shobeir kept over 50 clean sheets with the Egyptian national team.
Can Mostafa Shobeir match the Schmeichel family’s achievements?
The Shobeir Family: A Bright Spot in History
From Ahmed Shobeir, who set new standards for goalkeeping in Egypt, to Mostafa Shobeir, who is confidently paving his way to glory, the Shobeir family remains a role model for hard work and dedication.
The coming days will tell whether Mostafa can surpass his father’s legacy, but so far, he has proven to be one of the best goalkeepers of his generation.
