Rami Shaaban Explained

Rami Shaaban
Fullname:Rami Shaaban[1]
Birth Date:30 June 1975[2]
Birth Place:Solna, Sweden
Height:1.93 m[3]
Position:Goalkeeper
Youthclubs1:Fisksätra IF
Youthclubs2:Järla IF
Youthyears3:–1993
Youthclubs3:Nacka FF
Years1:1994–1995
Clubs1:Saltsjöbadens IF
Caps1:39
Goals1:0
Years2:1995
Clubs2:Zamalek
Caps2:4
Goals2:0
Years3:1995–1996
Clubs3:Ittihad Othman[4]
Caps3:5
Goals3:0
Years4:1997–1999
Clubs4:Nacka FF[5]
Caps4:48
Goals4:0
Years5:1999–2002
Clubs5:Djurgårdens IF
Caps5:40
Goals5:0
Years6:2001
Clubs6:Värtans IK (loan)
Caps6:2
Goals6:0
Years7:2002–2004
Clubs7:Arsenal
Caps7:3
Goals7:0
Years8:2004
Clubs8:West Ham United (loan)
Caps8:0
Goals8:0
Years9:2005
Clubs9:Brighton & Hove Albion
Caps9:6
Goals9:0
Years10:2006–2008
Clubs10:Fredrikstad
Caps10:43
Goals10:0
Years11:2008–2012
Clubs11:Hammarby IF
Caps11:26
Goals11:0
Totalcaps:216
Totalgoals:0
Nationalyears1:2006–2008
Nationalteam1:Sweden
Nationalcaps1:16
Nationalgoals1:0

Rami Shaaban (born 30 June 1975) is a Swedish former professional footballer who played as goalkeeper. During a career that spanned between 1994 and 2012, he is best remembered for representing Djurgårdens IF, Arsenal, Fredrikstad, and Hammarby IF. A full international between 2006 and 2008, he won 16 caps for the Sweden national team and represented his country at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2008.

Early life

Shaaban was born in Solna, Stockholm.[6] He is the son of an Egyptian father and a Finnish mother.[7]

Club career

Early career

Shaaban started his senior career at local club Saltsjöbadens IF before moving to Cairo to play for Zamalek and Ittihad Osman, while also studying at university.[8] Following his time in Egypt, Shaaban returned to Sweden in 1997 and joined Nacka FF, a club based close to where he grew up.[9] After a string of impressive performances, he was asked to join Swedish Allsvenskan outfit Djurgården where he spent two seasons.[9] In August 2002, Shaaban earned a move to Arsenal.[10]

Arsenal

In August 2002, Shaaban joined Arsenal as a potential replacement for David Seaman. When Seaman was injured, Shaaban played in two matches in the UEFA Champions League at home against PSV[11] and away against Roma, as well as in three matches in the Premier League, including a North London Derby victory against rivals Tottenham Hotspur.[12] Shaaban broke his leg during training on Christmas Eve 2002, ultimately sidelining himself for the rest of the season.[13] When Seaman left Arsenal in the summer of 2003 Arsène Wenger signed Jens Lehmann, who played every match that season as Arsenal went undefeated for the entire 2003–04 league season. Shaaban was plagued by injuries and failed to become Arsenal's first-choice keeper. In January 2004, Shaaban was loaned to West Ham United for a month, but did not make any appearances for the Hammers. He returned to Arsenal after his loan spell and due to an injury to Stuart Taylor[14] he was on the bench for a number of league games as Arsenal completed their Invincibles season.[15] [16] He was released by Arsenal at the end of that season.[17]

Other clubs

In February 2005, he signed for Brighton & Hove Albion on non-contract terms, making his debut in a 2–1 victory over Sunderland, and signed a short-term contract lasting until the end of the season days later.[18] After his contract expired he was released on a free transfer and had a trial at Dundee United, playing his only match as United beat Sheffield Wednesday to win the City of Discovery Cup. He also had a trial at Bristol City.[19] However, Shaaban could not agree terms and was snapped up by Fredrikstad FK.

Hammarby IF and retirement

On 12 February 2008, Shaaban signed a five-year contract with Swedish team Hammarby IF.[20] In 2012, he announced his retirement from professional football.[21]

International career

In 2002, shortly after his move to Arsenal, Shaaban was linked to be called up by the Egypt national football team, however this never materialised.[22] Shaaban was called up to the Sweden squad for the 2006 World Cup, although he did not have an international cap to his name. He made his debut in the warm up game with Finland as a substitute, coming on for 45 minutes and keeping a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw. On 10 June 2006, he played in the 2006 World Cup contest against Trinidad and Tobago after starter Andreas Isaksson was hit by a shot in his face and hit the ground with his head two days before the match.[23]

He also played four games in the Euro 2008 qualifiers, in which he kept a vital clean sheet against Spain national football team, and was also a member of the nation's final stage squad.

Personal life

Shaaban grew up in Solna, Stockholm with a Finnish mother and an Egyptian father. As a result, he has both Swedish and Egyptian citizenship. He was raised as a Muslim. In his late teens to early twenties, Shaaban lived in Cairo, where he played football and attended university. Prior to joining Arsenal, he also worked as a mountain explosives specialist.[24]

Shaaban has one son, Gabriel, born 2002 to his ex-wife.[25] Several years after his divorce, he began dating a makeup artist named Frida.[26] Although they are not married, the two have a son Noah, born in August 2008.[27] Shaaban made a move to Hammarby partly to be close to Gabriel. He currently lives in a large lake house with his son and wife.

Reporters often credit Shaaban for remaining down-to-earth. Shaaban claims he has friends ranging from sheet metal workers to footballers, such as Freddie Ljungberg:[28] Ljungberg and Shaaban remain close after becoming friends whilst at Arsenal. The two are often seen drinking coffee together.[29]

Shaaban is known for his love of coffee; he is often seen with a cup of coffee in his hand. He once said, "I dare not keep count of how many cups I drink per day. But mom is actually even worse."

Career statistics

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year[30] !National team!Year!Apps!Goals
Sweden200690
200740
200830
Total160

Honours

Djurgårdens IF

2002[31]

2000

2002

Fredrikstad FK

2006

Individual

2006, 2007

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Sweden . FIFA . 26 . 21 March 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf . 10 June 2019.
  2. Web site: Rami Shaaban: Overview . ESPN . 28 May 2021.
  3. Web site: Rami Shaaban: Overview . Premier League . 28 May 2021.
  4. Web site: رامي شعبان.. قصة حارس مرمي لا يعرفها الكثيرون. July 2015.
  5. Web site: Rami Shaaban - Arsenal Sweden. www.arsenal.se. 28 February 2019.
  6. Book: Frantz . Alf . Glanell . Tomas . Persson . Gunnar . Det svenska fotbollslandslaget 1908–2008 . CA Strömberg AB . 2008 . Vällingby . Swedish . The Swedish National Football Team 1908–2008 . 978-91-86184-69-8.
  7. Flinck, Johan; Ros, Tomas (2 November 2002) "Sagan om Shaaban – prinsen av Egypten." (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  8. News: Målvakt: Rami Shaaban - karriär - Fotboll. Radio. Sveriges. Sveriges Radio. 16 May 2007 . sv. 2019-02-28.
  9. Web site: DOKUMENT SPORT-EXPRESSEN: Rami Shaabans väg till VM-debuten Nyheter Expressen. www.expressen.se. 9 June 2006 . sv. 2019-02-28.
  10. Web site: Rami Shaaban klar för Arsenal. Aftonbladet. 28 August 2002 . sv. 2019-02-28.
  11. News: Arsenal replace Seaman with Shaaban . The Independent . London . Steve . Tongue . 12 November 2002 . 22 May 2010.
  12. News: Arsenal rout Spurs . . 16 November 2002 . 23 March 2020.
  13. News: Arsenal's Shaaban breaks leg in training . The Independent . London . Gordon . Tynan . 26 December 2002 . 22 May 2010.
  14. News: Taylor out for season. BBC Sport. 29 March 2004. 26 August 2016.
  15. News: Arsenal 4-2 Liverpool . . 9 April 2004 . 26 August 2016.
  16. News: Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal . . 1 September 2004 . 26 August 2016.
  17. News: Premiership ins and outs . . 1 September 2004 . 26 August 2016.
  18. News: Shaaban signs Seagulls contract . . 3 March 2005 . 26 August 2016.
  19. News: Fortune joins Vale in loan switch . . 9 November 2005 . 26 August 2016.
  20. Web site: Shaaban signs for Hammarby. 12 February 2008. 3 June 2008. Hammarbyfotboll.se. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20080417090656/http://www.hammarbyfotboll.se/se/aktuellt/artiklar/?articleid=31590. 17 April 2008.
  21. Web site: 17 January 2012. Officiellt: Rami Shaaban slutar men stannar i Hammarby. fotbolltransfers.com. 17 January 2012.
  22. News: Shaaban's Egypt future in doubt . . 6 September 2002 . 23 March 2020.
  23. News: Isaksson out of Trinidad clash thanks to former clubmate . Caribbean News Now . 9 June 2006 . https://web.archive.org/web/20160126224531/http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/caribnet/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000019/001912.htm . 26 January 2016.
  24. Web site: Rami Shaaban Bio, Stats, News . https://web.archive.org/web/20080613143852/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/international?id=22965&cc=5901&league=uefa.euro . dead . 13 June 2008 . ESPN FC . 30 June 1975.
  25. Web site: Shaaban mot Hammarby - 'Hoppas det blir klart snart' FotbollDirekt. www.fotbolldirekt.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20110711021538/http://www.fotbolldirekt.com/node/24666 . 11 July 2011.
  26. Web site: Mode, stil, nöje, nyheter, livsstil, kändisar, träning . Cafe.se .
  27. http://www.frottekarlskrona.se/ankie-bagger-moter/ankie-bagger-moter-rami-shaaban
  28. Web site: EP EXCLUSIVE: Interview with Rami Shaaban. www.egyptianplayers.com . https://web.archive.org/web/20081121030937/http://www.egyptianplayers.com/Rami/articles-ramishaaban24.htm . 21 November 2008.
  29. Web site: Freddies stöd gav mig chansen Tidigare mästerskap. Aftonbladet . 10 May 2006.
  30. Web site: Rami Shaaban - Spelarstatistik - Svensk fotboll . 2022-08-01 . www.svenskfotboll.se. . sv.
  31. Web site: Förteckning över samtliga SM-guld för Djurgårdens IF på seniornivå genom tiderna . https://web.archive.org/web/20100811042345/http://www.difarkivet.se/dif_sm_guld_seniorer.pdf . 11 August 2010 . sv.