Rami Shaaban

Rami Shaaban (Swedish pronunciation: [ˈrɑ̌ːmɪ ˈʂɑ̌ːban]; Arabic: رامي شعبان‎; born 30 June 1975) is a Swedish former professional football player. He is the son of an Egyptian father and a Finnish mother.[3] During his career he played for a number of teams in England, including Arsenal, and in Sweden. He was a Swedish national team member until 2008. He ended his playing career after the 2011 season.[4]

Rami Shaaban
Rami Shaaban in 2014.
Personal information
Full name Rami Shaaban
Date of birth (1975-06-30) 30 June 1975
Place of birth Solna, Stockholm, Sweden
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Youth career
Fisksätra IF
Järla IF
0000–1993 Nacka FF
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1995 Saltsjöbadens IF 39 (0)
1995 Zamalek 4 (0)
1995–1996 Ittihad Othman[1] 5 (0)
1997–1999 Nacka FF[2] 48 (0)
1999–2002 Djurgårdens IF[2] 40 (0)
2001 Värtans IK[2] (Loan) 2 (0)
2002–2004 Arsenal 3 (0)
2004 → West Ham United (loan) 0 (0)
2005 Brighton & Hove Albion 6 (0)
2006–2008 Fredrikstad 43 (0)
2008–2012 Hammarby IF 26 (0)
Total 216 (0)
National team
2006–2008 Sweden 16 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

Club career

Early career

Shaaban was born in Solna, Stockholm.[5] He 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.[6] Following his time in Egypt, Shaaban returned to Sweden in 1997 and joined Nacka FF, a club based close to where he grew up.[7] After a string of impressive performances, he was asked to join Swedish first division outfit Djurgården where he spent two seasons.[7] In August 2002, Shaaban earned a move to Arsenal.[8]

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 Eindhoven[9] and away against AS Roma, as well as in three matches in the Premier League, including a North London Derby victory against rivals Tottenham Hotspur.[10] Shaaban broke his leg during training on Christmas Eve 2002, ultimately sidelining himself for the rest of the season.[11] 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[12] he was on the bench for a number of league games as Arsenal completed their Invincibles season.[13][14] He was released by Arsenal at the end of that season.[15]

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.[16] 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.[17] However, Shaaban could not agree terms and was snapped up by Fredrikstad FK.

On 12 February 2008, Shaaban signed a five-year contract with Swedish team Hammarby IF.[18]

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.[19] 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.[20]

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.[21]

Shaaban has one son, Gabriel, born 2002 to his ex-wife.[22] Several years after his divorce, he began dating a makeup artist named Frida.[23] Although they are not married, the two have a son Noah, born in August 2008.[24] 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.[24]

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:[25] Ljungberg and Shaaban remain close after becoming friends whilst at Arsenal. The two are often seen drinking coffee together.[26]

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."[23]

Honours

Club

Djurgårdens IF:

Arsenal:

Fredrikstad FK:

Dundee United

Individual

References
  1. "رامي شعبان.. قصة حارس مرمي لا يعرفها الكثيرون".
  2. "Rami Shaaban - Arsenal Sweden". www.arsenal.se. Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  3. Flinck, Johan; Ros, Tomas (2 November 2002) "Sagan om Shaaban – prinsen av Egypten." (in Swedish). Aftonbladet. Retrieved 17 May 2009.
  4. "Officiellt: Rami Shaaban slutar men stannar i Hammarby". fotbolltransfers.com. 17 January 2012. Retrieved 17 January 2012.
  5. Frantz, Alf; Glanell, Tomas; Persson, Gunnar, eds. (2008). Det svenska fotbollslandslaget 1908–2008 [The Swedish National Football Team 1908–2008] (in Swedish). Vällingby: CA Strömberg AB. ISBN 978-91-86184-69-8.
  6. Radio, Sveriges. "Målvakt: Rami Shaaban - karriär - Fotboll". sverigesradio.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  7. "DOKUMENT SPORT-EXPRESSEN: Rami Shaabans väg till VM-debuten | Nyheter | Expressen". www.expressen.se (in Swedish). Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  8. "Rami Shaaban klar för Arsenal". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Retrieved 28 February 2019.
  9. Tongue, Steve (12 November 2002). "Arsenal replace Seaman with Shaaban". The Independent. London. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  10. "Arsenal rout Spurs". BBC Sport. 16 November 2002. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  11. Tynan, Gordon (26 December 2002). "Arsenal's Shaaban breaks leg in training". The Independent. London. Retrieved 22 May 2010.
  12. "Taylor out for season". BBC Sport. 29 March 2004. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  13. "Arsenal 4-2 Liverpool". BBC Sport. 9 April 2004. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  14. "Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal". BBC Sport. 1 September 2004. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  15. "Premiership ins and outs". BBC Sport. 1 September 2004. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  16. "Shaaban signs Seagulls contract". BBC Sport. 3 March 2005. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  17. "Fortune joins Vale in loan switch". BBC Sport. 9 November 2005. Retrieved 26 August 2016.
  18. "Shaaban signs for Hammarby". Hammarbyfotboll.se. 12 February 2008. Archived from the original on 17 April 2008. Retrieved 3 June 2008.
  19. "Shaaban's Egypt future in doubt". BBC Sport. 6 September 2002. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
  20. http://www.caribbeannewsnow.com/caribnet/cgi-script/csArticles/articles/000019/001912.htm,
  21. "Rami Shaaban Bio, Stats, News". ESPN FC. 30 June 1975.
  22. Archived 11 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  23. "Mode, stil, nöje, nyheter, livsstil, kändisar, träning". Cafe.se.
  24. http://www.frottekarlskrona.se/ankie-bagger-moter/ankie-bagger-moter-rami-shaaban
  25. Archived 21 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine
  26. "Freddies stöd gav mig chansen | Tidigare mästerskap | Aftonbladet". Aftonbladet. 10 May 2006.
  27. http://www.difarkivet.se/dif_sm_guld_seniorer.pdf
  28. "Welcome to Tannadice – Dundee United Football Club". www.dundeeunitedfc.co.uk. Retrieved 25 March 2016.
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