Khaberni - Coinciding with Egypt's participation in the 2026 World Cup held in North America, the family of the national team's technical director, Captain Hussam Hassan, revealed aspects of his family and personal life away from the fields.
Huwaida Al-Gharbawi, Hussam Hassan's wife, spoke in a television interview on Tuesday evening about their acquaintance during his professional tenure in Switzerland, where he surprised her with a marriage proposal from the first meeting, even though she did not know him before or follow his sporting career.
She added that the marriage happened quickly, noting that Hussam was keen from the beginning to establish a large and stable family, and did not wish to delay having children. She said: "We married in 1994, and I gave birth to my daughter Yara in 1995, and then Omar came after that," confirming that her husband adores family life and pays great attention to his children.
Very jealous
Furthermore, Al-Gharbawi confirmed that Hassan does not differentiate in his treatment between his son Omar and his daughters, and he treats them all with the same love, noting his deep attachment to his daughters and his constant vigilance to protect them and keep them safe from an early age, and his belief in the importance of shielding the family from envy and external pressures.
Regarding the nature of their relationship, she explained that he is known for his extreme jealousy of her, especially during his long work or professional trips abroad. However, she clarified that this jealousy was always based on love and care for the family.
She also emphasized that her wearing of the hijab for 20 years was out of complete personal conviction. Regarding the decision to remove the hijab, she explained that she went through a complex health crisis that stumped several doctors for a long period before the cause was discovered and precise surgery was performed that lasted about seven hours. She added that since that operation, she has suffered from severe allergies to anything surrounding or pressing on her body, which led her to decide to remove the hijab after seeking religious advice.
Merry spirit
During the meeting, the four children and their mother revealed a different side of Hussam's personality at home, affirming that he has a cheerful spirit and always strives to spread joy and laughter among the family members.
His wife also described him as a romantic person, contrary to the stern image known to the public in the stadiums.
Moreover, Hussam Hassan is one of the most prominent Egyptian football stars in history, having had a career replete with achievements on both the local and international levels. In May 2001, he was crowned the world's most capped player after participating in 157 international matches with the Egyptian national team, and he received the cap from the president of FIFA at the time, the Swiss Sepp Blatter, during a qualification match for the 2002 World Cup between Egypt and Senegal, attended by about 90,000 spectators.
Egyptian hopes
On a coaching level, Hussam Hassan took over the leadership of the Egyptian national team last February, succeeding the Portuguese Rui Vitória, amidst significant public hopes of restoring the team's continental and international stature.
Egyptians hope that "the Dean" will lead the Pharaohs to achieve outstanding results during the 2026 World Cup, progressing far in the tournament, benefiting from his extensive experience and leadership personality that has made his name one of the most prominent symbols of Egyptian football over the past decades.
