Adam El-Abd

Adam El-Abd
Adam El-Abd with Whitehawk in 2020.
Personal information
Full name Adam Mohamad El-Abd[1]
Date of birth (1984-09-11) 11 September 1984 (age 40)[1]
Place of birth Brighton, England
Height 5 ft 10 in (1.78 m)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
1994–2003 Brighton & Hove Albion
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2003–2014 Brighton & Hove Albion 300 (5)
2003 → Bognor Regis Town (loan) 2 (0)
2014–2016 Bristol City 16 (0)
2014–2015 → Bury (loan) 24 (1)
2015–2016 → Swindon Town (loan) 13 (0)
2016 → Gillingham (loan) 8 (0)
2016–2017 Shrewsbury Town 28 (2)
2017–2019 Wycombe Wanderers 72 (4)
2019–2020 Stevenage 2 (0)
2020–2022 Whitehawk 36 (0)
2022 Worthing 0 (0)
Total 501 (12)
International career
2012–2013 Egypt 7 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Adam Mohamad El-Abd (Arabic: آدم العبد; born 11 September 1984) is a retired professional footballer who played as a defender. El-Abd made over 500 first team appearances in his professional career and also played for the Egypt national team.

Early and personal life

Born in Brighton, East Sussex,[1] to an Egyptian father and a British mother, El-Abd holds dual-nationality. His older brother Joe played professional rugby union and is a coach at Castres Olympique.[3] His younger brother Sami was an apprentice at Brighton, before moving into non-League football with Crawley Town, Hayes & Yeading United, Whitehawk, Bognor Regis Town, Dorking Wanderers and Horsham.

Club career

Brighton & Hove Albion

El-Abd joined Brighton & Hove Albion's youth department when he was nine and was granted a scholarship there at 16. He signed his first professional contract of two and a half years at the age of 19. He made his full league début for the club in the 2–1 win at Notts County in November 2003. He was then a regular in the first team squad, playing either in defence at right-back or centre-half, or in a more defensive midfield role.[4]

During the game at Huddersfield Town on 18 March 2008, El-Abd was stretchered off with medial collateral ligament damage and ruled out for the remainder of the season.[5]

In June 2008, El-Abd signed a new two-year deal with Brighton.[6] He won the Seagulls Player of the Season award for their League One winning 2010–11 campaign.[4]

El-Abd hit the milestone of 250 league appearances for Brighton on 7 March 2012, named Man of the Match in a 2–2 draw with Cardiff City. El-Abd made his 300th and final league appearance for the Seagulls coming on as a 90th-minute substitute against Birmingham City on 11 January 2014.

Bristol City

On 16 January 2014, El-Abd transferred to League One club Bristol City for an undisclosed fee.[7] Rarely used at Bristol City, he spent time out on loan at Bury,[8] Swindon Town,[9] and Gillingham.[10]

Shrewsbury Town

After his contract at Bristol City expired, he moved to League One club Shrewsbury Town on a free transfer in July 2016, signing a two-year contract,[11] where he immediately became captain in place of the departed Nathaniel Knight-Percival.[12] He scored his first goal for the club in a 2–1 home victory against Chesterfield on 20 August,[13] but was sent off in a 2–1 defeat at former club Bury three weeks later.[14] After the departure of Shrewsbury manager Micky Mellon, El Abd scored a "30 yard half-volley" in a 1–1 draw away at Southend United on 29 October, to hand new boss Paul Hurst a point in his first match in charge.[15]

El-Abd left the club at the end of June 2017 after his contract was cancelled by mutual consent.[16]

Wycombe Wanderers

On 3 July 2017, El-Abd signed a two-year contract with League Two side Wycombe Wanderers.[17] In May 2018 he extended his contract for a further year, to the end of the 2019–20 season.[18] El-Abd left Wycombe on 2 September 2019 by mutual consent.[19]

Stevenage

He signed for Stevenage on 6 September 2019,[20] but was released by the Hertfordshire side at the end of the 2019–20 season having made just 4 appearances in all competitions.[21]

Whitehawk

El-Abd joined Whitehawk on 5 August 2020, firstly as player-assistant manager,[22] then as a player and assistant U18 coach for the 2021–22 season,[23] before leaving at the end of the season.[24]

Worthing

On 8 June 2022, El-Abd joined newly promoted National League South club Worthing, linking up with former Brighton teammate Adam Hinshelwood, now Worthing manager.[25]

International career

El-Abd stated in a 2005 interview with EgyptianPlayers.com that he intended to play for the Egyptian national side if he got the call.[26]

On 15 May 2012, and for the first time, Egypt national team coach Bob Bradley included El-Abd in the squad for friendly games against Cameroon, Togo, and Senegal, and also against Mozambique in a FIFA World Cup Qualifier.[27]

Career statistics

As of match played 11 February 2020
Club Season League League FA Cup League Cup Other Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Brighton & Hove Albion 2003–04[28] Division Two 11 0 0 0 0 0 2[a] 0 13 0
2004–05[29] Championship 16 0 0 0 0 0 − 16 0
2005–06[30] Championship 29 0 1 0 1 0 − 31 0
2006–07[31] League One 42 0 2 0 1 1 4[a] 0 49 2
2007–08[32] League One 35 1 4 1 1 0 3[a] 0 43 2
2008–09[33] League One 31 0 2 0 2 0 5[a] 0 40 0
2009–10[34] League One 35 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 39 1
2010–11[33] League One 37 1 2 0 1 0 1[a] 0 41 1
2011–12[34] Championship 23 0 2 0 0 0 − 25 0
2012–13[35] Championship 32 1 2 0 0 0 − 34 1
2013–14[36] Championship 9 0 1 0 1 0 − 11 0
Total 300 5 19 1 8 1 15 0 342 7
Bristol City 2013–14[36] League One 14 0 − − − 14 0
2014–15[37] League One 2 0 1 0 1 0 2[a] 0 6 0
2015–16[38] Championship 0 0 − 0 0 − 0 0
Total 16 0 1 0 1 0 2 0 20 0
Bury (loan) 2014–15[37] League Two 24 1 − − − 24 1
Swindon Town (loan) 2015–16[38] League One 13 0 1 0 − 0 0 14 0
Gillingham (loan) 2015–16[38] League One 8 0 − − − 8 0
Shrewsbury Town 2016–17[39] League One 28 2 3 0 2 0 1[a] 0 34 2
Wycombe Wanderers 2017–18[40] League Two 36 1 3 0 1 0 3[a] 0 43 1
2018–19[41] League One 34 3 1 0 1 0 1[a] 0 43 1
2019–20[42] League One 2 0 − 0 0 0 0 2 0
Total 72 4 4 0 2 0 4 0 82 4
Stevenage 2019–20[42] League Two 2 0 1 0 − 1[a] 0 4 0
Career total 463 12 29 1 13 1 23 0 528 14

Footnotes

a. ^ appearances in the Football League Trophy.

Bognor Regis Town statistics unavailable

Honours

Brighton & Hove Albion

Individual

  • Brighton & Hove Albion Player of the Season: 2010–11[4]

References

  1. ^ a b c Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2010). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2010–11. Mainstream Publishing. p. 136. ISBN 978-1-84596-601-0.
  2. ^ "Adam El-Abd : Overview". Premier League. Archived from the original on 2 April 2022. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  3. ^ "French fairytale as El-Abd wins title the hard way". The Argus. 8 June 2018. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  4. ^ a b c "500 Not Out: Congratulations Adam".
  5. ^ "Seagulls swoop for Racon". football.co.uk. 20 March 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2017.
  6. ^ "El-Abd Signs New Deal". Brighton & Hove Albion F.C. 5 June 2008. Archived from the original on 4 November 2008. Retrieved 5 June 2008.
  7. ^ "El-Abd leaves Albion". The Argus. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 16 January 2014.
  8. ^ "Bury: Adam El-Abd and Robert Milsom join on loan". BBC Sport. 26 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  9. ^ "Swindon Town: Adam El-Abd joins on loan from Bristol City". BBC Sport. 9 October 2015. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  10. ^ "Adam El-Abd: Gillingham sign Bristol City defender on loan". BBC Sport. 26 February 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  11. ^ "Adam El-Abd: Shrewsbury Town sign former Brighton and Bristol City defender". BBC Sport. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 15 July 2016.
  12. ^ "New Captain revealed". Shrewsweb. 8 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2016.
  13. ^ "Shrewsbury Town 2–1 Chesterfield". BBC Sport. 20 August 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  14. ^ "Sending off came at the right time, says boss David Flitcroft, as spirited Bury battle back to win". Bury Times. 12 September 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  15. ^ "Southend United 1 Shrewsbury Town 1 – Report and pictures". Shropshire Star. 29 October 2016. Retrieved 6 November 2016.
  16. ^ "Club captain Adam El-Abd departs Shrewsbury Town". Shropshire Star. 30 June 2017. Retrieved 1 July 2017.
  17. ^ "First summer signing revealed!". Wycombe Wanderers Official Site. 3 July 2017. Retrieved 3 July 2017.
  18. ^ "Skipper extends deal until 2020". Retrieved 23 May 2018.
  19. ^ "Adam El-Abd leaves the club". Wycombe Wanderers F.C. Retrieved 2 September 2019.
  20. ^ "Adam El-Abd joins Stevenage". Stevenage Official Site. 6 September 2019. Retrieved 6 September 2019.
  21. ^ "Stevenage 2020/21 Retained & Released List". www.stevenagefc.com. Retrieved 25 June 2020.
  22. ^ "Ex-Albion legend joins Hawks as assistant-manager".
  23. ^ Whitehawk v Cray Valley PM, official match day programme, 11 December 2021
  24. ^ "Player Update – 2022/23 Season".
  25. ^ "El-Adb latest Rebel". worthingfc.com. 8 June 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  26. ^ "El-Abd Walks Like an Egyptian!" Archived 13 February 2008 at the Wayback Machine: an interview at the EgyptianPlayers.com website. Retrieved on 4 March 2008.
  27. ^ "Brighton's Adam El-Abd included in Egypt's squad" Archived 4 May 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 15 May 2012.
  28. ^ "Games played by Adam El-Abd in 2003/2004". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  29. ^ "Games played by Adam El-Abd in 2004/2005". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  30. ^ "Games played by Adam El-Abd in 2005/2006". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  31. ^ "Games played by Adam El-Abd in 2006/2007". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  32. ^ "Games played by Adam El-Abd in 2007/2008". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  33. ^ a b "Games played by Adam El-Abd in 2008/2009". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  34. ^ a b "Games played by Adam El-Abd in 2011/2012". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  35. ^ "Games played by Adam El-Abd in 2012/2013". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  36. ^ a b "Games played by Adam El-Abd in 2013/2014". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  37. ^ a b "Games played by Adam El-Abd in 2014/2015". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  38. ^ a b c "Games played by Adam El-Abd in 2015/2016". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  39. ^ "Games played by Adam El-Abd in 2016/2017". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  40. ^ "Games played by Adam El-Abd in 2017/2018". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  41. ^ "Games played by Adam El-Abd in 2018/2019". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  42. ^ a b "Games played by Adam El-Abd in 2019/2020". Soccerbase. Centurycomm.
  43. ^ Rollin, Glenda; Rollin, Jack, eds. (2011). Sky Sports Football Yearbook 2011–2012. London: Headline Publishing Group. pp. 39, 104–105. ISBN 978-0-7553-6231-8.