Ali Gagarin

Ali Gagarin

Personal information
Full name	Haydar Hassan Haj Al-Sidig
Place of birth	Omdurman, Sudan
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Retired
Number	9
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1966–1975	Al-Hilal Club	-	(-)
1975–1976	Al Nassr FC	-	(-)
1976–1978	Al-Hilal Club	-	(-)
1978–1979	Stade d'Abidjan	-	(-)
1979–1980	Al-Hilal Club	-	(-)
International career
1966–1980	Sudan	-	(-)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Haydar Hassan Haj Al-Sidig known as Ali Gagarin (born in Omdurman) is a former Sudanese footballer who played with Al-Hilal Club. He participated in the Africa Cup of Nations 1970 and 1976. He earned his nickname of Ali Gagarin when he played professional football for Al-Hilal, one Sudan’s biggest teams, his meteoric rise in the sport was likened to that of the famous Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin.

Having retired from playing sport, he became an administrator, who has held posts, such as vice-president at Al-Hilal and also in politics, as a director general at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs ambassador.

Honours

Personal

• Best goalscorer of Al-Hilal Club in all times with 350 goals
• Second best goalscorer of the 1976 African Cup of Nations in Ethiopia with Ahmed Faras and Baba Otu Mohammed with 3 goals

With Clubs

• Three times winner of the Sudan Premier League, in 1966, 1967 and 1974 with Al-Hilal Club
• Winner once the Sudan Cup in 1977 with Al-Hilal Club
• Winner of the Saudi King's cup in 1976 with Al Nassr FC

National

• Winner of the 1970 African Cup of Nations in Sudan

External links

• Player profile - Home of football statistics & history
• Haydar Hassan Al-Sidig the ambassador - Sudan Tribune