Hady Ghandour

Hady Ismail Ghandour (/ˈhædi ɡænˈdʊər/ HA-dee gan-DOOR;[2] Arabic: هادي اسماعيل غندور‎, Lebanese Arabic pronunciation: ['heːdi ɣan'duːr, -de]; born 27 January 2000) is a footballer who plays as a forward for League One club Charlton Athletic. Born in England, Ghandour holds both English and Lebanese citizenship; he has represented Lebanon internationally at youth level.

Hady Ghandour
Ghandour with Charlton Athletic in 2020
Personal information
Full name Hady Ismail Ghandour
Date of birth (2000-01-27) 27 January 2000
Place of birth Westminster, London, England[1]
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Charlton Athletic
Number 44
Youth career
2014–2016 Tripoli
2016–2019 Tooting & Mitcham United
2020– Charlton Athletic
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2020 Tooting & Mitcham United 42 (13)
2020– Charlton Athletic 0 (0)
National team
2015 Lebanon U17 4 (1)
2017 Lebanon U20 2 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 1 July 2020

Early life

Born in Westminster, London, England on 27 January 2000,[1] and raised in Chelsea, London, Ghandour holds both English and Lebanese citizenship.[3] Indeed his father, Ismail,[4] had moved to the United Kingdom from Tripoli, Lebanon at age 13,[5][6] to study at the Royal Russel School in Croydon, South London.[7] His mother is also from Tripoli.[7]

While living in England, Ghandour used to play for AC Tripoli's youth team in Lebanon during the Easter and summer vacations.[7] Towards the end of his A-Levels at Cass Business School, Ghandour trialed for Charlton Athletic;[5] however, he decided to concentrate on his studies.[5] He joined Tooting & Mitcham United in 2016, playing for the U18 and U23 teams.[3]

Club career

2018–19: Debut season

Coming through the youth system,[4] Ghandour made his senior debut for Isthmian League South Central Division side Tooting & Mitcham United on 9 October 2018, against Burgess Hill Town in the Velocity Trophy.[8] His first league game came four days later against Cheshunt.[8] One week later, on 20 October, Ghandour scored his first goal, helping his side beat Egham Town 4–3 away from home in the league.[8] On 23 February 2019, he scored his first brace for Tooting & Mitcham United, against Waltham Abbey in a 2–1 win.[8] Ghandour ended the 2018–19 season with seven goals in 25 league appearances.[8]

2019–20: Four goals in one game

Ghandour's first goal of the 2019–20 season came on 20 August 2019, in a 3–1 home win against Ashford Town.[9] On 7 December 2019, he scored four goals against Chertsey Town, helping his side win 5–0.[9] The player stated in an interview: "It’s just surreal. To score four goals – at any level – is crazy. It doesn’t come around often at all."[5] Ghandour scored six goals in 17 league appearances – seven in 31 in all competitions.[9] For his performances, Ghandour was nominated 2019–20 Tooting & Mitcham United Managers' Player of the Season,[10][11] and Supporters' Most Improved Player of the Season.[11]

2020–21: Professional debut

In January 2020, Ghandour went on an eight-week trial to Championship side Charlton Athletic,[12][13] for whom he had already trialed a few years prior.[5] On 14 August 2020, Ghandour signed for the Charlton Athletic Under-23s on a one-year contract, with an option to extend for a further year.[10][14] On 15 October 2020, he made his debut in the Professional Development League against QPR, becoming the first Lebanese to do so.[15] He played as a winger, helping create Charlton's second goal in a 3–0 win.[15]

Ghandour made his senior professional debut on 10 November 2020, playing as a starter against Leyton Orient in the EFL Trophy.[16] The match ended in a 3–1 win, with Ghandour providing a key pass to help set-up the 1–0 lead.[17] Ghandour scored his first goal for the Under-23s against Bristol City on 30 November 2020, scoring a chip goal following an individual run where he beat three defenders.[18] On 11 January 2021, Ghandour scored a brace for the Under-23s in a 4–0 home win against Cardiff City.[19]

International career

Youth

Born in England, Ghandour is eligible to represent Lebanon internationally through his father.[5] In 2015 he made his debut for the Lebanon U17 team, scoring in a friendly game against Syria which Lebanon won 3–2.[7] Ghandour participated in the 2016 AFC U-16 Championship qualifications,[1] playing in all three group stage games.[1] However, Lebanon failed to qualify to the final tournament, finishing last in their group.[20]

In 2017 Ghandour represented Lebanon U20 at the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship qualification, playing against Iraq and Qatar.[1] Regarding his match against the latter, Ghandour stated: "When I played in Qatar it was on TV, so my mum could watch from London. Singing the anthem was an incredible feeling – very emotional. It’s 100 per cent the best thing I’ve ever done".[5] However, as Lebanon lost both games, they failed to qualify for the final tournament, finishing last in their group.[21]

Ghandour was due to join the Lebanon U23 camp in Iraq in January 2021; however, due to the COVID-19 restrictions, he wasn't able to join the national team.[22]

Style of play

Ghandour's main characteristics are his work rate and tactical understanding.[4] He is a dynamic striker who "creates space for his team mates", and has been praised for "his hard work" and "dedication to get stronger and fitter".[4] Ghandour has also played as a winger on occasion.[7]

Personal life

Ghandour is a supporter of English club Leeds United, and his favourite player is Robert Lewandowski, also citing Cristiano Ronaldo as a source of inspiration.[7]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 10 November 2020
Club Season League FA Cup League Cup Other Total Ref.
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Tooting & Mitcham United 2018–19 Isthmian South Central 25 7 0 0 0 0 2[lower-alpha 1] 0 27 7 [8]
2019–20 Isthmian South Central 17 6 4 0 0 0 10[lower-alpha 2] 1 31 7 [9]
Total 42 13 4 0 0 0 12 1 58 14 —
Charlton Athletic 2020–21 League One 0 0 0 0 0 0 1[lower-alpha 3] 0 1 0 [23]
Career total 42 13 4 0 0 0 13 1 59 14 —
  1. One appearance in Alan Turvey Trophy, one appearance in London Senior Cup
  2. Four appearances in FA Trophy, one appearance in Surrey Senior Cup, three appearances in Alan Turvey Trophy, two appearances in London Senior Cup
  3. One appearance in EFL Trophy

International
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Lebanon U17 2015 4 1
Lebanon U20 2017 2 0
Career total 6 1

Honours

Individual

Awards

References
  1. "Hady Ghandour – Soccer player profile & career statistics". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  2. "Get to know a bit more about our latest additions to the academy in their own words and the thoughts of Academy Manager, Steve Avory..." Twitter. Charlton Athletic FC. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  3. "Tooting & Mitcham Football Club/FIRST TEAM". T&M United FC. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  4. Best, Adam (14 August 2020). "Hady Goes Pro". SOUTH LONDON IS BLACK & WHITE. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  5. "Tooting hotshot – who concentrated on studies rather than pursuing Charlton trial – on scoring four goals in one game for Tooting & Mitcham and pride at Lebanon international action". Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  6. Association, The Football. "This Is Surrey Football: Hady Ghandour Interview". www.surreyfa.com. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  7. Nehme, Ale (1 December 2020). "Exclusive interview with Hady Ghandour". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  8. "Hady Ghandour | 2018–2019". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  9. "Hady Ghandour | 2019–2020". www.footballwebpages.co.uk. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  10. "U23S | New arrivals Ghandour and Ness eager to hit the ground running". Charlton Athletic F.C. 14 August 2020. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  11. "Season Awards 2020". T&M United FC. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  12. "U23S REPORT | Watford 3 Charlton 3". Charlton Athletic F.C. 5 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  13. "U23 PREMIER LEAGUE CUP REPORT | Charlton 2 Reading 2". Charlton Athletic F.C. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  14. Mahfoud, Maroun (14 August 2020). "Official: Hady Ghandour signs with Charlton Athletic U-23". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  15. Abou Diab, Rami (17 September 2020). "Hady Ghandour: England Professional Development League debut". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  16. "TEAM NEWS | Jason Pearce set for first start of the season against Leyton Orient". Charlton Athletic F.C. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 10 November 2020.
  17. "PAPA JOHN'S TROPHY REPORT | Charlton 3 Leyton Orient 1". Charlton Athletic F.C. 10 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  18. "U23S REPORT | Charlton 3 Bristol City 1". Charlton Athletic F.C. 30 November 2020. Retrieved 30 November 2020.
  19. "U23S REPORT | Charlton 4 Cardiff City 0". Charlton Athletic F.C. 11 January 2021. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  20. "Schedule & Results | AFC". the-afc.com. Archived from the original on 25 September 2016. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  21. "AFC U-19 Championship Qualification 2018 Indonesia". globalsportsarchive.com. Retrieved 1 March 2020.
  22. Abou Diab, Rami (28 December 2020). "The U-22 national team squad announced". FA Lebanon. Retrieved 28 December 2020.
  23. "Hady Ghandour". Soccerway. Retrieved 24 November 2020.
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