How an Omani fireman became a Premier League penalty specialist
In short: Before guarding English goalposts, Ali Al-Habsi was a fireman at Muscat's Seeb International Airport. His journey from Oman to the Premier League was marked by extraordinary penalty saves and a career that spanned nearly two decades of international football.
Ali Al-Habsi's professional ascent began in his native Oman, where he worked as a fireman at Seeb International Airport after high school. He credited this role with instilling the patience and hard work necessary for elite sport. After being spotted by John Burridge in 2001, he eventually made his move to Europe, though work permit difficulties initially delayed his transition from the Omani leagues.
His move to Bolton Wanderers in January 2006 became a point of scrutiny during the 2007 Stevens inquiry, which investigated potential conflicts of interest involving agent Craig Allardyce and the club. Despite this, Al-Habsi proved his worth in the Premier League, notably delivering a standout performance against Bayern Munich in the UEFA Cup during the 2007–08 season. He later moved to Wigan Athletic, where he was named player of the season for 2010–11.
Al-Habsi became renowned as a specialist in stopping penalties, saving approximately 50% of the spot-kicks he faced while at Wigan. His ability to deny stars like Robin van Persie and Carlos Tevez earned him links to top clubs like Arsenal and Liverpool. Beyond the pitch, he co-founded Safety First, an Omani non-profit dedicated to reducing car accident fatalities.
His international career was equally distinguished. Representing Oman from 2001 to 2019, he earned 100 caps and was a mainstay in multiple Arabian Gulf Cups. He was frequently recognized as the tournament's best goalkeeper, including during Oman's 2009 championship victory.
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