The 34-year-old arguably one of the recent times greatest strikers of Ethiopian Football confirmed his decision to hang up his boots, bringing an end to an illustrious career during which he became Ethiopia’s all-time leading scorer. Saladin was originally to retire at the end of 2021 season. However after a long time nursing a muscle injury he resurfaced to win two premier league titles with Kidus Giorgis.
Seladin played a key role in helping Ethiopia qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations under Coach Sewnet Bishaw, scoring crucial goals in qualifying matches. The goal that secured Ethiopia’s return to South Africa Cup of Nations qualification is courtesy of Saladin.His international tally stood at 14 goals from 28 matches for his country.
At club level, Saladin spent the majority of his career at Ethiopian giants St George, playing for them on two separate occasions between 2007 and 2021. In total, he spent nine years with St George, winning three Ethiopian Premier League titles as well winning Best Player and Top scorer of the season accolades.
Saladin went through the youth ranks at Muger-Cement before he moved to Saint George senior side at the age of 199 years-old. Four years with Giorgis, three league titles, 112 matches and 41 goals later he moved to Wadi-Degla of Egypt in 2011 with 240,000.00 USD at the time the highest paid for an Ethiopian footballer.
The energetic lone wolf striker Saladin played for a number of foreign clubs including Al-Ahly of Egypt, Lierse of Belgium and MC Alger of Algeria before returning home to don shirts of Jimma AbaJifar. His last club was Sidama Bunna, where he featured briefly this year before deciding to retire.