Richard Coeur de Lion. Interesting that a Muslim chieftan should praise a Crusader. But before the politically correct revisionists took hold of the Crusades, there was a certain respect between these enemies.
It was progressive Europeans who taught the Arabs about the evils of the Crusades. In fact, it was the German Emperor, working toward the First World War and undermining the British, who started the whole Arab re-education campaign.
I'm guessing that Hizzoner didn't buy into Saddam's "Jews and Crusaders" line.
There was a HUGE amount of respect between Richard Plantagenet (Lionheart) and Salad ed-Din Yusuf (Saladin).
During the battle for Jaffa, Saladin was said to be "lost in angry admiration at the sight" of Richard's defense of the city to his much larger army, and when Richard's horse was killed under him, in an act of incredible chivalry, Saladin sent Lionheart two fresh steeds as a gift.
Richard was equally admiring of Saladin.