Year: 2014

Ashkan Dejagah leaves Fulham for Al-Arabi

bbc.com  -29 July 2014 Last updated at 14:34 GMT

Championship club Fulham have sold Iran international Ashkan Dejagah to Qatari side Al-Arabi for an undisclosed fee.

The 28-year-old winger joined the Whites from Wolfsburg in summer 2012 and made 49 appearances during his time at Craven Cottage, scoring six goals.

“Having spoken with Ashkan, we decided in the best interest of both Fulham and himself, that he would leave the club,” Fulham boss Felix Magath said.

“We wish him very much luck for the future at Al-Arabi.”

The German boss added: “During his time with us, he made some good appearances and scored some memorable goals.

“However, we decided to part ways.

“It will always be our policy to have players who are committed to the club and have a desire to work for the common goal.”

Dejagah featured in all three of Iran’s games at the World Cup in Brazil.

Alireza Haghighi to join FC Penafiel

Reports of Alireza Haghighi joining the Portuguese Second Division FC Penafiel has been circulating in the Iranian media for a few days , but as of writing of this report , there has been no official announcement by the player himself or the club that Iran’s no. 1 goalkeeper in the FIFA World Cup will be joining Penafiel.

A  Segunda Liga  team , situated in the city of the same name, Futebol Clube  Penafiel finished 12th in the league last season. The club’s website is under maintenance and was not available for confirmation of the deal. However , a fan site mentioned the introduction of the official new kit for the upcoming season as the venue for introduction of Alireza Haghighi top the club.

Apparently , the ex-Persepolis and Ruben Kazan keeper got lost in Portugal and missed the ceremony.

Ali Karimi Pashaki

Asian football is all the poorer for the retirement of a genuine legend.

Asia loses a legend as Karimi retires

 

JOHN DUERDEN

espnfc.com

 

Ali Karimi has finally hung up his boots after a fine career.

 

Not many football players were mentioned by name in those diplomatic cables released to the world by WikiLeaks a few years ago but Ali Karimi was. Even Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad found the time to get involved in the career of the man they called ‘The Wizard Of Tehran” who finally pocketed his wand and hung up his boots earlier this week. Having threatened to quit before, this time it is for real and Asian football has lost a little of its sparkle as a result.

His 117 caps for Iran, Bundesliga success with Bayern Munich and three separate spells with his beloved Persepolis in Tehran don’t tell anything like the full story. Karimi is one, some say the best, of the most talented players Asia has ever produced.

Special barely begins to describe the quarterfinal of the 2004 Asian Cup against South Korea, almost exactly a decade ago. Jinan is one of the grittier Chinese cities but if you wanted beauty and magic, it was the place be on that sticky Saturday night as it hosted one of the greatest individual performances ever seen on the continent. Scoring a hat trick in a 4-3 win was always going to grab the headlines but there was something different about his performance that only a true great can claim. Iran coach Branko Ivankovic recalled later on how he realised early in the game that his star man was in special form; the instructions from the bench and the half-time team talk were basically to give it to Karimi.

Some of the Korean defenders were still shaking their heads an hour after it all finished and the tormentor is still talked about and respected in Seoul. Karimi was more than the difference between the two teams, he was the difference between witnessing an exciting game of knockout football in a major competition and something unforgettable. A few months later, he was named Asia’s player of 2004.

It was almost a perfect year with the only frustration that he was still playing for Al Ahli in a UAE league where he lingered too long. It was like Park Ji-sung starring in the 2002 World Cup and deciding to stay at Kyoto Purple Sanga for another season or two instead of heading to PSV Eindhoven, the latter stages of the Champions League and then Manchester United. In typical Karimi fashion however, when the move came, it was a big one as he left Dubai for Bayern Munich, just weeks before Park was pictured holding the famous red shirt at Old Trafford in July 2005.

Karimi’s first game against Bayer Leverkusen was watched by millions back home. It is hard to think of an Asian player who had managed such an impressive big league debut after a direct switch from east to west and the midfielder basked in the plaudits after helping his new club to a 5-2 win.

He continued to look solid over the next six months or so, before an ankle injury in arctic conditions against Hamburg in March 2006 ended his first campaign. He never really got going again, perhaps it was being injured a long way from home, perhaps it was the fall-out of that summer’s World Cup, perhaps it was issues behind the scenes at FC Hollywood, but the injury as good as ended his time with Bayern. It was made official in May 2007 and, soon after, he returned to the Middle East and Qatar. Apart from the briefest of spells with Schalke, his European career was over.

There will be regret that the wider world outside Asia didn’t get to see much of what he could do. 2006 should have been the time but the World Cup was a disaster for both player and country. Karimi was still not match fit after the Hamburg injury and was taken off on the hour of the opening game against Mexico. Shortly after, a 1-1 scoreline became a 3-1 defeat. Worse was to follow. He was one side of a major split in the dressing room opposite Ali Daei, a legend who was past his best by the time the tournament kicked off, and for Iranian football, the lack of unity off the pitch was more painful than results on it.

Controversy was never far away from Karimi — given the tag “Asian Maradona,” the nickname was accurate in more ways than one as he was not afraid to speak out about some of the issues in Iranian football, a trait that won him enemies as well as public affection. In 2008, the Iranian FA banned him from the national team after he publicly criticised the federation for incompetence. He was reinstated thanks to the efforts of President Ahmadinejad.

 

Ali Karimi: The deep-lying forward has played 112 times for Iran
Karimi was never one to hold his tongue.

 

Perhaps, however, Iran’s leader regretted the intervention the following year. In June 2009, Karimi headed to South Korea as part of a team needing to win to keep hopes of automatic qualification for the 2010 World Cup alive against a backdrop of major protests back home. The president had just won re-election but the opposition claimed their man, Mir Hossein Mousavi, as the real winner. The favoured colour of the challenger during the election was green, and six of the Team Melli XI took the pitch in Seoul sporting wristbands of the same colour. Whatever the official explanation soon given — namely that the gesture was a religious one — it was certainly interpreted by many as support for the opposition.

Many thought that was it for Karimi in terms of the international stage, especially when in 2010, his club Steel Azin banned him from playing after he was reportedly seen drinking water in a training session during Ramadan. The ban didn’t last long though and he was soon back playing for his country but, in truth, his best years were behind him.

Even so, he managed to play a sizable part in Iran’s successful qualification for the 2014 World Cup until the historic defeat to Lebanon midway through the final stage. Many fans campaigned for him to be summoned to Brazil but it was not to be, though coach Carlos Queiroz reserved some special words for the player when naming his final squad, who took the omission with the kind of grace he often showed on the playing field. In the end, it was hard to imagine the 35 year-old matching younger compatriots in their defensive discipline against Argentina but then, perhaps, it is easy to imagine him coming up with the goal that Iran deserved against the eventual runners-up too.

Karimi wasn’t perfect. He upset plenty and his performances didn’t always match his skill but that was part of his charm. He divided opinion as easily as he divided a defence with a deft backheel, but surely all can agree that Asian football is all the poorer for the retirement of a genuine legend.

Why Fulham fans must accept it is inevitable Ashkan Dejagah will leave

Why Fulham fans must accept it is inevitable Ashkan Dejagah will leave
Ashkan Dejagah looks bound for Qatar, but Fulham will miss his many qualities (Picture: Getty Images)

I had very faint hopes of Ashkan Dejagah lining up against Ipswich Town on the opening day of this season and tearing their new left back to pieces.

They were hopes borne out of the belief that, if we could retain the Iranian, we would be a far more potent and tricky side in the Championship.

But, it seems, those dreams are dashed, as he is off to Qatar, where Al-Arabi are happy to pay upwards of £4million pounds for his services, as well as another £5m in wages.

It all makes sense in that respect – the money, quite simply, is not to be sniffed at. And that works both ways, because Fulham will have made a healthy profit on a player with only a year left on his contract, while Dejagah himself will be on a princely salary in the ‘Land of Wealth’.

It doesn’t make it any easier to swallow, mind, because of all of the talent that has left from last season – or is about to leave – the 28-year old is perhaps the most invaluable to our team.

You may think it a simplistic, quite straightforward argument, but what Dejagah brought to our team was goals. And always at the right time.

He has a blistering turn of pace, one which caused Premier League full backs endless problems. Imagine what he could do with that speed at a level lower.

And then you add that to his abundant flair, his control of the ball and his routinely gracious final product. You have, in many ways, a complete winger.

Naturally, he is not flawless – he wouldn’t be at Fulham if he were – but you get the feeling that, as part of a midfield that Felix Magath is surely still to strengthen, Dejagah would stick out in the Championship like a parrot among pigeons.

It is not to be, however, and we can only sit and wonder just what impact he might have had. Instead, he must be replaced and sensibly so.

Chihi should still be given a chance to impress as he possesses many of his team mate’s qualities, but Dejagah was one of the true greats from the brief, monstrous Martin Jol era, and will be difficult to replicate.

Ezzatollahei on track to join La Liga Champions Atlético Madrid

In a surprise , but not totally unexpected move, Saeed Ezzaatollahei , the young Malavan player who has dazzled the crowds in his short career , has announced that he accepting the La Liga champions  Atlético Madrid’s offer and signing for them.

The player’s father Nader Ezzaatollahei said his son , after studying the 3 offers on hand, opted for the Spanish Champions, the other two coming from Russian club Rubin Kazan and the Portuguese Sporting Lisbon. “Saeed will be joining Atlético Madrid’s U-21 team and he will be flying to Madrid soon” the Senior Ezzaatollahei said.”We would like to express our gratitude to all the people who made this move possible and a special thanks goes to Malavan Bandar Anzali’s CEO, Sirous Mahjoob.”

The 17 years old Saeed Ezzaatollahei, will play for the La Liga champions U-21 team in the league.  Spain has a strong U21 league that has produced many world-class players who became household names at senior levels. The details of the contract was not disclosed.

Not surprisingly , after the disappointing results of the World Cup 2014, where none of the Team Melli players managed to attract the interest of the European teams, the burden is on the  17 years old youngster to represent Iran’s in Europe albeit in the lower leagues at a time when the Iranian stars failed to impress. Only two other Iranians have played in the La Liga , Nekounam with Osasuna and Shojaei with Osasuna and Las Palmas. Nekounam is strongly linked with a return to Osasuna again , playing in the second division next season after their eventual relegation last season.

 

 

 

 

Mehdavikia denies being offered Team Melli Manager’s post.

The former Captain of Team Melli, Mehdi Mahdavikia , denied being offered the job of Team Melli Manager post by the football federation.

The post is currently vacant , as practically was since the departure of Afshin Ghotbi , the last coach before Queriroz. Mehdi MohammadNabi , the secretary-general of the football federation , was temporarily appointed in the post until such time a suitable person was found to take over. Neither that was achieved during Queiroz’s time nor Mohammad Nabi did a sterling job of it , leaving the team with no supervisor nor adminstration in critical times..

Mahdavikia was asked by ISNA if he would accept the post if offered by FFIRI, he emphatically said “No.”. When quizzed further, the former Captain of the Team Melli and the scorer of Iran’s second goal goal in its  only victory in the World Cup against USA, said that he is currently supervising the youth teams and he wished continue doing so. Mahdavikia continued by stating that he would prefer to work at younger ages levels for the time being. Mahdavikia was praised by many , including the youth teams coach Ali Doustimeher for the grand job he has done with the young Team Melli players including arranging of a succesful training camp in Germany utilizing Mahdavikia’s strong connections and respect he has in Germany, where he spend the larger part of his professional career.

Mahdavikia player for VfL Bochum ,  Hamburger SV  and Eintracht Frankfurt in the Bundesliga before returning to Iran playing for Steel Azin , Damash and finally Persepolis. His record total matches of 252 Bundesliga games & 29 goals from right after the World Cup in 1998 to 2010  is by far the highest achieved by an Iranian Legionnaire in Europe.

On his coaching future, Mahdavikia said that he will continue his current job for two month before attending a coaching course in Germany.

The reporter asked Mahdavikia on his views that Karim will be joining Queiroz as an assistant , a rumor that Ali Karimi strongly denied, Mahdavikia thought it was agood idea ! “Karimi can be an asset for Team Melli. It seems like a good idea ans they both have a close relationship.”

The degree of sarcasm was not clear in Mahdavikia’s last statement.

 

. 

Nekounam , one step from Osasuna.

Pamplona – Javad Nekounam. Is on the brink of another return to Osasuna, the relegated club from Pamplona , according to the Spanish website Noticias de Navarra

Nekounam has expressed his desire to play for the Spanish club once again. However, it was following the resignation of Miguel Archanco when he made the final decision and pulled the plugs on the talks. And to remember that it was the president who foiled the first attempt for the return of Iran’s Captain in the winter of two seasons ago.

The midfielder started his first spell at Osasuna in 2006 from Sharjah club of UAE. He wore the elastic Red shirt for six seasons playing 157 games and scoring 26 goals. Six years sufficed him to become one of the idols of the crowds  stands of the Sadar with many memorable performances in League, Cup and, above all, in the continental journey of the Reds with Aguirre and Ziganda.

Still fresh in the memory of the osasunismo  (Osasuna fans) that headed goal he scored against Bordeaux in the agonizing extra time that resulted in the qualification of Osasuna for the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup in 2007.

Due to difficult circumstances, Nekounam left Osasuna in the summer of 2012, when the new policy of austerity measures began in the club , with the priority to relieve the club of top paid players. Nekounam ended up in Esteghlal team, one of the Iranian football elite teams , but was loaned to Al Kuwait for the last season.
At 34 ( Born 07/09/1980) the player continues to be Consolidated defensive midfielder in his club and Iran national team, where while serving as leader with another ex Osasuna player, Masoud Shojaei. Masoud will not be continuing in Las Palmas and despite some rumors linking him back with Osasuna, he will play away from Spain.

Singnificantly , it was Nekounam’s good performance at the last World Cup,  that has caused the rekindled interest. That performance is one of the reasons that encouraged the Management Board to accept the return of the Iranian. Talks have been taking place in recent weeks with the Professional Football League (LFP), which has to inform Osasuna if they are allowed to sign new players . The approval is required , due to poor balance sheet of the Pamplona club and their financial struggles for the last few years. It is more than probable that Nekounam signing will be announced tomorrow before traveling to England to start a training camp and playing friendly matches.

Despite his departure, Javad Nekounam has never lost its link with Osasuna. The midfielder maintains continuous contact with several members of the club, both players and employees, and has closely followed the course of events that have happened in the whole of late.

But these events have not lowered the slightest desire to return to Neko wear red. Quite the contrary. The Iranian international has offers on the table from top clubs in his native country, but his desire and his immediate wish is to be with his family back to Pamplona and he is willing to take a significant pay cut to achieve that.

 

translated from Spanish

Sepahan and the FFIRI clash over release of Ali Karimi

Sepahan Esfahan reacted sharply to the threats of sanction by the football federation FFIRI on the release of Ali Karimi the promising young forward to Team Melli U-23.

Ali Karimi is among the players selected by Nelo Vengada for the Olympics team which is currently in a training programs which includes several camps and international friendly matches. The next match will be in Jordan. With the start of the Persian Gulf Football league only days away , Sepahan Esfahan club opted not to release their forward for the camp as the team needed to focus on the league with several difficult matches ahead.

The release of the players to the national teams’ non- official competition, which is completely up to the judgment of the club, has apparently created a wave of discontent in the FFIRI. In an internal memo from Mehdi Taj to Ayottlahei , both discussed the possibility of a sanctions against Sepahan calling the club a repeat offender following its refusal to release the player for Team Melli fo the South Africa camp while it was still engaged in the AFC Champions League.

Sepahan released an official statement sharply criticizing the federation personnel for lack of understanding of the law. The statement said that it will deal with the matter when Sepahan Management receives and official correspondence from the FFIRI regarding this matter. Sepahan is preparing the team under the Croat coach Kranjcar.

It is not clear why the FFIRI is so blatantly acting ignorant on FIFA’s regulations that governs the release of players , a law that has been discussed umpteen times before Iran’s participation in the World Cup. It could very well be just bullying tactics by the FFIRI to intimidate clubs to release their players despite the commitment of these clubs to play in domestic and/or continental leagues. In both cases of the scenario,  it one conducts unbecoming from the very people who are supposed to uphold and abide by the rules.

Javad Nekounam is on the brink of breaking the record.

 

The Captain of Team Melli , Javad Nekounsm is only 3 games short of equaling Ali Daei’s total match appearances for Team Melli. Ali Daei with 149 games, is the top Iranian players and also the highest scorer for Team Melli with 109 international goals. Daei , has in fact scored 112 goals , but 3 goals were removed from his records for various reasons.

With Nekounam still 34 and a year or so from hanging his boots , the Al Kuwait player will surpass Daei if he is included in the AFC Asian Cup 2015 campaign.

Nekounam has also done quite well in the scoring department with  37 goals sitting the the 4th place 1 goal behind the recently retired Ali Karimi.

 

Season Openin. Subst. Goals Yellows Reds
2000 1 5 0 0 0
2001 6 4 0 1 0
2002 11 1 0 1 0
2003 13 0 1 2 0
2004 18 0 7 3 0
2005 11 0 4 2 0
2006 11 0 2 2 0
2007 8 0 4 3 0
2008 8 0 4 1 0
2009 8 0 2 3 0
2010 6 0 1 1 1
2011 10 0 5 0 0
2012 8 1 1 1 0
2013 8 0 6 0 0
2014 7 1 0 2 0
Total 134 12 37 22 1
By season | In opening squad | Substituted in | Goals | Yellow cards | Red cards

[divider]

Top Team Melli players appearances list

 

Name Openin. Subst. Goals Yellows Reds
1. DAEI, Ali 144 5 112 9 2
2. NEKOUNAM, Javad 134 12 37 22 1
3. KARIMI, Ali 118 10 38 15 0
4. MAHDAVIKIA, Mehdi 106 4 13 10 2
5. HOSSEINI, Jalal 87 2 6 2 0
6. BAGHERI, Karim 84 3 50 10 1
7. KAEBI, Hossein 82 8 2 24 1
8. ZARRINCHEH, Javad 79 1 1 2 1
9. GOLMOHAMMADI, Yahya 78 2 5 11 0
10. MIRZAPOUR, Ebrahim 76 0 0 0 0
11. TEYMOURIAN, Andranik 75 7 9 21 1
12. NOSRATI, Mohammad 74 8 5 13 0
ABEDZADEH, Ahmadreza 74 3 0 3 0
RAHMATI, Mehdi 74 2 0 3 0
15. ESTILI, Hamidreza 72 9 12 4 0
16. PARVIN, Ali 68 4 11 0 0
17. VAHEDI-NIKBAKHT, Alireza 66 10 14 11 1
AGHILI, Hadi 66 3 10 8 0
GHLEECHKHANI, Parviz 66 0 14 0 0
20. PEYROVANI, Afshin 65 2 0 3 0

[divider]

 

Top Team Melli Goal Scorers

Name Openin. Subst. Goals Yellows Reds
1. DAEI, Ali 144 5 112 9 2
2. BAGHERI, Karim 84 3 50 10 1
3. KARIMI, Ali 118 10 38 15 0
4. NEKOUNAM, Javad 134 12 37 22 1
5. MAZLOOMI, Gholamhossein 31 11 19 1 0
6. PEYOUS, Farshad 30 4 18 1 1
7. ALIDOUSTI, Hamid 25 2 15 0 0
8. BEHZADI, Homayoun 32 3 14 0 0
GHLEECHKHANI, Parviz 66 0 14 0 0
HASHEMIAN, Vahid 39 10 14 6 0
MOHAMMADKHANI, Nasser 22 5 14 0 0
VAHEDI-NIKBAKHT, Alireza 66 10 14 11 1
13. JABBARI, Ali 33 4 13 0 0
MAHDAVIKIA, Mehdi 106 4 13 10 2
15. ESTILI, Hamidreza 72 9 12 4 0
FARIBA, Behtash 13 3 12 0 0
ROWSHAN, Hassan 31 7 12 0 0
18. AZIZI, Khodadad 41 6 11 7 0
FARAKI, Hossein 12 10 11 0 0
GHOOCHANNEJAD, Reza 16 1 11 1 0
KALANI, Hossein 24 0 11 0 0
MAJIDI, Farhad 24 23 11 5 0
PARVIN, Ali 68 4 11 0 0
REZAEI, Gholamreza 36 14 11 7 0

Ali Karimi announces his retirement from football.

One of the stars of Iranian football, Mohammad Ali Karimi , has announced his retirement from football.

 This is not the first time that Karimi (35years) has announced his retirement from club or/and National team activities, however Karimi in an emotional letter declared that his decisions this time is final and irreversible. 

Ali Karimi Born in Shahryar on 08th November 1978 , became one of the most skilful players of his generation. He came to fame with Persepolis , after recruiting him from Fath club where Karimi started playing regular football.  Despite calling Persepolis his home club, Karimi spent most of his professional career outside his beloved team starting in 2001 with Al Ahli of Dubai, Bayern Munich (2005-2007),  Qatar FC (2007-2008) , returning to Iran with Persepolis (on Loan) 2008-2009 , Esteel Azin (2009-2011) including a loan period with Schalke 04 in 2011, Persepolis (2011-2013) and finally Tractorsazi in Tabriz (2013-2014).

As famous as his dribbling skills, Karimi was well-known for his temperament.   His career was in jeopardy early on when he was suspended from all football activities for one whole year by AFC for kicking a referee in Vietnam is some youth tournament. Karimi’s problems with authorities and coaches continued throughout and reached its peak with his now famous confrontation with Ali Daei.  

Many critics believe that Karimi would have been one of the best in the world if he had the right temperament and balanced approach to the game.

After finishing the season with Tractorsazi in a disappointing fashion, Ali Karimi was hoping for a recall to Team Melli, that he already announced his retirement from. However, despite Carlos Querioz talking highly about his skills and calling him one of the best footballers, the Team Melli coach elected to ignore Karimi for the World Cup although the Tractorsazi midfielder played several games in the qualifying rounds of the 2014 World Cup to help the team.

With Karimi being out of contract with Tractorsazi , and the Tabriz team not showing clear interest in  signing him for another term , Karimi looked for a suitable club and found none to his interest. Going back to Persepolis was very much out of question, not with Ali Daei at the helm. Between the disappointment of missing on the World Cup, not being able to return to Persepolis and not getting the attention of other clubs that Karimi thinks he still deserves, the “Wizard of Tehran” has finally announced his retirement.

Ali Karimi has played 128 times for Team Melli , scoring 38 goals.  He is a holder of Asian Games Gold medal in 1998, was part of the World Cup 2006 squad and played in there AFC Asian Cups, 2000, 2004 and 2007. On personal level, he won the AFC player of the year award in 2004.

 Karimi is the third highest Team Melli player in international appearances, after Daei (149) and Nekounam (146) . Ali Karimi is also the third highest goal scorer after Daei’s World Record 109 goals and Bagheri’s 50 goals.

 Karimi will leave a legacy that is difficult to repeat in the near future.