Tag: Pejman Montazeri

20/05/2018

President Rouhani receives Teami Melli delegation

The President of Islamic Republic of Iran congratulated the players and the technical staff in a meeting with the national football team (Team Melli).

President Hassan Rouhani, Minister of Sports and Youth Masoud Soltanifar , Team head Coach Carlos Queiroz, and Cruz on behalf of the technical staff, Masoud Shojaei, Ehsan Haj Safi, Ashkan Dejagah, Karim Ansari Fard, Pejman Montazeri, Reza Ghoochannejad and Alireza Beyranvand were honored on behalf of the players and the secretary of the Football Federation and the head of the national team.

Rouhani also praised Iran’s refereeing team at the World Cup. Alireza Faghan, Reza Sokhtaneh and Mohammad Reza Mansouri are Iranian referees in the World Cup.

In this ceremony, Jersey No.2 of Team Melli was awarded to Hassan Rouhani.

Team Melli which is heading for the second consecutive World Cup and its fifth time in the World Cup, met with President Hassan Rouhani today (Sunday) and will be scheduled for a few minutes at a ceremony held at the Vahdat Hall of Tehran. Hassan Rouhani met with members of the national team four years ago on the occasion of the national team’s ascent to the 2014 World Cup.

14/10/2017

Taha Shariati , a star is born.

Taha Shariati, the towering defender of the Iran’s U-17 national football team who played a major role in the FIFA U-17 World Cup India 2017 qualification to the next round, is a classic star in the making for Iran’s football.

Strong in the tackle and excellent in the air, Shariati is a rugged defender who will keep things together under even the most intense pressure. Superb leadership qualities, tough tackling and no-nonsense approach to defending makes this young star a gem of a player as such a tender age.

Shariati also weighs in with his fair share of goals.

The player, who has recently signed a one year contract with Esteghlal Tehran, is considered by many as one of the top 3 talents emerging out of Iran’s youth football system in the recent years. Taha Shariati is considered in the same class of talent as Reza Shekari and his current teammate Mohammad Sharifi.

Shariati who started his football in Moghavamat team of Tehran, is commonly compared to Pejman Montazeri, Team Melli and Esteghlal player.

Taha Shariati himself says: “I am originally Tabrizi, but I started my football in Tehran. I joined Moghavamat team through the scouts and from there, I was invited to the U-17 national team. I worked hard and tried to excel to prove myself. After 5 years of playing football I was honored to be selected to represent my country including competing for Team Melli U-16 in the AFC Championship. I played with Esteghlal for one year and I am excited and ready to play for my current team Saipa Alborz under the great Ali Daei.”

Taha Shariati, bearing the number 6 Jersey of Team Melli U-17 played as right back in his team and even when selected by the National Team. However, due to an injury to a central defender of his team in a tournament in Kazakhstan, Shariati had to occupy the central defense role and he has not looked back since then. He was selected as the MVP of the tournament and it seemed to be the ideal position for him according to Team Melli U-17 coach Abbas Chamanian. This would be the role and the ideal platform for the imposing defender to excel.

Shariati says: ” I do not have a particular idol, but I love the way that Pejman Montazeri’s plays, and I also think he’s a great footballer all round. I also have great respect for Steven Gerrard and Thiago Silva among the foreign players.

Although I was a right back and my real interest is to play as defensive midfielder, I will play in any post that the coach wishes me to , and I have no problem with playing as the central defender . Because I’m wearing number 6 and Tabriz, many people compared me with Karim Bagheri.”

It is no wonder that scouts from Europe have spotted this talent as Shariati has already been approached by an agent for possible transfer to Greek, Swedish or Austrian leagues. The player is tight-lipped about such offer, but by the end of the FIFA U-17, there could very well be a possibility that the strong tenacious defender may end up playing European football and learning from top professionals.

Player Details.

Name: Taha Chamanian

Date of Birth: 3rd March 2000 (Age 17)

Birth place: Khameneh, Tabriz.

First Club: Moghavamat Tehran

Post: Central Defender

Current Club: Saipa Alborz

Date of join: 1^st Jul, 2017

Date of contract end: 30^th June, 2020

Height: 1.87 m

02/11/2015

Styed Jalal Hosseini on the injury list.

The centre back of Team Melli, Seyed Jalal Hosseini has lost the chance of playing against Turkmenistan in the FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualifiers and possibly the trip to Guam, after suffering a leg injury during a league match.

In the absence of Hosseni , the Naft Tehran defender, Carlos Queiroz will most probably use Morteza PouraliGanji is the role as the Chinese league Tianjin Teda player performed during Asian Cup 2015 in Australia. At the time, the other pair of the central defense, Pejman Montazeri was not available to partner Hosseini and Pouraliganji did an excellent job deputizing for him despite his limited international exposure.

11/07/2015

Team Melli players promote charity work.

A group of Iranian footballers including Team Melli players visited a children’s charity organization that cares for cancer and Leukemia patients.

According to ISNA, Javad Nekounam, Fereydoon Zandi, Karim Ansarifard, Pejman Montazeri, Hashem Beigzadeh and Kazem Borjlou visited the charity on Saturday 11th July 2015 and concluded the visit with the signing of the most valuable football agreement in the history of Iran’s football.

Javad Nekounam, Fereydoon Zandi and Karim Ansarifard are regular visitors to the charity

In this agreement , a group of Iranian footballers, including Team Melli past and present players, joined the big family of the Mahak Charity and pledged to the children who suffer from cancer that they will not forget them and shall establish a permanent friendship bond with the children.

The footballers promised that regular visits will be established to cheer the children and play with them at least once every three months. The footballers also pledged to introduce MAHAK Charity to their friends and colleagues and encourage them to join this charity.

The agreement was signed in the presence of the founder and CEO of MAHAK Charity organization Saideh Ghods , a group of reporters and children and along with their families. The agreement contains 4 clauses. The provisions of this contract are all based love and compassion for their fellow human beings.

The importance of this agreement is the introduction of charity work as part of the commitment of football professionals in Iran and the need of the footballers to pay back to the society that has backed and supported them.

Saideh Ghod is an Iranian born social Entrepreneur and Philanthropist, started MAHAK to help indigent children suffering from cancer and their families. As a result, MAHAK, Society to Support Children Suffering from Cancer was registered in Iran in 1991 as a non-profit, non-governmental organization and it continues its work 16 years later solely with the help of charitable people. It was built on and for love and it thrives on hope.

At the start of its activities her small group met in a basement room but today with the persistence of Mrs. Ghods and the help of its supporters and volunteers MAHAK has grown into a respected, transparent, internationally recognized entity operating a hospital of its own. MAHAK is truly a dream that came true.

In addition to work done through MAHAK, Mrs. Ghods has gone on to help develop other NGOs such as ISCC, BCSI, and the GFI to promote Iran’s cancer treatment as well as help the environment. Today she continues to travel throughout Iran and the world organizing, meeting, fund raising, and developing way to foster and grow these organizations.

07/07/2015

Ando Teymourian joins Umm Salal.

The Captain of Team Melli Andranik ‘Ando’ Teymourian has joined Umm Salal in the Qatar league for a fee close to US$ 1.2 million.

Teymourian who was playing for Tractorsazi Tabriz team last season , has played in QSL before with Al Khraitiat club before returning to Iran and playing with Esteghlal.

Pejman Montazeri , who is the other Team Melli player in Umm Salal is certain to leave the team and join Al Ahli club to be the partner of Mojtaba Jabbari.

Teymourian will be back in Tehran after the signing of the contract , then will join his new team in the Holland preparation camp. Umm Salal ended last season in a respectable 6th position.

25/03/2015

Chile vs. Iran : Match review

By Michael Huguenin

www.goal.com

Mar 24, 2015 12:13:39 AM

Iran will face Chile on Thursday in its first game since its Asian Cup exit, with the South Americans looking ahead to Copa America.

Midfielder Arturo Vidal has reminded Chile it must “take advantage” of its friendlies against Iran and Brazil ahead of this year’s Copa America.

Chile faces Iran in Austria on Thursday before taking on Brazil in London on Sunday, and Vidal has underlined the importance of match practice for Jorge Sampaoli’s men before they host the Copa America in June and July.

Vidal and Co. has lost just one match since last year’s World Cup, going down 2-1 to Uruguay in November, but has won four times in seven friendlies.

In its most recent game, Chile came from behind twice to beat the United States 3-2 in January, and Vidal wants to see some improvement against Iran in St. Polten.

“It’s an important game for us, we have these two games before the Copa America and we must take advantage,” he said, according to Chilean newspaper La Nacion.

The 27-year-old also denied any issues with his fitness after he was subbed off in his most recent league match for Juventus on Sunday.

“I stepped on an opponent late in the game and left the field just in case, and I was also a little tired, but no problems or injury,” Vidal said.

Coach Sampaoli has named a strong squad for this week’s matches with the likes of Alexis Sanchez of Arsenal, Fiorentina’s Matias Fernandez, Inter’s Gary Medel and Claudio Bravo of Barcelona all involved.

The Chileans will face an underworked Iran side in Austria, with Carlos Queiroz’s side not having played since it was eliminated from the Asian Cup in January.

Queiroz has made just four changes from his Asian Cup squad for friendlies against Chile and Sweden, with goalkeeper Sosha Makani, defenders Pejman Montazeri and Hashem Beikzadeh, plus striker Masoud Hassanzadeh promoted.

Iran lost the game of the tournament to exit the Asian Cup, losing in a penalty shoot-out in a quarterfinal against rival Iraq after the match ended 3-3 through 120 minutes, with four goals scored in extra time.

29/12/201429/12/2014

Pooladi & Rafei cleared to join Team Melli squad.

Mehrdad Pooladi , Team Melli’s left back currently playing for Al Shahniya club in Qatar and Soroush Rafei the young Foolad Khuzestan player have been granted permission by the armed forces to join Team Melli squad.

After a series of disappointing turns of events and depressing news around Team Melli in its preparation for the upcoming AFC Asian Cup 2015, this has to be the brightest news of them all. With the absence of Pejman Montazeri who misses the tournament due to injury, Pooladi’s inclusion in Queiroz squad is quite vital. Mehrdad Pooladi was the best player in Team Melli 3 matches in the World Cup according to FIFA technical analysis. His National Service problem prevented him from being selected for duty for Team Melli.

Most of the credit for the inclusion of Pooladi and Rafei must go to the Head coach Carlos Querioz whose personal efforts and demands, including a straightforward and serious discussion with the Minister of Youth & Sport has yielded result. The latter writing to the Armed Forces and requesting the release of the two players for national duty as football players.

The two persons who should have done the most to release Team Melli players, Kaffashian and Mohammad Nabi were quite passive about the issue and maintained a stance where they kept declaring that they are abiding by the law, without making any efforts to challenge or request any alternative options from the authorities to seek the two players release.

Although Soroush Rafei is a rookie and is not expected to play a major role in the Asian Cup in Australia, his inclusion is vital for the long term planning of Carlos Queiroz future Team Melli build up.

Team Melli is supposed to fly to Australia via Dubai this evening for the last part of the ir training camp which includes a friendly match against Iraq in Sydney.

26/12/2014

The misfortunes of Team Melli forwards.

With around 3 weeks to go for Iran’s first match in the AFC Asian Cup 2015, Team Melli’s bad fortunes continues unabated,

Reza Ghoochannejad , the forward who singlehandedly took Iran to the World Cup 2014 with his precious vital goals in the qualifiers , has just been shown the door by a uninspiring team, low level team playing in less than modest league. Ghoochannejad has been told by Al Kuwait FC that his services are no longer required and has to return to his club , Charlton Athletics. Gucci in fact scored 7 goals for AL Kuwait during the half season , but it was deemed not a good return on investment that the Kuwaiti club which has paid over a million Euro for his services.

Reza Ghoochannejad scored the only goal for Team Melli in the World Cup against Bosnia-Herzegovina in a 3-1 defeat.

Karim Ansarifard, the young player who promised so much in the last few years , has fared much worse than Gucci . The reserve Team Melli forward has not managed to score any goals for his club Osasuna during his 8 matches and 351 minutes of playing time.

Ansarifard has been told by the Pamplona club that he needs to find another club in the January transfer windows as he will be no longer wanted in Osasuna where his Captain Javad Nekounam is a key player in the Segunda Division side.

Team Melli is not renowned for their offensive prowess in Asia , as the tactical policy of the team is built around solid defense, however with their two main forwards being out of a job , it does not augur well for the team in Australia.

Just as expected after Umm Salal last league game, Pejman Montazeri’s injury looks like a serious one. It has been announced today that Team Melli’s central defender will not be available for selection for the Asian Cup due to the injury.

Another player who might miss the trip to Australia is Khosro Haidary whose recovery has been slow from his injury. The Esteghlal right back is currently under special observation.

27/08/2014

DailyMail : Fulham are in talks to sign Hajsafi

“Fulham are in talks to sign Iranian defender Ehsan Hajsafi and have agreed terms with former Crystal Palace goalkeeper Gabor Kiraly. Hajsafi, 24, represented his country at the World Cup and has more than 60 caps.

He can play at left-back or in midfield and will cost around £250,000. Kiraly, now 38, is joining from 1860 Munich for a similar fee.”

– DailyMail Online

Other Team Melli players Mehrdad Pooladi , Masoud Shojaei , Reza Haghighi and Ansarifard are still looking for a deal outside Iran

It seems that the elite of Team Melli players have an exceptional ability in selecting relegated, downhill and struggling teams all across the World as their choice!

The List of the Iranian legionnaires so far is follows:

Qatar Star League

Mojtaba Jabbari (Al Ahli)

Jalal Hosseini (Al Ahli)

Ashkan Dejagah (Al Arabi)

Pejman Montazeri (Umm Salal)

Kuwait First Division

Reza Ghoochannejad (Al Kuwait)

Major League Soccer

Steven Beitashour (Vancouver Whitecaps)

Swiss Super League

Daniel Davari (Grasshopper Club Zürich)

Russia Premier League

Sardar Azmoun (Rubin Kazan)

AliReza Haghighi (Rubin Kazan)

Spain Segunda Division

Javad Nekounam (Osasuna)

Nedtherlands Eerste Divisie

Alireza Jahanbaksh (NEC)