Tag: Saipa Alborz

Gholizadeh to the Polish Leauge

Ali Gholizadeh has been officially transferred from his Belgian club to Lech Poznan in Poland.

Last night Sporting Charleroi Club of Belgium officially confirmed the departure of Iranian player Ali Golizadeh and his joining Ekstraklasa club Lech Poznań, of Poland. Golizadeh joined the Belgian club from Iran’s Saipa team in 2018, and in his five seasons in this team, he scored a total of 23 goals and 26 assists in 143 games (9656 minutes).

The 27-year-old Iranian winger was on loan in the second half of the last season to the Turkish team Kasımpaşa.

Gholizadeh, born in Ardabil, started his senior career at Saipa. He has represented Iran in all age levels until being picked by Carlos Queiroz for Team Melli in which he has now made 30 appearances scoring 4 goals and providing one assist.

This is the first time an Iranian footballer plays at the senior level in Poland. The transfer fee is rumored to be in the region of 1.8 million euros, which makes this Iranian player, the most expensive transfer in the history of the Polish league.

Lech has won the Polish league a total of eight times, most recently in 2022, and is the most popular football club in the Greater Poland region. The Stadion Poznań is the home ground of Lech Poznań, and was one of the venues for the group phase of Euro 2012. It has a league capacity of 43,269 (all seated). The stadium was originally built between 1968 and 1980. 

Ali Gholizadeh seeking to leave Royal Charleroi!

Team Melli  Iranian winger Ali Gholizadeh, who joined Royal Charleroi S.C. in Belgium from Saipa Alborz club back in 2018, is currently trying to have a release from his contract from the Belgian first division club.

Gholizadeh, who had extended his contract with Charleroi until 2025 just before the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, plans to get his club’s consent for leaving city domestic issues. Gholizadeh has stated personal and family problems with the move. The Team Melli winger has had two bad games in his last matches. He was dropped from the squad against  Club Brugge as he was not even included in the 20-man list of his team in this week’s meeting. Although the Belgian media have announced in the past days that Gholizadeh has offers from the Middle East, the player has informed his club that his wife has returned back to Iran due to medical issues and for this reason, it is necessary for him to terminate his contract with the Belgian side to be beside his ailing wife. On the other hand, it was mentioned that a team from the UAE,  Etihad Kalba of the Emirates under the head coach of Farhad Majidi was one of Gholizadeh’s suitors, but this news has not been confirmed yet.

Ali Shojaei: A player to watch

Ali Shojaei (born January 27, 1997) is considered one of the brightest talents in Iran’s football. 

Unlike many players who become famous and popular for their goals in Iranian football, this player is a defender-cum-winger who is on the brink of stardom. Shojaei is a player who can occupy the left-wing midfield and left-back defense. Currently, he plays for Nasiji Mazandaran Club in the Persian Gulf Premier League. However, Esteghlal Tehran, one of the two major clubs of Iran, is chasing his signature on a 3 years contract to play for the famous blues of Tehran in the new season.

Shojaei is born in Tehran and he started his football with Saipa making his debut in a Hazfi Cup match.

It wasn’t long before this impressive young player was spotted by the Youth national team selectors. He was in the squad for the U17 (2009-2013), U20 (2014-2017), U21 (2014-2017) and Omid Team (2018-2019)

With an excellent season with Nasaji, the player’s performance was bound to attract the big clubs. While Nasaji is quite reluctant to release him, they are helpless in keeping him for another season as they cannot match the offers of Esteghlal nor can they block his future success.

Ali Shojaei was one of the squad members of Iran’s FIFA Youth World Cup in 2017. He was the vice-captain of the team. Many observers admired the quality of Shojaei at that tournament.

What sets SHojaei apart from many left backs is his influence as an attacking winger. Time and again, his powerful runs on the left flank both at the club and national teams have produced goals for his teams.

Shojaei is quite an Influential and effective player in attack despite being a defender.

With his excellent physical fitness and stamina, Shojaei has set a good example for his teammates.   There are many other good qualities but his crosses and accurate long passes are exceptional.

The accuracy of crosses has helped the forwards and midfield player of his teams to score valuable goals. His crosses, particularly, are a delight to watch.

There are only a few excellent left-wing players in Iran’s football history, Ali Shojaei can certainly register his name as one of the greatest if he continues his progress, hard work, dedication, and the right attitude. Many young Iranians, in fact far too many, fail to achieve excellence and meet expectations because of the wrong attitude and disciplinary issues.

As a defender, it is difficult to become a household name in Iran, but the excellence of Shojaei might just prove many wrongs.

Ali Shojaei at 22, is already a mature and competent player. He is the one to watch. Do not be surprised if Marc Wilmots invites him to Team Melli soon where players like Milad Mohammadi is already established in that post.

Ali Gholizadeh joins the belgian club Sporting de Charleroi

The Iran international winger has joined the Belgium football team Sporting de Charleroi from Saipa Alborz

Ali Gholizadeh, 22, who scored six goals and registered six assists this season in the Persian Gulf Professional League, signed a two-year contract with the Zebras.

Gholizadeh, who is in the team Melli squad for the World Cup in Russia, was followed by several European clubs but chose Sporting de Charleroi, where he will be playing alongside his compatriot Kaveh Rezaei.

SC Charleroi is also considering another Team Melli player , Omid Noorafkan of Esteghlal Tehran. The young Noorafkan is in negotiations with the club.

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:  1st Jul, 2017

Date of contract end:   30th June, 2020

Height: 1.87 m

 

 

 

19 players invited to Team Melli Camp 2017.

Carlos Queiroz invited 19 players to join Team Melli Training camp , which will start immediately without Legionnaire players and expected to continue training in the UAE as of next Tuesday.

It is still not clear if the match against Morocco is On or not. As always , FFIRI has a dysfunctional PR that refuses to  give any details and leave the media speculating or seeking news about its own national team from foreign sources.

Three uncapped players were named in the squad ; Ehsan Pahlavan ,  Morteza Tabrizi (Zob Ahan) and Vahid Mohammadzadeh (Saipa Alborz) 

It is not clear if any of the legionnaires will be joining the squad despite the fact that most European are in the middle of the winter break. is

THE SQUAD

Goalkeepers: Alireza Biranvand, Mohammad Reza Akhbari, Rashid Mazaheri

Defenders: Ramin Rezaeian, Vahid Mohammadzadeh, Seyed Jalal Hosseini, Ezatollah Pourqaz, Mohammed Ansari, Milad Mohammadi

Midfield: Omid Ebrahimi, Ehsan Hajsafy, Dariush Shojaeian, Vahid Amiri, Kamal Kamyabinia

Forwards: Soroush Rafie, Mehdi Taromi, Ehsan Pahlavan , Sasan Ansari, Morteza Tabrizi

Sadegh Droodgar urges Khakpour to step down.

The ex-CEO of Malavan Anzali,   Sadegh Droodgar who has worked with Mohammad Khakpour in Saipa , has urged the recently appointed Head Coach of Omid Team to step down to maintain his integrity and save his reputation.

In an open letter to Khakpour, Droodgar said that the fate of Omid team which carries hope of 80 million Iranians is NOT the right place for gaining experience. In this unique letter, Ddroodgar who has a long career in administrative jobs including as recently, an executive committee member of the FFIRI, said  “This responsivity requires the most experienced, the most knowledgeable and a veteran professional coach.  Although I do not doubt your knowledge and dedication, I ask you this question. If you were in a position of responsibility that requires you to deliver the dream that has lasted for 4 decades, wouldn’t you select the most experienced and the most capable, battle hardened coach to deliver this dream?”  

“I am speaking with you as I know that you are a man of honesty and integrity. You are well aware of the circumstances surrounding this federation, its failures, frailties, outside interferences and lack of resources. It is those misfortunes that has led this federation in a hasty decision-making process and left it handicapped fearing public and media backlash. I am speaking to your conscious. As a person who has repeatedly expressed your concerns about injustice, inequality and nepotism of this football.  It is in this sense that I am questioning how would you take a serious responsibility without having the proper credentials & qualifications for it. I am sure you would have been ideal as a team manager of Omid Team but by taking the full responsibility of coaching, you are really doing an injustice to yourself and the football of this proud nation.”

“The decision to appoint you by the federation was done on haste, lack of vision, confusion amongst other adversities. You are an asset of this country and have a great future. Do not burn it this early and this easily in the first step. This football can be cruel to our national heroes like Amir Ghalenboei and Ali Daei have already experienced at Team Melli. Perhaps their fate this should have been a reality check and an eye opener for our aspiring young national coaches.”

“Do the honorable, and allow someone with much more experience to take the responsibility and carry hope of this nation to fulfill a 40 years long dream.”

 Sadegh Droodgar is reflecting many observers and veterans who are shocked by this appointment.