Tag: Taj

Pierre Carlo: The Polish Goalkeeper Who Found a Home in Iran

Among the names of Iran’s Team Melli players, one stands out for fans: Pierre Carlo, also known as Carlos. His story is a fascinating blend of football, migration, and national identity.

A Journey from Poland to Iran

Pierre Carlo was a Polish immigrant who arrived in Iran during World War II. The tumultuous events of that era forced him to seek refuge far from his native Poland. German forces invaded Poland on September 1, 1939, leading to the defeat of the Polish Army. As a result, millions of Poles found themselves under Soviet authority due to territorial changes dictated by the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact.

In 1941, during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran, the Soviets agreed to evacuate part of the Polish formation to Iran. Among these non-military refugees was Pierre Carlo, who crossed the Caspian Sea to find safety in Iran.

Settling in Iran

Despite the challenges, Iranians welcomed Polish refugees openly. The Iranian government facilitated their entry and provided provisions. Polish schools, cultural organizations, and businesses were established to create a sense of home for the displaced Poles. Carlo settled in the port city of Pahlevi (now Anzali), which became a major landing point for Polish refugees arriving from the Soviet Union.

From Refuge to Football Stardom

Carlo’s journey took an unexpected turn when he found his way to the famous Tehran club “Docharkhe Savaran” (later known as Taj, currently Esteghlal). On April 6, 1945, he signed an agreement to play for the club, initially as a temporary arrangement. However, Carlo’s brilliance as a goalkeeper soon made him a key player for Taj.

His impact extended beyond club football. In 1947, Carlo changed his nationality and played for Iran’s national team. He became the first foreign player with two distinct stints in Iranian football. His goalkeeping skills earned him honors, including winning the Tehran Club Cup in 1947, 1949, and 1956, as well as the Tehran National Cup in 1351.

Team Melli Appearances

Carlo made two appearances for Iran’s Team Melli, both against Turkey in October 1947. Turkey, a formidable European team, defeated Iran 3-1 in the first match, while the second ended in a 1-1 draw. Unfortunately, the match was abandoned due to excessive rough play and violence by both teams’ players.

Legacy and Final Resting Place

Hossein Sedghiani, a talent scout credited with discovering great players, and Ali Danaei Fard, the first head coach of the former cyclists’ club, had unwavering faith in Carlo’s goalkeeping abilities. After retiring from football and even pursuing an acting career, Pierre Carlo remained in Iran. He passed away in the country and was buried there, alongside many other Polish immigrants. The same land that once offered him refuge became his final resting place.

Pierre Carlo’s story serves as a testament to the power of football to transcend borders and create lasting connections. His legacy lives on as a unique chapter in the rich tapestry of Iranian football history.

Ghleechkhani’s Unreachable , Unassailable record.

Iran has a legend in Ali Daei whose 109 goals in international games is a record that seems to be incredibly difficult to beat in the near future.

The Shariyar has the World All-time Top scorer record registered under his name; no one is even close to this 109 goals unless you consider the 85 that Cristiano Ronaldo of Portugal has scored to be quite near!

Despite of that, Daei is not the first hero of Iran’s illustrious football history. That accolade goes to the great Parviz Ghleechkhani who preceded him in an implausible record that is simply next to impossible to beat in modern day football.

Ghleechkhani has played in 3 AFC Asian Cup tournaments. He won 3 titles in 1968, 1972 and 1976. The utility player who has excelled in every post he played, bar in the goal, has played 12 matches in the three editions of what was called Asian Nations Cup and won them all. No draws, no defeats and absolute 100% record. As such, Ghleechkhani holds 2 Asian records with that feat. 3 consecutive championships title and the 100% undefeated record. No Asian player is close to those records.

Ghleechkhani. who was the Captain of Team Melli ,  added the Asian Games Tehran 1974 Gold Medal to his cabinet too.

Considered by many as Iran’s best ever player, Parviz Ghleechkhani was deprived from the World Cup when Iran first qualified in 1978. His absence was nothing to do with football but much about politics and his expression of leftist leaning views in the era of the Pahlavi dictatorship. Ghleechkhani was arrested by SAVAK in February 1972 for anti-regime activities and viewing or spreading of Marxists literature which was a taboo in Iran. Some months later, Ghleechkhani appeared live on national TV in an orchestrated interview where he expressed his regrets and declared repentance; as a result, he was released from prison a few days later.

Ghleechkhani continued playing football with unrelenting success on the field. He was offered professional contracts by a number of European clubs including Galatasaray S.K, Bayern Munich, Olympiacos. Despite being released, Ghleechlkhani was constantly monitored and kept under surveillance by the regime security apparatus. He was not allowed to leave Iran to play for any of the clubs that offered him contracts. While still at his peak and playing quite well in the North American Soccer League (NASL) with SD Earthquakes, he was ignored in the selection for the squad of Team Melli to Argentine for the first ever appearance in the FIFA World Cup in 1978.

The legendary midfielder played for several clubs starting from Kayan, Taj, Pas , Oghab , Daraei, and Persepolis. In 1977 he moved to the United States where he signed for the San Jose Earthquake.

The success of the Iranian Revolution in 1979 lead by Ayattollah Khomeini was another serious setback for the activist Ghleechkhani. In April 1979 Iran was declared an Islamic republic, while elements within the clergy promptly moved to exclude their former left-wing, nationalist, and intellectual allies from any positions of power in the new regime, and a return to conservative social values was enforced.  Ghleechkhani and his comrades were out of luck.

Ghleechkhani’s success was hindered by his political beliefs and the struggles against the regimes of both The Shah and Ayatollah Khomeini. Ghleechkhani was a great player in all meaning of the word. He never managed to reach his potential despite his skills and abilities, instead he made millions of Iranians fans celebrate the success of Team Melli through his great performances. One of the most memorable of which , was against Australia in the FIFA Qualifiers in 1973 in Tehran Arayamehr Stadium (Azadi) where he scored two goals in less than 30 minutes. His first was a thunderous shoot and the second a penalty.

An exile in Paris now, Ghleechkhani record of 3 consecutive Asian Cup titles and 100% record, seems like being immortal.

Parviz Ghleechkhani

Asian Cup Games Details

 

# Date Competition Venue Opponent Score
1 10-May-68 Asian Cup H Hong Kong 2 – 0
2 13-May-68 Asian Cup H Taiwan 4 – 0
3 16-May-68 Asian Cup H Burma 3 – 1
4 19-May-68 Asian Cup / Final H Israel 2 – 1
5 07-May-72 Asian Cup N Cambodia 2 – 0
6 09-May-72 Asian Cup N Iraq 3 – 0
7 13-May-72 Asian Cup A Thailand 3 – 2
8 17-May-72 Asian Cup N Cambodia 2 – 1
9 19-May-72 Asian Cup / Final N Korea Rep. 2 – 1
10 04-Jun-76 Asian Cup H Iraq 2 – 0
11 05-Jun-76 Asian Cup H China 2 – 0
12 13-Jun-76 Asian Cup / Final H Kuwait 1 – 0

P

 W D L GF GA GD Pts Win %
12 12 0 0 28 6 22 36

100%

Aref Gholizadeh, former Team Melli player passes away.

Aref Gholizadeh, the former Taj and Team Melli player of the 50’s has passed away today.

Gholizadeh was born in Baku , Azerbaijan  during the Soviet Union rule and moved to Tehran when he was 10 years old. Some sources claim Gholizadeh was born in Tabriz. His official records show the year of birth as 1938 however , Gholizadeh has said that he was 10 years older than the records.

Aref was discovered by Ali Danaeifard when he was playing on sandy grounds. Danaeifard was a master of spotting talented players and he was instrumental in shaping Gholizadeh to play at top level of Iranian football when he took him to Taj Club ( currently Esteghlal).

Gholizadeh was a central defender with exceptional flight and heading ability towering over forwards taller than him. He was nicknamed the “Golden Head” or Aref Sar Talaae” because of this powerful heading ability.

Gholizadeh was first selected for Team Melli during the Asian Games 1051 held in New Delhi, however , he did not get a chance to play and remained a substitute during the tournament.  Despite of that disappointment, Gholizadeh collected a Silver Asian Games medal after Iran lost to India 1-0 in the final.