Team Melli prides itself in giving young talents to serve their country and shine international level. In fact, over 60 players made their debut for the National Team of Iran at the age of twenty or less. Some of the young players went on to make successful careers while other younger players did not progress at later stages of their careers.
At the top of the table, lies a footballer for Khuzestan who stormed Iran’s football with dazzling displays in the age groups. Hossein Kaebi, who hardly spoke Farsi at his younger age, was an eye-catching player who quickly rose through the ranks in Khuzestan and was picked for the U16, U18, and the Omid Team of Iran. Somewhere along the line of progress of his football Kaebi was also picked to play for Team Melli at the tender age of 16 breaking the long-time record for the youngest player held by the legendary Parviz Ghleechkhani,
Kaebi was born in Ahvaz on 23-Sep-85. He made his International Debut: against Slovakia on 06th Feb 2002 aged 16 years 4 months 14 days.
Kaebi went on to play 92 times for Team Melli scoring 2 goals.
Lying second in the table is the Legendary Parviz Ghleechkhani at 17 years of age. Ghleechkhani is by far the most celebrated Iranian footballer in history. No play in Iran has approached the achievement of this footballer. He has lifted the AFC Asian Cup 3 consecutive times. No player in Asia has achieved this. Ghleechkhani also played in three Olympic games, Tokyo 1964, Munich 1972, and Montreal 1976 playing 9 matches in total.
Ghleechkhani also won the Gold Medal in Tehran Asian Games in 1974 and was a Silver medallist at the Asian Games 1966 in Bangkok. He missed the 1978 World Cup because of his political activities rather than his abilities, but that hardly affects the resume of the greatest player in Iranian football who made his debut at the tender age of 17 years 11 months 2 days when he played against East Germany in the Tokyo Olympic Games 1964. He went on to play 66 times for Iran scoring 14 goals, the most famous of which was the long-range strike against Australia in Azadi.; Amazingly, Ghleechkhani never played as a substitute. He started all of his 66 matches for Team Melli.
The third top player is Allahyar SAYYADMANESH the wonder boy who dazzled at the age group teams. The forward who is currently playing with the English Championship side, Hul City was still amongst the U18 team when he was picked for Team Melli playing. In FIFA U!& World Cup in India, Allahyar shined for Iran and went on to reach the quarter-finals where they were beaten by Spain. Sauuadmanesh scored 3 goals in that tournament.
On June 6th, 2019 in a friendly match against Syria in Azadi stadium, the first match of Team Melli under Marc Wilmots, the Belgian coach introduced the talented Sayyadmanesh as a substitute in the 79th minute. 10 minutes later, he scored in his debut to become one of the youngest Iranian players to score in their debut. Still
Sayyadmanesh was 17 years 11 months 8 days old on his debut and so far has made 7 appearances for Team Melli scoring 1 goal. He has a long career ahead.
List of youngest Team Melli debutants
1- Hossein KAEBI [16]
2 Parviz GHLEECHKHANI [17]
3- Allahyar SAYYADMANESH [17]
4- Mehrzad MADANCHI [18]
5- Iman MOBALI [18]
6- Ehsan HAJSAFI [18]
7- Hossein EBRAHIMI [18]
8- Mostafa ARAB [18]
9- Hameed SHIRZADEGAN [18]
10- Hassan NAZARI [18]
11- Ali JABBARI [18]
12- Saeid EZZATOLLAHI [18]
13- Mohammad Ali KARIMI [19]
14- Javad KAZEMIAN [19]
15- Mehdi MAHDAVIKIA [19]
16- Javad NEKOUNAM [19]
17- Arash BORHANI [19]
18- Amir AGHAHOSSEINI [19]
19- Homayoun BEHZADI [19]
20- Mehrab SHAHROUKHI [19]
21- Gholamhossein MAZLOOMI [19]
22- Nasser HEJAZI [19]
23- Hassan ROWSHAN [19]
24- Masih MASIHNIA [19]
25- Alireza KHORSHIDI [19]