Javad Nekounam
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Personal information | ||||||||||||
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Full name | Javad Nekounam | |||||||||||
Date of birth | 7 September 1980 | |||||||||||
Place of birth | Rey, Iran | |||||||||||
Height | Script error: No such module "person height". | |||||||||||
Position(s) | Midfielder | |||||||||||
Team information | ||||||||||||
Current team
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Al-Arabi | |||||||||||
Number | 92 | |||||||||||
Youth career | ||||||||||||
Naft Tehran | ||||||||||||
Pas | ||||||||||||
Senior career* | ||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||
1998–2005 | Pas | 179 | (45) | |||||||||
2005–2006 | Al-Wahda | 11 | (3) | |||||||||
2006 | Al-Sharjah | 11 | (5) | |||||||||
2006–2012 | Osasuna | 149 | (24) | |||||||||
2012–2014 | Esteghlal | 44 | (8) | |||||||||
2014 | Al-Kuwait | 11 | (1) | |||||||||
2014–2015 | Osasuna | 22 | (5) | |||||||||
2015–2016 | Saipa | 15 | (3) | |||||||||
2016– | Al-Arabi | 11 | (1) | |||||||||
International career | ||||||||||||
1998–2000 | Iran U20 | |||||||||||
1999–2002 | Iran U23 | 10 | (2) | |||||||||
2000–2015 | Iran[lower-alpha 1] | 151 | (39) | |||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 28 April 2016 |
Javad Nekounam (Persian: جواد نکونام; born 7 September 1980) is an Iranian professional footballer who plays for Al-Arabi SC as a central midfielder.
He spent most of his professional career with Pas and Spain's Osasuna, appearing in 197 official games and scoring 31 goals during his two spells with the latter and also being team captain.
Nicknamed Neku,[2] and widely regarded as one of his country's greatest footballers,[3] Nekounam represented the Iranian national team 151 times,[1] playing several major tournaments including two World Cups and four Asian Cups.
Contents
Club career
Early years
Nekounam was born in Rey. Having played for Pas Tehran F.C. for several years, appearing in the AFC Champions League with the team, he signed a five-month contract with Al-Wahda F.C. in the United Arab Emirates for US$1 million, in 2005.[4]
In January 2006 Nekounam joined another club in the country, Al Sharjah SC, although some European clubs such as 1. FC Kaiserslautern and Tottenham Hotspur had previously shown interest in him.[5]
Osasuna
After his performance at the 2006 World Cup Nekounam was linked to the likes of Hertha BSC of the Bundesliga and Ligue 1's Olympique Lyonnais, but he eventually joined CA Osasuna on a two-year contract,[6] with an option to a third year and a €5 million minimum release-fee clause on his contract – he thus became the first Iranian player to be signed by a Spanish club.[7] On 22 February 2007, he scored in the 120th minute of the match against FC Girondins de Bordeaux for the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup to help to a 1–0 home win and aggregate score,[8] and after a particularly successful first season began to attract interest from other European sides, notably Scotland's Rangers who had a £1 million pound offer rejected.[9]
On 14 August Nekounam suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his right knee[10][11] and, after undergoing a successful surgery in Augsburg, Germany, missed eight months of action. His number 24 was given to new signing Jaroslav Plašil, as he recovered from his injury.
On 24 November 2007, Osasuna showed faith in Nekounam signing a three-year contract extension on his existing contract that was set to end on 30 June of the following year, with a €5 million buy-out clause for the first two seasons and €2.5M for the last.[12] In February of the following year he made his first training appearance since the injury – incidentally, a week later, Xavier Margairaz suffered a similar injury, missing an estimate period that could amount to one year, on 27 April he made his return against Valencia CF, replacing Francisco Puñal in the 70th minute of a 0–3 away loss.[13]
On 31 August 2008 Nekounam scored Osasuna's first goal of the season, from the penalty spot in a 1–1 home draw against Villarreal CF.[14] In November/December he also netted, but the Navarrese failed to win at Málaga CF (2–4)[15] and with Real Valladolid (3–3),[16] also scoring the opener against Real Madrid, in a 1–3 away loss on 18 January 2009.[17]
On 22 March 2009 Nekounam netted a last-minute goal against RCD Espanyol for a 1–0 home win,[18] and finished the season as Osasuna's second goalscorer behind Walter Pandiani, scoring nine times in the league (a career-best in Spain). In the 2009 summer he received offers from both Espanyol and Villarreal, with the latter in particular being ready to pay the buy-out clause in Nekounam's contract; however, the player repeatedly insisted to be "happy at the club", waiting until he "hears some better deals".[19][20]
Nekounam was again a regular starter for Osasuna in the 2010–11 campaign, but also spent one month at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup with his national team. On 20 February 2011, in the second game upon his return from Qatar, he scored twice in a 4–0 home win against Espanyol,[21] and eventually finished the campaign with six goals in 26 appearances as his team again avoided relegation.
On 21 May 2011 Nekounam renewed his contract with Osasuna for another two seasons, with the option of an annual renewal of his link.[22] In July of the following year, amidst interest from Iranian powerhouse Esteghlal F.C. and unnamed Turkish and Qatari clubs, it was reported that he would only remain with the Rojillos if he accepted a salary reduction – he was the highest-paid player.[23]
Esteghlal
On 21 July 2012, aged almost 32, Nekounam returned to his country and signed a two-year contract with Esteghlal, for a record fee of US$1,500,000, which made him the most expensive player in the Iran Pro League history.[24][25] He scored his first goal for his new club in a 2–3 loss against Foolad FC, through a penalty.
On 5 May 2013, against the same opponent, he also found the net, helping his team secure its 28th league title[26] and winning his second national championship.
Al-Kuwait
On 14 January 2014, Nekounam agreed to a four-month deal with Kuwait SC.[27] He scored his first goal for the club on 2 February, netting the only in an AFC Champions League qualifier against Al Shorta SC.
Nekounam scored three goals in the 2014 edition of the AFC Cup,[28] and also won the season's Kuwait Emir Cup.[29]
Return to Osasuna
On 4 August 2014, Nekounam returned to Osasuna by signing a two-year contract.[30] He scored in his first game upon his return, a 1–3 Segunda División loss against Deportivo Alavés on 6 September;[31] on 2 November he added another, helping to a 3–2 home success over Real Betis.[32]
Saipa
Nekounam returned to Iran and its Persian Gulf Pro League on 6 July 2015, joining Saipa F.C. on a one-year deal.[33] He scored his first competitive goal for his new team on 6 August, netting the second in a 2–0 win at Rah Ahan Yazdan FC.
Al-Arabi
On 21 January 2016, Nekounam moved to Qatari club Al-Arabi SC on a four-month contract with an option to extend for a further year.[34] In his first match, at home against Qatar SC, he assisted countryman Ashkan Dejagah in an eventual 1–1 draw.
International career
Nekounam received his first call-up to Iran in May 2000. He became a starter for the national side during the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and, already a key midfield element, played in two of the national team's matches during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, being suspended for the final group game against Angola after his second yellow card against Portugal.
Additionally, Nekounam helped Iran win the 2002 Asian Games and the 2004 West Asian Football Federation Championship, and also represented the country in the 2004, 2007 and 2011 AFC Asian Cups.[1] He was Team Melli's leading goalscorer in its successful 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign and, on 1 June 2014, he was called up as captain by Carlos Queiroz for the finals in Brazil,[35] where he captained the nation in an eventual group stage exit.
Nekounam was also selected for the 2015 Asian Cup squad, on 30 December 2014.[36] In March 2015, he hinted that a friendly against Sweden on the 31st – five days earlier, against Chile, he had become his country's most capped player after surpassing Ali Daei[37]– might be his last international, but later went back on that statement[38] only to confirm it the following day and subsequently send an emotional open letter to fans;[39] he scored 39 goals for his country,[40] and shortly after retiring was named Queiroz's assistant.[41]
International goals
- Score and Result lists Iran's goal tally first
Goal | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
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1. | 1 February 2003 | Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong, China | Denmark |
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2003 Carlsberg Cup | [1] |
2. | 17 June 2004 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | Lebanon |
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2004 WAFF Championship | [2] |
3. | 23 June 2004 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | Iraq |
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2004 WAFF Championship | [3] |
4. | 25 June 2004 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | Syria |
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2004 WAFF Championship | [4] |
5. | 20 July 2004 | Olympic Sports Center, Chongqing, China | Thailand |
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2004 AFC Asian Cup | [5] |
6. | 6 August 2004 | Workers Stadium, Beijing, China | Bahrain |
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2004 AFC Asian Cup | [6] |
7. | 17 November 2004 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | Laos |
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2006 World Cup qualification | [7] |
8. |
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9. | 30 March 2005 | Kim Il-sung, Pyongyang, North Korea | North Korea |
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2006 World Cup qualification | [8] |
10. | 29 May 2005 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | Azerbaijan |
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Friendly | [9] |
11. | 24 August 2005 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | Libya |
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Friendly | [10] |
12. |
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13. | 16 August 2006 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | Syria |
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2007 Asian Cup qualification | [11] |
14. | 6 September 2006 | Abbasiyyin, Damascus, Syria | Syria |
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2007 Asian Cup qualification | [12] |
15. | 2 July 2007 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | Jamaica |
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Friendly | [13] |
16. |
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17. | 15 July 2007 | National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Malaysia | China PR |
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2007 AFC Asian Cup | [14] |
18. | 18 July 2007 | National Stadium, Bukit Jalal, Malaysia | Malaysia |
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2007 AFC Asian Cup | [15] |
19. | 25 May 2008 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | Zambia |
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Friendly | [16] |
20. | 22 June 2008 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | Kuwait |
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2010 World Cup qualification | [17] |
21. | 6 September 2008 | King Fahd International, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia |
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2010 World Cup qualification | [18] |
22. | 15 October 2008 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | North Korea |
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2010 World Cup qualification | [19] |
23. | 11 February 2009 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | South Korea |
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2010 World Cup qualification | [20] |
24. | 14 November 2009 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | Jordan |
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2011 Asian Cup qualification | [21] |
25. | 3 March 2010 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | Thailand |
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2011 Asian Cup qualification | [22] |
26. | 2 January 2011 | Jassim Bin Hamad, Doha, Qatar | Angola |
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Friendly | [23] |
27. | 2 September 2011 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | Indonesia |
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2014 World Cup qualification | [24] |
28. |
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29. | 5 October 2011 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | Palestine |
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Friendly | [25] |
30. | 15 November 2011 | Gelora Bung Karno, Tanah Abang, Indonesia | Indonesia |
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2014 World Cup qualification | [26] |
31. | 16 October 2012 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | South Korea |
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2014 World Cup qualification | [27] |
32. | 6 February 2013 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | Lebanon |
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2015 Asian Cup qualification | [28] |
33. |
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34. |
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35. | 11 June 2013 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | Lebanon |
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2014 World Cup qualification | [29] |
36. |
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37. | 19 November 2013 | Camille Chamoun, Beirut, Lebanon | Lebanon |
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2015 Asian Cup qualification | [30] |
38. | 26 March 2015 | NV Arena, Sankt Pölten, Austria | Chile |
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Friendly | [31] |
39. | 31 March 2015 | Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden | Sweden |
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Friendly | [32] |
Statistics
Club
Club performance | League | Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
Iran | League | Hazfi Cup | Asia | Total | ||||||
1998–99 | Pas | Azadegan League | 22 | 2 | – | – | 22 | 2 | ||
1999–00 | 24 | 5 | – | – | 24 | 5 | ||||
2000–01 | 21 | 5 | – | – | 21 | 5 | ||||
2001–02 | Iran Pro League | 25 | 4 | – | – | 25 | 4 | |||
2002–03 | 25 | 7 | – | – | 25 | 7 | ||||
2003–04 | 25 | 10 | – | – | 25 | 10 | ||||
2004–05 | 25 | 9 | 8 | 4 | 33 | 13 | ||||
2005–06 | 12 | 3 | – | – | 12 | 3 | ||||
United Arab Emirates | League | President's Cup | Asia | Total | ||||||
2005–06 | Al-Wahda | UAE Football League | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 11 | 3 |
Al-Sharjah | 11 | 5 | 3 | 3 | – | – | 14 | 8 | ||
Spain | League | Copa del Rey | Europe | Total | ||||||
2006–07 | Osasuna | La Liga | 24 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 38 | 3 |
2007–08 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 2 | 0 | ||
2008–09 | 35 | 8 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 37 | 8 | ||
2009–10 | 31 | 3 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 33 | 3 | ||
2010–11 | 26 | 6 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 28 | 6 | ||
2011–12 | 31 | 5 | 5 | 1 | – | – | 36 | 6 | ||
Iran | League | Hazfi Cup | Asia | Total | ||||||
2012–13 | Esteghlal | Persian Gulf Cup | 27 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 3 | 39 | 9 |
2013–14 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 21 | 3 | ||
Kuwait | League | Emir Cup | Asia | Total | ||||||
2013–14 | Al-Kuwait | Kuwaiti Premier League | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 19 | 5 |
Spain | League | Copa del Rey | Europe | Total | ||||||
2014–15 | Osasuna | Segunda División | 22 | 5 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 23 | 5 |
Iran | League | Hazfi Cup | Asia | Total | ||||||
2015–16 | Saipa | Persian Gulf Pro League | 15 | 3 | 3 | 0 | – | – | 18 | 3 |
Qatar | League | Emir Cup | Asia | Total | ||||||
2015–16 | Al-Arabi | Qatar Stars League | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 12 | 1 |
Total | Iran | 238 | 56 | 8 | 1 | 19 | 7 | 265 | 64 | |
United Arab Emirates | 22 | 8 | 3 | 3 | – | – | 25 | 11 | ||
Spain | 171 | 29 | 15 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 197 | 31 | ||
Kuwait | 11 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 19 | 5 | ||
Qatar | 11 | 1 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 12 | 1 | ||
Career total | 453 | 95 | 29 | 6 | 36 | 11 | 518 | 112 |
International
Iran | ||
---|---|---|
Year | Apps | Goals |
2000 | 7 | 0 |
2001 | 11 | 0 |
2002 | 9 | 0 |
2003 | 11 | 1 |
2004 | 18 | 7 |
2005 | 11 | 4 |
2006 | 11 | 2 |
2007 | 8 | 4 |
2008 | 8 | 4 |
2009 | 8 | 2 |
2010 | 6 | 1 |
2011 | 10 | 5 |
2012 | 9 | 1 |
2013 | 8 | 6 |
2014 | 9 | 0 |
2015 | 7 | 2 |
Total | 151 | 39 |
Honours
Club
- Pas
- Esteghlal
- Al-Kuwait
Country
- AFC – OFC Challenge Cup: 2003
- West Asian Football Federation Championship: 2004; Third-place 2002
- Asian Cup: Third-place 2004
Individual
- Football Iran News & Events: Player and Midfielder of the Year (Osasuna, 2006–07)
- AFC Champions League: Dream Team 2013
- Asian Footballer of the Year: Runner-up 2013
See also
Notes
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Javad Nekounam – Century of International Appearances; at RSSSF
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.[dead link]
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Javad Nekounam – Osasuna's new star
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Gers miss out on Iranian ace; Sky Sports
- ↑ Nekounam sidelined at Osasuna; UEFA.com, 16 August 2007
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Javad Nekounam renueva su contrato hasta 2011 (Javad Nekounam renews contract until 2011); Osasuna's official website, 24 November 2007 (Spanish)
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Javad Nekounam not interested in leaving Osasuna; Goal.com, 21 June 2009
- ↑ Villarreal looking to recruit Iran's Nekounam; Press TV, 17 June 2009
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Iranian duo to stay at Osasuna; Persian Football, 31 May 2011
- ↑ Javad Nekounam could stay at Osasuna if he accepts pay cut; Goal.com, 9 July 2012
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Esteghlal won the league; Goal.com, 5 May 2013 (Persian)
- ↑ الإيراني نيكونام كويتاي رسمياً; Kuwait Club's official website, 14 January 2014 (Persian)
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ One more trophy for Nekounam in his club career; Persian Football, 8 May 2014
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Players with a Century of Caps; at RSSSF
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Javad Nekounam. |
- Javad Nekounam profile at BDFutbol
- TeamMelli official profile
- Javad Nekounam at National-Football-Teams.comLua error in Module:WikidataCheck at line 28: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value).
- Javad Nekounam – FIFA competition record
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Sporting positions | ||
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Preceded by | Iran national football team captain 2009–2015 |
Succeeded by Andranik Teymourian |
- Articles with dead external links from October 2010
- Articles with Spanish-language external links
- Articles with Persian-language external links
- Use dmy dates from September 2014
- Pages with broken file links
- Pages using infobox football biography with height issues
- Articles containing Persian-language text
- Commons category link is defined as the pagename
- 1980 births
- Living people
- People from Rey, Iran
- Iranian footballers
- Association football midfielders
- Pas players
- Esteghlal F.C. players
- Saipa F.C. players
- UAE Arabian Gulf League players
- Al-Wahda FC (Abu Dhabi) players
- Sharjah FC players
- La Liga players
- Segunda División players
- CA Osasuna players
- Kuwait SC players
- Qatar Stars League players
- Al-Arabi SC (Qatar) players
- Iran under-20 international footballers
- Iran international footballers
- 2004 AFC Asian Cup players
- 2006 FIFA World Cup players
- 2007 AFC Asian Cup players
- 2011 AFC Asian Cup players
- 2014 FIFA World Cup players
- 2015 AFC Asian Cup players
- Footballers at the 2002 Asian Games
- Asian Games medalists in football
- Asian Games gold medalists for Iran
- Iranian expatriate footballers
- Expatriate footballers in the United Arab Emirates
- Expatriate footballers in Spain
- Expatriate footballers in Kuwait
- Expatriate footballers in Qatar
- Iranian expatriates in Spain
- FIFA Century Club