Ali Karimi

Ali Karimi
Ali-Karimi-2008-Semnan.jpg
Personal information
Full name Mohammad Ali Karimi Pashaki
Date of birth 8 November 1978 (1978-11-08) (age 32)
Place of birth Shahriar, Iran
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Playing position Winger, Deep-lying Forward
Youth career
1996–1998 Fath Tehran
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)†
1998–2001 Persepolis 0043 (11)
2001–2005 Al-Ahli 000? (44)
2005–2007 Bayern Munich 0033 0(3)
2007–2008 Qatar SC 0027 0(5)
2008–2009 Persepolis 0021 0(5)
2009– Steel Azin 0032 (14)
National team‡
1998– Iran 0112 (36)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 June 2010.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 3 March 2010

Mohammad Ali Karimi Pashaki (Persian: محمدعلی کریمی پاشاکی, born on 8 November 1978) is an Iranian professional footballer,[2] who last played as a Winger or Deep-lying Forward for Steel Azin of the Iran Pro League. He was the Asian Player of the Year in 2004.

Contents

Club career

Karimi started his professional career with second division side Fath Football Club in 1997 where training was conducted on the streets with a plastic ball.

Persepolis

In 1998, Karimi joined Persepolis football club, which won the domestic double in 1999 and the championship again in 2000. He attended a trial with Perugia Calcio, but the transfer was aborted when Perugia deemed the transfer fee too high.[3] There was also reportedly an offer from Spain's Atletico Madrid — but Karimi remained at Al Ahli because he wanted to stay close to home.[4]

Al-Ahli

Karimi signed with Al Ahli in the United Arab Emirates in 2001. In that season Al-Ahli managed to win its first trophy, when they became the Winners of the President Cup in 2001-2002 season.

He scored a league-high 14 goals for Al Ahli in 2004.[4]

Bayern Munich

On 3 May 2005, Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich's website announced that they signed a one year contract with Karimi who becomes the third Iranian after Ali Daei and Vahid Hashemian to try his luck with Bayern.[5][6] In October 2004 Iran hosted Germany in a friendly game in which Karimi played. The magazine Kicker picked Karimi as the man of the match. FC Bayern's scouts studied Karimi in Dubai closer and came back with a recommendation not to sign the player due to doubts over his fitness. Felix Magath decided to go ahead with the signing despite the negative recommendations.[7]

On 13 August 2005, Karimi made his starting debut for Bayern when Felix Magath put him on the starting line-up of a 5–2 victory against Bayer Leverkusen on the second day of Bundesliga, in which he played on the left side of the midfield. Karimi made an assist to Roy Makaay for Bayern's second goal followed by his first goal in the Bundesliga.[8] He came off in the 58th minute for Brazilian international Ze Roberto and received a warm ovation from the traveling Munich fans.[9] Karimi scored on his first UEFA Champions League appearance against Rapid Vienna on 22 November 2005.[10] On 17 December 2005, Karimi played for 88 minutes and scored a goal in Bayern's 2-1 win over Borussia Dortmund.[11]

Karimi made his 25th appearance for Bayern on 4 March 2006 against Hamburg, which resulted in an automatic 12-month extension to his one-year contract that would expire on 30 June 2007. Unfortunately, he injured his ankle in the same game which sidelined him for 6 weeks.[12]

In the 2006–07 season, Karimi was often kept on the bench. Karimi expressed his belief that it would be his last season with Bayern and his contract would not be renewed. It was confirmed that Red Bull Salzburg made an offer from Karimi, which he rejected.[13] Al-Ahli also made an official bid for him, which was eventually vetoed by Felix Magath as Munich's midfield was depleted by the sudden retirement of Sebastian Deisler.[14] On 29 May 2007 Bayern Munich announced Karimi would be leaving the club, though his new club was not yet known.

Qatar SC

On 3 July 2007, Karimi announced that he had signed a two-year deal with Qatar Sports Club. Karimi was believed to have put pen to a contract worth around £3.2 million, with a clause allowing him to return to Europe at any time.[15]

Al-Sailiya

On 13 July 2008, Karimi signed a two-year contract with Al-Sailiya that is said to be worth around £4.7 million.[16]

Persepolis

Persepolis' then chief executive, Dariush Mostafavi, reached an agreement with Karimi after a one-hour-long telephone conversation. Persepolis would have to pay Al-Sailiyah in order to release Karimi from his contract. Mostafavi claimed the release fee was around US$ 310,000. Karimi signed with Persepolis on a one-year contract on 6 September 2008.[17]

Karimi scored his first goal since his return to Persepolis in the Tehran derby. With Esteghlal leading 1-0, Karimi equalized for Persepolis two minutes from time.[18] On 9 October 2008, Karimi scored a hat trick against Abumoslem but could not prevent Persepolis losing 3-4.[19]

However, Karimi's contract was not extended reportedly because of a strained relationship with Persepolis chief executive Abbas Ansarifard.[20] While Ansarifard claimed that the club offered Karimi a contract but he did not show up, Karimi claimed that Persepolis kept him waiting for four weeks for nothing.[21]

Steel Azin

On 29 July 2009, Karimi joined newly promoted Steel Azin on a one-year deal. He would reportedly be paid US$ 400,000 for the season.[22]

After joining Steel Azin, Karimi scored for four consecutive matches at the start of the season. On 14 August 2009, he scored the second goal in Steel Azin's 4-3 win over Saba.[23] He scored a brace against Shahin in Steel Azin's 2-1 victory.[24] On 4 December 2009, Karimi converted a penalty in the 52nd minute against Pas FC to score his 11th goal of the season.[25] On 6 March 2010, during his team’s match against Saipa, Karimi was sent off for pushing Majid Ayoubi after Ayoubi had fouled him[26].

In January 2010 it was reported that Al-Ahli made an offer of US$500,000 to sign Karimi on a loan deal until the end of the 2009/2010 season, which was rejected by Steel Azin.[27] It was reported that he had been sacked by the club for not fasting during the Holy Month of Ramadan.[28]

Club career statistics

As of 15 August 2010
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 Persepolis Azadegan League 13 3  ? 0 - -  ? 3
1999–00 15 3  ? 0 9 4  ? 7
2000–01 15 5  ? 0 4 1  ? 6
United Arab Emirates League UAE President's Cup Asia Total
2001–02 Al-Ahli UAE League  ? 14[29]  ? 6 - -  ? 20
2002–03 13 5[30]  ? 1 - -  ? 6
2003–04 16 15[31]  ?  ? - -  ?  ?
2004–05  ? 10  ?  ? 6 2  ?  ?
Germany League DFB-Pokal Europe Total
2005–06 Bayern Munich Bundesliga 20 2 2 0 3 1 25 3
2006–07 13 1 0 0 2 0 15 1
Qatar League Emir of Qatar Cup Asia Total
2007–08 Qatar Qatari League 27 5 2 0 - - 29 5
Iran League Hazfi Cup Asia Total
2008–09 Persepolis Persian Gulf Cup 21 5 1 0 6 2 28 7
2009–10 Steel Azin 28 14 3 1 - - 31 15
2010–11 Steel Azin 4 0 0 0 - - 4 0
Total Iran 96 30  ? 1 19 7 38
United Arab Emirates ? 44 6 2
Germany 33 3 2 0 5 1 40 4
Qatar 27 5 2 0 - - 29 5
Career total ? 82 30 10
Season Team Assists
08–09 Persepolis 6
09–10 Steel Azin 6
10–11 Steel Azin 0

Persepolis Statistics

Ali Karimi's Statistics in Persepolis
League Cup Asian Friendly Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
64
16
17
0
13
5
10
11
104
32
Season Team Country Division Apps Goals
1998–99 Persepolis  Iran 1 13 3
1999–00 Persepolis  Iran 1 15 3
2000–01 Persepolis  Iran 1 15 5
2008–09 Persepolis  Iran 1 21 5

International career

Karimi made his debute for Iran national football team in October 1998 in a match against Kuwait.[32] That same year, he won the Gold Medal with Iran at the 1998 Asian Games. Karimi scored one of Iran's two goals in the final against Kuwait.

He was also one of Iran's main players in its 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign. In 2001, after losing to Bahrain and drawing with Thailand, Iran finished second in their qualifying group and had to play a home-and-away play-off with the Republic of Ireland for a spot at the 2002 World Cup. Karimi started as an attacking midfielder in the first game in Dublin, and used his acceleration on the break and his dribbling to attack Ireland's defence. However, he was also off target on a number of occasions, and Iran lost the match 2-0. They won the return leg 1-0 but missed out on the final.[33]

At the 2004 Asian Cup, Karimi scored five goals that made him joint top scorer. Iran finished third in the overall tournament, behind Japan and China. In the quarter final, Karimi scored a hat trick in Iran's 4-3 win over South Korea. His first two goals were headers and the third a finish on a low cross from Mehdi Mahdavikia.[33] Karimi was given the prestigious Asian Player of the Year award in 2004, joining his fellow Iranians, Mahdavikia in 2003, Ali Daei in 1999, and Khodadad Azizi in 1996.[34] He also won the 2004 West Asian Football Federation Championship with Team Melli.

His performance in the Iran-Germany friendly game for Bam victims held in Azadi Stadium in Tehran in October 2004 was said to be the reason behind Bayern's interest in the player.

Coming off a serious ankle injury, Karimi had a poor World Cup finals at Germany 2006.[35] He was unable to exert much influence on proceedings as the Iranians lost 1–3 to Mexico and 0–2 to Portugal. He was substituted in the 65th minute of the Portugal game and kicked the team's sports bags by the dugout. Iran's then manager Branko Ivankovic said he may drop Karimi in the upcoming game due to disciplinary reasons.[36] Karimi did not play in the 1–1 draw against Angola, but Ivankovic attributed Karimi's ommission to his refusal to play because of an injury.[37]

Karimi played in 2007 Asian Cup.

In May 2008, Karimi was banned from playing in the national team after he made criticisms towards the IRIFF in the Ardebil training ground,[38] but has been reinstated in the national squad after intervention from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.[39]

In October 2008, Karimi retired from Team Melli. Ali Daei, the then Iran football coach, said Karimi wil never be called up again.[40] In February 2009, Karimi announced that he is ready again to serve his country, if he was to be picked by Team Melli coach, Afshin Ghotbi.

He played in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification for Team Melli and on 10 June 2009 Karimi scored in a 1–0 victory over U.A.E. to keep Iran`s 2010 World Cup qualifying hopes alive. On 17 June 2009, he played in Iran's 1-1 draw with South Korea, a result that eliminated Iran from the 2010 World Cup finals. During the match, a number of Iranian players, including Karimi, wore green wristbands, which are interpreted to be a show of support for Iranian opposition leader Hossein Mousavi, who accused the Iranian government of vote rigging in the 12 June election. Western media reported after the game that the players who wore the green wrsitbands have been banned from the team for life, while a newspaper in Iran reported that the players concerned have retired.[41] On 24 June 2009 FIFA wrote to Iran's football federation asking for clarification on the situation. The Iranian football federation replied that no disciplinary action has been taken against any player.[42] On 3 March 2010 he returned for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification match against Thailand.[43]

He is currently the second most capped player and the third highest scorer of Iran.

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 19 December 1998 Bangkok,Thailand  Kuwait 2–0 Win 1998 Asian Games
2 9 April 2000 Tehran,Iran  Bahrain 3–0 Win 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification
3 24 May 2000 Amman,Jordan  Kazakhstan 3–0 Win 2000 WAFF
4 24 May 2000 Amman,Jordan  Kazakhstan 3–0 Win 2000 WAFF
5 28 May 2000 Amman,Jordan  Syria 1–0 Win 2000 WAFF
6 31 May 2000 Amman,Jordan  Jordan 1–0 Win 2000 WAFF
7 24 November 2000 Tabriz,Iran  Guam 19–0 Win 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
8 24 November 2000 Tabriz,Iran  Guam 19–0 Win 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 24 November 2000 Tabriz,Iran  Guam 19–0 Win 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
10 24 November 2000 Tabriz,Iran  Guam 19–0 Win 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
11 10 August 2001 Tehran,Iran  Bosnia and Herzegovina 4–0 Win Friendly
12 15 August 2001 Bratislava,Slovakia  Slovakia 4–3 Win Friendly
13 15 August 2001 Bratislava,Slovakia  Slovakia 4–3 Win Friendly
14 15 August 2001 Bratislava,Slovakia  Slovakia 4–3 Win Friendly
15 7 September 2001 Baghdad,Iraq  Iraq 2–1 Win 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
16 12 October 2001 Tehran, Iran  Iraq 2–1 Win 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
17 6 February 2002 Tehran,Iran  Slovakia 2–3 Lose Friendly
18 6 February 2002 Tehran,Iran  Slovakia 2–3 Lose Friendly
19 11 August 2002 Tabriz,Iran  Azerbaijan 1–1 Draw Friendly
20 3 September 2002 Damascus,Syria  Lebanon 2–0 Win 2002 WAFF
21 12 October 2003 Tehran,Iran  New Zealand 3–0 Win AFC/OFC Cup Challenge
22 12 October 2003 Tehran,Iran  New Zealand 3–0 Win AFC/OFC Cup Challenge
23 27 October 2003 Pyongyang,North Korea  Korea DPR 3–1 Win 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification
24 27 October 2003 Pyongyang,North Korea  Korea DPR 3–1 Win 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification
25 21 June 2004 Tehran,Iran  Syria 7–1 Win 2004 WAFF
26 25 June 2004 Tehran,Iran  Syria 4–1 Win 2004 WAFF
27 24 July 2004 Chongqing,China  Oman 2–2 Draw 2004 AFC Asian Cup
28 31 July 2004 Shandong,China  Korea Republic 4–3 Win 2004 AFC Asian Cup
29 31 July 2004 Shandong,China  Korea Republic 4–3 Win 2004 AFC Asian Cup
30 31 July 2004 Shandong,China  Korea Republic 4–3 Win 2004 AFC Asian Cup
31 6 August 2004 Beijing,China  Bahrain 4–2 Win 2004 AFC Asian Cup
32 30 January 2006 Tehran,Iran  Costa Rica 3–2 Win Friendly
33 28 May 2006 Osijek, Croatia  Croatia 2–2 Draw Friendly
34 11 October 2006 Taipei, Chinese Taipei  Chinese Taipei 2–0 Win 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
35 11 October 2006 Taipei, Chinese Taipei  Chinese Taipei 2–0 Win 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
36 10 June 2009 Tehran, Iran  United Arab Emirates 1–0 Win 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Awards and honours

Country

Club

Individual

References

  1. ↑ http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/germany2006/teams/team=43817.html
  2. ↑ Robert Tait (23 June 2009). "Iran bans election protest footballers". London: guardian.co.uk. http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2009/jun/23/iran-football-protest-ban. Retrieved 24 June 2009. 
  3. ↑ "Ali Karimi". World Soccer. 2 September 2003. http://www.worldsoccer.com/news/ali_karimi_news_55745.html. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Ali Karimi - Iran". CBC. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/worldcup2006/stars/bios/karimi-ali.html. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  5. ↑ "Bayern swoop for Iran star Karimi". The official FC Bayern Munich website. http://www.fcbayern.t-com.de/en/news/news/2005/03939.php?fcb_sid=ca324b72903047818b273eabeb3a6f26. Retrieved 18 September 2006. 
  6. ↑ "Iran star Karimi seals Bayern move". CNN. 3 May 2005. http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/football/05/03/germany.bayern/. Retrieved 18 September 2006. 
  7. ↑ http://www.iransportspress.com/news/127/ARTICLE/1933/2005-07-12.html
  8. ↑ Chris Hamley (13 August 2005). "Rampant Reds crush sorry Bayer". FC Bayern.com. http://www.fcbayern.t-com.de/en/news/matchreport/2005/05137.php?fcb_sid=1216ecbab41ccabd667ddb9e537d8570. Retrieved 18 July 2010. 
  9. ↑ "Bayern's Karimi Bids to Reverse Iran Trend". Deutsche Welle. 20 August 2005. http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,1685846,00.html. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  10. ↑ Chris Hamley (22 November 2005). "Rampant Reds book place in last sixteen". FC Bayern.com. http://www.fcbayern.t-com.de/en/news/matchreport/2005/06294.php?fcb_sid=48f8bf83e376cb4c91f36a57891e2a43. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  11. ↑ Chris Hamley (17 December 2005). "Battling Bayern hold on for record win". FC Bayern.com. http://www.fcbayern.t-com.de/en/news/matchreport/2005/06562.php?fcb_sid=48f8bf83e376cb4c91f36a57891e2a43. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  12. ↑ "Karimi injured, contract with Bayern renewed". Asian Football Confederation. 10 March 2006. http://www.the-afc.com/en/member-association-news/central-a-south-asia-news/5268. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  13. ↑ "Ali Karimi: Contract Unlikely to be Renewed". ISP. 14 November 2006. http://www.iransportspress.com/?c=127&a=3808. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  14. ↑ "Karimi to fulfill Bayern contract after all as Al-Ahli withdraws offer". ISP. 25 January 2007. http://www.iransportspress.com/?c=127&a=4040. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  15. ↑ "Bundesliga – Karimi quits Bayern for Qatar". eurosport. http://www.eurosport.yahoo.com/03072007/58/bundesliga-karimi-quits-bayern-qatar.html. Retrieved 4 July 2007. 
  16. ↑ "Ali Karimi joins Al Siliyya of Qatar". Tehran Times. 14 July 2008. http://www.tehrantimes.com/Index_view.asp?code=173194. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  17. ↑ "Karimi to sign with Persepolis". Press TV. 4 September 2008. http://www.presstv.com/Detail.aspx?id=68422&sectionid=3510211. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  18. ↑ "Iran: Karimi Saves Persepolis In Derby". Goal.com. 4 October 2008. http://www.goal.com/en/news/1277/west-asia/2008/10/04/895381/iran-karimi-saves-persepolis-in-derby. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  19. ↑ "Karimi hat trick fails to save day for Persepolis". Tehran Times. 9 October 2008. http://www.tehrantimes.com/Index_view.asp?code=179641. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  20. ↑ "Karimi signs one-year deal with Steel Azin". Press TV. 29 July 2009. http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=101935. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  21. ↑ "Persepolis not to extend Ali Karimi contract". Press TV. 29 July 2010. http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=101889&sectionid=3510211. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  22. ↑ "Snubbed by Piroozi, Karimi joins Steel Azin". AFC. 30 July 2009. http://www.the-afc.com/en/member-association-news/central-a-south-asia-news/24950--snubbed-by-piroozi-karimi-joins-steel-azin. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  23. ↑ "Persepolis draws, Steel claims top spot". Press TV. 14 August 2009. http://www.presstv.com/detail.aspx?id=103500. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  24. ↑ "Karimi on target again for Steel Azin". AFC. 29 August 2009. http://www.the-afc.com/en/member-association-news/central-a-south-asia-news/25170-karimi-on-target-again-for-steel. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  25. ↑ "Steel Azin escapes defeat against Pas FC". Press TV. 4 December 2009. 
  26. ↑ "Ali Karimi banned for two matches". ISP. 8 March 2010. http://www.iransportspress.com/news/45/ARTICLE/9889/2010-03-08.html. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  27. ↑ Rupert Fryer (19 January 2010). "Steel Azin Reject Al Ahli Offer For Ali Karimi". Goal.com. http://www.goal.com/en/news/14/asia/2010/01/19/1752630/steel-azin-reject-al-ahli-offer-for-ali-karimi. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  28. ↑ "Iranian star Ali Karimi sacked by Steel Azin FC in Ramadan row". The Daily Telegraph. 16 August 2010. http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/sport/soccer/iranian-star-ali-karimi-sacked-by-steel-azin-fc-in-ramadan-row/story-e6frey4r-1225905696474. Retrieved 16 August 2010. 
  29. ↑ http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/uae02.html
  30. ↑ http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/uae03.html
  31. ↑ http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/uae04.html
  32. ↑ "Roster Ali Karimi". http://www.teammelli.com/Roster/KarimiRoster.htm. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 "Iran’s Karimi “on a high” after finding scoring touch". Persian Football. 16 August 2004. http://www.persianfootball.com/news/sticky/EpAkyFFukFbHRFCqSe.shtml. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  34. ↑ "Ali Karimi Voted Asian Player of the Year". ISP. 7 December 2004. http://www.iransportspress.com/?c=118&a=1265. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  35. ↑ "Ivankovic: "national team players deserve to be praised"". ISP. 6 April 2005. http://www.iransportspress.com/?c=126&a=1574. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  36. ↑ Iain Rogers (20 June 2006). "World-Karimi may be dropped for disciplinary reasons". ESPN soccernet US. http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=soccer&id=2492515. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  37. ↑ Annika Breidthardt (23 June 2006). "`Professor' studies his options after Iranians' fall". The Standard. http://www.thestandard.com.hk/news_detail.asp?pp_cat=19&art_id=21326&sid=8535057&con_type=1&d_str=20060623. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  38. ↑ "National team bans Ali Karimi". www.iranproleague.net. 26 May 2008. http://www.iranproleague.net/news/Morenews.cfm?News=4024. Retrieved 26 May 2008. 
  39. ↑ http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5isDSzbZv3Y-IEf0XM83EkJlPWS_g
  40. ↑ "Ali Karimi out for good, says Daei". Tehran Times. 13 October 2008. http://www.tehrantimes.com/index_View.asp?code=179917. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  41. ↑ Andy Clayton (24 June 2009). "Iran soccer players banned from national team after wearing green pro-opposition wristbands". NY Daily News. http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/2009/06/24/2009-06-24_iran_soccer_players_banned.html. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  42. ↑ "Iran says it didn't punish soccer players". CBC. 26 June 2009. http://www.cbc.ca/sports/soccer/story/2009/06/26/sp-iran-green.html. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 
  43. ↑ "Iran win to seal Asian Cup fate of Robson's Thailand [VIDEO"]. ISP. 3 March 2010. http://www.iransportspress.com/news/170/ARTICLE/9877/2010-03-03.html. Retrieved 8 July 2010. 

External links

Asian Footballer of the Year

1988: Radhi · 1989: Kim Joo-Sung · 1990: Kim Joo-Sung · 1991: Kim Joo-Sung · 1992: No award · 1993: Miura · 1994: Al-Owairan · 1995: Ihara · 1996: Azizi · 1997: Nakata · 1998: Nakata · 1999: Daei · 2000: Al-Temyat · 2001: Fan Zhiyi · 2002: Ono · 2003: Mahdavikia · 2004: Karimi · 2005: Al-Montashari · 2006: Ibrahim · 2007: Al-Qahtani · 2008: Djeparov · 2009: Endō · 2010: Ognenovski
AFC Asian Cup Top Scorers
1956: Stelmach  · 1960: Cho Yoon-Ok  · 1964: Spiegler / Singh  · 1968: Behzadi / Spiegel / Romano  · 1972: Kalani · 1976: Nouraei / Mazloumi / Kamel · 1980: Fariba / Choi Soon-Ho · 1984: Jia Xiuquan / Mohammadkhani / Bayani · 1988: Lee Tae-Ho · 1992: Al-Bishi · 1996: Daei · 2000: Lee Dong-Gook · 2004: Hubail / Karimi · 2007: Mahmoud / Al-Qahtani / Takahara
Iran squad – 2000 AFC Asian Cup
MF Mahdavikia • DF Hasheminasab • DF Bakhtiarizadeh • MF Bagheri • MF Kavianpour • MF Hamedani • MF Estili • FW Daei • FW Azizi • GK Broumand • MF Seyed Abbasi • DF Navazi • FW Halali • FW Hashemian • MF Emamifar • MF Yazdani • FW Karimi • DF Rahbarifar • GK Fanaei • GK Vaezi • MF Minavand • DF Mahdavi • Coach: Talebi
 Iran
Iran squad – 2004 AFC Asian Cup Third Place
1 Mirzapour • 2 Mahdavikia • 3 Amirabadi • 4 Golmohammadi • 5 Rezaei • 6 Nekounam • 7 Kavianpour • 8 Karimi • 10 Daei • 12 Roudbarian • 13 Kaebi • 14 Borhani • 15 Taghipour • 16 Enayati • 17 Mobali • 18 Badavi • 19 Kameli • 20 Nosrati • 21 Rahmati • 26 Alavi • 27 Zare • 29 Majidi • Coach: Ivanković
 Iran
Iran squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup
1 Mirzapour • 2 Mahdavikia • 3 Bakhtiarizadeh • 4 Golmohammadi • 5 Rezaei • 6 Nekounam • 7 Zandi • 8 Karimi • 9 Hashemian • 10 Daei (c) • 11 Khatibi • 12 Roudbarian • 13 Kaebi • 14 Teymourian • 15 Borhani • 16 Enayati • 17 Kazemian • 18 Navidkia • 19 Sadeghi • 20 Nosrati • 21 Madanchi • 22 Talebloo • 23 Shojaei • Coach: Ivanković
 Iran
Iran squad – 2007 AFC Asian Cup
1 Roudbarian • 2 Mahdavikia • 3 Sadeghi • 4 Teymourian • 5 Rezaei • 6 Nekounam • 7 Zandi • 8 Karimi • 9 Hashemian • 10 Khatibi • 11 Madanchi • 12 Hosseini • 13 Kaebi • 14 Mobali • 15 Aghili • 16 Enayati • 17 Kazemian • 18 Rajabzadeh • 19 Sadeghi • 20 Nosrati • 22 Talebloo • 24 Shojaei • 30 Rahmati • Coach: Ghalenoei
 Iran