Tag: Javad Nekounam

Team Melli arrives in Italy

Team Melli arrived in the Italian Capital Rome early morning Saturday and immediately travelled by bus to Florence to set up a training camp.

Team Melli squad will be Italy for two weeks in preparation o the first two matches in the penultimate round of the FIFA World Cup Qualifiers against Qatar in Azadi and away to China.

The 23 players squad will be later joined by Ashkan Dejagah and Pejman Montazer both playing in the Qatar League to complete the group of 25 players named by Carlos Queiroz.

 So far , the IRIFF, which has published the news on its website , has not announced any friendly matches during the camp , but t is customary for teams in training to play at least one or two competitive matches

Also it was not clear whether the head coach was accompanying the team in the same flight to Italy. In the departure ceremony for the team that was arranged by the President of FFIRI Mehdi Taj, Carlos Queiroz was noticeably absent.

The federation is quite secretive and sensitive about the whereabouts of Queiroz, who has been frequently criticized for being out of Iran most of his time. Queiroz is believed to be somewhere in Europe and will most probably be joining the team in Italy at some stage.

On the bright side, Javad Nekounam has made his first public appearance as part of Team Mello coaching team. He joins the like of Markar Aghajanian as the local coach in the training team.

Javad Nekounam is the highest capped Team Melli player and has recently been selected by Carlos Queiroz to join his coaching team.

Karim Ansarifard signs for Greek club Panionios FC

Team Melli forward , Karim Ansarifard (25 years) signed a two-year contract with the Greek outfit Panionis FC.

Karim who last season experienced his worst ever season as a professional playing for Osasuna , was released by the Spanish second division club after he failed to score a single goal during the entire season. Playing alongside his Team Melli Captain Javad Nekounam was seen as a bonus for Ansarifard but his irregular selection, limited playing time , lack of confidence and his failure to gel with the other teams members resulted in a poor overall performance by the ex-Saipa and Persepolis & Tractorsazi striker.

Despite the woeful Season that Ansarifard suffered in Spain, he was adamant that he will continue to seek a European Club to continue his career. His confidence was high enough to make amends in another European country. The selection of Greece was more like immediate availability of a suitor for Ansarifard rather than choice

Greece, on the brink of bankruptcy as a country , does not seem to be the ideal place for the Iranian forward. During better days in the country, several Iranian professional footballer played in that country’s league including  Nima Nakisa and current Naft Tehran coach , Alireza Mansourian. A few others also ended up playing in the Greek League.

Karim Ansarifard is one of the few Iranian footballers who has played in every age group of the national teams. A talented striker with a lot of potential, when he was first discovered by Ali Daei, he lost his bearing between Leaving Saipa to Persepolis and ending up in Spain. He still has a plenty of time to recover and return to the top.

Panionis FC is a based in Nea Smyrni suburb of Athens. Panionios has spent nearly its entire history in the Greek First Division (now called ‘Superleague’).

The team had its own share of financial troubles since the nineties and changed ownership several times. Last season it finished in the 13th position and avoided relegation. The club home ground is Stadio Néas Smírnis in Athens with a capacity of 11,756

Nekounam turns down assistant coach role in Team Melli

Javad Nekounam , the recently retired Team Melli Captain, expressed his gratitude towards Team Melli coach , Carlos Queiroz for offering him the job of assistant coach and said “He rather continue playing football”.

Nekounam who is signing for Saipa Alborz team , has recently moved back to Iran after a unsuccessful stint with Osasuna in the second division of the Spanish La Liga.  Nekounam had much praise for his present coach Majeed Jalali and considered him one of the best in the country and Saipa as a club that many Iranian players think of quite highly.

Nekounam signing for Saipa Alborz

The appointment of Nekounam as assistant coach was announced a few months back without the player himself being properly consulted. Nekounam made no public comment on the appointment and never reported to Team Melli signalling his refusal to accept the job. This is the first time that the ex-Team Melli captain has spoken publicly about the appointment.

No assistant coach has survived working under Queiroz. Omid Namazi , then Majeed Salih and Ali Karimi have all been working with the Portuguese coach and did not last the distance. Karimi’s stint was the shortest. Nekounam must have taken a cue and despite his admiration and good working relationship with Queiroz , has turned down the job.

Team Melli players promote charity work.

A group of Iranian footballers including Team Melli players visited a children’s charity organization that cares for cancer and Leukemia patients.

According to ISNA, Javad Nekounam, Fereydoon Zandi, Karim Ansarifard, Pejman Montazeri, Hashem Beigzadeh and Kazem Borjlou visited the charity on Saturday 11th July 2015 and concluded the visit with the signing of the most valuable football agreement in the history of Iran’s football.

 Javad Nekounam, Fereydoon Zandi and Karim Ansarifard are regular visitors to the charity

 In this agreement , a group of Iranian footballers, including Team Melli past and present players, joined the big family of the Mahak Charity and pledged to the children who suffer from cancer that they will not forget them and shall establish a permanent friendship bond with the children.

The footballers promised that regular visits will be established to cheer the children and play with them at least once every three months. The footballers also pledged to introduce MAHAK Charity to their friends and colleagues and encourage them to join this charity.

The agreement was signed in the presence of the founder and CEO of MAHAK Charity organization Saideh Ghods , a group of reporters and children and along with their families. The agreement contains 4 clauses. The provisions of this contract are all based love and compassion for their fellow human beings.

The importance of this agreement is the introduction of charity work as part of the commitment of football professionals in Iran and the need of the footballers to pay back to the society that has backed and supported them.

 

Saideh Ghod is an Iranian born social Entrepreneur and Philanthropist, started MAHAK to help indigent children suffering from cancer and their families. As a result, MAHAK, Society to Support Children Suffering from Cancer was registered in Iran in 1991 as a non-profit, non-governmental organization and it continues its work 16 years later solely with the help of charitable people. It was built on and for love and it thrives on hope.

At the start of its activities her small group met in a basement room but today with the persistence of Mrs. Ghods and the help of its supporters and volunteers MAHAK has grown into a respected, transparent, internationally recognized entity operating a hospital of its own. MAHAK is truly a dream that came true.

In addition to work done through MAHAK, Mrs. Ghods has gone on to help develop other NGOs such as ISCC, BCSI, and the GFI to promote Iran’s cancer treatment as well as help the environment. Today she continues to travel throughout Iran and the world organizing, meeting, fund raising, and developing way to foster and grow these organizations.

Uzbekistan vs. Iran : Match preview

Despite a disappointing AFC Asian Cup 2015 , Mirjalal Qasimov is determined to bounce back strongly in the FIFA World Cup qualifiers. The friendly against Iran at Bunyodkor’s Metropolitan Stadium, Tashkent is seen as tough test against the top ranked Asian team before starting the long road in the qualifiers. A strong showing by Qasimov’s men will augur well for their first match against North Korea away in Puyong Yang.

Mirjalal Qasimov – Head Coach of Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan

Uzbekistan’s top priority is making it to the FIFA World Cup 2018 being held next door in Russia. Nothing short of qualification for their first ever World Cup will be satisfactory for the Uzbek who seem to have put all their resources into this project.

Uzbekistan is going through a transition where the older generation has all but disappeared and Qasimov is counting on young promising players to achieve their objective. Players like Sardor Rashidov of Bunyodkor  was excellent in the AFC Asian Cup 2015 while Igor Sergeyev (Pakhtakor) and Ikrom Aliboev are awaiting their chances to shine for their country.

Qasimov still has some of the veterans on hand. Former AFC Player of the year Server Djeparov (2008 and 2011)  and the tough tackling Vitaliy Denisov are still part of the squad but playing peripheral roles. Their experience is considered vital by Qasimov in their quest to make it to Russia in 2018.

7 Uzbek players make their living abroad including  Fazil Musayev who had quite a successful season in Iran’s winning the league title with Sepahan Esfahan.

 

Iran

Iran on the other hand , is considered on of the favorites to make it to the FIFA World Cup 2018. Like Uzbekistan , this match will be a stern test and a good warm up for Carlos Queiroz who found Uzbekistan quite a tough nut to crack when they last met in the qualifiers of the last World Cup.

It is not expected that Queiroz will divert away from his solid defensive game plan. With the skeleton of the 2014 World Cup and 2015 Asian Cup team , Queiroz will continue with the same strategy minus Javad Nekounam who has retired from international football.

The most significant blow to Queiroz will be the absence of Ashkan Dejagah , one of Iran’s best players for the last few years. However , with the excellent Vahid Amiri in form and the emergence of Ehsan Hajsafy in midfield, Dejagah’s absence will be minimized.

The only real concern for Queiroz will be in the goal. Team Melli might find it tough going without a quality keeper between the posts.

 

Prediction

It is expected to be a tight and closed match with  the most likely result being  goalless or a small margin win for either sides. Entertainment value is not expected to be high.

 

 

Match details

UZBEKISTAN vs. IRAN

Venue: Bunyodkor’s Metropolitan Stadium,

City : Tashkent

date: Thursday 11th June  2015

Time: 17:30 (Tehran)  13:00 GMT

 

 

 

IRAN vs. UZBEKISTAN

Head to Head results

H / A / N Matches W D L Goals + / –
Home 1 0 0 1 0 – 1 -1
Away 2 1 1 0 1 – 0 +1
Neutral 2 2 0 0 6 – 1 +5
Total 5 3 1 1 7 – 2 +5

 

Date Comp. H / A / N Final score Stadium Attendance
14.11.2012 World Cup Qualifier H 0 – 1 Azadi Stadium , Tehran 40,000
03.06.2012 World Cup Qualifier A 1 – 0 JAR Stadium -Tashkent 9,000
05.09.2009 Friendly A 0 – 0 Tashkent / Pakhtakor 9,500
11.07.2007 Asian Cup / Group C N 2 – 1 National Stadium Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur 3,000
14.12.1998 Asian Games N 4 – 0 Suphachalasai 2,500

 

UZBEKISTAN Squad

# Players’ name Date of birth Football Club

Goalkeepers
1 Eldor Suyunov -1991 Nasaf
2 Akbar Turaev -1989 Bunyodkor
3 Ignatiy Nesterov- 1983 Lokomotiv

Defenders
4 Anzur Ismoilov- 1985 Changchun Yatai, China
5 Shavkat Mullajanov -1986 Lokomotiv
6 Shukhrat Muhammadiev -1989 Nasaf
7 Egor Krimets -1992 Pakhtakor
8 Islom Tuhtahodžaev -1989 Lokomotiv
9 Vitaliy Denisov -1987 Lokomotiv, Russia
10 Akmal Šorahmedov -1986 Bunyodkor
11 Farrukh Sajfiev- 1991 Nasaf

Midfielder
12 Aziz Haydarov- 1985 Al Shabab U.A.E.
13 Odil Ahmedov- 1987  -Krasnodar, Russia
14 Server Djeparov -1983 -Ulsan, Hyundai
15 Lutfulla Turaev -1988 -Lokomotiv
16 Sandzhar Tursunov- 1987 vorskla, Ukraine
17 Sardor Rashidov -1991 Bunyodkor
18 Shohrukh Gadoev- 1991 Nasaf
19 Ikrom Aliboev -1994
20 Khasanov Jasur – Locomotive 1983 Lokomotiv
21 Fazil Musayev – 1989 Sepahan, Iran

Forwards
22 Zohir Kuzibaev -1986 Mash’al
23 Nasimov Baҳodir – 1987 Padideҳ Eron
24 Igor Sergeyev -1993 Pakhtakor

Truce prevails between Kaffashian and Queiroz.

The anticipated meeting between Ali Kaffashian and Carlos Queiroz on Saturday in which the former has announced that it will be about the future of the latter in Team Melli was completed uneventful.

 The details of the meeting remains a secret with neither of the parties willing to disclose what has been discussed and what agreement , if any , was made following what sounded like and emergency discussion perhaps initiated by Queiroz , in the aftermath of the Minister of Youth and Sports scathing verbal attack of Kaffashian and Queiroz.

Speaking to the reporters on Saturday, Quieroz limited his statements to Team Melli’s immediate training schedule and plans and the announcement of the Uzbekistan friendly match.  The Portuguese coach refused to comment on the questions about his views on Goudarzi’s statements condemning him and his employer, The FFIRI. “I have nothing to say on that subject. You can direct your questions to the President of the federation”  Queiroz’s responded against the persistent questioning on the subject.

Training program

Carlos Queiroz, however, went on in fine details on the Team Melli training schedules and plans.

“We will be starting the training schedule as soon as the league is over. Teams involved in the Hazfi Cup finals or Asian Competitions will be allowed to keep their players and join us at a later stage”

“We will set up two mini camps in Tehran and another one in Istanbul as part of the program to meet Turkmenistan. The squad will include the best players include young players who had made their presence felt in the league. We will also have a few surprises for you as far as new players’ selections.”

 A reporter asked him , what surprises does he have up his sleeve if he is not even watching the Football league to check the suitability of players ? Carlos Queiroz  said “I have a capable team of technical assistance who continually monitor the league and report to me. I trust their work. I also have a good analyst .”

Nekounam’s role. 

 Queiroz also reiterated his desire to include Javad Nekounam as a member of the coaching staff while insisting that Markar Aghajanian will remain as is and the ex Team Melli Captain will not be replacing the long serving Aghajanian in the coaching team.  The Portuguese coach did not specify in which capacity Nekounam will join his team. The recently retired Captain is actively playing professional football with Osasuna and is under contract with the Spanish Segunda Division side. 

A previous attempt to include a marquee name in Team Melli coaching staff , ended in bitter failure.  Ali Karimi , was included in the coaching team , without a specific role and with no coaching experience . After a few months, Karimi jumped ship and refused to fly to Australia with the Asian Cup 2015 squad without providing any reasons or submitting his resignation. He left Team Melli unceremoniously leaving Queiroz quite upset and disappointed. 

Queiroz also mentioned a proposal for a friendly international against Japan in October 2015 but the match date is not finalized yet.

Nekounam appointed as Queiroz’s assistant.

After the conclusion of today’s executive committee meeting of the FFIRI, it was announced that Javad Nekounam has been appointed as the assistant coach of Team Melli and Carlos Queiroz’s right hand man. In the same meeting it was also decided that the vacant Team Melli Manager position will be awarded to Afshin Peyrovani.

Nekounam, Team Melli Captain and all time record holder of games played ,  has announced his retirement from Team Melli after the last game against Sweden.

 It was not clear if Carlos Queiroz approval or consent has been sought in these appointments.

Iranian assistant coaches’ dilemma.

Although technically speaking, these appointments are the function of the head of FFIRI, Queiroz has been influential in deciding who takes the jobs. The position of Iranian assistant coach has been a thorn in the federations back in which Queiroz has managed to deter all the 3 assistants who were appointed starting from Omid Namazi , then Majid Saleh and finally Ali Karimi. The latter did not last more than a few short months and jumped ship just before departing to Australia for the Asian Cup 2015.

Karim Bagheri was the lead nominee for the assistant coach position, however , the ex-Team Melli midfielder has preferred to join his old Club , Persepolis coaching team in an effort to develop his coaching career.

Unsatisfactory Team Managers!

 The Manager of Team Melli , which is a high profile position in the structure of Team Melli in which the coaching staff administratively report to, has also a source of Queiroz’s objections and discontent. The Portuguese head coach has openly accused them of lack of professionalism, inefficiency and dishonesty/corruption. His verbal assault has been unanswered by those who were accused and charges of corruption never investigated by Kaffashian.

In the bright side of things, the characteristics of both Nekounam and Peyrovani , both of whom are docile and submissive , may help towards enduring their stay in Team Melli and working with an over-demanding and aggressive Queiroz. Time will tell if these appointments, which seem to be a practice of trial and error in FFIRI, will be successful or not.

Nekounam pours his wrath on FFIRI.

 Javad Nekounam was interviewed by telephone on Navad Program Monday night. The poor communication line, spoiled what was supposed to be constructive exchange between himself ,  the incumbent head of FFIRI, Ali Kaffashian and the show anchor Adel Ferdowsipour.

Kaffashian was the studio guest of Navad.

Javad Nekounam stopped short of accusing Ali Kaffashian of negligence when he talked extensively about the lack of  proper support for Team Melli during its quest to qualify for the world cup. “I am not singling out Mr. Kaffashian who has tried to help the team, but at best his efforts were way short of what has to be done for the most important team in Iran that is trying to qualify for the World’s biggest sporting event. Support for Team Melli is a collective effort which has not met our aspirations.”

“All what the Team Melli players have said about that were true (…)  no one has fabricated any lies .” Nekounam alleged.

“Lack of funds meant that we had to do with sub-standard kits that were actually made in Iran. I agree with Ashkan Dejagah on that. Iran’s football league standard is of a low quality of which 20% of that weakness is due the poor quality of the balls manufactured in Iran. The kit we were using was not of a good quality and everyone was dissatisfied with it.”

nekounam AFC Award 2013

Team Melli kit manufacturers UHLsports has strongly challenged what it calls allegation of substandard quality , although the German sports good company admitted that some fake UHLSports kits was found in Team Melli’s kit collections  when an audit was conducted.  Those fake ones were not sent or approved by UHLSports nor did it have any control over it.

Nekounam criticized the FFIRI again by accusing the federation of inattentiveness and disregard for Team Melli players. “After the win against Chile, we expected some rewards, but we did not even get a phone call to congratulate us let alone a bonus.!” The Osasuna Captain said.

Nekounam had no complimentary words for the Iran’s football. He accused un-named parties of building hurdles against Queiroz and working to ousted him. He also emphasized that he and the rest of the Team Melli players are quite satisfied with Queiroz and braved Kaffashian to keep him by using his own judgment rather than succumbing to external pressure.

Nekounam was evidently referring to the pressure by the Ministry of Youth and Sports but did not have the nerve to name them. Kaffashian admitted that he did not contact the Team Melli players but offered no apology or proper justification.

Nekounam admitted that his decision to quit Team Melli was abrupt and without much thought, however, he insisted that he has played his last game with the team.

NekounamJNekounamJ

 Nekounam has some valid arguments, although none of it is new. However, like the plethora of critics, the record holder of matches in Team Melli is not offering practical solutions nor indicating that he is willing to work on some good deeds to help take Iran’s football out of this hardship, at least within his capabilities.

Nekounam also ignored a very important issue and that is the role of the Iranian players themselves in this chaotic status. Players who are paid professional wages but hey are amateurs in every sense of the word, and that includes Team Melli players.

While the country’s economy and many sectors of society was suffering under sanctions, many footballers were enjoying a luxury life with wages several folds higher than other professional such as surgeons , doctors , university lectures etc.

Indiscipline, apathy, lack of commitment, disrespect for peers and egotism are quite rife amongst the footballers. Areas that have not been seriously addressed by any football management schemes, although it is common knowledge.

 

Omid Nazari talks about Team Melli.

-source: http://svenskfotboll.se/

The Iranian national team plays its first international football match on Swedish soil. We enlisted the help of Malmö player Omid Nazari for a closer look at Tuesday’s opponents. The MFF-trained 23-year-old not only is following Iran’s national team – he has played himself into for the team. In 2012 it he played in five appearances and scored a goal for the Iranian side.

– I was selected to the squad in 2012. It was really cool to experience it and compete with the best in Iran. They recruited Carlos Queiroz. He ruled the entire national team and has certainly achieved good results, says Omid Nazari.

Q: What has Queiroz achieved ​​with Iran to lift?

– He has the experience, training Portuguese national team, Real Madrid and has been assistant to Sir Alex at Manchester United. He knows how it will work for taking the extra strides and get the organization in the squad and everything around it.

Q: What is he like as a coach?

– He knows what he wants and how he wants to play. There are clear lines and all the players know what to do. He is a good coach.

It is largely the same Iranian game plan now as it was three years ago.

– I think they will play 4-3-3. They have a good midfield and a good offensive players. The team works hard and can adapt quickly. They have clever wingers who are aggressive and hard-working midfielder with good passing game. Offensive threats include Reza Ghoochannejhad, Ashkan Dejagah and Sardar Azmoun, who was very good in the Asian Cup in January, says Nazari:

Nazari-Omid-3 (2)

– Dejagah is one of the wingers and used to play for Fulham and Wolfsburg, but now plays in the Qatari league. Reza has played in Charlton Athletics and Standard Liege, but also plays in Qatar now. Sardar Azmoun is a young player who is in Rubin Kazan,  currently on loan to another club in the Russian premier league (Rostov).

– Captain is Osasuna’s Javad Nekounam. The 34-year-old midfielder has played nearly 150 international matches. He has a lot of experience from playing in Europe. He played in the Spanish league for a while before he returned back to Iran for a season then played in Kuwait, but now he’s back in Osasuna.

– Iran showed during the World Cup in Brazil that it is a team that absolutely should not be underestimated. The first match against Nigeria ended goalless and Argentina would have left the stadium in Belo Horizonte with 0-0 result , until a certain Lionel Messi struck with a wonder goal in time added on.  The defeat 1-3 against Bosnia-Herzegovina meant that qualifying to the eighth finals was missed.

– It will be a tight game. There is little difference between Asian and European football. Here, the football is more organized. I can not really point out where Iran is vulnerable or weak , they had good defense against Argentina for example, says Omid Nazari.

The midfielder from Malmo preparing to present a season with FC Rosengård in Division 2 Southern Götaland, where he makes a fresh start after he suffered a severe knee injury in autumn 2013 (when he played for Ängelholm FF in the Premier League).

– I hope to take a step back to top level  football, says Omid.

 

Iran downs Copa America Host

By Matthew Rogerson

www.goal.com

Mar 26, 2015 21:12:38

Goals in each half saw Carlos Queiroz’s men record an outstanding friendly win in the clash in Austria

In one of Chile’s final friendlies before they open the South American showpiece against Ecuador in June, Jorge Sampaoli saw his side fall to goals in either half from captain Javad Nekounam and Vahid Amiri.

Carlos Queiroz’s Iran started brightly and were rewarded after 21 minutes when Nekounam converted Andranik Teymourian’s corner.

Sampaoli, who named Arturo Vidal and Alexis Sanchez on the bench, introduced the latter at the break, although Amiri added to Chile’s frustrations when he doubled Iran’s advantage early in the second half.

Brazil are next up for Chile – as the sides meet for the first time since their last-16 World Cup clash – while Iran face Sweden following victory in their first outing since the Asian Cup.

Eduardo Vargas fired over following a smart turn 12 minutes in, after Chile had survived some early Iran pressure.

Masoud Shojaei then went down under a clumsy challenge from Gonzalo Jara, although the referee waved away the half-hearted penalty protests.

Nekounam eventually made Iran’s pressure pay when the skipper bundled home the opener amid slack marking from Rodrigo Millar and questionable goalkeeping from Barcelona’s Claudio Bravo.

The goal sparked Chile into life, with Juan Cornejo flashing a shot wide before the half-hour mark, before Fabian Orellana hit the side-netting from close range.

Mark Gonzalez saw a header beaten away by Alireza Haghighi as Chile piled on the pressure prior to the interval to no avail.

Sampaoli opted to introduce star man Alexis at the interval, but it was Iran who found the target next as Reza Ghoochannejhad latched on to a throughball and picked out Amiri.

The Naft Tehran forward calmly finished from inside the area to put Queiroz’s side firmly in control.

Matias Fernandez almost reduced the deficit with a fierce drive prior to the hour with Jose Fuenzalida angling a strike wide of the far post as Sampaoli’s men continued to knock on the door.

Veteran David Pizarro was brought on to try to find a way back into the game for the South Americans, but Chile found Haghighi in fine form as the goalkeeper smartly kept out Fernandez’s free kick going into the final 20 minutes.

Despite the late pressure, Chile failed to avert a second defeat in eight post-World Cup outings, leaving Sampaoli questions to answer with the Copa clash against Ecuador in Santiago less than three months away.

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