Ali Karimi  & Mehdi Mahdavikia the Perspolis and Team Melli players have announced their retirement from football in the aftermath of the bitter defeat of Perspolis in the Hazfi Cup final. On Sunday , Sepahan Esfahan won the Hazfi Cup after a penalty shootout depriving Perspolis from qualification to the AFC Asian Championship League next season.

Karimi who was injured for several weeks was making his first competitive appearance for Perspolis after the longish layoff. This match was crucial for himself as much as for his teammate Mehdi Mahdavikia who was making his final appearance before hanging his boots. While Mahdavikia’s retirement was known beforehand, Karimi’s announcement was an unexpected surprise.

Both players have a run in with the club management at different stages. In a veiled statement to the press on his retirement announcement , Karimi said that by leaving the club , he hopes that those people who take over are more dedicated to the club principals that himself. Karimi also emphasized that he is also not available for Team Melli selection.

 In an interview with “Emarat alyoum” newspaper, the Captain of Team Melli expressed his deep regret on leaving the La Liga club, Osasuna.  Javad Nekounam scored the winning goal against Al Ain the UAE champions in the penultimate match of the AFC Asian Championship League Group D to ensure his club Esteghlal win the group and qualify for the next round.

Nekounam said that several clubs from the Professional UAE league are negotiating with him at the moment for a possible transfer next season; however he declined to name those clubs and said it is not prudent to do so at this stage. He also refuted any ideas that his aim in playing in the UAE league is purely financial and emphasized on the point that as a professional player, he wants to give his best and achieve glory with any club he plays for.

Nekounam added that he is no stranger to the UAE league as it was his stepping stone to Europe while he was a player with Al Sharjah and Al Wehda clubs. He also confirmed that these two clubs are not involved in the present negotiation for him to return to the UAE league.

As for his thoughts about the Spanish La Lega , the 30 years old Iranian Captain said that he made a grave error in leaving Osasuna where he was playing for six seasons. “There was a professional management and training system that Osasuna applied which always encouraged the players to excel and succeed. The way the system run helped me tremendously in improving myself and to deliver my best to the club and country” Nekounam said.

Nekounam added that he has no problem to admit when he makes an error in judgment because such admission will help him avoid such errors. The Esteghlal Captain also emphasized that his playing for such a big club , added a lot of value to his game and the current successful run in the AFC Asian Championship  League is indicative of how the team , including himself , is delivering  at the highest level of football.

Original article in Arabic