Tehran

Team Melli has secured the services of yet another European based Iranian expatriate holding dual nationality. This time , a Dutch player who plays for a Belgian Team. Reza Ghoochannejad , was selected by Carlos Queiroz for Team Melli camp held in Hungary. Ghoochannejad made the trip to Budapest but he was prevented from playing the friendly against Tunisia due to some hold up on the FIFA clearance would would enable him to play for Iran.
The new joiner to the National Team expressed his delight and satisfaction with the team’s camp says that atmosphere in the camp was quite refreshing and is very delighted and honored to join Team Melli and play for Iran. He considers himself an Iranian in and out and very verse with the Persian culture.

The 24 years old player , who currently plays for Sint-Truiden in the Belgian Pro League, made his debut in professional football in April 2006 for SC Heerenveen in a home match against AZ as a replacement for Fernando Derveld. Ghoochannejhad. During an exhibition game at the end of the season he was a seriously injury. Recuperation followed at the Frisian club. During the season he played again at SC Heerenveen, but did was restricted in to the second string side and could not make the first team. The same was true of the first half of the following season 2008-09, but after the winter break, Ghoochannejhad  saw first team action when he was loaned to  FC Emmen.
On June 17, 2011 Reza Ghoochannejhad transferred to Sint-Truiden. The duration of his contract with STVV is for 3 years. His first goal in the Belgian Pro League came against the Belgian powerhouse club, Club Brugge. Despite injury woes that kept him sidelined for several weeks he still managed to net 12 times in 22 appearances for Sint Truidense  , a feat that attracted interest from clubs  in Germany, Netherlands and Belgium.
His team , however , was relegated.
Born in Mashhad, Iran Ghoochannejhad migrated to the Netherlands with his family when he was a child. He has studied Politics at university, and is also known to be musically inclined and talented on the Violin.
His original post is offensive midfielder or right back, but he can also play on the offensive line.
On the possibilities of a transfer to another  club , he said: “It is not clear yet what my new team would be . I heard that several clubs from Belgium, Holland, Germany and Austria are interested. I have to pick up my new team soon, but still  have a chance until September. I also had a proposal from Standard Liege but could not agree terms. I like to play at top level in a respectable league.”
Ghoochannejhad was very motivated to play for Team Melli. He said that the previous coach , Afshin Ghotbi has monitored him and also talked to him about joining Team Melli , but he could not agree with the terms given to him then. Later on , he was told that Carlos Queiroz was in the stadium watching him. He was not aware of that and did not meet Queiroz, who made contact at a later stage. He was quite happy to oblige and show both his love for his roots and his footballing skills to his Iranian compatriots. “