Mid-Season Review: Iranian Players in Europe

Javad Nekounam:

Pamplona’s new hero, Javad Nekounam was surely looking forward to his second spell at Osasuna in 2007-2008 season following the departure of Raul Garcia to Atletico Mardid in Summer Transfer. Having come back from Iran’s disappointing Asian Cup 2007 campaign, he joined the later stage of Osasuna’s pre-season trainings in a Friendly against Villareal in mid August, when an injury lead to his substitution in 63rd minute of the game. The immediate scans showed rupture of cruciate ligament in his right knee and the need for surgery, which sidelined him for the whole first half of the season. His doctors doubt he returns to the games anytime earlier than end of January.

However despite his injury blow, Osasuna officials showed their loyalty to their consistent midfielder and offered him a three year contract extension which will keep Nekounam at Osasuna until June 2011.
Nekounam’s second half of the season may not look promising for his fans, as he will battle for full recovery and match fitness for weeks to come, but his come-back to pitch will surely prove how much he was missed in the last six months.


Andranik Teymourian:

Andranik Teimourian, who was the centre of attention among Iranian foreign-based players last season for his sparkling performance under Sammy Allardyce at Bolton, turned to a fading shadow by sitting on bench for most of the first half of 2007-2008 season.

Bolton undergoing several instants of coaching change in the span of 6 months, Andranik missing Bolton’s entire pre-season trainings and friendlies due to Iran’s Asian Cup campaign, and his resistance to pen an extension deal with Bolton that can hardly secure their spot out of Relegation zone by end of the season, have all lead to his bench-warming under new coaches after departure of Sammy Allardyce.

However, Andranik looks to have gained trust from his new coach Gary Megson, when he proved his instant effectiveness in Bolton’s UEFA Cup games against FC Bayern Munich and Red Star Belgrade.

Although looking forward to more playing time for Bolton in second half of the season, Andranik has not ruled out a move out of Bolton at the end of the season favouring to stay at English Premier League.


Hossein Kaebi:

Hossein Kaebi, starting his first European league experience of his career in 2007-2008 season, did not find it easy to settle in even in English Championship division. Struggling with lack of basic English language knowledge added to several coaching changes at Foxes and saw him benched for most of the first half of the season. Playing in 3 games out of 23 Championship games, lead to his early frustrations at his bench-warming status in Leicester City.

However, not trying to learn the basic English language in the last 5 months, surely worked against him as Ian Halloway, Leicester’s new coach announced the release of Iranian defender among the 7 released players before January.

IPL’s Perspolis seems to be the likely destination of Hossein Kaebi for the second half of the season.
There goes another Iranian player who failed to settle in Europe following Ali Karimi’s departure from Bayern Munich to SC Qatar club at the end of last season.


Rahman Rezaei:

Livorno starting off Serie-A 2007-2008 campaign, having escaped Relegation zone last season under the new coach Fernando Orsi, barely saw Rahman Rezaei in starting line-up.
Rahman Rezaei’s playing time did not improve much by Camolese appointment in place of Orsi and Rezaei only managed to play 4 games out of 17 Serie-A games.

He has blamed coaching changes as the reason for his low profile season so far and has not ruled out a move out of Livorno if offered by another Serie-A club.



Vahid Hashemian:

2007-2008 Season was surely one of the toughest seasons for Hashemian in competition for starting line-up with 7 strikers in line to star in Hecking’s 4-5-1 system. Usually benched for the favoured German International, Mike Hanke, Hashemian is among the 4 players of the squad who have not started a single game and only appeared as substitutions in first half of the season.

However, Hashemian displayed his strong team work effort several times so far this season starring particularly in fixtures against Hansa Rostock and HSV.


Mehdi Mahdavikia:

Experiencing a new chapter in his professional life after a move to Eintracht Frankfurt this season, Mehdi Mahdavikia had no problem battling for starting line-up under Funkel as he played 14 times out of 17 fixtures in first half of 2007-2008 season. However, no goals and only 2 Assists in 14 games, were not enough for Frankfurt fans who expected more from their new club purchase.

Settling in new team environment could be acceptable for first half of the season, but Mehdi needs to prove his worth to the fans in second half of the season, as he is almost without competition and is trusted by Funkel to play in a role where he can be more efficient.
His best game of the first part of the season was the sensational fixture against Schalke, where his assist secured a valuable point for Frankfurt.


Ashkan Dejagah:

An unsettled Hertha player with 0 goal and 0 assist under his name last season, proved to be one of Felix Magath and Wolfsburg ‘s best purchases in 2007-2008. Ashkan Dejagah started in more games than the rest of Iranian foreign-based players, scoring 5 beautiful goals and 1 assist for Wolfsburg.

Although, Dejagah surely hasn't lost his touch of controversy as he announced his withdrawal from Germany U-21 fixture against Israel on October for political reasons and instantly caught himself in the middle of political-racial protests in Germany asking for his suspension from Germany U-21 National team. Justifying his decision to “family reasons” which would cause his family members problems by Iranian officials in visiting Iran, Dejagah sparked the hope among Iranian football fans for his ongoing interest in playing for Iran football National team one day for making such decision.

However, Ashkan Dejagah officially announced his desire to play for Germany National team instead of Iran National team on October, ending controversy surrounding his playing career.
A continued starring performance in Wolfsburg is expected to be seen from Dejagah in second half of the season.


Amir shapourzadeh:

Amir Shapourzadeh who received a surprise call-up to Iran B team for the first time in his career at the end of last season, played for Iran B team in West Asian Games in Summer.

In 2007-2008 season so far however, he has yet to match his 4 goals and 3 assists record of last season. He played only 4 games so far, with no goal nor assist under his name in first half of the season.