Javad Nekounam

Iranian footballer From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Javad Nekounam

Javad Nekounam (Persian: جواد نکونام; born 7 September 1980) is an Iranian football manager and former player who played as a midfielder. He holds the record for the most appearances for the Iranian national team with 149 caps.

Quick Facts Personal information, Full name ...
Javad Nekounam
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Nekounam with Esteghlal in 2023
Personal information
Full name

Javad Nekounam

[1]
Date of birth (1980-09-07) 7 September 1980 (age 44)
Place of birth Rey, Iran
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Central midfielder
Youth career
Naft Tehran
–1998 Pas
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2005 Pas 179 (45)
2005–2006 Al-Wahda 11 (5)
2006–2012 Osasuna 151 (24)
2012–2014 Esteghlal 44 (8)
2014 Al-Kuwait 11 (1)
2014–2015 Osasuna 22 (5)
2015–2016 Saipa 15 (3)
2016 Al-Arabi 11 (1)
Total 444 (92)
International career
1998–2000 Iran U20
1999–2002 Iran U23 10 (2)
2000–2015 Iran[a] 149 (38)
Managerial career
2016 Iran (assistant)
2017–2018 Khooneh be Khooneh
2018–2019 Nassaji
2019–2021 Foolad
2021–2023 Foolad
2023–2024 Esteghlal
Medal record
Representing  Iran
AFC Asian Cup
2004 ChinaTeam Competition
Asian Games
2002 BusanTeam Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
Close

Nicknamed Neku by numerous Iranian football fans,[3] he played as a midfielder, and is also regarded as one of greatest players of the history of Esteghlal Tehran.[4][5] Nekounam represented the Iran national team a record of 149 times,[6] playing several major tournaments including two World Cups and four Asian Cups. He is popular among Esteghlal fans. After starting his coaching career at Esteghlal, this popularity in the media increased.[7]

Club career

Summarize
Perspective

Early years

Nekounam was born in Ray, Iran. Having played for Pas Tehran F.C. for several years, appearing in the AFC Champions League with the team, he signed a five-month contract with Al-Wahda F.C. in the United Arab Emirates for US$1 million, in 2005.[8]

In January 2006, Nekounam joined Al Sharjah SC, although some European clubs such as 1. FC Kaiserslautern and Tottenham Hotspur had previously shown interest in him.[9]

Osasuna

After his performance at the 2006 World Cup Nekounam was linked to the likes of Hertha BSC of the Bundesliga and Ligue 1's Olympique Lyonnais, but he eventually joined CA Osasuna on a two-year contract, with an option to a third year and a (about) 5 million minimum release-fee clause.[10] On 22 February 2007, Nekunam finally scored in the 120th minute of the match against FC Girondins de Bordeaux in the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup to help to a 1–0 home win and aggregate score, and after a particularly successful first season began to attract interest from other European sides, notably Scotland's Rangers who had a £1 million pound offer rejected. On 14 August 2007, Nekounam suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his right knee and, after undergoing a successful surgery in Augsburg, Germany, was sidelined for eight months. His number 24 was given to new signing Jaroslav Plašil, and after some time finally he recovered from his injury.[11][12] On 31 August 2008, Nekounam scored Osasuna's first goal of the season, from the penalty spot in a 1–1 home draw against Villarreal CF. In November/December he also netted, but the Navarrese failed to win at Málaga CF (4–2 loss) and with Real Valladolid (3–3), also opening the score in the 3–1 away defeat to Real Madrid on 18 January 2009.[13][14][15][16] On 21 May 2011, Nekounam renewed his contract with Osasuna for another two seasons, with the option of an annual renewal of his link.[17][18]

In July of the following year, amidst interest from Iranian club Esteghlal F.C. and unnamed Turkish and Qatari clubs, it was reported that he would only remain with at the El Sadar Stadium if he accepted a salary reduction – he was the highest-paid player.[19]

Esteghlal

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Nekounam with Pas in 2005

On 21 July 2012, aged almost 32, Nekounam returned to his country and signed a two-year deal with Esteghlal for a record fee of US$1,500,000, which made him the most expensive player in the Iran Pro League history.[20][21] He scored his first goal for his new club in a 3–2 loss to Foolad F.C. on 28 November, through a penalty.[22]

On 5 May 2013, against the same opponent, he also found the net, helping his team secure their 28th league title[23] and winning his second national championship.

Al-Kuwait

On 14 January 2014, Nekounam agreed to a four-month contract at Kuwait SC.[24] He scored his first goal for the club on 2 February, netting the only in an AFC Champions League qualifier against Al Shorta SC.[25]

Nekounam scored three goals in the 2014 edition of the AFC Cup,[26] and also won the season's Kuwait Emir Cup.[27]

Return to Osasuna

On 4 August 2014, Nekounam returned to Osasuna by signing a two-year deal.[28] He scored in his first game upon his return, a 3–1 Segunda División loss against Deportivo Alavés on 6 September.[29] On 2 November he added another, helping to a 3–2 home victory over Real Betis.[30]

Saipa

Nekounam returned to Iran and its Persian Gulf Pro League on 6 July 2015, joining Saipa F.C. for one year.[31] He scored his first competitive goal for his new team on 6 August, the second in a 2–0 win at Rah Ahan Yazdan FC.

Al-Arabi

On 21 January 2016, Nekounam moved to Qatari club Al-Arabi SC on a four-month contract with an option to extend for a further year.[32] In his first match, at home against Qatar SC, he assisted countryman Ashkan Dejagah in an eventual 1–1 draw.

Nekounam left on 30 June 2016, and the 35-year-old announced his retirement two weeks later.[33]

International career

Summarize
Perspective
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Nekounam playing for Iran against Lionel Messi and Argentina in 2014 World Cup

Nekounam received his first call-up to Iran in 2000. He became a starter for the national side during the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and, already a key midfield element, played two of the national team's matches during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, being suspended for the final group game against Angola after his second yellow card against Portugal.[34]

Additionally, Nekounam helped Iran win the 2002 Asian Games and the 2004 West Asian Football Federation Championship, and also represented the country in the 2004, 2007 and 2011 AFC Asian Cups.[2] He was Team Melli's leading goalscorer in its successful 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign and, on 1 June 2014, he was selected by Carlos Queiroz for the finals in Brazil,[35] where he captained the nation in an eventual group-stage exit.

Nekounam also made the 2015 Asian Cup squad, in December 2014.[36] In March 2015, he hinted that a friendly against Sweden on the 31st – five days earlier, against Chile, he had become his country's most capped player after surpassing Ali Daei[37]– might be his last international, but later went back on that statement[38] only to confirm it the following day and subsequently send an emotional open letter to fans;[39] he scored 39 goals for his country,[40] and shortly after retiring was named Queiroz's assistant.[41]

Managerial career

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Nekounam coaching Esteghlal Tehran in a Persian Gulf Pro League match.

Midway through the 2017–18 season, Nekounam became the manager of F.C. Nassaji Mazandaran.[42] His team won 23 points from his nine games in charge, and were promoted to the Persian Gulf Pro League after a 24-year absence.[43]

Career statistics

Club

More information Club, Season ...
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[44][45][46]
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Pas 1998–99 Azadegan League 222222
1999–00 245245
2000–01 215215
2001–02 Iran Pro League 254254
2002–03 257257
2003–04 25102510
2004–05 259843313
2005–06 123123
Total 179458418749
Al Wahda 2005–06 UAE Football League 11300113
Sharjah FC 2005–06 UAE Football League 11533148
Osasuna 2006–07 La Liga 24230121393
2007–08 200020
2008–09 35820378
2009–10 31320333
2010–11 26620286
2011–12 31551366
Total 1492414112117526
Esteghlal 2012–13 Persian Gulf Cup 2754183399
2013–14 1731030213
Total 448511136012
Kuwait SC 2013–14 Kuwaiti Premier League 1112163195
Osasuna 2014–15 Segunda División 22510235
Saipa 2015–16 Persian Gulf Pro League 15330183
Al-Arabi 2015–16 Qatar Stars League 11110121
Career total 453952963711519112
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International

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Nekounam before a friendly with Montenegro in 2014
More information National team, Year ...
Appearances and goals by national team and year[2][47]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Iran 200060
2001110
200290
2003100
2004187
2005114
2006112
200784
200884
200982
201061
2011105
201291
201386
201490
201572
Total14938
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Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nekounam goal.
More information No., Date ...
List of international goals scored by Javad Nekounam[2]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
*1 February 2003Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong, China Denmark1–01–02003 Carlsberg Cup
117 June 2004Azadi, Tehran, Iran Lebanon3–04–02004 WAFF Championship
223 June 2004Azadi, Tehran, Iran Iraq1–02–12004 WAFF Championship
325 June 2004Azadi, Tehran, Iran Syria4–14–12004 WAFF Championship
420 July 2004Olympic Sports Center, Chongqing, China Thailand2–03–02004 AFC Asian Cup
56 August 2004Workers Stadium, Beijing, China Bahrain1–04–22004 AFC Asian Cup
617 November 2004Azadi, Tehran, Iran Laos5–07–02006 World Cup qualification
77–0
830 March 2005Kim Il-sung, Pyongyang, North Korea North Korea2–02–02006 World Cup qualification
929 May 2005Azadi, Tehran, Iran Azerbaijan2–02–1Friendly
1024 August 2005Azadi, Tehran, Iran Libya2–04–0Friendly[citation needed]
114–0
1216 August 2006Azadi, Tehran, Iran Syria1–01–12007 Asian Cup qualification
136 September 2006Abbasiyyin, Damascus, Syria Syria2–02–02007 Asian Cup qualification
142 July 2007Azadi, Tehran, Iran Jamaica1–08–1Friendly
153–0
1615 July 2007National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Malaysia China2–22–22007 AFC Asian Cup
1718 July 2007National Stadium, Bukit Jalal, Malaysia Malaysia1–02–02007 AFC Asian Cup
1825 May 2008Azadi, Tehran, Iran Zambia1–03–2Friendly
1922 June 2008Azadi, Tehran, Iran Kuwait1–02–02010 World Cup qualification
206 September 2008King Fahd International, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia1–11–12010 World Cup qualification
2115 October 2008Azadi, Tehran, Iran North Korea2–02–12010 World Cup qualification
2211 February 2009Azadi, Tehran, Iran South Korea1–01–12010 World Cup qualification
2314 November 2009Azadi, Tehran, Iran Jordan1–01–02011 Asian Cup qualification
243 March 2010Azadi, Tehran, Iran Thailand1–01–02011 Asian Cup qualification
252 January 2011Jassim Bin Hamad, Doha, Qatar Angola1–01–0Friendly
262 September 2011Azadi, Tehran, Iran Indonesia1–03–02014 World Cup qualification
272–0
285 October 2011Azadi, Tehran, Iran Palestine3–07–0Friendly
2915 November 2011Gelora Bung Karno, Jakarta, Indonesia Indonesia4–14–12014 World Cup qualification
3016 October 2012Azadi, Tehran, Iran South Korea1–01–02014 World Cup qualification
316 February 2013Azadi, Tehran, Iran Lebanon2–05–02015 Asian Cup qualification
323–0
335–0
3411 June 2013Azadi, Tehran, Iran Lebanon2–04–02014 World Cup qualification
354–0
3619 November 2013Camille Chamoun, Beirut, Lebanon Lebanon3–04–12015 Asian Cup qualification
3726 March 2015NV Arena, Sankt Pölten, Austria Chile1–02–0Friendly
3831 March 2015Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden Sweden1–21–3Friendly
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Managerial statistics

As of 30 September 2024
More information Team, From ...
Team From To Record
G W D L Win %
Khooneh be Khooneh 1 August 2017 10 January 2018 221282054.55
Nassaji Mazandaran 1 March 2018 1 January 2019 2912116041.38
Foolad 1 June 2019 23 August 2021 73292816039.73
Foolad 7 November 2021 22 February 2023 57242211042.11
Esteghlal 21 June 2023 1 October 2024 3821125055.26
Total 219988140044.75
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Honours

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Nekounam celebrating Esteghlal's 2012–13 league title

Player

Pas

Esteghlal

Al-Kuwait

Iran

Individual

Manager

Nassaji Mazandaran

Foolad

Esteghlal

Notes

  1. He has two additional caps awarded by the Iranian FA. Those matches are not considered full internationals by FIFA, which only counts 149.[2]

See also

References

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