Javad Nekounam

Javad Nekounam

Nekounam with Iran in 2014
Personal information
Full name Javad Nekounam
Date of birth (1980-09-07) 7 September 1980
Place of birth Rey, Iran
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Iran (assistant)
Youth career
Naft Tehran
Pas
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2005 Pas 179 (45)
2005–2006 Al-Wahda 11 (3)
2006 Al-Sharjah 11 (5)
2006–2012 Osasuna 149 (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 453 (95)
National team
1998–2000 Iran U20
1999–2002 Iran U23 10 (2)
2000–2015 Iran[lower-alpha 1] 151 (39)
Teams managed
2016– Iran (assistant)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Javad Nekounam (Persian: جواد نکونام‎‎; born 7 September 1980) is an Iranian retired footballer who played as a central midfielder.

He spent most of his professional career with Pas and Spain's Osasuna, appearing in 197 official games and scoring 31 goals during his two spells with the latter and also being team captain. He also competed in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait and Qatar, during 18 seasons overall.

Nicknamed Neku,[2] and widely regarded as one of his country's greatest footballers,[3] Nekounam represented the Iranian national team 151 times,[1] playing several major tournaments including two World Cups and four Asian Cups.

Club career

Early years

Nekounam was born in Rey. 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.[4]

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.[5]

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,[6] with an option to a third year and a €5 million minimum release-fee clause on his contract – he thus became the first Iranian player to be signed by a Spanish club.[7] On 22 February 2007, he scored in the 120th minute of the match against FC Girondins de Bordeaux for the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup to help to a 1–0 home win and aggregate score,[8] 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.[9]

On 14 August 2007, Nekounam suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his right knee[10][11] and, after undergoing a successful surgery in Augsburg, Germany, missed eight months of action. His number 24 was given to new signing Jaroslav Plašil, as he recovered from his injury.

On 24 November 2007, Osasuna showed faith in Nekounam signing a three-year contract extension on his existing contract that was set to end on 30 June of the following year, with a €5 million buy-out clause for the first two seasons and €2.5M for the last.[12] In February of the following year he made his first training appearance since the injury – incidentally, a week later, Xavier Margairaz suffered a similar injury, missing an estimate period that could amount to one year, on 27 April he made his return against Valencia CF, replacing Francisco Puñal in the 70th minute of a 0–3 away loss.[13]

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.[14] In November/December he also netted, but the Navarrese failed to win at Málaga CF (2–4)[15] and with Real Valladolid (3–3),[16] also scoring the opener against Real Madrid, in a 1–3 away loss on 18 January 2009.[17]

On 22 March 2009, Nekounam netted a last-minute goal against RCD Espanyol for a 1–0 home win,[18] and finished the season as Osasuna's second goalscorer behind Walter Pandiani, scoring nine times in the league (a career-best in Spain). In the 2009 summer he received offers from both Espanyol and Villarreal, with the latter in particular being ready to pay the buy-out clause in Nekounam's contract; however, the player repeatedly insisted to be "happy at the club", waiting until he "hears some better deals".[19][20]

Nekounam was again a regular starter for Osasuna in the 2010–11 campaign, but also spent one month at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup with his national team. On 20 February 2011, in the second game upon his return from Qatar, he scored twice in a 4–0 home win against Espanyol,[21] and eventually finished the campaign with six goals in 26 appearances as his team again avoided relegation.

On 21 May 2011, Nekounam renewed his contract with Osasuna for another two seasons, with the option of an annual renewal of his link.[22] In July of the following year, amidst interest from Iranian powerhouse Esteghlal F.C. and unnamed Turkish and Qatari clubs, it was reported that he would only remain with the Rojillos if he accepted a salary reduction – he was the highest-paid player.[23]

Esteghlal

Nekounam playing for Esteghlal in a Champions League match against
Al-Ain

On 21 July 2012, aged almost 32, Nekounam returned to his country and signed a two-year contract with Esteghlal, for a record fee of US$1,500,000, which made him the most expensive player in the Iran Pro League history.[24][25] He scored his first goal for his new club in a 2–3 loss against Foolad FC, through a penalty.

On 5 May 2013, against the same opponent, he also found the net, helping his team secure its 28th league title[26] and winning his second national championship.

Al-Kuwait

On 14 January 2014, Nekounam agreed to a four-month deal with Kuwait SC.[27] He scored his first goal for the club on 2 February, netting the only in an AFC Champions League qualifier against Al Shorta SC.

Nekounam scored three goals in the 2014 edition of the AFC Cup,[28] and also won the season's Kuwait Emir Cup.[29]

Return to Osasuna

On 4 August 2014, Nekounam returned to Osasuna by signing a two-year contract.[30] He scored in his first game upon his return, a 1–3 Segunda División loss against Deportivo Alavés on 6 September;[31] on 2 November he added another, helping to a 3–2 home success over Real Betis.[32]

Saipa

Nekounam returned to Iran and its Persian Gulf Pro League on 6 July 2015, joining Saipa F.C. on a one-year deal.[33] He scored his first competitive goal for his new team on 6 August, netting 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.[34] In his first match, at home against Qatar SC, he assisted countryman Ashkan Dejagah in an eventual 1–1 draw.

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

International career

Nekounam with Iran manager Carlos Queiroz during a press conference at the 2014 World Cup

Nekounam received his first call-up to Iran in May 2000. He became a starter for the national side during the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and, already a key midfield element, played in 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.

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.[1] He was Team Melli's leading goalscorer in its successful 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign and, on 1 June 2014, he was called up as captain by Carlos Queiroz for the finals in Brazil,[36] where he captained the nation in an eventual group stage exit.

Nekounam was also selected for the 2015 Asian Cup squad, on 30 December 2014.[37] 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[38]– might be his last international, but later went back on that statement[39] only to confirm it the following day and subsequently send an emotional open letter to fans;[40] he scored 39 goals for his country,[41] and shortly after retiring was named Queiroz's assistant.[42]

International goals

Score and Result lists Iran's goal tally first
Goal Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition Ref.
1. 1 February 2003 Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong, China  Denmark
1–0
1–0
2003 Carlsberg Cup
2. 17 June 2004 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  Lebanon
3–0
4–0
2004 WAFF Championship
3. 23 June 2004 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  Iraq
1–0
2–1
2004 WAFF Championship
4. 25 June 2004 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  Syria
4–1
4–1
2004 WAFF Championship
5. 20 July 2004 Olympic Sports Center, Chongqing, China  Thailand
2–0
3–0
2004 AFC Asian Cup
6. 6 August 2004 Workers Stadium, Beijing, China  Bahrain
1–0
4–2
2004 AFC Asian Cup
7. 17 November 2004 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  Laos
5–0
7–0
2006 World Cup qualification
8.
7–0
9. 30 March 2005 Kim Il-sung, Pyongyang, North Korea  North Korea
2–0
2–0
2006 World Cup qualification
10. 29 May 2005 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  Azerbaijan
2–0
2–1
Friendly
11. 24 August 2005 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  Libya
2–0
4–0
Friendly
12.
4–0
13. 16 August 2006 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  Syria
1–0
1–1
2007 Asian Cup qualification
14. 6 September 2006 Abbasiyyin, Damascus, Syria  Syria
2–0
2–0
2007 Asian Cup qualification
15. 2 July 2007 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  Jamaica
1–0
8–1
Friendly
16.
3–0
17. 15 July 2007 National Stadium, Bukit Jalil, Malaysia  China PR
2–2
2–2
2007 AFC Asian Cup
18. 18 July 2007 National Stadium, Bukit Jalal, Malaysia  Malaysia
1–0
2–0
2007 AFC Asian Cup
19. 25 May 2008 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  Zambia
1–0
3–2
Friendly
20. 22 June 2008 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  Kuwait
1–0
2–0
2010 World Cup qualification
21. 6 September 2008 King Fahd International, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia  Saudi Arabia
1–1
1–1
2010 World Cup qualification
22. 15 October 2008 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  North Korea
2–0
2–1
2010 World Cup qualification
23. 11 February 2009 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  South Korea
1–0
1–1
2010 World Cup qualification
24. 14 November 2009 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  Jordan
1–0
1–0
2011 Asian Cup qualification
25. 3 March 2010 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  Thailand
1–0
1–0
2011 Asian Cup qualification
26. 2 January 2011 Jassim Bin Hamad, Doha, Qatar  Angola
1–0
1–0
Friendly
27. 2 September 2011 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  Indonesia
1–0
3–0
2014 World Cup qualification
28.
2–0
29. 5 October 2011 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  Palestine
3–0
7–0
Friendly
30. 15 November 2011 Gelora Bung Karno, Tanah Abang, Indonesia  Indonesia
4–1
4–1
2014 World Cup qualification
31. 16 October 2012 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  South Korea
1–0
1–0
2014 World Cup qualification
32. 6 February 2013 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  Lebanon
2–0
5–0
2015 Asian Cup qualification
33.
3–0
34.
5–0
35. 11 June 2013 Azadi, Tehran, Iran  Lebanon
2–0
4–0
2014 World Cup qualification
36.
4–0
37. 19 November 2013 Camille Chamoun, Beirut, Lebanon  Lebanon
3–0
4–1
2015 Asian Cup qualification
38. 26 March 2015 NV Arena, Sankt Pölten, Austria  Chile
1–0
2–0
Friendly
39. 31 March 2015 Friends Arena, Solna, Sweden  Sweden
1–2
1–3
Friendly

Statistics

Club

As of 28 April 2016[43][44][45]
Club performance League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Iran League Hazfi Cup Asia Total
1998–99PasAzadegan League222 ––222
1999–00245 ––245
2000–01215 ––215
2001–02Iran Pro League254––254
2002–03257 ––257
2003–042510 ––2510
2004–05259 843313
2005–06123 ––123
United Arab Emirates League President's Cup Asia Total
2005–06Al-WahdaUAE Football League11300––113
Al-Sharjah11533––148
Spain League Copa del Rey Europe Total
2006–07OsasunaLa Liga24230111383
2007–082000––20
2008–0935820––378
2009–1031320––333
2010–1126620––286
2011–1231551––366
Iran League Hazfi Cup Asia Total
2012–13EsteghlalPersian Gulf Cup2754183399
2013–141731030213
Kuwait League Emir Cup Asia Total
2013–14Al-KuwaitKuwaiti Premier League1112163195
Spain League Copa del Rey Europe Total
2014–15OsasunaSegunda División22510––235
Iran League Hazfi Cup Asia Total
2015–16SaipaPersian Gulf Pro League15330––183
Qatar League Emir Cup Asia Total
2015–16Al-ArabiQatar Stars League11110––121
Total Iran 238568119726564
United Arab Emirates 22833––2511
Spain 1712915111119731
Kuwait 1112163195
Qatar 11110––121
Career total 453952963611518112

International

Nekounam before a friendly with Montenegro in 2014

[1][46]

Iran
YearAppsGoals
200070
2001110
200290
2003111
2004187
2005114
2006112
200784
200884
200982
201061
2011105
201291
201386
201490
201572
Total15139

Honours

Nekounam celebrating Esteghlal's 2013 IPL title

Club

Pas
Esteghlal
Al-Kuwait

Country

Individual

See also

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.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Javad Nekounam – Century of International Appearances; at RSSSF
  2. ↑ "World Cup 2014: Player profile – who is Javad Nekounam, the Iran midfielder?". The Independent. 16 March 2014. Retrieved 19 March 2014.
  3. ↑ "Iran will miss Javad Nekounam -- the talisman that allowed them to dream". ESPN FC. 12 April 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  4. ↑ "Nekounam states Euro ambition". Sky Sports. Retrieved 7 April 2007.
  5. ↑ "Buh, Bye". The Guardian. 10 July 2005.
  6. ↑ "Osasuna sign Javad Nekounam". Persian Football. Archived from the original on 20 October 2007. Retrieved 7 July 2006.
  7. ↑ Javad Nekounam – Osasuna's new star
  8. ↑ "Osasuna 1–0 Bordeaux". UEFA.com. 22 February 2007. Retrieved 11 March 2015.
  9. ↑ Gers miss out on Iranian ace; Sky Sports
  10. ↑ Nekounam sidelined at Osasuna; UEFA.com, 16 August 2007
  11. ↑ "Nekounam sufre una rotura de ligamento cruzado anterior" [Nekounam suffers anterior cruciate ligament rupture] (in Spanish). CA Osasuna. 16 August 2007. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  12. ↑ Javad Nekounam renueva su contrato hasta 2011 (Javad Nekounam renews contract until 2011); CA Osasuna, 24 November 2007 (Spanish)
  13. ↑ "Ontanaya falla, Villa no" [Ontanaya fails, Villa does not] (in Spanish). Marca. 27 April 2008. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  14. ↑ "Osasuna 1–1 Villarreal". ESPN Soccernet. 31 August 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  15. ↑ "Málaga 4–2 Osasuna". ESPN Soccernet. 30 November 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  16. ↑ "Osasuna 3–3 Valladolid". ESPN Soccernet. 7 December 2008. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  17. ↑ "Real Madrid 3–1 Osasuna". ESPN Soccernet. 18 January 2009. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  18. ↑ "Osasuna 1–0 Espanyol". ESPN Soccernet. 22 March 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011.
  19. ↑ Javad Nekounam not interested in leaving Osasuna; Goal.com, 21 June 2009
  20. ↑ Villarreal looking to recruit Iran's Nekounam; Press TV, 17 June 2009
  21. ↑ "Nekounam at the double". ESPN Soccernet. 20 February 2011. Retrieved 20 February 2011.
  22. ↑ Iranian duo to stay at Osasuna; Persian Football, 31 May 2011
  23. ↑ Javad Nekounam could stay at Osasuna if he accepts pay cut; Goal.com, 9 July 2012
  24. ↑ "Javad Nekounam officially joins Esteghlal". Kabir News. 21 July 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2012.
  25. ↑ گرانقیمت ترین بازیکن تاریخ فوتبال ایران با رقم قراداد 4.5 میلیارد تومان! [Javade Nekoonam: The most expensive player in the history of football in Iran with 9 million dollars contract] (in Persian). Jam News. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 25 July 2012.
  26. ↑ Esteghlal won the league; Goal.com, 5 May 2013 (Persian)
  27. ↑ الإيراني نيكونام كويتاي رسمياً; Kuwait Club, 14 January 2014 (Persian)
  28. ↑ "Javad Nekonam". The AFC. Retrieved 20 March 2014.
  29. ↑ One more trophy for Nekounam in his club career; Persian Football, 8 May 2014
  30. ↑ "Javad Nekounam está en Pamplona" [Nekounam is in Pamplona] (in Spanish). CA Osasuna. 4 August 2014. Retrieved 4 August 2014.
  31. ↑ "Nekounam scores in Osasuna comeback [VIDEO]". Persian Football. 6 September 2014. Retrieved 10 September 2014.
  32. ↑ "Nekounam goal inspires Osasuna comeback". Persian Football. 3 November 2014. Retrieved 6 November 2014.
  33. ↑ "Saipa signs Javad Nekounam from Osasusna". Tehran Times. 6 July 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  34. ↑ "جواد نکونام به العربی قطر پیوست" [Javad Nekounam joins Qatar club Al-Arabi] (in Persian). 90TV. 21 January 2016. Retrieved 21 January 2016.
  35. ↑ Official: Nekounam retired from football; Varzesh3, 15 July 2016 (Persian)
  36. ↑ "Queiroz trims Iran squad to 24". FIFA.com. 1 June 2014. Archived from the original on 1 June 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  37. ↑ "Queiroz names Team Melli squad". AFC Asian Cup. 30 December 2014. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
  38. ↑ "Javad Nekounam becomes Iran's most capped player". Persian Football. 27 March 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  39. ↑ "Nekounam changes mind over Iran retirement". Persian Football. 31 March 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2015.
  40. ↑ بیانیه احساسی جواد نکونام پس از خداحافظی/جلوی هیچکس سرم را خم نمی کنم جز هواداران [Nekounam: I only bow to the fans but nobody else] (in Persian). Khabar Online. 5 April 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  41. ↑ "Javad Nekounam bids farewell to international career". Persian Football. 1 April 2015. Retrieved 16 April 2015.
  42. ↑ "Nekounam appointed Carlos Queiroz's assistant". Persian Football. 28 April 2015. Retrieved 29 April 2015.
  43. ↑ "J. Nekounam". Soccerway. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  44. ↑ "Javad Nekounam" (in Persian). IRIB Varzesh. Retrieved 14 December 2015.
  45. ↑ "Javad Nekounam" (in Persian). IRIB Varzesh. Retrieved 15 December 2015.
  46. ↑ Players with a Century of Caps; at RSSSF

External links

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Sporting positions
Preceded by
Mehdi Mahdavikia		 Iran national football team captain
2009–2015 		Succeeded by
Andranik Teymourian
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