Rahman Rezaei

Rahman Rezaei
Personal information
Full name Rahman Rezaei
Date of birth (1975-02-20) 20 February 1975
Place of birth Noor, Mazandaran, Iran
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Defender
Club information
Current team
Tractor Sazi (assistant coach)
Youth career
1991–1995 Nassaji Mazandaran
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1995 Bargh Tehran ? (?)
1995–1996 Rah Ahan ? (7)
1996–2001 Zob Ahan ? (?)
2001–2003 Perugia 38 (5)
2003–2006 Messina 108 (2)
2006–2008 Livorno 21 (1)
2008–2009 Persepolis 13 (0)
2009–2010 Al Ahli 9 (1)
2010 Shahin Bushehr 6 (0)
2010–2012 Paykan 12 (1)
National team
2001–2009 Iran 56 (3)
Teams managed
2013–2014 Paykan B
2014–2015 Rah Ahan B
2015– Tractor Sazi B
2016– Tractor Sazi (assistant)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 April 2012.


Rahman Rezaei (Persian: رحمان رضايی , born 20 February 1975 in Noor, Mazandaran) is an Iranian retired football player and coach. He is also a former member of the Iran national football team and usually plays in the centre back position.

Club career

He was originally discovered by Iranian manager, Nasser Hejazi. Rezaei played for Zob Ahan in Isfahan for five seasons. After impressive performances for the club and the national team, he was transferred to Perugia for €150,000 euros[1] and then to Messina.

Rahman Rezaei is currently the most successful Asian defender in Europe.[2] In the 2003/2004 season, he helped Messina gain promotion to Serie A.[3] He had been one of Messina's most consistently used players with 36 appearances in their 2004–05 mid-table finish.[2] After steadily playing for his club for three seasons, at the end of August 2006 Rezaei signed with another Serie A club, Livorno.

He has won numerous plaudits in Italy and has been dubbed "The Flying Carpet".[3] In addition, his fans in Messina have named him the "Secretary of Defense".[3] In January 2006, he acquired Italian citizenship through his marriage to an Italian-Iranian Helia Hashemi.[3]

In July 2008, an Iranian newspaper reported Iranian giants Persepolis were holding talks with Rezaei. However, in mid-July, Afshin Ghotbi was re-appointed manager of Persepolis and cut the talks with Rezaei, stating that the club were not looking for a centre-back player at that moment in time.

On 10 August 2009, Rezaei signed a one-year, $700 thousand contract with Qatari side Al Ahli SC.[4] In 2010 he signed with Shahin Bushehr. A half-year later he joined Paykan. He announced his retirement from football on 4 July 2012.

Club career statistics

As of 20 May 2011
Club performance League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Italy League Coppa Italia Europe Total
2001–02 Perugia Serie A 252--252
2002–03133--133
2003–04 Messina Serie B 372--372
2004–05 Serie A 370--370
2005–06340--340
2006–07 Livorno 1611030201
2007–0850--50
Iran League Hazfi Cup Asia Total
2008–09 Persepolis Persian Gulf Cup 1303040200
Qatar League Emir of Qatar Cup Asia Total
2009–10 Al Ahli SC Qatar Stars League 91--91
Iran League Hazfi Cup Asia Total
2010–11 Shahin Persian Gulf Cup 6000--60
2010–11 Paykan12100--121
Total Iran 3113040381
Total Italy 167810301718
Total Qatar 910091
Career total 20710407021810

International career

Rahman Rezaei made his first appearance for Iran in July 2001 against Bosnia. He has been the most consistent defender for the team ever since.

In European football, Rahman Rezaei is considered a solid defender well inclined to launch devastating counterattacks. However his role is different in the Iranian national football team, where he is a straight defensive centre back. He was formerly a forward, but has proved to be an indispensable defensive stalwart for an Iranian side considered top-heavy in attacking players.

He was among the key players for Iran in World Cup 2006, but he did not perform as well as everyone had hoped. He received some criticism following a couple mistakes which led to goals being scored against the team.

On 6 April 2007 Rezaei stated he will retire from international football after the 2007 Asian Cup.,[5][6] but in another interview in December 2007 he expressed his intention to return to the national team.[7] Rezaei was given his No. 5 jersey and was selected for Team Melli's 2010 World Cup Qualification matches.

[8]

Iran national team
YearAppsGoals
2001160
200231
200350
2004100
200561
200681
200760
Total543

International goals

Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 3 June 2005 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  North Korea 1–0 1–0 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 28 May 2006 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  Bosnia and Herzegovina 2–2 5–2 Friendly
3 7 February 2007 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  Belarus 2–0 2–2 Friendly

Notes

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