{"id":15583,"date":"2013-08-06T20:28:15","date_gmt":"2013-08-07T03:28:15","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.persianfootball.com\/news\/?p=15583"},"modified":"2013-08-14T21:04:50","modified_gmt":"2013-08-15T04:04:50","slug":"irans-captain-fantastic-steers-team-melli-to-brazil-2014","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.persianfootball.com\/news\/2013\/08\/06\/irans-captain-fantastic-steers-team-melli-to-brazil-2014\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran\u2019s captain fantastic steers Team Melli to Brazil 2014"},"content":{"rendered":"

AFC Magazine \u2013 Iranian football has rarely lacked for talented midfielders; over the years and throughout the generations, successive incarnations of Team Melli have been driven on by some of Asian football\u2019s most commanding players.<\/strong><\/p>\n

For the side that first appeared at the FIFA World Cup in Argentina in 1978, it was Mohammad Sadeghi who was at the heart of the midfield, performing in the engine room as Ali Parvin and Hassan Roshan further enhanced their reputations.<\/p>\n

Twenty years later, it was Karim Bagheri who was the driving force behind the side that ended Iran\u2019s FIFA World Cup exile in 1998 with his commanding presence in the centre, his perfectly timed runs and unerring passing forming the platform upon which the likes of Ali Daei, Khodadad Azizi and Mehdi Mahdavikia were able to perform.<\/p>\n

Javad Nekounam, the man whose talismanic influence was so instrumental in Iran\u2019s successful bid for a fourth appearance at the FIFA World Cup, sits comfortably amongst such exalted company. It was the 32-year-old\u2019s drive and determination as much as anything or anyone else, secured Iran another trip to the biggest show on earth.<\/p>\n

Six goals \u2013 including two in the final phase, against Korea Republic and Lebanon \u2013 saw the midfielder emerge as Iran\u2019s leading scorer over the course of the entire qualifying campaign, but Nekounam\u2019s influence extended much further than the number of times he found the back of the net. With the experience gained by spending six seasons in Spain\u2019s Primera Liga with Osasuna and a trip to the FIFA World Cup finals with Iran back in 2006, Nekounam was coach Carlos Queiroz\u2019s on-field general, the man who channeled the former Real Madrid coach\u2019s desires and requests throughout the rest of the team.<\/p>\n

And now, after a long, arduous journey, the Iranians are celebrating their return to the top table of world football.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s been a tough road and we underwent so many difficulties,\u201d says Nekounam. \u201cOur great teamwork led to such a valuable success for us.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe experienced ups and downs, pleasant and bitter moments, but we never lost any of our confidence and remained very hopeful for the future. We knew we deserved to win a spot in the World Cup. Everyone in the team put in their best effort and tried hard to gain qualification to Brazil.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs the captain of the team, I\u2019d like to thank event,\u201d he says. \u201cIt makes no difference if you are one of the giants in the world or one of the underdogs.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery team endeavors to be one of only 32 teams taking part in the World Cup. We blame ourselves for not booking a berth in South Africa in 2010. We have now made up for that and are very determined to continue our progress.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s certainly every player\u2019s dream and ambition to play in the World Cup. It will be my second appearance in the showpiece, if I\u2019m still part of the team next year. \u201cPlaying in the World Cup is one of the sweetest memories in a football player\u2019s life. I\u2019m absolutely thrilled to have the chance to play in the World Cup for the second time in my life and I\u2019m keeping my fingers crossed that I can play up to expectations for my team.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s no doubt I learned so many lessons from Germany 2006. Perhaps some of the young players won\u2019t find out the value of playing in the World Cup arena, but I\u2019ll definitely convey my experience and knowledge to my younger teammates. \u201cI\u2019ll explain to them that we are now among the top teams in the world and this puts an extra burden on our shoulders to defend our credibility. Iranian football should be internationally acclaimed and we must prove that it\u2019s respectable and praiseworthy.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the country\u2019s three previous appearances all players and members of the staff for their hard work, dedication and commitment and I\u2019d like to tell them I\u2019ll hold everyone\u2019s hand firmly and wish them all the best.\u201d Brazil will not be Nekounam\u2019s first trip to the FIFA World Cup and he will join a select band of Iranian players to appear at the finals on two occasions should fitness and form guarantee him a place in Queiroz\u2019s squad next year.<\/p>\n

Only Daei and Mahdavikia have represented the nation at two finals \u2013 in France in 1998 and in Germany eight years later \u2013 and Nekounam, along with several current teammates, including Andranik Teymourian and Masoud Shojaei, will join that select band with inclusion in the squad for 2014.<\/p>\n

As a result, Nekounam will go to South America as one of the most experienced players in the team and his knowledge of what lies ahead will prove invaluable if Iran are to have any chance of making an impact on the competition.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s very important for each and every team to qualify to the world\u2019s greatest football at the FIFA World Cup, Iran have not managed to progress beyond the group stages of the competition, picking up just one win \u2013 a famous 2-1 victory over the United States in France in 1998 \u2013 so far. In the eyes of some commentators, the current Iran squad does not measure up with their more illustrious or fabled predecessors but Nekounam believes comparisons with bygone days are irrelevant.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can never compare a player with another team-mate or a former one,\u201d he says. \u201cYou can\u2019t even make comparisons between two different generations. Each player and team belongs to its own era and I\u2019m of the opinion that the current team has kicked off a new golden age in Iranian football. \u201cOur young boys deserve to be one of the 32 teams in the World Cup. An outstanding reward for the young members of our team would be if they were to get the chance to join a top-flight European outfit following the World Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n

If they were to do so, they would be following in Nekounam\u2019s footsteps.<\/p>\n

Appearing at the World Cup in Germany in 2006 opened up the possibility of moving to Europe for the former Pas midfielder, who had previously enjoyed short stints in the United Arab Emirates with Al Wahda and Al Sharjah, and it is an experience from which Nekounam continues to benefit. had to plan my life based on my professional career. Of course I felt homesick at the beginning, but I got used to it as the time went by.\u201d<\/p>\n

Nekounam highlights \u201cdiscipline, organisation, commitment, living professionally, living a good life\u201d among the \u201cmany other good things\u201d he gained from his time in Spain, which came to an end at the conclusion of the 2011-12 season in Europe. That prompted an unexpected return to Iran, signing for Tehran\u2019s Esteghlal in a US$1.5 million deal that saw him become the fulcrum of the club\u2019s starting line-up as they sought to embark on a successful run in the AFC Champions League and reclaim the Iran Pro League title from Sepahan.<\/p>\n

Twelve months later, it\u2019s mission accomplished for Nekounam and Esteghlal; the Amir Ghalenoei-coached side claimed the league title for the first time in four years while also progressing to the quarterfinals of the AFC Champions League. Esteghlal advanced to the last eight of the continental championship the hard way, seeing off Saudi giants Al Hilal, Emirati champions Al Ain and Al Rayyan from Qatar in a challenging group.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere were ups and downs during my stint with Osasuna, but the good thing about playing for a European club is that everything is quite well organized and wisely planned,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe players solely belong to the club and it brings about their progression. That\u2019s why it\u2019s not so easy to be part of a European squad, you have to abide by certain principles and stay focused on your goals. \u201cThe six years I was there were part of my golden years in my professional career, but in particular I\u2019d say my first, third and fifth years at the club were my outstanding years, when I was honored to be voted the best player of the season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI learned so many things in Spain and, to tell you the truth, it\u2019s not easy to apply them to my day-to-day life in Iran because the lifestyles are very different in the two countries.<\/p>\n

\u201cGenerally speaking, my personal life didn\u2019t differ much from the life I\u2019m living now but I had to adjust myself to my sporting career. I had to plan my life based on my professional career. Of course I felt homesick at the beginning, but I got used to it as the time went by.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the difficulty of the task, the Iranians emerged at the top of the standings before seeing off Al Shabab Al Arabi from the UAE in the Round of 16 to set up a quarter-final clash with Thai side Buriram United.\u201cThere\u2019s no doubt we were drawn in the Group of Death in the first round,\u201d says Nekounam of the club\u2019s AFC Champions League campaign.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbility wise, every team in our group could have qualified for the next round, but we proved our dominance and power and we deservedly booked our place among the last 16. \u201cWe have played against and overcome Al Hilal and Al Ain in the group stage, so we are definitely capable of beating other strong teams. \u201cWe are yet to confront any giant clubs from the east, but we\u2019ve got no fear of facing any rivals en route to winning the trophy. This competition is an arena where key players play pivotal roles in determining the results and I\u2019m very hopeful Esteghlal can seize the continental title for the third time in their history.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, despite having helped Esteghlal return to prominence at both domestic and continental level, there is no guarantee Nekounam will be part of the club\u2019s squad when the AFC Champions League resumes in August as he weighs up offers before deciding where next to continue his stellar career.<\/p>\n

But whether he continues to represent the blue half of Tehran or whether he moves on, his performances in 2013 will no doubt have marked him out as a candidate to be crowned the AFC Player of the Year.<\/p>\n

Until now, Nekounam\u2019s performances for both Iran and the various clubs he has played for have been overlooked and it is one honour he would love to add to his collection. \u201cIt might be little bit too late for me,\u201d he says. \u201cBut I do regret I was never voted Asian Player of the Year during my six-year stint in Pamplona.<\/p>\n

With all respect to players of my time, I\u2019m of the opinion that I could have become Asian Player of the Year at least twice during those six years.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut unfortunately with the rules of AFC I was obviously not on the shortlists, so I\u2019m glad the new amendments have been enacted so that Europe-based Asian players can also compete to win the title. \u201c<\/p>\n

For all his achievements in Spain, it could well be that Nekounam\u2019s success with both Esteghlal and Iran throughout 2013 sees him finally realize that long-held ambition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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