{"id":39440,"date":"2020-06-12T10:16:48","date_gmt":"2020-06-12T17:16:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.persianfootball.com\/news\/?p=39440"},"modified":"2020-06-12T10:16:48","modified_gmt":"2020-06-12T17:16:48","slug":"nekounam-and-shojaei-nominated-for-asias-greatest-players-in-la-liga-video","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.persianfootball.com\/news\/2020\/06\/12\/nekounam-and-shojaei-nominated-for-asias-greatest-players-in-la-liga-video\/","title":{"rendered":"Nekounam and Shojaei nominated for ‘Asia\u2019s Greatest Players in La Liga’ [VIDEO]"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Tasnim – KUALA LUMPUR, Iranian players Javad Nekounam and Masoud Shojaei have been nominated as Asia\u2019s greatest players in Spanish football.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

La Liga, the top division of Spanish football, holds a place in the consciousness of fans throughout the globe, and it is also a nation which has played host to some standout players from the world\u2019s largest continent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In increasing numbers, Asian players are flocking to Spain, with some of the continent\u2019s brightest prospects now making it their first port of call in European football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With La Liga resuming this week, the-afc.com invites the fans to decide which Asian player has made the biggest impact in Spanish football.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Javad Nekounam<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Arriving in Spain just prior to his 26th birthday, Nekounam was an instant hit in a side which reached the UEFA Cup semi-finals, only for his progress to be suddenly halted by a serious knee injury.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

That made the 2007-08 campaign a near write-off, but he returned to become a fan favorite in the city of Pamplona and regular goal scorer with a habit of netting late winners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran has produced several outstanding players over the years. That no Team Melli player has bettered Nekounam\u2019s 151 caps speaks volumes about his quality and longevity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Masoud Shojaei<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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While Nekounam was the first Iranian player to shine in La Liga, Masoud Shojaei wasn\u2019t far behind, and the duo created a unique Team Melli influence in northern Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Often used as an impact player off the substitute\u2019s bench, Shojaei was a reliable contributor of assists, particularly in his debut season where he created eight goals for his teammates.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A serious injury robbed him of the entire 2011-12 campaign, and his time in Spain finished in the Segunda Division with Las Palmas, but his tally of more than 100 appearances in the top tier outlines his quality as a player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Iranian duo has to vie with Wu Lei (CHN), Takashi Inui (JPN), Paulino Alc\u00e1ntara (PHI) and John Aloisi (AUS) to be named as the Asia\u2019s Greatest Player.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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