Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht

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Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht
Personal information
Full name Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht
Date of birth June 30, 1980 (age 26)
Place of birth Mashhad, Iran
Position Midfield
Club information
Current club Persepolis FC
Number 10
Youth clubs
 ?-1999 Abu Moslem
Professional clubs*
Years Club Apps (goals)
1999-2005
2005
2005-2006
2006-present
Esteghlal FC
Al Wasl FC
Esteghlal FC
Persepolis FC
 ? (?)
? (?)
11 (1)
11 (3)
National team**
2000-present Iran 61 (12)

* Professional club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 2 December 2006.
** National team caps and goals correct
as of 15 November 2006.

Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht (Persian: علیرضا واحدی نیکبخت‎ ​, born June 30, 1980 in Mashhad) is an Iranian professional football player. He is an energetic left midfielder, currently a member of Persepolis FC and Iran national football team.

[edit] Club career

Starting out in Abu Moslem and then being transferred to Esteghlal, he improved in a short period of time. His excellent performance for his club eventually lead to his inclusion in the national squad.

He has experience with UAE club Al Wasl FC, and has had trials with Atlético Madrid and Fenerbahçe. He had signed on with Fenerbahçe in 2004 and had even practised with the team getting ready for the upcoming season in the Turkish league, but was kicked-out after an incidient with the coach.

Nikbakht was instrumental in helping Esteghlal grab the 2005-2006 Iranian Premier League championship with an electrifying display in the win over Bargh Shiraz. The win resulted in Esteghlal (59 points) edging Pas (58 points) for the IPL championship.

In June 2006 he singed a contract with Esteghlal's fierce rival, Persepolis FC.

[edit] International career

He made his first appearance for Iran in a World Cup qualifying game against Guam in Tabriz in December 2000. He scored on his debut.

Nikbakht's performance in the national squad was instrumental in Iran's progress to the next WC qualifying round. However, his disciplinary problems has created difficulties for the national team coaches and he is often viewed as a primadonna. Nonetheless, his darting runs on the flanks and his pace continues to be a great asset for his team, and most fans won't forget his winning goal in a crucial World Cup 2006 qualifer against Jordan.

There had been rampant speculation that an in form Nikbaht would definitely make Branko Ivancovic's final 23 men list for the 2006 World Cup in Germany. Branko Ivancovic had himself alluded to this by stating that "I love Nikbaht" in an interview, but that his hiterhto out-of-form play was the major impediment for him reclaiming his spot in Team Melli. Many had tagged him as the saviour for Iran's left-back defensive complications as he is naturally left-footed, good physique, quick with his feet, a goal-getter and a workhorse. Unfortunately for him, an old injury caused him to be crossed of the main squad heading to Germany, and he was instead placed on the reserves list.

[edit] External links


Persepolis FC - Current Squad

2 Zarei | 3 Hajizadeh | 5 Caha | 6 Bagheri | 7 Parvin | 8 Badamaki | 10 Nikbakht | 11 Madanchi | 12 Fatemi | 13 Rezaei | 14 Khorsandi | 15 Mamani | 17 Ashoobi | 18 Nouri | 19 Hassan | 20 Seyed Abbasi | 21 Assadi | 22 Haghighi | 24 Rezaiyan | 25 Elong Elong | 26 Ghavidel | 30 Karimi | 31 Vaezi | 33 Oladi | Manager Denizli