Karim Ansarifard

Karim Ansarifard
Personal information
Full name Karim Ansarifard
Date of birth 3 April 1990 (1990-04-03) (age 21)[1]
Place of birth Ardabil, Iran[1]
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Playing position Centre Forward[1]
Club information
Current club Saipa
Number 10
Youth career
2000–2005 Inter Campus[1]
2005–2006 Zob Ahan Ardabil[1]
2006–2007 Saipa[1]
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2007– Saipa 108 (42)
National team‡
2005–2006 Iran U-17 3 (0)
2007–2008 Iran U-20 7 (5)
2009–2011 Iran U-23 13 (5)
2009– Iran 25 (7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 19 December 2011.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 11 November 2011

Karim Ansarifard (Persian: کریم انصاری‌فرد; born 3 April 1990) is an Iranian footballer who plays for Saipa in Iran Pro League as a Striker and is part of the Iran national football team .[1] His playing style and ability have drawn comparisons to Ali Daei who scouted him and he was declared as Daei's "successor".[1]

World Soccer selected Ansarifard as one of best young talents in the world alongside Javier Hernandez and Jack Wilshere.[2] Goal.com also chose him as one of Hot 100 young football players in the world.[3]

Contents

Club career

Saipa

During one of Saipa's training camps in Ardabil, Karim's home city, he was taken on a training trial by them and was accepted into the clubs youth academy and reserves.[1]

In the 2007 season Saipa the Iranian reigning champions encountered problems in scoring after the departure of Mohsen Khalili and retirement of then-coach Ali Daei. After 12 weeks Ali Daei moved Ansarifard to the first team from the reserves and the young starlet answered the coach’s faith with good games including the only goal against a strong Sepahan team.[4]

Ansarifard scored 13 goals during the 2009/2010 season. After strong performances, Karim became fast one of the best players of Saipa and targeted by European clubs such as Borussia Dortmund.[5] later, FC Steaua Bucureşti made a €200,000 bid for a half season loan.[6] In May 2011, it was suggested that Everton F.C. are interested in signing Ansarifard.[7] later Rubin Kazan wants to sign Ansarifard.[8]

Despite major interest from European clubs, Conscription problems made it hard for Ansarifard to sign a contract with a European club. So Ansarifard renewed his contract with Saipa for another 2 years on 14 July 2011 being forced to turn down European clubs.

Club Career Statistics

Last update: 19 December 2011

Club performance League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Iran League Hazfi Cup Asia Total
2007-08 Saipa Pro League 18 1 0 0 5 1 23 2
2008-09 14 1 1 0 - - 15 1
2009-10 31 13 1 0 - - 32 13
2010-11 29 20 1 0 - - 30 20
2011-12 15 8 1 0 - - 16 8
Career total 108 41 4 0 5 1 117 42

International career

He was Invited to Iran national under-17 football team in 2005.[9] In 2006 AFC U-17 Championship, he worn number 14 and was a benchwarmer. Ansarifard played as a substitute in two matches against Tajikistan[10] and Yemen.[11]

Senior national football team career

Karim Ansarifard made his debut against Iceland in November 2009 under Afshin Ghotbi and scored his first international goal and the only goal of the game. He was given the legendary number 10 previously worn by Ali Daei and scored on 15 January 2011 his 3rd international goal against North Korea, so Ansarifard became Iran's youngest ever goalscorer in the AFC Asian Cup. In 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, Ansarifard scored a double against Maldives at Azadi Stadium.[12] . On 6 September Ansarifard missed 2 great goal chances against Qatar and commentator of the match Mazdak Mirzaei called him fifth column.Later Saipa published a statement and criticized Mazdak Mirzaei.[13]

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 10 November 2009 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  Iceland 1-0 1-0 Friendly
2 30 December 2009 Qatar SC Stadium, Doha  Mali 1-0 1-2 Friendly
3 15 January 2011 Qatar SC Stadium, Doha  North Korea 1-0 1-0 Asian Cup 2011
4 23 July 2011 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  Maldives 1-0 4-0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 23 July 2011 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  Maldives 2-0 4-0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 5 October 2011 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  Palestine 3-0 7-0 Friendly
7 11 October 2011 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  Bahrain 5-0 6-0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j (Persian) "With Karim Ansarifard, The Young Striker of Saipa: I'll Proof that I'm not a Spark.". Jaam-e Jam Newspaper. http://www.jamejamonline.ir/papertext.aspx?newsnum=100920311429. Retrieved June 2, 2011. 
  2. ^ http://www.saipaonline.com/view-7298.html
  3. ^ http://www.goal.com/en/news/3376/goalcom-youth-football/2011/01/01/2284652/goalcom-hot-100-the-young-stars-to-look-out-for-in-2011
  4. ^ Team Melli
  5. ^ Dortmund keen on signing Iran's Ansarifard
  6. ^ Steaua Bucharest eyes Iranian Karim Ansarifard
  7. ^ The Search for a new No.9
  8. ^ "تلاش انصاری فرد برای پیوستن به روبین کازان (سند)" (in persian). Goal.com. http://www.goal.com/iran/news/1825/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/2011/09/14/2665648/%D8%AA%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B5%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A8%DB%8C%D9%86-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B2%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%AF. Retrieved 26 Septeember 2011. 
  9. ^ Aftab
  10. ^ Match Summary
  11. ^ Match Summary
  12. ^ http://www.presstv.ir/detail/190464.html
  13. ^ "اعتراض باشگاه سایپا به گزارش مزدک میرزایی: جوان چالاک را ستون پنجم حریف خواند!" (in persian). Goal.com. http://www.goal.com/iran/news/1825/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/2011/09/07/2655138/%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B6-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%B3%D8%A7%DB%8C%D9%BE%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D9%87-%DA%AF%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B4-%D9%85%D8%B2%D8%AF%DA%A9-%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%AC%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86-%DA%86%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A7%DA%A9-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%88%D9%86. Retrieved 26 September 2011. 

External links

1 Rahmati • 2 Heydari • 3 Talebi • 4 Hosseini • 5 Aghili • 6 Nekounam • 7 Rezaei • 8 Shojaei • 9 Khalatbari • 10 Ansarifard • 11 Hajsafi • 12 Mirzapour • 13 Bengar • 14 Teymourian • 15 Hadadifar • 16 Norouzi • 17 M. Nouri • 18 P. Nouri • 19 Gholami • 20 Nosrati • 21 Afshin • 22 Gordan • 23 Mobali • Coach: Ghotbi
Saipa F.C. – current squad