Khodadad Azizi
Khodadad Azizi (Persian: خداداد عزیزی, born 22 June 1971 in Fariman, Iran) is an Iranian retired professional football striker and a current coach.
International career
Azizi represented Iran at the 1996 Asian cup, 1998 FIFA World Cup, and the 2000 Asian Cup. He was named Asian Player of the Year in 1996, as well as the Asian Cup Most Valuable Player in the 1996 Asian Cup.
Azizi is best remembered for scoring the equaliser against Australia in the second leg World Cup Qualifier in November 1997, sending Iran into France 98.
Club career
After playing for a few clubs in Iran and following his brilliant performance in Asia, he moved to Germany in 1997 to play for 1. FC Köln. Azizi, along with his Iranian national team-mates Ali Daei and Karim Bagheri, were among the first Iranians to enter German Bundesliga.
Having played for three seasons in 1. FC Köln, he signed a contract with California based club, San Jose Earthquakes. In 2001, Khodadad Azizi was transferred to the UAE club, Al Nasr, before returning to Iran and joining Pas Tehran.
In 2005, he signed for Admira Wacker in Austrian Bundesliga, but due to problems with the coach and his staff, he left the team without playing a single minute in an official game. He returned to Iran soon after and signed for lower division club, Oghab F.C.. His stay there was not very lengthy as he signed for Rah Ahan F.C. in late 2005.
Club career statistics
Retirement
After the 2005–06 season, Azizi retired from club and international football. He finished his international career with 47 caps and 11 goals. Following his retirement, Azizi was employed by his hometown club, F.C. Aboomoslem, as a club chairman advisor.[2] Azizi also co-owns a sports clothing label called Majid with financial backing from Abdol Majid Saedifar who put a $400,000 into the company. In September 2011, Khabaronline.ir reported Azizi to be the owner of Siah Jamegaan of Khorasaan, a spin off of F.C. Aboomoslem.[3]
Coaching career
In December 2006, Azizi was appointed the manager of F.C. Aboomoslem, a Mashhad based football club that he had started his lustrous career with in the early 90's. He was replaced by Parviz Mazloumi in October 2007. He was head coach of Payam Khorasan and Esteghlal Ahvaz for a short time. In 2011, he was appointed as head coach of Aboomoslem for a second time.
References
- ^ "Event /مصاحبه با فوتبالیست محبوب ایران: خداداد عزیزی" (in Persian). www.irani.at. http://www.irani.at/html/event/event_interview_khodadad_aziz_farsi.php. Retrieved 11 July 2006.
- ^ "قلعه نويى مربى شجاعى است – عزيزى: به فكر يك مربى خارجى هم باشيم" (in Persian). Iran Varzeshi Newspaper. Archived from the original on 21 July 2006. http://web.archive.org/web/20060721001017/http://www.iran-varzeshi.com/1385/850428/html/footbal3.htm#s195276. Retrieved 18 July 2006.
- ^ "پرسپولیس تیم خداداد را برد" (in Persian). http://www.khabaronline.ir/news-170871.aspx.
External links
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This Award was first awarded in 1984, 8th edition of the tournament. |
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[1]
| Persondata |
| Name |
Azizi, Khodadad |
| Alternative names |
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| Short description |
footballer |
| Date of birth |
22 June 1971 |
| Place of birth |
Fariman, Iran |
| Date of death |
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| Place of death |
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