Alireza Jahanbakhsh

Alireza Jahanbakhsh
Personal information
Full nameAlireza Jahanbakhsh Jirandeh[1]
Date of birth11 August 1993[1]
Place of birthJirandeh, Gilan Province, Iran[2]
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[3]
Playing positionWinger[1]
Club information
Current team
NEC
Number7
Youth career
2005–2007Payam Alborz Qazvin[1]
2007–2008Persian Qazvin[1]
2008–2010Damash Gilan[1]
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2010–2011Damash Tehran12(0)
2011–2013Damash Gilan42(10)
2013–NEC55(17)
National team‡
2010–2013Iran U2017(11)
2011–Iran U236(1)
2013–Iran15(1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 3 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 31 March 2015

Alireza Jahanbakhsh (Persian: علیرضا جهانبخش‎, born 11 August 1993) is an Iranian professional footballer who plays for Dutch club NEC and the Iranian national team as a right and left winger. He represented Iran at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

Jahanbakhsh also represented Iran at the U20 and U23 levels.

Early life

Alireza Jahanbakhsh was born on 11 August 1993 in Jirandeh, Gilan Province. When he was aged two his family left Gilan and he spent his childhood in Qazvin.

Club career

Damash

Jahanbakhsh played most of his youth in Payam Alborz Qazvin and Persian Qazvin before joining the youth academy of Damash Gilan in 2008. Jahanbaksh started his career in 2010 with Damash Tehran an affiliate of Damash Gilan in the 2nd Division. In 2011 Alireza returned to Gilan and at the age of 17 in 2011, Jahanbakhsh played his first game for Damash Gilan in the Iran Pro League against Mes Kerman as one of Damash's youngest ever players.[4][5] Alireza scored his first goal on 15 January 2012 in a 1–0 victory against Fajr Sepasi. In 42 league appearances with Damash, he scored 10 goals.

NEC

2013–14 season

On 26 May 2013, Jahanbakhsh reached a verbal agreement with Dutch Eredivisie outfit NEC for a three-year deal. This deal was subject to a medical examination and obtaining a visa and work permit.[6][7] He officially joined the club on 1 July 2013 and made his debut against RKC Waalwijk. He scored his first goal in an 8–0 win over Harkemase Boys in the KNVB Cup.[8] On 1 December 2013, Jahanbakhsh scored two goals and assisted the other in a 3–2 league match win over AZ Alkmaar.[9][10] On 22 December, he scored and assisted at FC Groningen while providing a secondary assist on 15 February 2014 against RKC Waalwijk. On 22 March, when NEC were down 2–0 at halftime, Jahanbakhsh came on as a substitute after the half and provided an assist to Michael Higdon in their 2–2 draw at Heerenveen.[11]

On the final day of the 2013–14 season, Jahanbakhsh scored two late goals against Ajax to save NEC from automatic relegation, instead securing a relegation playoff spot.[12][13][14] Alireza was originally voted the Eredivisie's greatest talent of the season before becoming runner-up to Memphis Depay.[15][16]

2014–15 season

On the opening day of the 2014–15 Jupiler League, Jahanbakhsh scored a goal in a 3–1 win against FC Eindhoven.[17] On 29 August, he scored two goals and provided two assists in a 4–1 win at Helmond Sport.[18] On 20 September, he scored against FC Emmen to help bring NEC to the top of the league table.[19] Three days later, on 23 September, AJ scored a free kick in extra time and converted a penalty in their win against Ajax II at Amsterdam during the second round of the 2014–15 Dutch Cup.[20][21] On 3 October, he scored a goal and provided an assist in a 2–1 win against Almere City FC to send NEC to the Eredivisie play-offs as quarter-season league champions.[22][23] On 17 October 2014, Jahanbakhsh was named the Best Player of the First Period of the 2014–15 Jupiler League.[24]

On 28 November, he opened the scoring with a volley and provided two assists in a 5–1 win over Jong Twente.[25][26] On 1 February 2015, in his first game upon his return from the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, he scored a bicycle kick and was named man of the match in the 3–1 win over Helmond Sport.[27][28] On 13 February, he scored a goal and provided two assists in a 3–2 win over FC Emmen with another goal against Achilles '29 days later to bring his tally to 4 goals in 5 consecutive matches after the Asian Cup.[29][30]

After an excellent showing in the 2014–15 season with NEC, Alireza was linked with a move to several clubs, namely Celtic, Standard Liege, Club Brugge, Anderlecht and FC Twente.[31][32][33][34] On 3 April 2015, NEC became champions of the Jupiler League.[35]

International career

Jahanbakhsh playing for Iran in a friendly match against Montenegro, 26 May 2014

Under-20

Jahanbakhsh was part of the squad that played at the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship in China, playing in two games. Being only 16 at the start of the championships in 2010, he continued at the same age group, captaining the national under-20 team for their successful 2012 AFC U-19 Championship qualification by scoring 5 goals in four appearances. At the championships, he added two more to his tally against the United Arab Emirates and South Korea.[36]

Under-23

Jahanbakhsh was called into Iran's Olympic qualifiers in March 2015 and was named team captain.[37] With the presence of Jahanbakhsh the under-23 team qualified to the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship in Qatar.

Senior team

On 5 October 2013, Jahanbakhsh was called up to Team Melli in a 2015 Asian Cup qualifier against Thailand by manager Carlos Queiroz, and he served his first cap as a substitute in the 82nd minute.[38][39] His first national team goal came in his second game on 15 November in a 3–0 win at Thailand.[40] On 1 June 2014, he was called into Iran's 2014 FIFA World Cup squad by Carlos Queiroz.[41] He played in all three matches against Nigeria, Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was called into Iran's 2015 AFC Asian Cup squad on 30 December 2014 by Queiroz.[42]

Statistics

Club career statistics

As of 7 April 2015[43]
Club performance League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists Apps Goals Assists
Iran League Hazfi Cup Asia Total
2010–11 Damash Tehran Division 21207000–––1207
2011–12Damash GilanPro League1620201–––1821
2012–132685413–––3098
Netherlands League KNVB Cup Europe Total
2013–14NEC Eredivisie2755410–––33165
2014–15 Eerste Divisie281218[44]311–––311319
Total Iran 541012614–––601116
Netherlands 551723721–––641924
Career total 109273513350001243040

1 includes two matches in 2013–14 Eredivisie play-offs.

International

Appearances

International statistics
Team Year Apps Goals
Iran 2013 3 1
2014 8 0
2015 4 0
Total 15 1

Under-20

Under-23

Senior

Honours

Club

NEC

Individual

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 Alireza Jahanbakhsh at Navad
  2. ↑ "Alireza Jahanbakhsh interview July 14 2014". YouTube.com. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  3. ↑ "علیرضا جهانبخش". Ffiri.ir. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  4. ↑ "Iranian Premier League Stats: 2011-2012 Season". Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  5. ↑ Saleh Doosti (25 February 2014). "Alireza Jahanbakhsh Thrilled After Being Called Into Iran Squad | Angle Chronicle - Part 240". Angle Chronicle. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  6. ↑ "NEC bereikt mondelinge overeenkomst met Iraniër Jahanbakhsh". Nec-nijmegen.nl. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  7. ↑ "Alireza Jahanbakhsh joins the Dutch premier league (Eredivisie) VIDEO+PHOTO". Persianleague.com. 31 May 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  8. ↑ "Jahanbakhsh scores maiden goal in the Netherlands [VIDEO]". Persianfootball.com. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  9. ↑ "NEC Nijmegen - AZ Alkmaar | • JAHANBAKHSH • - 2 Goals & 1 Assist". YouTube. 1 December 2013. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  10. ↑ "Alireza Jahanbakhsh scores a brace, assists one [VIDEO]". Persianfootball.com. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  11. ↑ "sc Heerenveen v NEC | Result | Eredivisie 2013-2014 - Yahoo Eurosport UK". Uk.eurosport.yahoo.com. 22 March 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  12. ↑ "Eredivisie Wrap: Roda down despite victory, PSV gain fourth". Soccerway. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  13. ↑ "Eredivisie: NEC Nijmegen beat Ajax to survive, Roda relegated | Football News". Sky Sports. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  14. ↑ "NEC face play-off, Roda relegated". FIFA.com. 5 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "Grootste talent 2013-2014". Bestevoetballers.nl. 1 April 2012. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  16. ↑ "Jahanbakhsh voted best young talent in the Netherlands.". TeamMelli. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  17. ↑ "Jahanbakhsh scores in NEC’s Jupiler League opener". Persianfootball.com. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  18. ↑ http://www.gelderlander.nl/algemeen/sport/nec-heeft-alles-weer-op-een-rijtje-in-helmond-1.4509756
  19. ↑ http://www.omroepgelderland.nl/web/nieuws-1/2069969/simpele-zege-nec-op-zwak-emmen-40.htm#.VB5WUPldWSo
  20. ↑ NEC komt met schrik vrij bij amateurs Ajax
  21. ↑ YouTube
  22. ↑ "Eerste Bronzen Stier naar Nijmegen" (in Dutch). JupilerLeague.nl. 3 October 2014. Retrieved 3 October 2014.
  23. ↑ http://www.persianfootball.com/news/2014/10/04/jahanbahksh-leads-nec-to-promotion-playoff/
  24. ↑ 24.0 24.1 "Jahanbakhsh beste speler Jupiler League" (in Dutch). elfvoetbal.nl. 18 October 2014.
  25. ↑ http://www.nec-nijmegen.nl/seizoen/wedstrijden/101188_n-e-c-vs-jong-twente
  26. ↑ YouTube
  27. ↑ N.E.C. wint met 3-1 thuis van Helmond Sport
  28. ↑ N.E.C. TV: Reacties Ruud Brood en Alireza Jahanbakhsh na N.E.C.-Helmond Sport
  29. ↑ N.E.C. sleept overwinning uit het vuur in Emmen
  30. ↑ Jahanbakhsh shines, Dejagah, Ezatolahi score
  31. ↑ http://www.voetbalnieuws.be/news/175695/Standard,_Club_Brugge_en_Anderlecht_krijgen_stevige_concurrentie#ixzz3W5APPTVa
  32. ↑ http://www.voetbalzone.nl/doc.asp?uid=241259
  33. ↑ http://www.soccernews.nl/news/310339/FC_Twente_moet_twee_miljoen_ophoesten_voor_smaakmaker_NEC#ixzz3VqR1o19d
  34. ↑ http://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/latest/celtic-linked-with-iranian-ace-alireza-jahanbakhsh-1-3733884
  35. ↑ http://www.jupilerleague.nl/nieuws/1214-nec-binnen-jaar-terug-in-eredivisie
  36. ↑ "World Cup Scout | Football News". Sky Sports. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  37. ↑ Azmoun and Jahanbakhsh Invited to Olympic Football Team
  38. ↑ "Queiroz announced Team Melli players for Thailand match". Varzesh3.com. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  39. ↑ "Jahanbakhsh invited to the Iran national team". Goal.com. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  40. ↑ "Match: Thailand v Iran – AFC Asian Cup Qualifiers". ESPN FC. 15 November 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2014.
  41. ↑ "Queiroz trims Iran squad to 24". FIFA.com. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  42. ↑ "Queiroz Names Team Melli Squad". afcasiancup.com. 30 December 2014.
  43. ↑ "Whoscored.com". whoscored.com. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
  44. ↑

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