Mehrdad Pooladi

Mehrdad Pooladi
Personal information
Full nameMehrdad Pooladi
Date of birthFebruary 26, 1987
Place of birthKaraj, Iran
Height1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing positionLeft back, Midfielder
Club information
Current team
Al-Shahania
Number88
Youth career
2002–2006Paykan
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2006–2007Paykan18(2)
2007–2009Esteghlal37(1)
2009–2010Tractor Sazi30(6)
2010–2012Mes41(3)
2012Persepolis (loan)0(0)
2012–2014Persepolis23(0)
2014–Al-Shahania20(2)
National team
2005–2006Iran U–208(0)
2006–2007Iran U–235(0)
2011–Iran28(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 17 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 23 January 2015

Mehrdad Pooladi (Persian: مهرداد پولادی, born February 26, 1987) is an Iranian footballer who currently plays for Al-Shahania in the Qatar Stars League. He is also an Iranian international, where he usually plays as a left back.

Pooladi is a utility player, formerly playing as a forward and attacking midfielder in his youth and playing regularly as a full back, defensive midfielder and winger.[1][2][3]

Club career

Esteghlal

In August 2007, he moved from Paykan to Esteghlal as one of the number of young players that were chosen by coach Naser Hejazi. He scored his only goal in Estghlal's 2–1 away at Moghavemat Sepasi. After Naser Hejazi was sacked and replaced with Firouz Karimi, he fell down in the pecking order and eventually left Esteghlal two years after joining the team.

Tractor Sazi

Pooladi joined Tractor Sazi for the 2008–09 season where he played only for a single season. In Tabriz he managed to regain his form playing mostly as a central midfielder, scoring six goals in the season. The most note worthy was a 40 yard free-kick against his former team Esteghlal in the Azadi Stadium.

Mes Kerman

He transferred to Mes Kerman and played for the team for a year and a half, again mostly as a midfielder. In the mid-season of 2011–12, he was not included in Miroslav Blažević's squad and left the team.

Persepolis

In January 2012 he moved to Persepolis, Pooladi could not play in 2011–12 season as he had missed the transfer deadline day. He was however able to register for the 2012 AFC Champions League playing in 7 games and scoring a goal against Al-Shabab from a free-kick in a 3–1 win. He extended his contract with Persepolis for two years, keeping him in the team until 2014.[4] He has established himself as a fan favorite due to the high intensity at which he plays the game. Since he joined Persepolis he played the majority of the games as a left back, occasionally slotting in as a defensive midfielder and left wing. After a good showing in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, he was monitored by Premier League clubs such as Southampton, Hull City and Swansea City.[5] On 17 September 2014 the FFIRI disciplinary committee announced a sentence on his contract with Persepolis for the forthcoming 2014–15 season due to conscription issues. According to this sentence, the contract is cancelled after the end of the 2013–14 season (in May 2014), therefore he become a free agent and was free to choose his club.[6][7]

Al-Shahania

Pooladi officially joined coach Miguel Ángel Lotina's Qatari side Al-Shahania with a one-year contract after IFF's rule that he is a free agent due to conscription issues.[8] On 5 December 2014, he provided an assist to Masoud Shojaei.[9]

Club career statistics

As of 21 February 2014.
Club Division Season League Hazfi Cup Asia Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Paykan Pro League 2006–07 18220202
Esteghlal 2007–08 28110291
2008–09 902000110
Tractor Sazi 2009–10 30600306
Mes 2010–11 28010290
2011–12 13310143
Persepolis 7171
2012–13 20030230
2013–14 301040
Career Totals 149 12 11 0 7 1 167 13
SeasonTeamAssists
06–07Paykan3
07–08Esteghlal1
08–091
09–10Tractor Sazi4
10–11Mes6
11–121
Persepolis0
12–131
13–140

International career

Pooladi in 2014

Pooladi played all three games for Iran U20 at 2006 AFC Youth Championship, as a product of Paykan Tehran.[10][11][12] He also made five appearances in 2005 in Valentin A.Granatkin Memorial - International Youth Tournament for Iran U20.[13] He was also a member of Iran U-23, participating in the 2006 Asian Games.

He started his senior international career under Carlos Queiroz in July 2011 against Madagascar. Queiroz moved Pooladi to the left back position a position that has been problematic for Iran since the retirement of Mehrdad Minavand and Pooladi has taken the opportunity and established himself as first choice left back ever since.

2014 FIFA World Cup

On 1 June 2014, he was called into Iran's 2014 FIFA World Cup squad by Carlos Queiroz.[14] Pooladi was named as the second best-ranked player in the first week of the tournament behind Thomas Müller by FIFA, after receiving 9.7 points in the opening match against Nigeria.[15] He also showed a good performance in the next match against Argentina. He was called into Iran's 2015 AFC Asian Cup squad on 30 December 2014 by Carlos Queiroz.[16]

2015 Asian Cup

On 23 January 2015, he received a controversial red card in the quarter-final match of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup against Iraq by referee Ben Williams.[17][18]

Honours

Esteghlal
Persepolis

References

External links


Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mehrdad Pooladi.