Farhad Majidi Explained

Farhad Majidi
Fullname:Farhad Majidi[1]
Birth Date:3 June 1976
Birth Place:Tehran, Iran
Position:Attacking midfielder, striker
Youthclubs1:Parchin Industries
Youthclubs2:Keshavarz
Youthclubs3:Bahman
Years1:1995–1997
Clubs1:Bahman
Years2:1997–2000
Clubs2:Esteghlal
Years3:2000
Clubs3:Rapid Wien (loan)
Caps3:12
Goals3:2
Years5:2000–2006
Clubs5:Al-Wasl Dubai
Goals5:68
Years6:2003
Clubs6:Al-Ain (loan)
Caps6:11
Goals6:1
Years7:2006
Clubs7:Al-Ahli (loan)
Goals7:6
Years8:2006–2007
Clubs8:Al-Nasr Dubai
Caps8:11
Goals8:4
Years9:2007
Clubs9:Al-Ahli Dubai (loan)
Caps9:8
Goals9:2
Years10:2007–2011
Clubs10:Esteghlal
Caps10:138
Goals10:58
Years11:2011–2012
Clubs11:Al Gharrafa
Caps11:13
Goals11:7
Years12:2012–2013
Clubs12:Esteghlal
Caps12:21
Goals12:9
Nationalyears1:1996–2011
Nationalteam1:Iran
Nationalcaps1:45
Nationalgoals1:10
Manageryears1:2018–2019
Managerclubs1:Espanyol-U16 (assistant)[2]
Manageryears2:2018–2019
Managerclubs2:Esteghlal (assistant)
Manageryears3:2019
Managerclubs3:Esteghlal (interim)
Manageryears4:2019
Managerclubs4:Iran U23
Manageryears5:2019–2020
Managerclubs5:Esteghlal
Manageryears6:2021–2022
Managerclubs6:Esteghlal
Manageryears7:2022–2024
Managerclubs7:Al-Ittihad Kalba

Farhad Majidi (Persian: فرهاد مجیدی; born 3 June 1976) is an Iranian football coach and former player who most recently managed Al-Ittihad Kalba.

He mostly played as attacking midfielder for Esteghlal when he was a football player. He scored 2 important goal for AlAin at 2002–03 AFC Champions League[3] Semi-Final and Final match; started his career at Bahman club and also played in Austrian, Emirati and Qatari clubs. He was a member of Iran national football team from 1996 to 2011 and played 45 games for the national team. In 2010, he was nominated for the Asian Footballer of the Year award which finished second in voting. Majidi is especially popular among fans for scoring the winning goals in Tehran Derby match. His fans have given him the title of "King Farhad".

Club career

Having played for Esteghlal Tehran for several seasons, Majidi's performance attracted Rapid Vienna to recruit him for one season. However, the offer for a permanent transfer to Austria was not accepted by the Austrians, and they released Majidi who joined Al-Wasl in the UAE.

In the UAE League and in combination with his compatriot Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht, Majidi scored a handful of goals and topped the league chart with Al Wasl. Majidi was unlucky with injuries and was out of action for quite a few matches. One of the highlights of Majidi's career was his short loan to Al-Ain. Majidi was the star of the 2002–03 AFC Champions League semi-final game against Dalian Shide. His goal helped Al Ain to reach the AFC Champions League final match, eventually winning the trophy for the first time in the club's history.

All together in the five years Majidi played for Al Wasl FC, he scored over 100 goals. He left Al Wasl in 2006, joining another UAE club, Al-Nasr.

On 10 February 2007, Majidi signed a contract until the end of the season with Al-Ahli. At the end of the season, Majidi signed a season-long contract with Esteghlal tehran. He extended his contract with Esteghlal tehran for two more season and he was mostly used as the attacking midfielder in 2008–09 season which ended up in winning the league. He had a very good season in 2009–10 season where he was the top scorer of the team and one of the top scorers of ACL.

On 21 December 2011, Majidi left Esteghlal due to personal problems and joined the Qatari side Al Gharrafa.[4] He played until the end of the season at Al Gharafa and his contract was expired on 1 July 2012. Majidi announced his retirement from football on 28 September 2012 after Esteghlal refused to offer him a contract extension.[5] [6] but upon request of Esteghlal fans and management, he later withdrew his decision and rejoined the team with an 18-months contract on 18 December 2012.[7] He then won the league title with the team and scored six goals. Finally, Majidi retired for the second time as a football player on 29 October 2013 after Esteghlal was unable to qualified to the finals of the 2013 AFC Champions League.

International career

He made his debut for Iran national football team in December 1996 in the 1996 Asian Cup match against Saudi Arabia. He was occasionally getting called up but never became a regular starter till the arrival of Branko Ivankovic where he was experiencing the top of his football. He was mostly benched by Ivankovic because of Ali Daei and Arash Borhani and decided to leave Team Melli camp in 2004 just before the 2004 AFC Asian Cup where Iran lost the 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Jordan in Tehran and he was benched for the whole match. Before the 2006 FIFA World Cup, he was called for a few friendlies but could not break it through to the tournament. Majidi was invited by Amir Ghalenoei and Afshin Ghotbi in 2006 and 2009 for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification and 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification for a couple of matches and was used as the substitute. He was called for few friendlies three months before 2011 AFC Asian Cup but decided to announce his retirement. Majidi was again invited on 23 August 2011 by Carlos Queiroz. He was the oldest player in the Iran national team since he had been a member of the team since 1996, however Majidi does not have many international caps. Farhad Majidi and the Persepolis captain, Ali Karimi, were considered two of the fans' favorite players during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification. On 27 September 2011, Majidi announced his retirement from national playing.[8]

Club statistics

Club performanceLeagueCupContinentalTotal
Season Club 50 LeagueApps 20 GoalsApps 10 GoalsApps 15 GoalsApps 13 Goals
IranLeagueHazfi CupAsiaTotal
1995–96BahmanAzadegan Leaguecolspan=8
1996–97colspan=8
Total7[9]
1997–98EsteghlalAzadegan Leaguecolspan=8 rowspan=3
1998–99
1999–00
2000–01colspan=6 6
AustriaLeagueAustrian CupEuropeTotal
1999–00Rapid Wien (loan)Bundesliga1220000122
United Arab EmiratesLeaguePresident's CupAsiaTotal
2000–01Al WaslUAE Pro League14colspan=2
2001–021125
2002–0312618
2003–0414rowspan=2 colspan=2
2004–0514
2005–063⩾4⩾7
Total68108
2002–03Al Ain (loan)UAE Pro League4141
2005–06Al Ahli (loan)UAE Pro League6colspan=2
2006–07Al NasrUAE Pro League1124
2006–07Al Ahli (loan)UAE Pro League81colspan=2
IranLeagueHazfi CupAsiaTotal
2007–08EsteghlalPersian Gulf League22762289
2008–092332150304
2009–10301111653717
2010–11261021653416
2011–121692000189
QatarLeagueEmir of Qatar CupAsiaTotal
2011–12Al-GharafaQatar Stars League1373150218
IranLeagueHazfi CupAsiaTotal
2012–13EsteghlalPersian Gulf League11310103226
2013–141040000104
TotalIran
Austria1220000122
United Arab Emirates
Qatar
Career total
SeasonTeamAssists
07–08Esteghlal2
08–09Esteghlal3
09–10Esteghlal2
10–11Esteghlal5
11–12Esteghlal9
11–12Al-Gharafa5
12–13Esteghlal1
13–14Esteghlal1

International goals

Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first.

Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 4 June 19974–0 7–0 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
2 16 August 20002–1 2–1 Friendly
3 1 September 20001–0 1–5 Friendly
4 24 November 2000 1–0 19–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
5 24 November 2000 16–0 19–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 24 November 2000 18–0 19–0 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
7 17 November 2002 3–1 3–1 Friendly
8 15 August 2003 2–1 4–1 Friendly
9 26 September 2003 2–1 2–3 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification
10 21 June 2004 7–1 7–1 2004 WAFF Championship

Managerial statistics

TeamFromToRecord
GWDLGFGAGDWin %
Esteghlal (caretaker)29 April 20191 June 2019
Iran U2310 June 20196 October 2019
Esteghlal2 January 20205 September 2020
3 March 20211 June 2022
Kalba4 June 20222 March 2024
Total coaching for Esteghlal
Total

Honours

Player

Club

Esteghlal

1997–98, 2008–09, 2012–13

2007–08

Al-Ain

2002–03

Al-Ahli

2005–06

Al-Gharafa

2012

National

Iran

2004

Manager

Esteghlal

2021–22

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: فرهادمجیدی ا. Persianleague.com. 7 July 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20121001104326/http://www.persianleague.com/index.php/teams?id=103&view=player. 1 October 2012. dead.
  2. Web site: معرفی رسمی فرهاد مجیدی در سایت رسمی اسپانیول .
  3. Web site: 2022-10-01 . سوپر گل مجیدی در فینال آسیا +فیلم . 2023-01-10 . مشرق نیوز . fa.
  4. Web site: http://www.varzesh3.com/news.do?itemid=62619&title=%D9%85%D8%AC%D9%8A%D8%AF%D9%8A_%D8%A8%D9%87_%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%BA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%81%D9%87_%D9%82%D8%B7%D8%B1_%D9%BE%D9%8A%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%AA. fa:مجيدي به الغرافه قطر پيوست. fa . Varzesh3.com.
  5. Web site: Ex-Esteghlal Captain Farhad Majidi Retires . Kabir News . 28 September 2012 . 1 October 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121001040712/http://kabirnews.com/ex-esteghlal-captain-farhad-majidi-retires/3312/ . dead .
  6. Web site: Majidi announced his retirement from football.
  7. Web site: Majidi returns to Esteghlal. 17 December 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20130130212919/http://football.ir/news/iran/1391/09/majidi-esteghlal-1130045.html. 30 January 2013. dead.
  8. Web site: http://www.goal.com/iran/news/1825/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/2011/09/27/2684880/%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%87-%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AC%DB%8C%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AE%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B8%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%85-%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C-%D9%86%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%85-%DA%A9%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%87. fa:نامه فرهاد مجیدی برای خداحافظی از تیم ملی. Goal . fa.
  9. Web site: گزارش ویژه: نگاهی به دوران حرفه ای فرهاد مجیدی . Goal . 5 April 2020. 28 September 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20131222052849/http://www.goal.com/iran/news/1825/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/2012/09/28/3409686/%DA%AF%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B4-%D9%88%DB%8C%DA%98%D9%87-%D9%86%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%81%D9%87-%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%81%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D9%85%D8%AC%DB%8C%D8%AF%DB%8C. 22 December 2013. fa.