Shojae Khalilzadeh Explained

Shoja Khalilzadeh
Fullname:Shojae Khalilzadeh[1]
Birth Date:14 May 1989
Birth Place:Bahnemir, Mazandaran, Iran
Height:1.77 m
Position:Centre-back
Currentclub:Tractor
Clubnumber:3
Youthyears1:2005–2007
Youthclubs1:Shahrdari Amirkola
Youthyears2:2007–2008
Youthclubs2:Khoshnoush Sari
Years1:2008–2010
Clubs1:Mes Rafsanjan
Caps1:42
Goals1:1
Years2:2010–2013
Clubs2:Mes Kerman
Caps2:74
Goals2:2
Years3:2013–2017
Clubs3:Sepahan
Caps3:58
Goals3:0
Years4:2015–2016
Clubs4:Tractor (loan)
Caps4:22
Goals4:2
Years5:2017–2020
Clubs5:Persepolis
Caps5:75
Goals5:6
Years6:2020–2022
Clubs6:Al-Rayyan
Caps6:34
Goals6:4
Years7:2022–2023
Clubs7:Al Ahli
Caps7:18
Goals7:0
Years8:2023–
Clubs8:Tractor
Caps8:26
Goals8:2
Nationalyears1:2007–2009
Nationalteam1:Iran U20
Nationalyears2:2009–2011
Nationalteam2:Iran U23
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:2009–
Nationalteam3:Iran
Nationalcaps3:42
Nationalgoals3:2
Club-Update:1 June 2024
Nationalteam-Update:11 June 2024

Shojae Khalilzadeh (Persian: شجاع خلیل‌زاده; born 14 May 1989) is an Iranian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Persian Gulf Pro League club Tractor and Iran national team. He is known for his pace, artistic tackles and positional sense.[2]

Khalilzadeh starting his career in Kerman where he moved to two clubs, first joining Mes Rafsanjan and then signing with Mes Kerman in 2010. His performance earned him a transfer to Sepahan Isfahan in 2013 and spent four years with Talaei Pooshan, which included a successful loan spell with Tractor in Tabriz. In May 2017, Khalilzadeh joined Persepolis side that he helped turn into one of the strongest on the continent, before joining Qatari side Al-Rayyan in October 2020.

Club career

Early years in Mazandaran

At the age of 16, Khalilzadeh started playing football with local youth teams for three years.[3] [4] [5]

Mes Rafsanjan and Kerman

Khalilzadeh began his professional career with Mes Rafsanjan in 2008. He spent two seasons at Mes Rafsanjan in Azadegan League.[6] In late June 2010, Khalilzadeh joined Iran Pro League side Mes Kerman.[7] He made a debut for the club under coach Samad Marfavi in the league 2010–11 season. In his second season, under Croatian coach Miroslav Blažević, he reached with the team the semi-finals of the 2011–12 Hazfi Cup.[8] In June 2012, Khalilzadeh extended his contract for a third season a worth R800m. His performance did not go unnoticed, as Esteghlal, Persepolis and Sepahan teams showed interest in signing of the defender.[9]

Sepahan and Tractor

In late June 2013, Khalilzadeh was presented as a player of Isfahani club Sepahan on a four-year contract.[10] In his first season, under Croatian coach Zlatko Kranjčar, he formed a partnership in the heart of the Sepahan defensive with the captain Hadi Aghily.[11] [12] He helped the team to won of the 2014–15 Persian Gulf Pro League.

Khalilzadeh was loaned to Tractor to complete his mandatory military service. He was one of the best players under coach Amir Ghalenoei, the club reached the top of their group at the 2016 AFC Champions League, outperforming the Saudi giant Al-Hilal. He returned to Sepahan at the end of the loan spell in July 2016.[13]

Sepahan coach Abdollah Veisi talking about efforts to move Khalilzadeh to Persepolis in the 2016–17 season.[14]

Persepolis

On 6 May 2017, it was confirmed that Khalilzadeh would join the Persian Gulf Pro League champions Persepolis on a two-year contract to play under Croatian coach Branko Ivanković.[15] In his debut match in the league, he scored his first goal against Foolad Khuzestan.[16] He scored his second goal for Persepolis in the 2017 AFC Champions League quarter-finals match against Al Ahli. Persepolis reached the semi-final for the first time in its history before FIFA imposed sanctions on the team's top scorer and the club.[17] In his first season with the red half of Tehran, Persepolis, Khalilzadeh played 41 games and scored five goals.

The following year was the most successful in Persepolis history against all odds, the Reds finished runner-up in the 2018 AFC Champions League. Khalilzadeh was selected in two squads "Team of the Season" for his performance in the tournament.[18] [19]

Persepolis was scoreless with Al Ahli on Matchday Three 2019 AFC Champions League, when Khalilzadeh showed superb agility to adjust his body and acrobatically bicycle kick home the opening goal, which was named as the best goal of the 2019 AFC Champions League by the fans.[20] [21] He scored two goals in the competition but his team were eliminated of the group stage.

In the 2020 AFC Champions League, the last tournament before increasing the number of clubs to 40 teams, Khalilzadeh’s goal in the final minutes of the Al Taawoun match was a leap for the team after a faltering start in the tournament. In the Round of 16 against Al-Sadd, the role and interventions of Khalilzadeh in the game were more influential, before Persepolis scored the winning goal in the 89th minute.[22] [23] He was also "Player of the Week" at the AFC Champions League semi-final following his performance in his last match with the team against Al Nassr and help Persepolis to reach the final, where the east champion was determined on 13 December.

Khalilzadeh played a great role in winning three titles in the Iran Pro League and helped Persepolis to reach AFC Champions League final twice in three years.[24] [25] [26] [27] Since 2018, Khalilzadeh has been linked with a move to the Qatar Stars League and the Chinese Super League.[28] At the age of 31, before the start of the 2020–21 season, after not reaching an agreement to renew his contract,[29] he moved to Qatar. Khalilzadeh was reportedly chosen as one of the candidates for the 2020 Asian Footballer of the Year award before the award was confirmed to be cancelled in late December.[30] [31]

Al-Rayyan

On 25 October 2020, Al-Rayyan announced on the last day of the summer transfer window the signing of Khalilzadeh on a two-year contract a worth $700,000.[32] [33] It was his first career stop outside of his home country and became the second Iranian to play for Al-Rayyan since 1980s, after his former coach Ghasempour.[34] Under the coach Aguirre, he played a central defender, and Mercado moved to the right-back in the following games. He scored his first goal with a side volley shot in a 2–1 victory against Qatar SC on 12 January 2021.[35] The following week, Khalilzadeh scored his second goal with a counter-attack in a 3–0 win against Al-Wakrah.[36] As a defender and deep-lying playmaker behind the midfield,[37] he played 26 games and scored three goals. Al-Rayyan finished third in the league. In late October 2021, Khalilzadeh extended his contract with the club until 2023.[38] [39]

International career

Khalilzadeh was invited to Iran national team in 2012 by Carlos Queiroz. He made his debut for the Team Melli in a 6–1 victory against Tajikistan national team.[40]

After seven years of notable absence from the international side, during the time of Queiroz and Marc Wilmots,[41] [42] Khalilzadeh was call-up by new coach Dragan Skočić in 2020 for a friendlies against Uzbekistan and Bosnia and Herzegovina,[43] and to help in a difficult situation, after the failure in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup and two consecutive defeats from Bahrain and Iraq in the second round of qualifiers for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.[44] [45] [46] The Team Melli finished top of the group stage, where won all of his remaining four matches to qualify to 2023 AFC Asian Cup and the final round of the World Cup.[47] [42]

Style of play

Regarded as one of the most reliable a defenders in the AFC Champions League in high-pressure situations.[48] [49] [27] [50] He is known for his awareness, carrying the ball forward and also showed some impressive offensive ability.[51] [52] [53] [54] [55] He is highly regarded by the fans and coaches for his on-the-pitch bravery.[56] Khalilzadeh is the preferred defender for most coaches, especially the Croats Miroslav Blažević, Zlatko Kranjčar, Branko Ivanković and Dragan Skočić.[8] [14] [57] [58] [59]

Personal life

Khalilzadeh was born in the small village of Gālesh Kolā in Bahnemir District, Babolsar County, Mazandaran Province, to a family working in agriculture and fish farming on the Caspian Sea.[3] [9] [60]

Career statistics

Club

[61]

ClubSeasonLeagueCupAsiaOtherTotal
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps GoalsApps Goals
Mes RafsanjanDivision 12008–0920040240
2009–1022130251
Total42170491
Mes KermanPro League2010–1123010240
2011–1227230302
2012–1324010250
Total74250792
SepahanPro League2013–142601060330
2014–15900090
Tractor (loan)2015–162223071323
Sepahan2016–1723040270
Total802801311013
PersepolisPro League2017–182633111110415
2018–1927240112424
2019–202213092343
Total7561013151011712
Al-RayyanStars League2020–21132406130263
2021–22212200000232
Total344606130495
Al AhliQatar Stars League2022–23180400000220
TractorPersian Gulf Pro League2023–24262201000292
Career total349174215174044625

International

[62]

National teamYearAppsGoals
Iran
200910
201260
201310
201400
202020
2021111
202240
202370
2024101
Total422

Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first.

List of international goals scored by Shojae Khalilzadeh
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 11 June 2021 Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain align=center 2–0 align=center 10–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification
2. 14 January 2024 Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar align=center 2–0 align=center 4–1 2023 AFC Asian Cup

Honours

Sepahan

2014–15

Persepolis

2018–19

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: IR Iran (IRN) . . 15 . 15 November 2022 . 15 November 2022.
  2. https://archive.today/20220128001513/https://www.sofascore.com/player/shoja-khalilzadeh/223340 Shoja Khalilzadeh
  3. News: شجاع خلیل زاده سوپر استار جدید فوتبال ایران. امیرکلا شهر من. fa. 19 April 2013.
  4. http://www.mohammadghorbanian.blogfa.com/post/203 Shojae Khalilzadeh with Ahmad Mehdizadeh in 2007
  5. https://www.instagram.com/p/B67p4Ctni7j/ His coach Mohammad Ghorbanian and his friend the player Ahmad Mehdizadeh
  6. Web site: Shojae Khalilzadeh – Mes Rafsanjan . https://web.archive.org/web/20110611212805/http://www.persianleague.com/index.php/teams?sid=19&view=player&id=1093 . 11 June 2011.
  7. http://www.mesrafsanjan.blogfa.com/post/323 Khalilzadeh joined Mes Kerman
  8. Web site: خلیل زاده:عذاب کشیدم اما برنده شدیم . Goal . 20 December 2011 . https://archive.today/20130124163415/http://www.goal.com/iran/news/1825/%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/2011/12/20/2810742/%D8%AE%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%84-%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87%D8%B9%D8%B0%D8%A7%D8%A8-%DA%A9%D8%B4%DB%8C%D8%AF%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%B4%D8%AF%DB . 24 January 2013 . dead.
  9. Web site: این روزها همه مشتری شجاع خلیل زاده ، بازیکن سابق مس رفسنجان شده اند! . 28 May 2012 . fa . https://web.archive.org/web/20160304205345/http://varzeshrafsanjan.blogfa.com/post/16 . 4 March 2016.
  10. Web site: شجاع خلیل‌زاده به سپاهان پیوست/ مدافع سابق مس در راه اصفهان . fa . 25 June 2013.
  11. Web site: شجاع خلیل زاده : بدان و درک کن که هميشه در قلب هواداران فوتبال ايران وخصوصا سپاهاني‌ها خواهي ماند. .
  12. https://lenz.varzesh3.com/content/1996 Khalilzadeh with his teammates in Sepahan
  13. Web site: قرارداد شجاع خلیل‌زاده با سپاهان بالاخره نهایی شد . fa.
  14. https://medal1.com/ابراز-امیداوری-شجاع-خلیل-زاده-از-حضور-در-جام-جهانی-13445/ 2 سالی دنبال خریدش بود و بالاخره هم توانست او را جذب كند
  15. Web site: Shoja Khalilzadeh joins Persepolis football team . . 6 May 2017.
  16. Web site: Shoja Khalilzadeh's Goal (Persepolis-Foolad). Aparat. 27 July 2017.
  17. Web site: Iran's Mehdi Taremi banned for four months by FIFA . Tehran Times . 23 September 2017.
  18. Web site: The Best ACL2018 XI announced! . https://web.archive.org/web/20210423183412/https://www.the-afc.com/img/image/upload/t_l7/lyh6mlhldvoti5e25hds.jpg . 23 April 2021.
  19. https://newspaper.hamshahrionline.ir/id/12692/شجاع-خلیل‌زاده-باید-ژاوی-می‌زدم.html شجاع خلیل‌زاده: باید ژاوی را می‌زدم
  20. Web site: best goal of the ACL 2019 group stage. AFC. 30 May 2019.
  21. Web site: Khalilzadeh voted best goal of AFC Champions League 2019. AFC. 9 December 2019.
  22. Web site: مجلس_قناة_الكاس: هل استحق #السد الحصول على ركلة جزاء في الدقيقة 68 ؟! .
  23. Web site: تشافي مدرب #السد يدافع عبر برنامج 90 دقيقة عن اللعب بطريقة هجومية ويقول: " خطأ صغير اخرجنا من #دوري_أبطال_آسيا .
  24. Web site: 2021 AFC Champions League (West) Matchday 2: 5 Things To Look Out For. AFC. 17 April 2021.
  25. Web site: Al-Rayyan closing in on Shoja Khalilzadeh [Report] ].
  26. https://www.varzesh3.com/news/1713243/تیم-رویایی-مازنی-های-لیگ-برتر-نوزدهم تیم رویایی مازنی‌های لیگ برتر نوزدهم
  27. https://www.instagram.com/p/CQMFvjqlq2k/ @shoja_khalilzadeh just doing his thing #ACL
  28. Web site: شجاع خلیل زاده: موضوع جدایی‌ام از پرسپولیس جدی است و شرایط فراهم شود، می‌خواهم لژیونر شوم؛ اگر تا الان حرفی نزدیم، به خاطر هواداران بوده است. طرفداری. fa. 31 December 2019.
  29. Web site: کریم باقری: قبل از تماس من، شجاع قراردادش را فسخ کرده بود! . Tarafdari . کریم باقری: شجاع یک بازیکن بسیار خوب و با تعصب بود که همیشه بهترین بازی ‌هایش را برای پرسپولیس. همه پرسپولیس باید از این بازیکن قدردانی کنند. . fa . 26 October 2020.
  30. https://makkahnewspaper.com/article/1527771 6 أعوام حرمان من جائزة أفضل لاعب سعودي في آسيا
  31. https://www.kooora.com/?n=988241 الاتحاد الآسيوي على أعتاب إلغاء حفل جائزة أفضل لاعب
  32. Web site: Shoja' Khalilzadeh signs two-year contract with Al Rayyan. AFC. 24 October 2020.
  33. News: شجاع خلیل زاده رسماً تصمیمش برای فصل آینده را فاش کرد/ بازگشت به پرسپولیس؟. خبر ورزشی. 18 June 2021. fa.
  34. Web site: قاسمپور سرمربی تیم فوتبال مس کرمان شد/ "بلاژویچ" مدیرفنی نارنجی پوشان . fa . 14 February 2012.
  35. AlkassDigital. 1349001953590841346. Khalilzadeh goal helps Al-Rayyan beat Qatar SC. 12 January 2021.
  36. QSL. 1351553926022262787. Khalilzadeh second goal Al-Wakrah vs Al-Rayyan. 19 January 2021.
  37. Web site: Finding the best centre-backs in Asia – data analysis . Total Football Analysis Magazine . Mario Husillos Jr. . 16 October 2021.
  38. Web site: خلیل‌زاده یک سال دیگر در الریان ماندنی شد. Tasnim News Agency. 27 October 2021. fa.
  39. News: واکنش شجاع به تصمیمش برای فصل آینده کنعانی داغ بود آن حرف‌ها را زد! منتقدان تیم ملی خودشان در زمین بازی کنند! . همشهری آنلاین . 27 April 2022 . fa.
  40. https://globalsportsarchive.com/match/soccer/2012-11-06/iran-vs-tajikistan/1330513/ International friendly match
  41. https://www.varzesh3.com/news/1760949/ خلیل زاده که طی چند سال اخیر از سوی کی روش و ویلموتس شانس حضور در تیم ملی را به دست نمی آورد
  42. Web site: حمله شجاع به کی‌روش و پیغام به هواداران پرسپولیس خیلی‌ها منتظر برکناری اسکوچیچ بودند. Hamshahri. fa. 11 September 2021.
  43. Web site: واکنش شجاع به این شایعه؛ برانکو سفارشش را به اسکوچیچ کرده؟ . خبرآنلاین . fa . 20 July 2020.
  44. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/465823/Skocic-has-changed-spirit-of-Iran-football Skocic has changed spirit of Iran football
  45. https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-asian-cup/news/asian-qualifiers-group-c-preview-ir-iran-seek-winning-return-against-hong-kong-b Asian Qualifiers – Group C Preview
  46. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/467536/Iran-defender-Khalilzadeh-ruled-out-for-four-weeks Iran defender Khalilzadeh ruled out for four weeks
  47. News: Iran finish top, Iraq advance as well. Gulf Times. 15 June 2021.
  48. Web site: 2020 AFC Champions League: The Stats Leaders . AFC . 25 December 2020.
  49. Web site: Best 2020 AFC Champions League Team: Defenders .
  50. https://www.instagram.com/p/CXGuU-NsNaK/ Solid and reliable at the back
  51. Web site: AFC Champions League 2020 (WEST): The Stats Wrap . AFC . 7 October 2020.
  52. QSL_EN. 1426610397554032644. Shojae Khalilzadeh is a defender with the qualities of an attacker ⚽️. 14 August 2021.
  53. TheAFCCL. 1404848414907584515. Nothing is better than a goalscoring defender! ⚽ Shojae Khalilzadeh loves bagging goals in the #ACL! ☄️. 15 June 2021.
  54. Web site: Best 2018 AFC Champions League Team: Defenders . AFC.
  55. https://www.tasnimnews.com/fa/news/1400/07/19/2586522/یادداشت-اختصاصی-خبرنگار-کره-ای-مهاجمان-ایران-تهدیدی-بزرگتر-از-کریمی-و-مهدوی-کیا-نیستند-پیش-بینی-شکست-کره-جنوبی یادداشت اختصاصی| خبرنگار کره‌ای: مهاجمان ایران تهدیدی بزرگتر از کریمی و مهدوی‌کیا نیستند/ پیش‌بینی شکست کره‌جنوبی!
  56. Web site: سرپرست تیم ملی: نزدیک بود شجاع خلیل‌زاده سکته کند . Mehr News Agency. fa . 9 October 2021.
  57. Web site: تقدیر برانکو از خلیل‌زاده؛ مثل اسمت شجاع هستی . خبر ورزشی . fa . 15 October 2018.
  58. https://www.khabarvarzeshi.com/news/337501/برمی-گردم-پرسپولیس-حتی-یک-بازی-پرسپولیس-را-از-دست-نمی-دهم برمی‌گردم پرسپولیس/ حتی یک بازی پرسپولیس را از دست نمی‌دهم
  59. https://www.khabarvarzeshi.com/news/331082/عکس-دیالوگ-های-جالب-شجاع-و-اسکوچیچ-پس-از-معجزه-VAR-ببخشید-کوچ عکس| دیالوگ‌های جالب شجاع و اسکوچیچ پس از معجزه VAR/ ببخشید کوچ!
  60. Web site: شجاع خلیل زاده: با کفش پاره و درجه 3 برای تست تیم ملی رفتم/ پدرم مخالف فوتبالیست شدنم بود . . 3 December 2017.
  61. http://www.playmakerstats.com/jogador.php?id=249029&search=1 Shoja Khalilzadeh
  62. https://www.teammelli.com/matchdata/details/player.php?id=567 Shojae Khalilzadeh
  63. According to Toyota Player of the Week (Stats Perform, OPTA, Voted by the fans), TheAFCCL and SofaScore.
  64. Web site: Vote for your best AFC Champions League 2020 (West) Team: Defenders . AFC . 25 October 2020.
  65. Web site: Vote for your favourite AFC Champions League 2020 (West) player as Best XI is announced!. AFC.
  66. Web site: Persepolis' Khalilzadeh voted as winner of AFC Champions League 2020 Goal of the West . AFC.
  67. Web site: AFC Champions League Semi-final (WEST) Toyota Player of the Week: Shojae Khalilzadeh. AFC. 6 October 2020.
  68. https://web.archive.org/web/20201220131253/https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/stats 2020 AFC Champions League – Stats
  69. https://web.archive.org/web/20210714081304/https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/afc-champions-league/stats Successful – Overall Passes: 392 (10th Place), 2021 ACL – Stats