Karim Bagheri

Karim Bagheri

Karim Bagheri in 2015
Personal information
Full name Karim Bagheri
Date of birth (1974-02-20) 20 February 1974
Place of birth Tabriz, Iran
Height 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Persepolis (assistant coach)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1992–1994 Tractor Sazi 28 (2)
1994–1996 Keshavarz 65 (11)
1996–1997 Persepolis 20 (4)
1997–2000 Arminia Bielefeld 61 (6)
2000 Persepolis 0 (0)
2000 → Al-Nasr (loan) 8 (4)
2000–2001 Charlton Athletic 24 (0)
2001–2002 Al-Sadd 11 (5)
2002–2010 Persepolis 178 (29)
Total 362 (61)
National team
1993–2010 Iran 87 (50[1])
Teams managed
2012–2013 Persepolis (assistant)
2015– Persepolis (assistant)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Karim Bagheri (Persian:  کريم باقری ‎‎; born 20 February 1974) is a retired Iranian professional football player and coach. He played over half of his professional career for Persepolis in the Iran Pro League. He was known as a two-footed midfielder and was famous for his powerful and thundering long range shots, free kicks and penalties.

Club career

Early years

Bagheri was born in Tabriz, Iran. He was discovered by manager Vasile Godja and began his football playing for his hometown club Tractor Sazi where he impressed enough to land himself a contract with Keshavarz On 1 August 1996 Bagheri was signed on free transfer by the capital's club, Persepolis. There, Bagheri enjoyed much success winning numerous titles and becoming a fan favorite. Numerous impressive displays ended up in Bagheri attracting attention from many European clubs and on 1 August 1997, a year after he signed a contract with Persepolis, Bagheri signed with German Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld along with his fellow Iranian international Ali Daei.

Move to Europe

Germany

Bagheri's first season in Germany was not a huge success and the club was relegated to the 2nd Bundesliga. In his second season, he established himself as a starter playing in the libero position, helping the team make it back to the Bundesliga. His performances during the 98-99 season earned him a place in Kicker magazine's team of the year. He remained in Arminia for one more season, though his time in Germany ended sourly when he bought out his contract and returned to Persepolis again, though Persepolis loaned him to Al-Nasr in the UAE.

England

At that time English clubs were interested in Bagheri and Charlton Athletic of the Premiership quickly signed him for an initial fee of £400,000.[2] His father's death, international call-ups and injuries restricted him from making appearances in his first year. Alan Curbishley his manager on Bagheri:

"We took him as cover for Kinsella", Curbishley said. "Bagheri is a holding midfielder with great physique and an eye for goal. His goal-scoring record is unbelievable. He's got almost a goal every other game in 70 internationals which is an amazing feat for a midfield player. "The problem was he never stayed fit while he was with us. After playing against Ipswich he went off to play for Iran and came back with a groin strain. Then it was a hamstring. His father died and he had to return to Iran the next day and we didn't see him for three weeks. Then he injured his hamstring again. It was one thing after another. It was a pity because the boy can play. He has all the attributes and understood the English game. "He's an affable lad and from day one the other players liked him. Though he didn't speak English he got on with the others who respected him. He can play a bit and in 12 reserve matches for us he managed six goals. Had he stayed fit it may have been a different story. When the loan deal ended he came to me and said `I've loved it here but I haven't done myself justice'. "I've noticed he is scoring regularly for Iran and whoever picks him up at set pieces on Saturday must be alert while he times his runs from midfield very well."[3]

He had very little success there, only playing 15 minutes during the entire season in a game against Ipswich Town and being the first Iranian to play in the Premiership.[4] He then moved to Al Sadd in Qatar.

Persepolis return

Bagheri in training with Persepolis

In 2002, he decided to return to Persepolis once again. In September 2006, many thought he had been released from the team after arguments with management and staff over the club's financial commitments and unpaid wages. Bagheri was instead disciplined but remained on the team. Bagheri has since established himself as one of the greatest icons of Persepolis and many compare his popularity with Ali Parvin. In the 2007–08 season, he captained the team to glory in the IPL after a six-year drought. During the 2008–09 season he was injured and missed many matches. He also missed matches because of the differences he had with the coach Nelo Vingada at the end of the season. He was the top scorer of the team for 2009–10 season and the most influential player on the team. In the second Sorkhabi derby of the season, Bagheri scored in the 87th minute with a trademark long-range shot to gain victory for Persepolis after six consecutive draws in the derby.

Club retirement

On 1 December 2010, Bagheri announced that he would retire and leave Persepolis.[5]

Persepolis statistics

As of 11 November 2010
Karim Bagheri Statistics in Persepolis
League Cup Asian Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
198
33
22
10
11
3
231
46

Club Career statistics

Club performance League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Iran League Hazfi Cup Asia Total
1992–93Tractor SaziAzadegan League--
1993–94--
1994–95Keshavarz--
1995–96--
1996–97Persepolis2040043247
Germany League DFB-Pokal Europe Total
1997–98Arminia BielefeldBundesliga18300--183
1998–992. Bundesliga22231--253
1999–00Bundesliga11110--121
Qatar League Emir of Qatar Cup Asia Total
1999–00Al-SaddQatar Stars League8400--84
England League FA Cup Europe Total
2000–01CharltonPremier League1000--10
Qatar League Emir of Qatar Cup Asia Total
2001–02Al-SaddQatar Stars League1150040155
Iran League Hazfi Cup Asia Total
2002–03PersepolisPersian Gulf Cup904330163
2003–0420343--246
2004–0528210--292
2005–0623030--260
2006–0713220--152
2007–0826321--284
2008–092991040349
2009–10221053--2713
2010–1180000080
Total Iran 29146113
Germany 51641--557
Qatar 1990040239
England 1000--10
Career total 36261153
SeasonTeamAssists
2007–08Persepolis5
2008–09Persepolis4
2009–10Persepolis2
2010–11Persepolis0

[6][7]

International career

Bagheri was first called up to the Iranian national team during the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, making his debut versus Pakistan on 6 June 1993. He displayed great football and soon became a starter for Iran in the midfield. He played in 1996 AFC Asian Cup for Team Melli and finished third.

He became famous for sparking Iran's comeback against Australia in the second leg of their 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier in 1997. He scored the first of two goals that took Iran from two goals down to tie the game 2–2 and eventually become the last team to qualify for the tournament. Overall he scored 19 goals during the 1998 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign, making him the top goalscorer from all six continental confederations.[8] He played in 1998 Asian Games and won the competition. Bagheri also had one of the strongest right-footed shots and scored many fantastic goals against opponents, such as his game-tying goal against South Korea in the quarter finals of the 2000 Asian Cup in Lebanon.

Goal scoring record

On 2 June 1997, he scored seven times against the Maldives, and equalled the record for the most goals scored in a World Cup match, which was held by the Australian Gary Cole since 1981. Their joint record was broken on 11 April 2001 when another Australian, Archie Thompson scored 13 goals against American Samoa.[9] He was named the world's second top goal scorer in official international matches by International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS), having scored 20 goals for Iran in 1997.[10]

Early retirement

He retired from the national team with 80 caps and 47 goals for Team Melli after Iran's unsuccessful FIFA World Cup 2002 qualification campaign which ended with an aggregate defeat to Republic of Ireland in November 2001. He was called up to the national team again soon after World Cup 2006, but said he would not participate as he is retired from international football and has no plans on returning to it.[11]

Return to national team

On 9 October 2008, Team Melli coach Ali Daei stated that because of Andranik Teymourian's injury Bagheri will be called up for the national team once again.[12] On 9 November 2008 in a friendly match against Qatar, he appeared for Team Melli once again after almost seven years. Bagheri captained Iran in the 2010 World Cup match against UAE on 19 November 2008, scoring for Iran. He has been given his favorite number 6 jersey back. He played few important matches for Team Melli in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification against UAE and South Korea. He was invited again by Afshin Ghotbi but he stated in Navad that he only returned to Team Melli because of Ali Daei and will not participate in any more matches for Team Melli.

Retirement match

On 2 October 2010, Bagheri announced he would play his last match with Team Melli on 7 October 2010 against Brazil in the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.[13]

International caps

Iran national team
YearAppsGoals
199391
199440
199500
19961712
19971520
1998113
199900
2000139
2001112
200821
200942
201010
Total8750

International goals[14]

Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first.
# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 3 June 1993 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  Pakistan 3–0 5–0 ECO Cup 1993
2 24 April 1996 Olympic Stadium (Ashgabat), Ashkhabad  Turkmenistan 1–1 1–1 Friendly
3 10 June 1996 Azadi Stadium, Tehran    Nepal 1–0 8–0 1996 ACQ
4 10 June 1996 Azadi Stadium, Tehran    Nepal 5–0 8–0 1996 ACQ
5 12 June 1996 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  Sri Lanka 2–0 7–0 1996 ACQ
6 17 June 1996 Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat  Sri Lanka 1–0 4–0 1996 ACQ
7 17 June 1996 Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat  Sri Lanka 2–0 4–0 1996 ACQ
8 17 June 1996 Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat  Sri Lanka 3–0 4–0 1996 ACQ
9 19 June 1996 Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat    Nepal 2–0 4–0 1996 ACQ
10 19 June 1996 Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat    Nepal 3–0 4–0 1996 ACQ
11 21 June 1996 Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat  Oman 2–1 2–1 1996 ACQ
12 7 December 1996 Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai  Saudi Arabia 1–0 3–0 1996 Asian Cup
13 16 December 1996 Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai  South Korea 1–1 6–2 1996 Asian Cup
14 2 June 1997 Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus  Maldives 1–0 17–0 1998 WCQ
15 2 June 1997 Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus  Maldives 2–0 17–0 1998 WCQ
16 2 June 1997 Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus  Maldives 3–0 17–0 1998 WCQ
17 2 June 1997 Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus  Maldives 10–0 17–0 1998 WCQ
18 2 June 1997 Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus  Maldives 12–0 17–0 1998 WCQ
19 2 June 1997 Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus  Maldives 13–0 17–0 1998 WCQ
20 2 June 1997 Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus  Maldives 16–0 17–0 1998 WCQ
21 4 June 1997 Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus  Kyrgyzstan 1–0 7–0 1998 WCQ
22 4 June 1997 Abbasiyyin Stadium, Damascus  Kyrgyzstan 2–0 7–0 1998 WCQ
23 9 June 1997 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  Kyrgyzstan 2–1 3–1 1998 WCQ
24 11 June 1997 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  Maldives 2–0 9–0 1998 WCQ
25 11 June 1997 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  Maldives 5–0 9–0 1998 WCQ
26 17 August 1997 Varsity Stadium, Toronto  Canada 1–0 1–0 Friendly
27 13 September 1997 Jinzhou Stadium, Dalian  China PR 1–2 4–2 1998 WCQ
28 19 September 1997 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  Saudi Arabia 1–1 1–1 1998 WCQ
29 26 September 1997 Kuwait National Stadium, Kuwait City  Kuwait 1–1 1–1 1998 WCQ
30 3 October 1997 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  Qatar 2–0 3–0 1998 WCQ
31 3 October 1997 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  Qatar 3–0 3–0 1998 WCQ
32 17 October 1997 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  China PR 3–0 4–1 1998 WCQ
33 29 November 1997 Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne  Australia 1–2 2–2 1998 WCQ
34 10 December 1998 Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok  Tajikistan 4–0 5–0 1998 Asian Games
35 12 December 1998 Suphachalasai Stadium, Bangkok  China PR 2–1 2–1 1998 Asian Games
36 19 December 1998 Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok  Kuwait 1–0 2–0 1998 Asian Games
37 9 June 2000 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  Macedonia 1–0 3–1 LG CUP
38 12 October 2000 Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, Beirut  Lebanon 1–0 4–0 2000 AFC Asian Cup
39 23 October 2000 International Olympic Stadium, Tripoli  South Korea 1–0 1–2 2000 AFC Asian Cup
40 24 November 2000 Takhti Stadium, Tabriz  Guam 2–0 19–0 2002 WCQ
41 24 November 2000 Takhti Stadium, Tabriz  Guam 3–0 19–0 2002 WCQ
42 24 November 2000 Takhti Stadium, Tabriz  Guam 4–0 19–0 2002 WCQ
43 24 November 2000 Takhti Stadium, Tabriz  Guam 5–0 19–0 2002 WCQ
44 24 November 2000 Takhti Stadium, Tabriz  Guam 6–0 19–0 2002 WCQ
45 24 November 2000 Takhti Stadium, Tabriz  Guam 7–0 19–0 2002 WCQ
46 25 October 2001 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  United Arab Emirates 1–0 1–0 2002 WCQ
47 31 October 2001 Al-Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi  United Arab Emirates 2–0 3–0 2002 WCQ
48 19 November 2008 Al-Maktoum Stadium, Dubai  United Arab Emirates 1–1 1–1 2010 WCQ
49 2 January 2009 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  China PR 2–0 3–1 Friendly
50 9 January 2009 Azadi Stadium, Tehran  Singapore 2–0 6–0 2011 ACQ

Coaching career

Two years after his retirement, he was offered a coaching role at Persepolis by newly appointed head coach Yahya Golmohammadi. He was promoted as the first-team coach in the coaching staff of Ali Daei.

On 8 April 2015 Karim was named assistant manager of Persepolis again. [15]

Honours

Club

Persepolis
Arminia Bielefeld
Al-Sadd

Country

Iran

Individual

References

  1. ↑ http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/bagheri-intlg.html
  2. ↑ http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/c/charlton_athletic/880216.stm
  3. ↑ http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/republic-of-ireland/3016382/Republic-must-discover-way-to-cope-with-Zidane-of-Iran.html
  4. ↑ "Ipswich late show crushes Charlton". BBC. 11 November 2000. Retrieved 7 April 2013.
  5. ↑ پرسپولیس و باقری سه شنبه تصمیم گیری می کنند (in Persian). FC Persepolis. 28 November 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  6. ↑ "Karim Bagheri" (in German). fussballdaten.de. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  7. ↑ "Iranian Premier League Stats: 2009–2010 Season". iplstats.com. Retrieved 22 March 2010.
  8. ↑ "SOCCER: It's a Draw: Politics Aside, the Pieces Fall in Place; Group Hug? Doubtful When It's U.S.-Iran". New York Times. 5 December 1997. Retrieved 5 April 2015.
  9. ↑ "Australia 31 – American Samoa 0". Ozfootball. Retrieved 19 June 2008.
  10. ↑ "Top 10 International Goal Scorers – 1997". IFFHS. Retrieved 22 July 2006.
  11. ↑ کریم باقری برای همیشه از تیم ملی خداحافظی کرد/ باقری: می روم تا جابرای جوانان باز شود (in Persian). Mehr News Agency. Retrieved 22 July 2006.
  12. ↑ علي دايي: کريم باقري را به تيم ملي دعوت مي کنم (in Persian). ISNA. Retrieved 9 August 2008.
  13. ↑ كاپيتان باقري از تيم ملي خداحافظي كرد (in Persian). perspolisnews.com. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 26 December 2010.
  14. ↑ http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/bagheri-intlg.html
  15. ↑ http://kayhan.ir/en/news/12482
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