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=== Bayern Munich ===
=== Bayern Munich ===


On 3 May 2005, [[Fußball-Bundesliga|Bundesliga]] champions Bayern Munich's website announced that they signed a one year contract with Ali Karimi who becomes the third Iranian after [[Ali Daei]] and [[Vahid Hashemian]] to try his luck with Bayern.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bayern swoop for Iran star Karimi|url=http://www.fcbayern.t-com.de/en/news/news/2005/03939.php?fcb_sid=ca324b72903047818b273eabeb3a6f26|publisher=The official FC Bayern Munich website|accessdate=18 September 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Iran star Karimi seals Bayern move|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/football/05/03/germany.bayern/|publisher=CNN|accessdate=18 September 2006 | date=3 May 2005}}</ref> In October 2004 Iran hosted Germany in a friendly game. Ali Karimi was there and took the chance to present himself to the German audience. The kicker sports magazine sportmagazin picked Karimi as the man of the match. FC Bayern's scouts coach studied Karimi in Dubai closer and came back with a recommendation not to sign the player due to doubts over his fitness. [[Felix Magath]] decided to go ahead with the signing despite the negative recommendations.<ref>http://www.iransportspress.com/news/127/ARTICLE/1933/2005-07-12.html</ref>
On 3 May 2005, [[Fußball-Bundesliga|Bundesliga]] champions Bayern Munich's website announced that they signed a one year contract with Ali Karimi who becomes the third Iranian after [[Ali Daei]] and [[Vahid Hashemian]] to try his luck with Bayern.<ref>{{cite web|title=Bayern swoop for Iran star Karimi|url=http://www.fcbayern.t-com.de/en/news/news/2005/03939.php?fcb_sid=ca324b72903047818b273eabeb3a6f26|publisher=The official FC Bayern Munich website|accessdate=18 September 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Iran star Karimi seals Bayern move|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2005/SPORT/football/05/03/germany.bayern/|publisher=CNN|accessdate=18 September 2006 | date=3 May 2005}}</ref> In October 2004 Iran hosted Germany in a friendly game. Ali Karimi was there and took the chance to present himself to the German audience. The kicker sportmagazin picked Karimi as the man of the match. FC Bayern's scouts coach studied Karimi in Dubai closer and came back with a recommendation not to sign the player due to doubts over his fitness. [[Felix Magath]] decided to go ahead with the signing despite the negative recommendations.<ref>http://www.iransportspress.com/news/127/ARTICLE/1933/2005-07-12.html</ref>


Despite initial skepticism with regards to Karimi's physical aptitude and fan feelings that his transfer was nothing but a marketing ploy, Karimi did not waste any time in proving his critics wrong. On 14 August 2005, Karimi made his starting debut for Bayern when Felix Magath put him on the starting line-up of a 5–2 victory against [[Bayer Leverkusen]] on the second day of Bundesliga. Karimi played on the left side of a diamond shape midfield and Karimi's assist to [[Roy Makaay]] for Bayern's second goal followed by his first goal of Bundesliga capped a great performance that earned him a spot on ''[[Kicker (sports magazine)|Kicker]]''<nowiki/>'s team of the week. Kicker wrote that "Karimi shined with perfect technical skills, a unbelievable calm on the ball and also playing great passes" and graded the Iranian at 1.5. Four weeks later Karimi once again made the Kicker team of the week as FC Bayern won away against [[Eintracht Frankfurt]].<ref>http://naveedmoula.com/karimisfirstyear.htm</ref> Karimi then built on his success by scoring on his first [[UEFA Champions League]] appearance against [[Rapid Vienna]] on 22 November 2005. During this period Karimi played seven straight league games from start keeping several of the big names on the bench.
Despite initial skepticism with regards to Karimi's physical aptitude and fan feelings that his transfer was nothing but a marketing ploy, Karimi did not waste any time in proving his critics wrong. On 14 August 2005, Karimi made his starting debut for Bayern when Felix Magath put him on the starting line-up of a 5–2 victory against [[Bayer Leverkusen]] on the second day of Bundesliga. Karimi played on the left side of a diamond shape midfield and Karimi's assist to [[Roy Makaay]] for Bayern's second goal followed by his first goal of Bundesliga capped a great performance that earned him a spot on ''[[Kicker (sports magazine)|Kicker]]''<nowiki/>'s team of the week. Kicker wrote that "Karimi shined with perfect technical skills, a unbelievable calm on the ball and also playing great passes" and graded the Iranian at 1.5. Four weeks later Karimi once again made the Kicker team of the week as FC Bayern won away against [[Eintracht Frankfurt]].<ref>http://naveedmoula.com/karimisfirstyear.htm</ref> Karimi then built on his success by scoring on his first [[UEFA Champions League]] appearance against [[Rapid Vienna]] on 22 November 2005. During this period Karimi played seven straight league games from start keeping several of the big names on the bench.

Revision as of 20:39, 18 July 2010

Template:Other people3

Ali Karimi
Personal information
Full name Mohammad Ali Karimi Pashaki
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Winger, Deep-lying Forward
Team information
Current team
 Steel Azin
Number 8
Youth career
1996–1998 Fath Tehran
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1998–2001 Persepolis
2001–2005 Al-Ahli
2005–2007 Bayern Munich
2007–2008 Qatar SC
2008–2009 Persepolis
2009– Steel Azin
International career‡
1998– Iran
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 6 June 2010
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 3 March 2010

Mohammad Ali Karimi Pashaki (Persian: محمدعلی کریمی پاشاکی, born on 8 November 1978) is an Iranian professional footballer,[1] who plays as a midfielder for Steel Azin of the Iran Pro League. He was the Asian Player of the Year in 2004.

Club career

Ali Karimi started his career in Fath Football Club and experienced significant improvement during the time he was playing for Persepolis football club.He finished Third Twice with Persepolis F.C. in Asian Club Championship. His good performance for Persepolis and the national side against Asian powerhouses in the World Cup 2002 qualifications, lead to serious interest from the Spanish side, Atlético Madrid, among other European clubs. However, Karimi chose to play in the UAE instead, because according to him he wanted to stay close to Iran. He is one of the best dribblers in Asia.[citation needed] His skills are often compared to those of Diego Maradona and therefore received the title of Asian Maradona from Iranian newspapers.[citation needed]

Bayern Munich

On 3 May 2005, Bundesliga champions Bayern Munich's website announced that they signed a one year contract with Ali Karimi who becomes the third Iranian after Ali Daei and Vahid Hashemian to try his luck with Bayern.[2][3] In October 2004 Iran hosted Germany in a friendly game. Ali Karimi was there and took the chance to present himself to the German audience. The kicker sportmagazin picked Karimi as the man of the match. FC Bayern's scouts coach studied Karimi in Dubai closer and came back with a recommendation not to sign the player due to doubts over his fitness. Felix Magath decided to go ahead with the signing despite the negative recommendations.[4]

Despite initial skepticism with regards to Karimi's physical aptitude and fan feelings that his transfer was nothing but a marketing ploy, Karimi did not waste any time in proving his critics wrong. On 14 August 2005, Karimi made his starting debut for Bayern when Felix Magath put him on the starting line-up of a 5–2 victory against Bayer Leverkusen on the second day of Bundesliga. Karimi played on the left side of a diamond shape midfield and Karimi's assist to Roy Makaay for Bayern's second goal followed by his first goal of Bundesliga capped a great performance that earned him a spot on Kicker's team of the week. Kicker wrote that "Karimi shined with perfect technical skills, a unbelievable calm on the ball and also playing great passes" and graded the Iranian at 1.5. Four weeks later Karimi once again made the Kicker team of the week as FC Bayern won away against Eintracht Frankfurt.[5] Karimi then built on his success by scoring on his first UEFA Champions League appearance against Rapid Vienna on 22 November 2005. During this period Karimi played seven straight league games from start keeping several of the big names on the bench.

As his play and form improved, Karimi was rewarded with more regular starts as well as more playing time as a regular substitute, not a small feat with a midfield featuring Michael Ballack, Sebastian Deisler, Martin Demichelis, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Hasan Salihamidzic, Owen Hargreaves, Mehmet Scholl and Ze Roberto. Due to his finesse, playmaking skills and versatility, he was seen as a great asset by the club and following his 25th appearance, his contract was extended by another year. Unfortunately, soon after, on 4 March 2006 in the game against Hamburg, Karimi severely injured his thigh which sidelined him for 6 weeks. The injury coming so close to the World Cup, clearly effected Karimi, as he was unfit and ineffective throughout the tournament.

The departure of Michael Ballack for Chelsea before the start of 2006–07 season, created an opportunity to allow Karimi to compete for a regular starting position; however, the injury he had received in 2006, made him inactive throughout the preseason. His lack of form that followed, then prevented him from playing in the first game of the Ligapokal against Schalke 04, but he was given the opportunity to start the next Ligapokal game against Werder Bremen. During the first half of 2006/2007 season, Karimi continued to compete for a starting role with Bayern; however, he was not able to impress Magath, who then reduced Karimi's caps in the Bundesliga and Champions League. In the meantime, Bayern's poor performance throughout the season, resulted in the replacement of Felix Magath by Ottmar Hitzfeld at the end of January 2007. Under Hitzfeld, it was clear that Bayern wished to pursue other options, and Karimi would not be re-signed. As Karimi's contract with Bayern drew close to expiration, there were only a handful of offers for him and most of these were from smaller clubs (including bids from Red Bull Salzburg, which he turned down twice) or clubs such as Al-Ittihad and Al-Ahli, Karimi's former club. There were also rumors that Wolfsburg, Galatasaray SK and other European clubs would pursue him in the offseason; however, these rumors proved to be untrue. On 29 May 2007 Bayern Munich announced Karimi would be leaving the club, though his new club was not yet known.

Qatar SC

On 3 July 2007, Karimi announced that he had signed a two-year deal with Qatar Sports Club. Karimi was believed to have put pen to a contract worth around £3.2 million, with a clause allowing him to return to Europe at any time.[6]

After Karimi's first season with Qatar SC, many questioned his future with the club, despite his impressive on field performances. His future with Qatar seems in more doubt with the 2004 Asian Player of the Year receiving many offers from Saudi Arabian, UAE, Iranian and Australian clubs.

Al-Sailiya

On 10 July 2008, Karimi agreed to play the remainder of his 2 year contract for Al-Sailiya worth around £4.7 million.

Persepolis

According to Persepolis officials, "The Reds" have paid $350,000 to Qatar’s Olympic Committee to sign Karimi on a season-long loan. Karimi’s reported monthly salary is in the region of $8,000 a month.

After his return to Persepolis Karimi was obviously a starter on the team and he scored his first goal just two weeks after his return in the most popular match of the season in the Tehran derby. In games that he missed because of injuries, Persepolis had problems on the field but when he was there, the team did really well. His most memorable matches during the 2008/09 season were both games against Esteghlal, second leg match against Paykan and also many matches in the AFC Champions League. Adel Ferdosipour who is a popular soccer commentator in Iran mentioned during the game against Bunyodkor that when Karimi gets himself going, then Persepolis will get going. Despite his great matches he had some problems with Persepolis' chairman Abbas Ansarifard and it's been said that he will not play for Persepolis during the 2009/10 season. Karimi later signed with Steel Azin F.C.

Club career statistics

As of 6 June 2010

Template:Football player statistics 1 Template:Football player statistics 2 |- | 1998–99 || rowspan="3"|Persepolis || rowspan="3"|Azadegan League || 13 || 3 || ? || 0 || - || - || ? || 3 |- | 1999–00 || 15 || 3 || ? || 0 || 9 || 4 || ? || 7 |- | 2000–01 || 15 || 5 || ? || 0 || 4 || 1 || ? || 6 Template:Football player statistics 2 |- | 2001–02 || rowspan="4"|Al-Ahli || rowspan="4"|UAE League || ? || 14[7] || ? || 6 || - || - || ? || 20 |- | 2002–03 || 13 || 5[8] || ? || 1 || - || - || ? || 6 |- | 2003–04 || 16 || 15[9] || ? || ? || - || - || ? || ? |- | 2004–05 || ? || 10 || ? || ? || 6 || 2 || ? || ? Template:Football player statistics 2 |- | 2005–06 || rowspan="2"|Bayern Munich || rowspan="2"|Bundesliga || 20 || 2 || 2 || 0 || 3 || 1 || 25 || 3 |- | 2006–07 || 13 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 2 || 0 || 15 || 1 Template:Football player statistics 2 |- | 2007–08 || Qatar || |Qatari League || 27 || 5 || 2 || 0 || - || - || 29 || 5 |- Template:Football player statistics 2 |- | 2008–09 || Persepolis || rowspan="2"|Persian Gulf Cup || 21 || 5 || 1 || 0 || 6 || 2 || 28 || 7 |- | 2009–10 || Steel Azin || |28 || 14 || 3 || 1 || - || - || 31 || 15 |- Template:Football player statistics 392 || 30 || ? || 1 || 19 || 7 || || 38 Template:Football player statistics 4? || 44 || || || 6 || 2 || || Template:Football player statistics 433 || 3 || 2 || 0 || 5 || 1 || 40 || 4 Template:Football player statistics 427 || 5 || 2 || 0 || - || - || 29 || 5 Template:Football player statistics 5? || 82 || || || 30 || 10 || || |}

  • Assist Goals
Season Team Assists
08–09 Persepolis 6
09–10 Steel Azin 6

Persepolis Statistics

Ali Karimi's Statistics in Persepolis
League Cup Asian Friendly Total
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
64
16
17
0
13
5
10
11
104
32
Season Team Country Division Apps Goals
1998–99 Persepolis  Iran 1 13 3
1999–00 Persepolis  Iran 1 15 3
2000–01 Persepolis  Iran 1 15 5
2008–09 Persepolis  Iran 1 21 5

International career

Karimi made his debute for Iran national football team in October 1998 in a match against Kuwait. That same year, he won the Gold Medal with Iran at the 1998 Asian Games. He was also one of Iran's main players in its 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification campaign.

Ali Karimi performed well at the 2004 Asian Cup, where he tied for most goals scored with five. Iran finished third in the overall tournament, behind Japan and China. Due to his strong performance during this tournament, Karimi was given the prestigious Asian Player of the Year award, joining his fellow Iranians, Mehdi Mahdavikia in 2003, Ali Daei in 1999, and Khodadad Azizi in 1996. He also won the 2004 West Asian Football Federation Championship with Team Melli.

He is generally regarded as one of the best players in Iran, along with the Frankfurt rocket, Mehdi Mahdavikia, and Javad Nekounam of Osasuna. He showcased his skills in the Iran-Germany friendly game for Bam victims held in Azadi Stadium in Tehran in October 2004.

Coming off a serious thigh injury, Karimi had a wretched World Cup finals at Germany 2006, with many commentators singling him out as one of the key players who had failed to perform in the tournament. Short on fitness and form, he was unable to exert much influence on proceedings as the Iranians lost 1–3 to Mexico and 0–2 to Portugal. He was substituted in the second half of the Portugal game, and did not play in the 1–1 draw against Angola. Some argue that this was due to his protest to being substituted in the prior match, but Branko Ivankovic (Iran's manager at the time) and other members of the coaching staff have stated that Karimi was asked to go in as a substitute which he refused.

He also played in 2007 Asian Cup but did not perform as well as before. As of January 2008, he has 105 caps (2nd highest) and has scored 35 goals (3rd highest) for Team Melli.

In May 2008, Karimi was banned from playing in the national team after he made numerous criticisms towards the IRIFF in the Ardebil training ground,[10] but has been reinstated in the national squad after intervention from Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of revolutionary leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini.[11]

In October 2008, Karimi retired from Team Melli. This decision has upset many Iranian football fans. In February 2009, Karimi announced that he is ready again to serve his country, if he was to be picked by Team Melli coach, Afshin Ghotbi.

He played in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification for Team Melli and on 10 June 2009 Karimi scored in a 1–0 victory over U.A.E. to keep Iran`s 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying hopes alive. After the final qualifying match against Korea Republic he announced his retirment from Team Melli but 9 months later he returned for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification match against Thailand.

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 19 December 1998 Bangkok,Thailand  Kuwait 2–0 Win 1998 Asian Games
2 9 April 2000 Tehran,Iran  Bahrain 3–0 Win 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification
3 24 May 2000 Amman,Jordan  Kazakhstan 3–0 Win 2000 WAFF
4 24 May 2000 Amman,Jordan  Kazakhstan 3–0 Win 2000 WAFF
5 28 May 2000 Amman,Jordan  Syria 1–0 Win 2000 WAFF
6 31 May 2000 Amman,Jordan  Jordan 1–0 Win 2000 WAFF
7 24 November 2000 Tabriz,Iran  Guam 19–0 Win 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
8 24 November 2000 Tabriz,Iran  Guam 19–0 Win 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 24 November 2000 Tabriz,Iran  Guam 19–0 Win 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
10 24 November 2000 Tabriz,Iran  Guam 19–0 Win 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
11 10 August 2001 Tehran,Iran  Bosnia and Herzegovina 4–0 Win Friendly
12 15 August 2001 Bratislava,Slovakia  Slovakia 4–3 Win Friendly
13 15 August 2001 Bratislava,Slovakia  Slovakia 4–3 Win Friendly
14 15 August 2001 Bratislava,Slovakia  Slovakia 4–3 Win Friendly
15 7 September 2001 Baghdad,Iraq  Iraq 2–1 Win 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
16 12 October 2001 Tehran, Iran  Iraq 2–1 Win 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
17 6 February 2002 Tehran,Iran  Slovakia 2–3 Lose Friendly
18 6 February 2002 Tehran,Iran  Slovakia 2–3 Lose Friendly
19 11 August 2002 Tabriz,Iran  Azerbaijan 1–1 Draw Friendly
20 3 September 2002 Damascus,Syria  Lebanon 2–0 Win 2002 WAFF
21 12 October 2003 Tehran,Iran  New Zealand 3–0 Win AFC/OFC Cup Challenge
22 12 October 2003 Tehran,Iran  New Zealand 3–0 Win AFC/OFC Cup Challenge
23 27 October 2003 Pyongyang,North Korea  North Korea 3–1 Win 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification
24 27 October 2003 Pyongyang,North Korea  North Korea 3–1 Win 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification
25 21 June 2004 Tehran,Iran  Syria 7–1 Win 2004 WAFF
26 25 June 2004 Tehran,Iran  Syria 4–1 Win 2004 WAFF
27 24 July 2004 Chongqing,China  Oman 2–2 Draw 2004 AFC Asian Cup
28 31 July 2004 Shandong,China  South Korea 4–3 Win 2004 AFC Asian Cup
29 31 July 2004 Shandong,China  South Korea 4–3 Win 2004 AFC Asian Cup
30 31 July 2004 Shandong,China  South Korea 4–3 Win 2004 AFC Asian Cup
31 6 August 2004 Beijing,China  Bahrain 4–2 Win 2004 AFC Asian Cup
32 30 January 2006 Tehran,Iran  Costa Rica 3–2 Win Friendly
33 28 May 2006 Osijek, Croatia  Croatia 2–2 Draw Friendly
34 11 October 2006 Taipei, Chinese Taipei  Chinese Taipei 2–0 Win 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
35 11 October 2006 Taipei, Chinese Taipei  Chinese Taipei 2–0 Win 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
36 10 June 2009 Tehran, Iran  United Arab Emirates 1–0 Win 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Awards and honours

Country

  • AFC Asian Cup
    • Appearances and goals: 2004 (Third Place) (5), 2007 (Quarter final)

Club

  • Azadegan League
    • Winner: 2
      • 1998/99 with Persepolis
      • 1999/00 with Persepolis
    • Runner up: 1
      • 2000/01 with Persepolis
  • UAE Cup: 2
    • 2001/02, Al-Ahli
    • 2003/04, Al-Ahli

Individual

References

  1. ^ Robert Tait (23 June 2009). "Iran bans election protest footballers". London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved 24 June 2009.
  2. ^ "Bayern swoop for Iran star Karimi". The official FC Bayern Munich website. Retrieved 18 September 2006.
  3. ^ "Iran star Karimi seals Bayern move". CNN. 3 May 2005. Retrieved 18 September 2006.
  4. ^ http://www.iransportspress.com/news/127/ARTICLE/1933/2005-07-12.html
  5. ^ http://naveedmoula.com/karimisfirstyear.htm
  6. ^ "Bundesliga – Karimi quits Bayern for Qatar". eurosport. Retrieved 4 July 2007.
  7. ^ http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/uae02.html
  8. ^ http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/uae03.html
  9. ^ http://www.rsssf.com/tablesu/uae04.html
  10. ^ "National team bans Ali Karimi". www.iranproleague.net. 26 May 2008. Retrieved 26 May 2008.
  11. ^ http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5isDSzbZv3Y-IEf0XM83EkJlPWS_g

Template:Iran Squad 1998 Asian Games

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