Iran midfielder Nekounam bids farewell to soccer playing career

Iranian national team captain Javad Nekounam has brought down the curtains on his soccer-playing career at the age of 35.

The veteran midfielder announced his retirement from the soccer world in a statement released on Friday.

“This is not a permanent end. I have to step into a new world in the professional career very soon, and I will return to soccer again,” Nekounam said in his statement.

The Iranian player, who had called time on his international career in 2015, has 151 caps and has scored 38 times for the men’s national soccer team, nicknamed Team Melli.

The Tehran-born player began his professional career in Pas Tehran in 1998 and joined al-Wahda FC in the United Arab Emirates in 2005. He signed for al-Sharjah SC, another club in the country, in 2006.

After his great performance at the 2006 World Cup, many soccer clubs in Europe showed enthusiasm to sign Nekounam. However, the Iranian soccer player decided to join the Spanish club, Osasuna, on a two-year contract, with an option to a third year. He succeeded in winning the best player of the 2011 for Osasuna.

Osasuna pinned faith on Nekounam on November 24, 2007 and agreed to a three-year contract extension on the Iranian player's contract.

He renewed his contract with the Spanish soccer club for another two seasons in 2011, with an annual renewal option.

In 2012, Nekounam returned to Iran and signed a two-year contract with the professional Esteghlal Tehran Football Club. He agreed to a four-month deal with Kuwait SC in January 2014 and returned to Osasuna in August the same year by signing a two-year contract.

The Iranian player joined Iran's Saipa Football Club in 2015. He moved to Qatari sports club al-Arabi in January 2016 on a four-month contract with an option to extend for a further year. The Qatari club severed links to Nekounam in June 2016.

In May, the former Iran national team captain revealed that he would start his coaching career as Carlos Queiroz assistant at Team Melli, saying he did not want to lose this chance because he could learn a lot from working with him.

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