Kaveh Rezaei
Rezaei celebrating his goal against rivals Persepolis in 2017
Personal information
Full name Kaveh Rezaei
Date of birth (1992-04-05) 5 April 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Eslamabad Gharb, Iran
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Charleroi
Number 9
Youth career
2005–2011 Foolad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 Foolad 33 (1)
2012–2014 Saipa 69 (12)
2014–2016 Zob Ahan 34 (11)
2016–2017 Esteghlal 28 (7)
2017– Charleroi 15 (7)
International career
2007–2009 Iran U17 13 (10)
2009–2010 Iran U20 3 (5)
2012–2014 Iran U23 19 (11)
2015– Iran 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Kaveh Rezaei (Persian: کاوه رضایی; born 5 April 1992) is an Iranian football player, who plays for R. Charleroi S.C. in the Belgian First Division A as a striker.

Club career

Foolad

Rezaei started his career at Foolad. In the 2010–11 season, he scored one goal and provided two assists for his team mates in 16 games. During the next season, Rezaei played in 12 games starting in 4 and playing the whole 90 minutes in one of those games.

Saipa

He moved to Saipa to gain more playing time in the 2012–13 season, though not a fix started he managed to make 33 appearance, scored 5 goals against Saba, Peykan, Fajr Sepasi, Saba and Gohar. He also made 2 assist during the season.

Zob Ahan

On 28 December 2014, Rezaei joined Zob Ahan with an 18-month contract which keep him until end of 2015–16 season with Isfahani side.[1] On 16 April 2015, he scored a hat-trick in a 5–3 victory against Naft Tehran. Rezaei won back to back Hazfi Cups in 2014 and 2015 with Zob Ahan.

Esteghlal

Rezaei celebrating after converting his penalty against Al Sadd along with Khosro Heydari.

On 16 June 2016, Rezaei refused to extend contract with Zob Ahan and signed a contract with Esteghlal.[2] It was later revealed that he also had an offer from Persepolis before but had rejected it for personal reasons.[3] Esteghlal fans and board members said that this was a great and promising move since the departure of Sajjad Shahbazzadeh to Alanyaspor. Rezaei made his debut on 25 July 2016 in a 1–1 draw against Naft Tehran and he assisted Jaber Ansari's goal.[4] In the next match on 31 July, he scored his first goal for Esteghlal in a 2–1 loss against Esteghlal Khuzestan.[5] He scored a header in a 1–1 draw against Machine Sazi on 11 September.[6] On 12 February 2017, Esteghlal defeated city rivals Persepolis 3–2, with Rezaei scoring the third goal.[7] On 27 February 2017, in an AFC Champions League group-stage match against Al-Taawoun FC, he scored 53 seconds after kick-off; it was the fastest goal scored by an Iranian in an AFC Champions League match.[8] On 11 April, he scored another champions league goal against Lokomotiv Tashkent to equalise the scoreline, as the game ended 1–1.[9] In the following champions league game against Al-Ahli which the match finished at 1–1, he scored another equaliser.[10] On 4 May 2017, he assisted Jaber Ansari's goal in Esteghlal's 2–1 win against Sepahan. This assist made him the top provider in the league.[11] He finished the season with 7 goals and 9 assists as Esteghlal finished the season as runners-up in the league.[12] On 10 May, he scored and assisted in the champions league match against Al-Taawoun as Esteghlal beat their opponent 2–1 and qualified to the next round.[13] On 22 May, he scored a late winning goal from the penalty spot against Al Ain the match finished 1–0.[14]

Charleroi

On 14 June 2017, after rumours that he would sign a contract extension with Esteghlal, Rezaei signed a two-year contract, with an option to extend for another two years, with Belgian Pro League club Sporting Charleroi.[15][16] Rezaei was assigned the shirt number 9. He made his debut for the club in a 1–0 victory over Kortrijk on 29 June 2017, coming on as substitute for Chris Bedia.[17] On 26 August, he scored his first goal for the club, against Zulte Waregem. Later in that match he scored his second goal to help win the match 3–2.[18] After his stuning performance in September and scoring two goals in four games, Rezaei was voted as club's best player of the month by the fans.[19][20] On 18 November, he scored a brace against KV Mechelen and dedicated his goals to his fellow citizens who sufferd in earthquake.[21][22]

International

Youth

U17

Rezaei finished as the top scorer of the 2008 AFC U-16 Championship scoring in every single game he played in and finishing with 6 goals in 5 games. Iran won the championship winning the final game 2–0 against South Korea.

Rezaei featured for Iran in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup scoring a goal against Gambia.[23]

U19

Rezaei also made the squad for the unsuccessful 2010 AFC U-19 Championship, surprisingly his involvement was highly limited under the guidance of his former U17 manager, Ali Doustimehr. However, he started in Iran's last game of the group stages, scoring both goals in the game and helping to record Iran's only win of the tournament.

U23

In 2012, he broke in to coach Ali Reza Mansourian's squad and has been regular feature ever since. He was called up for the 2013 AFC U-22 Championship, where he was the leading goalscorer after the group stage with 5 goals in 3 matches, including a hat trick in his last game.[24] He named in Iran U23 final list for Incheon 2014.[25]

Senior

Rezaei trying a bycile kick in a friendly against Togo in 2017.

Rezaei received his first call-up to the senior side on 30 August 2015 replacing injured Alireza Jahanbakhsh.[26] He made his debut against India during Iran's 2018 World Cup Qualification campaign on 8 September 2015. After a 2-year absence from the international side, Rezaei received another call-up on 1 October 2017 to play for Iran in friendlies against Togo and Russia.[27]

Style of play

A hardworking, skillful and creative forward, who is good in the air and is known for his great striking ability.[28] A typical number 9, Rezaei been used on the wings through his career.[29] Charleroi teammate and French goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau praised heaped praise towards Rezaei, calling him "a complete striker".[30]

Personal life

In May 2017, Rezaei married with Iran women's national volleyball team player Farnoosh Sheikhi.[31] His idol was Thiery Henry.[30] He is friends with Mehdi Rahmati, Bakhtiar Rahmani and Soroush Rafiei.[32] He cites Navid Mohammadzadeh as his favourite actor.[32] He can speak Persian and Kurdish fluently.[33]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 5 August 2017[12]
Club Season League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Iran League Hazfi Cup Asia Total
Foolad 2009–10 Persian Gulf Pro League 7 0 1 0 – 8 0
2010–11 14 1 1 0 – 15 1
2011–12 12 0 0 0 – 12 0
Foolad F.C. 33 1 2 0 – 35 0
Saipa 2012–13 Persian Gulf Pro League 33 5 0 0 – 33 5
2013–14 25 6 1 0 – 26 6
2014–15 11 1 2 1 – 13 2
Saipa F.C. 69 12 3 1 – 72 13
Zob Ahan 2014–15 Persian Gulf Pro League 10 5 1 1 – 11 6
2015–16 24 6 3 0 7 2 34 8
Zob Ahan F.C. 34 11 4 1 7 2 45 14
Esteghlal 2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League 28 7 3 0 9 6 40 13
Esteghlal F.C. 28 7 3 0 9 6 40 13
Belgium League Belgian Cup UEFA Total
Charleroi 2017–18 Belgian First Division A 14 6 0 0 – – 14 6
Sporting Charleroi 14 6 0 0 – 14 6
Career total 177 31 12 2 16 8 205 41
Season Team Assists
10–11 Foolad 1
11–12 Foolad 2
12–13 Saipa 2
13–14 Saipa 3
14–15 Saipa 1
Zob Ahan 3
15–16 Zob Ahan 3
16–17 Esteghlal 8

International

As of 10 October 2017.[12]
Iran national team
Year Apps Goals
2015 3 0
2016 0 0
2017 3 0
Total 6 0

Honours

Club

Zob Ahan

International

Iran U-16

Individual

References

  1. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2014-12-28. Retrieved 2014-12-28. ((cite web)): Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  2. ^ "Kaveh Rezaei joins Esteghlal football team".
  3. ^ "کاوه رضایی: با پرسپولیس فقط مذاکره کردم" (in Persian).
  4. ^ "استقلال 1 - نفت 1؛ منصوریان از خودی‌ها خورد!" (in Persian).
  5. ^ "اس.خوزستان 2 - استقلال 1؛ قهرمان به صدر بازگشت" (in Persian).
  6. ^ "دیدار تیم های استقلال و ماشین سازی برنده نداشت" (in Persian).
  7. ^ "استقلال3 ـ پرسپولیس2؛ سلفی با شگفتی" (in Persian).
  8. ^ "کاوه رضایی سریع ترین گل نمایندگان ایران در تاریخ لیگ قهرمانان آسیا را زد" (in Persian).
  9. ^ "لوکوموتیو 1- استقلال 1؛ امتیاز مهم با گل کاوه" (in Persian).
  10. ^ "استقلال ١- الاهلی ١؛ تقریبا صعود کردیم" (in Persian).
  11. ^ "کاوه رضایی، برترین پاسور لیگ برتر ایران شد" (in Persian).
  12. ^ a b c "Soccerway stats".
  13. ^ "التعاون 1 - استقلال 2؛ صعود با جادوی رحمتی و کاوه" (in Persian).
  14. ^ "Asian Champions League: late goal spoils Al Ain's show against Esteghlal in Iran". The National. Retrieved 23 May 2017.
  15. ^ "Kaveh Rezaei, un attaquant iranien, débarque à Charleroi" (in French). 14 June 2017.
  16. ^ "Le Sporting de Charleroi sur le point d'engager un attaquant iranien: Kaveh Rezaei a déjà posé avec le maillot des Zèbres" (in French). 14 June 2017.
  17. ^ "Charleroi wint met kleinste verschil van KV Kortrijk" (in Dutch). 29 July 2017.
  18. ^ "برتری پرگل شارلوا با دوبار گلزنی کاوه رضایی" (in Persian).
  19. ^ "Le joueur du mois de Septembre est Kaveh Rezaei" (in French). ((cite web)): line feed character in |title= at position 32 (help)
  20. ^ "کاوه رضایی به عنوان بهترین بازیکن ماه سپتامبر باشگاه شارلوا انتخاب شدد" [Kaveh Rezaei was chosen as Charleroi's best player of September] (in Persian). Tarafdari. 12 October 2017. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  21. ^ "Rezaei: "Pour les victimes en Iran"" [Rezaei: "For the victims in Iran"] (in French).
  22. ^ "کاوه رضایی: گل هایم مقابل میشلن را به زلزله زده های کرمانشاه تقدیم می کنم" [Kaveh Rezaei: I dedicate my goals against Mechelen to the victims of Kermanshah's earthquake] (in Persian). Tarafdari. 18 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  23. ^ FIFA
  24. ^ http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/men/afc-u22-championship/27553-kalaf-claims-mvp-award.html
  25. ^ "بازیکنان اعزامی تیم ملی امید به اینچئون مشخص شد". ffiri.ir. Retrieved 2014-08-12.
  26. ^ "کاوه رضایی به تیم ملی فوتبال دعوت شد/ جهانبخش نمی‌آید" (in Persian).
  27. ^ "27 بازیکن از سوی کی روش به تیم ملی فراخوانده شدند؛ کاوه رضایی بالاخره دعوت شد" (in Persian). Tarafdari. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 2 October 2017.
  28. ^ ":آنالیز/ کاوه در آسیا بهتر است یا طارمی؟" (in Persian).
  29. ^ "کاوه؛ وینگر اتلتیک مرکز دوست (آنالیز)" (in Persian).
  30. ^ a b "Kaveh Rezaei, le Shah botté" (in French).
  31. ^ "ازدواج کاوه رضایی با ملی‌پوش والیبال ایران +عکس" (in Persian). 3 May 2017.
  32. ^ a b "کاوه رضایی از درباره الی تا تیری آنری" (in Persian).
  33. ^ "کاوه رضایی سه زبانه می‌شود!" (in Persian).
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kaveh Rezaei.
Categories