 Ansarifard in 2013 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Karim Ansarifard | ||
| Date of birth | 3 April 1990 [1] | ||
| Place of birth | Ardabil, Iran[1] | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)[1] | ||
| Playing position | Centre Forward[1] | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Tractor Sazi (on loan from Persepolis) | ||
| Number | 11 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2005 | Inter Campus | ||
| 2005–2006 | Zob Ahan Ardabil | ||
| 2006–2007 | Saipa | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2007–2012 | Saipa | 123 | (55) |
| 2012– | Persepolis | 31 | (8) |
| 2013– | → Tractor Sazi (loan) | 19 | (9) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 2005–2006 | Iran U-17 | 3 | (0) |
| 2007–2008 | Iran U-20 | 7 | (5) |
| 2009–2011 | Iran U-23 | 13 | (5) |
| 2009– | Iran | 37 | (7) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 24 December 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 November 2013 | |||
Karim Ansarifard (Persian: کریم انصاریفرد; born 3 April 1990) is an Iranian Footballer who plays forTractor Sazi in Iran Pro League as a striker on loan from Persepolis and is also a member of the Iran national football team.[1] His playing style and ability, have drawn comparisons to Ali Daei (the coach who scouted him) and he was declared as Daei's "successor".[1]
World Soccer selected Ansarifard as one of best young talents in the world alongside Javier Hernandezand Jack Wilshere.[2] On 13 January 2012, FIFA.com selected him as one of players to watch in 2012.[3] Goal.com also chose him as one of Hot 100 young football players in the world.[4] Also for the year of 2012 FIFA ranked him as the 48th best goalscorer in the world and second best in Asia.
Club career
Saipa
During one of Saipa's training camps in Ardabil, Karim's home city, he was taken on a training trial by then-coach Ali Daei and was accepted into the club's youth academy and reserves.[1]
In the 2007 season Saipa the Iranian reigning champions encountered problems in scoring after the departure of Mohsen Khalili and retirement of then-coach Ali Daei. After 12 weeks Ali Daei moved Ansarifard to the first team from the reserves and the young starlet answered the coach's faith with good games including the only goal against a strong Sepahan team.[5]
Ansarifard scored 13 goals during the 2009/2010 season. After strong performances, Karim became fast one of the best players of Saipa and targeted by European clubs such as Borussia Dortmund and Celtic F.C.[6] later, FC Steaua Bucureşti made a €200,000 bid for a half season loan.[7] In May 2011, it was suggested that Everton are interested in signing Ansarifard.[8]
Despite major interest from European clubs, Conscription problems made the prospect of Ansarifard moving to a foreign club unlikely. Ansarifard renewed his contract with Saipa for another 2 years on 14 July 2011. In the 2011–2012 Iranian Pro League season, Ansarifard scored 21 goals and made 5 assists for Saipa, becoming the league's top scorer.
Persepolis
There was much speculation during the 2011–2012 Iranian Pro League season that Ansarifard would be leaving Saipa. On 17 June 2012 he signed a three-years contract with Persepolis.[9] He was given the number 9 shirt. He scored his first goal in a pre-season match against Aluminium. He made his debut for Persepolis in an official match against Sanat Naft and scored his first goal for Persepolis against Gahar Zagros. He scored his first Hat-trick as a Persepolis player (and second in his career) against Paykan. He scored another hat-trick in the Round of 32 of Hazfi Cup at Malavan. He also scored the Persepolis' first goal in the Hazfi Cup final. His team would go on to lose on penalties. At the start of the season, Ansarifard initially decided to stay at Persepolis despite bids from Sepahan, Tractor Sazi and two UAE Pro League sides.[10] However he fell out with club head coach Ali Daei during pre-season. He was out listed and was eventually loaned to Tractor Sazi on 14 July 2013.[11][12]
Loan to Tractor Sazi
After Persepolis listed him in the out of the squad, he decided to play another season in Iran and joined Tractor Sazi. He signed a one year loan contract with the option of a transfer to the European leagues in the case of bids.[13] He made his debut on 1 August 2013 in a 1–1 draw in Tabriz derby over Gostaresh Foolad.
