 Nekounam during presentation with Esteghlal | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Javad Nekounam | ||
| Date of birth | 7 October 1980 | ||
| Place of birth | Rey, Iran | ||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Esteghlal | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Naft Tehran | |||
| Pas | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1998–2005 | Pas | 179 | (45) |
| 2005–2006 | Al-Wahda | 11 | (3) |
| 2006 | Al-Sharjah | 14 | (8) |
| 2006–2012 | Osasuna | 149 | (26) |
| 2012– | Esteghlal | 43 | (8) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 1998–2000 | Iran U20 | ||
| 2002 | Iran U23 | 6 | (2) |
| 2000– | Iran | 135 | (37) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 20 December 2013.
† Appearances (Goals).
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18 November 2013 | |||
Javad Nekounam (Persian: جواد نکونام; born 7 October 1980) is an Iranian professional footballer who plays for Esteghlal F.C. in the Iran Pro League.
Usually playing as a central midfielder, he is known for his passing ability, defensive acumen and powerful long-range shots. He spent most of his professional career in Spain with Osasuna, appearing in more than 200 official games.
Nekounam represented the Iranian national team over 130 times, appearing in several major tournaments including the 2006 World Cup.
Club career
Early years / UAE
Nekounam was born in Rey. Having played for Pas Tehran for several years, appearing in the AFC Champions League with the club, he signed a five-month contract with Al Wahda in the United Arab Emirates for US$1 million, in 2005.[1]
In January 2006 Nekounam joined another club in the country, Al Sharjah, although some European clubs such as 1. FC Kaiserslautern and Tottenham Hotspur had shown interest in him.[2]
Osasuna[edit]
After his performance at the 2006 World Cup many clubs in Europe were in the running to sign Nekounam, mainly Hertha BSC of the Bundesliga and French Ligue 1 outfit Olympique Lyonnais, but he eventually joined La Liga side CA Osasuna on a two-year contract,[3] with an option to a third year with player and club agreement and a €5 million minimum release-fee clause on his contract. He thus became the first Iranian player to be signed by a Spanish club[4] and, after a particularly successful first season, began to attract interest from other European clubs noticeably Scotland's Rangers, who had a £1 million pound offer rejected.[5]
On 14 August, Nekounam suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his right knee[6] and, after undergoing a successful surgery in Augsburg, Germany, missed eight months of action. His number 24 was given to new signing Jaroslav Plašil, as he recovered from his injury.
On 24 November 2007, Osasuna showed faith in Nekounam signing a three-year contract extension on his existing contract that was set to end on 30 June of the following year, with a €5 million buy-out clause for the first two seasons and €2.5M for the last.[7] In February of the following year he made his first training appearance since the injury – incidentally, a week later, Swiss Xavier Margairaz (teammate and also a central midfielder) suffered a similar injury, missing an estimate period that could amount to one year, on 27 April he made his long-awaited return against Valencia, replacing Francisco Puñal in the 70th minute, in a 0–3 away loss.
On 31 August 2008, Nekounam scored Osasuna's first goal of the season, from the penalty spot, in a 1–1 home draw against Villarreal.[8] In November/December he also netted, but the Navarrese failed to win at Málaga CF (2–4)[9] and with Real Valladolid (3–3),[10] also scoring the opener againstReal Madrid, in a 1–3 away loss on 18 January 2009.[11]
On 22 March 2009, Nekounam netted a last-minute goal against RCD Espanyol (1–0 home win),[12] and finished the season as Osasuna's second goalscorer, behind Walter Pandiani, scoring nine times in the league (a career-best in Spain). In the 2009 summer the team received offers from both Espanyol and Villarreal, with the latter in particular being ready to pay the €5M buy-out clause in Nekounam's contract; however, the player repeatedly insisted to be "happy at the club", waiting until he "hears some better deals".[13][14]
Nekounam was again a regular starter for Osasuna in the 2010–11 season, but also spent one month at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup with his national team. On 20 February 2011, in the second game upon his return from Qatar, he scored twice in a 4–0 home win against Espanyol,[15] and eventually finished the campaign with six goals in 26 appearances, as his team again avoided relegation.
On 21 May 2011, Nekounam renewed his contract with Osasuna for another two seasons, with the option of an annual renewal of his link.[16] In July of the following year, amidst interest from Iranian powerhouse Esteghlal and unnamed Turkish and Qatari clubs, it was reported that he would only remain with theRojillos if he accepted a salary reduction – he was the side's highest-paid player.[17]
Esteghlal
On 21 July 2012, aged almost 32, Nekounam returned to his country and signed a two-years contract with Esteghlal, for a record US$1,500,000.[18][19] He scored his first goal for his new club in a 2–3 loss against Foolad FC, through a penalty. He also scored several goals from penalty kicks or not, in match against Tractor Sazi, Fajr Sepasi, Al-Ain, Al Rayyan and others. He scored the only goal of Esteghlal in match over Foolad on 5 May 2013, helping his side to secured their 28th official title in their history.[20] It was also Nekounam's second major title, after won the Iran Pro League with Pas Tehran in2003–04 season. He later declines offers from Al Sharjah and Tractor Sazi to stay in Esteghlal for another season.
International career
Nekounam received his first call-up to Iran in May 2000. He became a starter for the national side during the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and, already a key midfield element, played in two of the national team's games during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, being suspended for the final group game against Angola after his second yellow card against Portugal.
Additionally Nekounam helped Iran the 2002 Asian Games and 2004 West Asian Football Federation Championship, and also represented Iran in the 2002 West Asian Football Federation Championship and 2004, 2007 and 2011 Asian Cups plus 2004, 2007, 2011 and 2015 Asian cup qualifications beside 2010 and 2014 World Cup qualifications. He helped Iran national football team in qualification to the 2014 FIFA World Cup, scoring six goals in 16 matches.
Personal life
Nekounam was dating with Leyla Otadi but both of them announced that their separation in December 2009. Nekounam's current partner is Nasrin Moghadam, an Iranian model. They began their relations in 2011. On 6 February 2013, Nekounam scored a hattrick against Lebanonin Iran's 5–0 win in a 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification match. He celebrated by placing the ball under his jersey, as it was reported that his wife is pregnant. He officially confirmed this in March 2013 in an interview with Esteghlal newspaper before Nowruz. On 9 July 2012, Nekounam became a father for the first time following the birth of his son Arian
