The 2019-20 Persian Gulf Pro League may not have started, but Iranian football fans have plenty to keep them entertained in Europe.
Iranian players have had a long history of playing in European football leagues. Four Iranians have played in the English Premier League, generally considered the best league in the world. Plenty more Iranian players have been found plying their trade in other European leagues.
While some Iranian football fans may have trouble saying goodbye to the country’s best and brightest, playing in top European leagues gives Iranian players experience which helps the national team.
Here are a few of the Iranian football players plying their trade abroad.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh, Brighton & Hove Albion, English Premier League
Prior to the season, Alireza Jahanbakhsh joined Premier League team Brighton & Hove Albion for a club record fee of £17 million. The 26-year-old attacking midfielder made 26 appearances across all competitions in his first season at the club and, although he didn’t score a goal, he did make a big impression as the club remained in the EPL for another year.
According to the latest bet365 odds, Brighton is paying 1,500/1 to win the 2019-20 English Premier League, 200/1 to make the top 4, and 3/1 to be relegated. Iranian football fans can bet on Brighton games at https://www.thebookiesoffers.co.uk/no-deposit-free-bets.
Ravi Shamsi, Leamington, England, National League
It’s not quite the heights of the English Premier League, but it’s still English football and therefore worth mentioning. Ravi Shamsi, a 21-year-old winger eligible to play for Iran or England, is plying his trade for Leamington in the semi-professional National League. Plenty of stars have come out of the National League, including England striker Jamie Vardy, so it’s worth keeping an eye on Shamsi.
Amir Abedzadeh, Maritimo, Portugal’s Primeira Liga
Amir Abedzadeh, son of Iran’s legendary goalkeeper Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh, has 3 three caps for the Iranian national team. He has seen more action on field in Portugal’s top division, where he tends goal for Maritimo. He has made 21 appearances for the Portuguese club, appearing against well-known Portuguese clubs like Benfica and Porto.
Saman Ghoddos, Amiens SC, French Ligue 1
This article wouldn’t be complete without mention of Saman Ghoddos, the Iranian national team’s star striker / midfielder who plays for Amiens SC in France. Ghoddos, who has scored 2 goals in 21 games for Iran (after 1 goal in 2 games for Sweden) scored 4 goals in his firs season in France. Previously, he scored 46 goals during a productive seven seasons at four different clubs in the top Swedish league. Amiens is paying 1,000/1 to win this season’s League 1 title and 5/2 to be relegated.
Milad Mohammadi Keshmarzi, Gent, Belgian Pro League
Belgium made the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup and Keshmarzi has had a first-hand look at the Belgian style of play during his time at Belgian top-division team Gent. The left back / winger, who has been called up to the Iranian national team 30 times, was signed by Gent this summer after a few years playing for Russian league team Akhmat Grozny. His twin brother Mehrdad plays for Desportivo Aves in the Portuguese Primeira League, proving that talent – and European football representation – runs in the family.
Sadegh Moharrami, Dinamo Zagreb, Croatian First Football league
All football fans remember Croatia’s amazing run to the 2018 World Cup final. Moharrami, a 23-year-old right back with four national team caps to his name, has had the pleasure of playing with Dinamo Zagreb since the start of last season after moving over from the Persian Pro Gulf League’s Persepolis. He has a five-year contract with Dinamo, underlying the Croatian teams’ faith in his defensive abilities.