Football is a sport that transcends national borders, with players regularly being recruited into the clubs of foreign leagues. This is why most professional teams are made up of a wide range of different nationalities and ethnicities, often being more diverse than the towns and cities they represent.
And with Iran being a nation filled with football fans, it’s no surprise that many of the country’s most talented players have been scouted by top-flight leagues around the world.
Here are some of those great Iranian players.
Steven Beitashour
Although not born in Iran, Steven Beitashour is an Iranian national who has played for the country’s national team. He made his international debut for Iran in October 2013, competing in a game against Thailand that saw Iran win 2-1. A month later, he got his first assist, helping Reza Ghoochannejhad to score in the second leg game against Thailand.
He also plays in the North American MLS, where he has played for six different clubs. He started his career in 2007, signing for the San Jose Frogs; however, the club folded in 2008 and Beitashour was left without a club. In 2010 he signed for the San Jose Earthquakes, playing in 87 games over four years. He then moved to Vancouver Whitecaps FC for 2014 and 2015.
Beitashour played for Toronto FC in 2016 and 2017, helping the club to beat Seattle Sounders FC in the playoffs and going on to win the MLS Cup during his second season with the club.
Toronto FC have continued to be contenders with strong futures odds in the main sports wagering markets for the 2020 MLS Cup, though Beitashour's new team the Colorado Rapids aren't favored so highly by oddsmakers, despite making it to the playoffs.
Alireza Jahanbakhsh
Alireza Jahanbakhsh is an attacking midfielder currently playing in the English Premier League for Brighton & Hove Albion. He first signed for the club in July 2018 on a five-year contract and remains part of their squad in the 2020-21 season. During that time, he has made 33 appearances and scored four goals.
He made his debut for Brighton a month after signing, playing against Watford in the club’s opening league game. He got his first goal for the club in December 2019 and was seen crying after being overcome with emotion.
Before joining Brighton, Jahanbakhsh competed in the Eredivisie, the highest level of football in the Netherlands, for AZ Alkmaar.
Shahab Zahedi
Originally from Malayer, Shahab Zahedi is a striker that’s played in four different countries. Having started out playing for Persepolis in 2014, Zahedi only got to make four appearances in three seasons.
He was then loaned to Machine Sazi in 2017 where he made 12 appearances and scored four goals. This got the attention of ÍBV, a club that competes in the top flight league in Iceland. He remained with the club for one year, scoring eight goals from 23 appearances.
In 2019, Zahedi was signed by the South Korean side Suwon Samsung Bluewings, though his contract was terminated after one day. He then quickly signed for the Ukrainian top-tier side Olimpik Donetsk, where he remains today. During that time, he’s played in 23 games from which he has scored an impressive 10 goals.
Saman Nariman Jahan
Originally from Bonab, Saman Nariman Jahan is a winger with a strong career in both Iranian football and abroad. He started his professional career playing for Naft Tehran in 2012, though he was loaned out to Gostaresh Foulad for much of his time on their books.
After impressing at Gostaresh Foulad, Nariman Jahan was signed by the club in 2013, where he remained until 2016. During his time there, he made a total of 73 appearances and scored 22 goals.
After several more successful years in Iranian football, Nariman Jahan moved to Azerbaijan in 2020, signing for Neftçi Baku in the capital. In the short time he’s been there, he’s played in 13 games and scored just one goal so far.
This included six games in the 2019-20 season, helping Neftçi Baku finish as runners up in the Premyer Liga.