Alireza Haghighi

Alireza Haghighi

Haghighi in 2014
Personal information
Date of birth (1988-05-06) 6 May 1988
Place of birth Tehran, Iran
Height 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current team
 Marítimo
Number 80
Youth career
2002–2006 Persepolis
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2006–2012 Persepolis 174 (0)
2012–2016 Rubin Kazan 1 (0)
2013 → Persepolis (loan) 2 (0)
2014 → Sporting Covilhã (loan) 14 (0)
2014–2015 → Penafiel (loan) 24 (0)
2016– Marítimo 3 (0)
National team‡
2002–2003 Iran U15 7 (0)
2004–2005 Iran U17 5 (0)
2005–2006 Iran U20 6 (0)
2006–2010 Iran U23 4 (0)
2012– Iran 22 (0)

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 28 February 2016.
† Appearances (goals)

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15:31, 12 November 2015 (UTC)

Alireza Haghighi (Persian:  علیرضا حقیقی ‎‎, born 6 May 1988) is an Iranian goalkeeper who plays for Marítimo and the Iranian national team.[1] Haghighi represented Iran at the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. Haghighi became the first Iranian goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet in a FIFA World Cup after a 0–0 draw against Nigeria in the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Club career

Persepolis

Having joined the senior squad of Persepolis at the age of 16. He made his debut in match against Saipa on 17 October 2006 and saved a penalty against the legendary Ali Daei.[2][3] Haghighi was playing for Persepolis Youth teams since 2002, after being scouted by coaches of Persepolis Football School in past years. He started the 2007–08 season with two other goalkeepers already ahead of him in the pecking order at Persepolis (Hassan Roudbarian, Team Melli's number one and Mehdi Vaezi, who has also been invited to the national team, but never capped). During this season, Haghighi did not play at all but extended his contract at the end of the season.

During the 2008–09 season, Haghighi was lucky to play in every game because of injuries to two another goalkeepers which made Haghighi become the first keeper for every game and statistically he was the number one keeper during this season that he was trained under legendary Iranian keeper Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh.

In the 2007–08 season, he captained Persepolis for the first time in the 2–1 victory against Saipa, making him the youngest captain of Persepolis in its history.

Rubin Kazan

In December 2011, Russian Premier League side Rubin Kazan sent a transfer request to Persepolis. He officially left Persepolis on 9 January 2012.[4] On 14 January 2012, Haghighi signed a 4-year deal with Rubin Kazan.[5][6] He signed a contract with the Russian club on 11 January and made his debut three days later in a pre-season friendly match.

Return to Persepolis (loan)

On 18 July 2013, Haghighi returned to Persepolis and signed a six months loan contract with the club.[7][8] On 23 October 2013, Haghighi played in a 5–1 win over Padideh Shandiz in a Hazfi Cup match, marked his first match for Persepolis after 18 months. He then played another Hazfi Cup match, this time against Alvand Hamedan which he keeping a clean sheet.

His loan contract ended on December 3, 2013.[9]

Sporting Covilhã (loan)

Haghighi was called back to the Rubin Kazan side during the 2014 winter transfer period. In January 2014, Haghighi signed a loan contract with Portuguese Segunda Liga side Sporting Covilhã, on loan from Rubin Kazan.[10] With Haghighi in net, Sporting Covilha avoided relegation. After 14 appearances with the club, Haghighi's loan contract ended and he returned to Rubin.

Penafiel (loan)

On 24 August 2014, Haghighi signed a one-year loan contract with Primeira Liga side Penafiel.[1] They won their first game on 20 September against Vitória with Haghighi keeping a clean sheet in their 2–0 win.[11] On 24 February 2015 Haghighi was named the Primeira Liga Player of the Week for Matchday 22 after his clean sheet in a 1–0 against Vitoria Setubal.[12] After his good performances at Penafiel, Sporting Braga became interested in Haghighi.[13]

Return to Rubin Kazan

Haghighi returned to Rubin for the 2015–16 season. He played in a pre-season friendly on 8 July 2015 against Karlsruher SC in a match that finished 2–2.[14] He played his first official game for Rubin on 24 September 2015 in a Russian Cup game against FC SKA-Energiya Khabarovsk which his team lost 0–2.[15]

Marítimo

2015–16

On 22 January 2016, Haghighi signed a 30-month contract with Marítimo in the Primeira Liga, reuniting with his former coach, Nelo Vingada.[16] Haghighi received his ITC on 27 January 2016 and was cleared to play for the club. Haghighi made his league debut for Marítimo on 14 February 2016 against S.C. Braga.[17] Haghighi kept his first clean–sheet for the club on 28 February 2016 in a 1–0 victory against Académica.

Club Career statistics

As of 2 March 2015
Iran Season League Hazfi Cup Asia Total
Club Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Persepolis Pro League 2006–07 4000––40
2007–08 0000––00
2008–09 2001030270
2009–10 15040––190
2010–11 2006030290
2011–12 1403000190
Russia Season League Russian Cup Europe Total
Club Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rubin Kazan Premier League 2011–12 00000000
2012–13 00000000
Iran Season League Hazfi Cup Asia Total
Club Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Persepolis Pro League 2013–14 0020––20
Portugal Season League Taça de Portugal Europe Total
Club Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Covilhã Segunda Liga 2013–14 14000––140
Penafiel Primeira Liga 2014–15 22030––250
Russia Season League Russian Cup Europe Total
Club Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Rubin Kazan Premier League 2015–16 00100010
Total Iran 73016060950
Russia 00100010
Portugal 3603000390
Career total 1110200601380

International career

Haghighi before match against Montenegro, 26 May 2014

Youth teams

Haghighi led Iran to the finals of West Asian U-15 tournament, held in Qatar in 2002, He was first keeper Iran U17 at 2004 AFC U-17 Championship,[18] also playing all 3 games for Iran U20 at 2006 AFC Youth Championship.[19][20][21] He made 3 appearances in 2005 Valentin A.Granatkin Memorial – International Youth Tournament for Iran U20.[22]

Olympic team

Haghighi was invited to Iran U23 in Asian Games 2006,[23]

Senior team

Haghighi was called up to Iran national football team in 2010 under management of Afshin Ghotbi.[24] In 2012 Haghighi was called up to the 2012 WAFF Championship in Kuwait. He started in a game against Bahrain. The game ended 0–0.

2014 FIFA World Cup

On 1 June 2014, he was included in Iran's 2014 FIFA World Cup squad by Carlos Queiroz.[25] On 16 June 2014, Haghighi started in Iran's opening match in the World Cup against Nigeria. With a goalless draw, Haghighi became the first Iranian goalkeeper to achieve a clean sheet at a FIFA World Cup. He also started Iran's next two matches in the World Cup against Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina. He showed a good performance in the Argentina match where he saved shots from Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuaín and Sergio Agüero. He conceded the only goal of the match in the 91st minute when Lionel Messi dribbled inside and curled a left-footed shot past the outstretched hands of Haghighi. In Iran's next and final match of the tournament, Haghighi conceded goals from Bosnia and Herzegovina strikers, where Iran was eliminated from the 2014 FIFA World Cup in the group stages after a 3–1 defeat. in the end of world cup 2014 Haghighi was 13 goalkeeper on the tournament.

2015 AFC Asian Cup

He was called into Iran's 2015 AFC Asian Cup squad on 30 December 2014 by Carlos Queiroz. Haghighi was one of three goalkeepers that kept a clean sheet throughout the group stages of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup[26]

Honours

Individual
Persepolis
Rubin Kazan

References

  1. 1 2 https://web.archive.org/20140826114641/http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/Penafiel/interior.aspx?content_id=901192. Archived from the original on 26 August 2014. Retrieved 14 August 2014. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  2. ↑ (Persian) Haddadpour, Mehdi; Zarei, Asghar. Persepolis F.C. Official pictorial lexicon and Yearbook of 2007–2008. Honarkade Khojaste
  3. ↑ "Iran Youth team debut on Sunday". Iran Sports Press. 28 October 2006. Retrieved 18 August 2010.
  4. ↑ "Latest Football News, Transfer Rumours & More". Goal.com.
  5. ↑ Goalkeeper Alireza Khagigi became player of "Rubin"
  6. ↑ "Iran keeper heads to Russia".
  7. ↑ "علیرضا حقیقی به تیم فوتبال پرسپولیس پیوست". ورزش سه.
  8. ↑ "Latest Football News, Transfer Rumours & More". Goal.com.
  9. ↑ Mashregh
  10. ↑ "Alireza Haghighi to join Sporting Covilha".
  11. ↑ "Penafiel wins first game of season in Portugal". USA TODAY. 20 September 2014.
  12. ↑ "portugaldesportivo.net".
  13. ↑ "Sp. Braga".
  14. ↑ «Рубин» - «Карлсруэ». Прямая трансляция матча. 8 July 2015 – via YouTube.
  15. ↑ "SKA-Energiya-Rubin game report" (in Russian). Russian National Football League. 24 September 2015.
  16. ↑ "Tasnim News Agency - Maritimo Signs Iran Goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi". Tasnim News Agency.
  17. ↑ http://uk.soccerway.com/matches/2016/02/14/portugal/portuguese-liga-/maritimo-funchal/sporting-braga/2068519/
  18. ↑ "Iran Sport". Iran Sport. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  19. ↑ AFC Youth Championship 2006: Heartbreak for Iran as Japan, DPR Korea go through to last eight
  20. ↑ AFC Youth Championship 2006: Jong, Kim double up as DPR Korea thrash Iran
  21. ↑ Iran rally for 3–1 win over Tajikistan
  22. ↑ "RSSSF". RSSSF. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  23. ↑ Behnegarsoft.com. "Aftab". Aftabnews.ir. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  24. ↑ "goal.com" (in Persian). goal.com. 27 December 2010. Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  25. ↑ "Queiroz trims Iran squad to 24". FIFA.com. 1 June 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  26. ↑ "Queiroz Names Team Melli Squad". afcasiancup.com. 30 December 2014.

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