Alireza Haghighi facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Alireza Haghighi

Haghighi with Iran in 2014
Personal information
Date of birth	(1988-05-02) 2 May 1988 (age 37)
Place of birth	Tehran, Iran
Height	1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Kheybar
Number	13
Youth career
2001–2002	Saipa
2002–2007	Persepolis
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–2012	Persepolis	73	(0)
2012–2016	Rubin Kazan	0	(0)
2013	→ Persepolis (loan)	0	(0)
2014	→ Sporting Covilhã (loan)	12	(0)
2014–2015	→ Penafiel (loan)	22	(0)
2016	Marítimo	4	(0)
2017	Eskilstuna	17	(0)
2018	Sundsvall	0	(0)
2019–2020	Nassaji	21	(0)
2020–2021	Gol Gohar Sirjan	18	(0)
2021–2023	Nassaji	57	(0)
2023–2024	Havadar	27	(0)
2025–	Kheybar	2	(0)
International career‡
2002–2003	Iran U15
2004–2005	Iran U17	5	(0)
2005–2006	Iran U20	6	(0)
2006–2010	Iran U23	4	(0)
2010–2017	Iran	24	(0)
Medal record Representing  Iran Asian Games Bronze 2006 Qatar Team Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 17 April 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 10:23, 3 July 2022 (UTC)

Alireza Haghighi, born on May 6, 1988, is a professional football player from Iran. He plays as a goalkeeper for the team Kheybar.

Alireza Haghighi's Club Journey

Starting at Persepolis

Alireza joined the main team of Persepolis when he was just 16 years old. His first game was on October 17, 2006, against Saipa. In that game, he made an important save by blocking a penalty kick from the famous player Ali Daei.

Alireza had been playing for Persepolis's youth teams since 2002. He was discovered by coaches from the Persepolis Football School.

During the 2007–08 season, Alireza didn't play much. There were two other goalkeepers ahead of him. But he still signed a new contract with the team.

In the 2008–09 season, Alireza got a chance to play in almost every game. This happened because the other two goalkeepers were injured. He became the main goalkeeper and was considered one of the best that season. He even trained with the legendary Iranian goalkeeper Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh.

In the 2007–08 season, Alireza became the youngest captain in Persepolis history. He led his team to a 2–1 win against Saipa.

Moving to Rubin Kazan

In December 2011, a Russian team called Rubin Kazan wanted Alireza to join them. He officially left Persepolis on January 9, 2012. A few days later, on January 14, 2012, Alireza signed a four-year contract with Rubin Kazan. He played his first game for them in a friendly match just three days after signing.

Back to Persepolis on Loan

On July 18, 2013, Alireza returned to Persepolis for a six-month loan. His first game back was on October 23, 2013, in a Hazfi Cup match against Padideh Shandiz. Persepolis won that game 5–1. He also played another Hazfi Cup game where he didn't let the other team score any goals. His loan ended on December 3, 2013.

Playing in Portugal

Sporting Covilhã Loan

In January 2014, Alireza went on loan again, this time to a Portuguese team called Sporting Covilhã. With Alireza as their goalkeeper, Sporting Covilhã managed to avoid being moved down to a lower league. After playing 14 games, his loan ended, and he went back to Rubin Kazan.

Penafiel Loan

On August 24, 2014, Alireza signed another one-year loan deal with a Portuguese team, Penafiel. In their first game with him, on September 20, they won 2–0 against Vitória, and Alireza kept a "clean sheet" (meaning he didn't let any goals in).

Because of his great performances at Penafiel, another team, Sporting Braga, became interested in him.

Return to Rubin Kazan (Again)

Alireza went back to Rubin Kazan for the 2015–16 season. He played his first official game for Rubin Kazan on September 24, 2015, in a Russian Cup match. However, his team lost that game 0–2.

Joining Marítimo

On January 22, 2016, Alireza signed a contract with Marítimo, another team in Portugal. He joined his former coach, Nelo Vingada, there. Alireza started playing for Marítimo on February 14, 2016. He got his first clean sheet for the club on February 28, 2016, in a 1–0 win. Alireza and Marítimo ended his contract on August 20, 2016.

Playing in Sweden

AFC Eskilstuna

On March 13, 2017, Alireza signed a one-year contract with a Swedish club called AFC Eskilstuna. Soon after joining, he got a serious injury and couldn't play for several months. He returned to training in late June 2017 and finally played his first game on July 8, 2017.

Alireza played so well after his injury that he was named in the "Team of the Week" for the Swedish league in August. On August 19, 2017, he even helped his team score a goal in their 3–1 victory against Malmö.

GIF Sundsvall

On March 13, 2018, Alireza signed a short three-month contract with another Swedish team, GIF Sundsvall. He left the team on May 11, 2018.

Alireza Haghighi's International Career

Haghighi before a match against Montenegro in 2014

Playing for Youth Teams

Alireza was a key player for Iran's Under-15 team, leading them to the finals of a tournament in Qatar in 2002. He was also the main goalkeeper for Iran's Under-17 team in the 2004 AFC U-17 Championship. He played all three games for Iran's Under-20 team in the 2006 AFC Youth Championship.

Playing for the Senior Team

Alireza was first called to play for the main Iran national football team in 2010. In 2012, he played in a game against Bahrain which ended in a 0–0 draw.

2014 FIFA World Cup

Haghighi starting a match against Argentina national football team

On June 1, 2014, Alireza was chosen to be part of Iran's team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He started in Iran's first World Cup match against Nigeria on June 16, 2014. In that game, he became the first Iranian goalkeeper to keep a clean sheet (no goals scored against him) in a FIFA World Cup match, which ended 0–0.

He also played in Iran's next two World Cup games against Argentina and Bosnia and Herzegovina. He played very well against Argentina, saving shots from famous players like Lionel Messi, Gonzalo Higuaín, and Sergio Agüero. However, Lionel Messi scored the only goal in the 91st minute. In Iran's last game, Alireza let in goals from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Iran was eliminated from the World Cup after a 3–1 loss.

2015 AFC Asian Cup

Alireza was also part of Iran's team for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. He was one of only three goalkeepers who managed to keep a clean sheet throughout all the group stage games of the tournament.

Club Statistics

Awards and Achievements

Alireza Haghighi has won several awards with his teams:

Persepolis

• Iran Pro League: 2007–08
• Hazfi Cup: 2009–10, 2010–11

Rubin Kazan

• Russian Cup: 2011–12
• Russian Super Cup: 2012
• Marbella Cup: 2012

Nassaji

• Hazfi Cup: 2021–22

Iran U23

• Asian Games Bronze Medal: 2006

See also

In Spanish: Alireza Haghighi para niños