Alireza Jahanbakhsh facts for kids
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Jahanbakhsh with Iran in the 2022 FIFA World Cup
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 11 August 1993 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Jirandeh, Iran | ||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m | ||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Winger, Attacking midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||
| Club information | |||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | SC Heerenveen | ||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 30 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | Payam Alborz Qazvin | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2008 | Persian Qazvin | ||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2010 | Damash Gilan | ||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | ||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2011 | Damash Tehran | 12 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2013 | Damash Gilan | 44 | (10) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2015 | NEC | 55 | (17) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2015–2018 | AZ | 85 | (34) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2021 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 50 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2024 | Feyenoord | 71 | (9) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2024– | SC Heerenveen | 8 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||
| National team‡ | |||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2013 | Iran U20 | 17 | (11) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2015 | Iran U21 | 6 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||
| 2013– | Iran | 89 | (17) | ||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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† Appearances (Goals). |
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Alireza Jahanbakhsh Jirendeh (born on August 11, 1993) is a professional footballer from Iran. He plays as a right winger or attacking midfielder for the Dutch club SC Heerenveen. He is also the captain of the Iran national team.
In 2014, Alireza was voted the second best young player in the Eredivisie, which is the top football league in the Netherlands. During the 2017–18 Eredivisie season, he scored 21 goals. This made him the first Asian player ever to be the top scorer in a major European football league.
Alireza has played for Iran in three FIFA World Cup tournaments: 2014, 2018, and 2022. He also represented his country in the AFC Asian Cup in 2015, 2019, and 2023. Before joining the senior team, he played for Iran's under-20 and under-21 teams.
Contents
Early Life and Start in Football
Alireza Jahanbakhsh was born on August 11, 1993, in Jirandeh, a small city in Iran. He grew up in Qazvin. He started playing football in youth academies.
Club Career Highlights
Alireza has played for several clubs, mostly in the Netherlands and England.
Damash
Alireza spent most of his youth playing in Rasht and Qazvin. In 2008, he joined the youth team of Damash Tehran. He began his senior career with Damash Tehran in 2010. In 2011, at just 17 years old, he played his first game for Damash Gilan in Iran's top league. He scored his first goal for Damash Gilan in January 2012. He scored 10 goals in 42 league games for the club.
NEC
Moving to the Netherlands
In May 2013, Alireza agreed to join NEC, a Dutch club, for three years. He officially joined on July 1, 2013. He played his first game for NEC in August 2013. He scored his first goal in a cup match, where NEC won 8–0.
In December 2013, he scored two goals and helped with another in a 3–2 win against AZ Alkmaar. On the last day of the 2013–14 season, Alireza scored two late goals against Ajax. These goals helped NEC avoid being automatically sent down to a lower league. He was voted the second best young talent in the Eredivisie that season.
Becoming a Star Player
In the 2014–15 season, Alireza continued to shine. He scored a goal in the first game of the season. In August, he scored two goals and made two assists in a 4–1 win. In September, he scored a free kick goal in a cup match.
In October 2014, Alireza was named the Best Player of the First Period in the Jupiler League. In February 2015, he scored a fantastic bicycle kick goal and was named the best player of the match. At the end of the season, fans chose him as NEC's player of the season. He was also voted the best player in the Eerste Divisie for the 2014–15 season, with 12 goals and 18 assists.
AZ
Joining AZ Alkmaar
On August 3, 2015, Alireza signed a five-year contract with another Dutch club, AZ Alkmaar. He made his debut for AZ in September 2015. He also played in the UEFA Europa League for the first time in October 2015. He got his first assist for AZ in November 2015. His first goal for AZ came in January 2016 against his old club, NEC.
Continued Success
In the 2016–17 season, Alireza changed his jersey number to 7. He scored his first goal of the season in August 2016. In January 2017, he scored two goals and made an assist, earning him the man of the match award. He scored his first goal in a European competition in February 2017. He was named the best winger in the Dutch League for the 2016–17 season.
Top Scorer in Europe
The 2017–18 season was amazing for Alireza. He scored three goals (a hat trick) and made an assist in April 2018. On the very last day of the season, he scored another hat trick. This made him the top goal scorer in the Eredivisie with 21 goals. He also had 12 assists, placing him third in the league for assists. He became the first Asian player ever to be the top goal scorer in a major European league.
Brighton & Hove Albion
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Moving to the Premier League
On July 25, 2018, Alireza joined Brighton & Hove Albion, a team in the Premier League (England's top league). He signed a five-year contract. He made his debut for Brighton in August 2018. He played 25 matches in his first season but did not score any goals or make any assists due to injuries and adapting to the new league.
First Goals and Amazing Bicycle Kick
In the 2019–20 season, Alireza started to get more playing time. On December 28, 2019, he scored his first goal for Brighton. He was very emotional and cried after scoring. Just a few days later, on January 1, 2020, he scored an incredible equalizing bicycle kick goal against Chelsea. This goal was later voted the Premier League Goal of the Month for January. Alireza said it was the best goal he had ever scored.
Final Season with Brighton
In the 2020–21 season, Alireza scored a powerful goal in a 4–0 win against Portsmouth in the EFL Cup. He scored again in the same competition a few days later. He also played in Brighton's exciting 3–2 home victory over champions Manchester City.
Feyenoord
On July 17, 2021, Alireza joined Feyenoord, another big club in the Netherlands, on a three-year contract. He made his debut for Feyenoord in July in a European match. He scored his first two goals for the club in August in a UEFA Europa Conference League game. He made his league debut for Feyenoord later that month.
SC Heerenveen
On November 6, 2024, Alireza Jahanbakhsh signed a contract with Dutch Eredivisie club SC Heerenveen until the end of the season.
International Career
Youth Teams
Alireza played for Iran's under-20 team in 2010. He was only 16 at the time. He later became the captain of the under-20 team and scored 5 goals in four games during the qualifiers for the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship. He scored two more goals in the championship itself.
He was also called up to Iran's under-23 team for the Olympic qualifiers in March 2015 and was named team captain.
Senior National Team
On October 5, 2013, Alireza was called up to the senior national team (Team Melli). He played his first game as a substitute against Thailand. He scored his first goal for the national team in his second game, a 3–0 win against Thailand.
He was part of Iran's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. He played in all three group matches. He also played in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
In May 2018, he was selected for Iran's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He played in all three group matches against Morocco, Spain, and Portugal.
In December 2018, Alireza was chosen for Iran's team for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. He scored his first goal in this tournament against Oman.
Alireza was also part of Iran's team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He played in the first two games against England and Wales. He missed the final group game due to receiving two yellow cards.
In January 2024, he was named in the Iranian squad for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. In the quarter-finals against Japan, he scored a penalty in extra time. This goal helped his country win 2–1 and reach the semi-finals.
Playing Style
Alireza Jahanbakhsh is known for being a fast and dangerous player. He is often compared to Iranian football legend Mehdi Mahdavikia. Alireza has said that his dream is to play in the Bundesliga (Germany's top league). He grew up watching his heroes like Ali Daei and Ali Karimi play for big German clubs.
Outside Football
Sponsorship
Alireza Jahanbakhsh is sponsored by the German sportswear company Adidas.
Career Statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Damash Tehran | 2010–11 | Iranian 2nd Division | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||
| Damash Gilan | 2011–12 | Persian Gulf Pro League | 16 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 18 | 2 | |||
| 2012–13 | 28 | 8 | 4 | 1 | — | — | — | 32 | 9 | |||||
| Total | 44 | 10 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 50 | 11 | |||||
| NEC | 2013–14 | Eredivisie | 27 | 5 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 33 | 6 | ||
| 2014–15 | Eerste Divisie | 28 | 12 | 3 | 1 | — | — | — | 31 | 13 | ||||
| Total | 55 | 17 | 7 | 2 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 64 | 19 | ||||
| AZ | 2015–16 | Eredivisie | 23 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | — | 29 | 3 | ||
| 2016–17 | 29 | 10 | 4 | 0 | — | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 43 | 12 | |||
| 2017–18 | 33 | 21 | 6 | 1 | — | — | — | 39 | 22 | |||||
| Total | 85 | 34 | 13 | 1 | — | 12 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 111 | 37 | |||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2018–19 | Premier League | 19 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | 10 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 2 | ||||
| 2020–21 | 21 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | — | — | 25 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 50 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 61 | 4 | ||||
| Feyenoord | 2021–22 | Eredivisie | 27 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | 14 | 4 | — | 42 | 8 | ||
| 2022–23 | 28 | 5 | 4 | 0 | — | 8 | 3 | — | 40 | 8 | ||||
| 2023–24 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 1 | |||
| Total | 71 | 9 | 6 | 0 | — | 27 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 105 | 17 | |||
| Career total | 317 | 72 | 38 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 39 | 9 | 4 | 1 | 403 | 88 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iran | 2013 | 3 | 1 |
| 2014 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2016 | 9 | 2 | |
| 2017 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 9 | 1 | |
| 2019 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 8 | 4 | |
| 2022 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2023 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2024 | 15 | 2 | |
| Total | 89 | 17 | |
- Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 15 November 2013 | Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand |  Thailand |
3–0 | 3–0 | 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 2. | 24 March 2016 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran |  India |
4–0 | 4–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3. | 1 September 2016 |  Qatar |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification | |
| 4. | 13 November 2017 | Stadion de Goffert, Nijmegen, Netherlands |  Venezuela |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 5. | 16 October 2018 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran |  Bolivia |
1–0 | 2–1 | |
| 6. | 20 January 2019 | Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |  Oman |
1–0 | 2–0 | 2019 AFC Asian Cup |
| 7. | 6 June 2019 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran |  Syria |
1–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |
| 8. | 11 June 2021 | Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain |  Cambodia |
1–0 | 10–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 9. | 3 September 2021 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | Syria |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10. | 7 September 2021 | Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar |  Iraq |
1–0 | 3–0 | |
| 11. | 12 October 2021 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran |  South Korea |
1–1 | 1–1 | |
| 12. | 29 March 2022 | Imam Reza Stadium, Mashhad, Iran |  Lebanon |
2–0 | 2–0 | |
| 13. | 12 June 2022 | Suheim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar |  Algeria |
1–1 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 14. | 13 June 2023 | Dolen Omurzakov Stadium, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan |  Afghanistan |
4–0 | 6–1 | 2023 CAFA Nations Cup |
| 15. | 17 October 2023 | Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan | Qatar |
2–0 | 4–0 | 2023 Jordan International Tournament |
| 16. | 3 February 2024 | Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar |  Japan |
2–1 | 2–1 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup |
| 17. | 7 February 2024 | Al Thumama Stadium, Doha, Qatar | Qatar |
2–2 | 2–3 |
Honours
NEC
- Eerste Divisie: 2014–15 (Champions of the second division)
AZ
- KNVB Cup runner-up: 2016–17, 2017–18 (Finished second in the Dutch Cup)
Feyenoord
- Eredivisie: 2022–23 (Champions of the top Dutch league)
- KNVB Cup: 2023–24 (Won the Dutch Cup)
- UEFA Europa Conference League runner-up: 2021–22 (Finished second in a European competition)
Iran U20
- AFF U-19 Youth Championship: 2012 (Won a youth championship)
Iran
- CAFA Nations Cup: 2023 (Won a regional tournament)
- Jordan International Tournament: 2023 (Won an international tournament)
Individual Awards
- AFF U-19 Youth Championship Top goalscorer: 2012 (Scored the most goals in a youth championship)
- AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 2023 (Chosen as one of the best players in the Asian Cup)
- Eerste Divisie First Period Player of the Season: 2014–15 (Best player for a part of the season)
- Eerste Divisie Best Player of the Season (Gouden Stier): 2014–15 (Best player of the entire season)
- Eredivisie top scorer: 2017–18 (21 goals) (Scored the most goals in the top Dutch league)
- Premier League Goal of the Month: January 2020 (Scored the best goal in the Premier League for that month)
- Feyenoord Goal of Season: 2021–22 (Scored the best goal for his club that season)
See Also
In Spanish: Alireza Jahanbakhsh para niños
- Iranians in the Netherlands
