Andranik Eskandarian facts for kids
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Andranik Eskandarian | ||
| Date of birth | 31 December 1951 | ||
| Place of birth | Tehran, Imperial State of Iran | ||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
| Playing position | Centre back | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1968–1970 | Poolad Tehran | ||
| 1970–1972 | Ararat Tehran | ||
| 1972–1978 | Taj | 184 | (2) |
| 1978–1984 | New York Cosmos | 142 | (0) |
| 1984–1985 | New York Cosmos (indoor) | 29 | (1) |
| 1986–1987 | New York Express (indoor) | 14 | (0) |
| 1989–1990 | New Jersey Eagles | ||
| National team | |||
| 1975–1978 | Iran | 29 | (0) |
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Andranik Eskandarian (born December 31, 1951) is a former Iranian football player. He was a strong defender. He played for teams like F.C. Ararat Tehran, Taj SC, and the New York Cosmos. The Cosmos was a famous team in the North American Soccer League.
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Playing Career
Andranik Eskandarian started his football journey in Iran. He played for F.C. Ararat Tehran before joining Taj SC. With Taj SC, he became a very popular player. Fans even called him Barbed Wire because he was so tough in defense.
Success in Iran
Eskandarian helped Taj SC win important titles. They won the Iranian Football League in 1975. They also came in second place in 1974. In 1977, his team won the Hazfi Cup, which is another major football competition in Iran.
International Matches
Andranik Eskandarian also played for the Iranian national team. He was part of the team that won the Asia Cup in 1976. This big tournament was held in Tehran, Iran.
He also played in the 1976 Olympic Games in Montreal. Iran's team reached the quarterfinals in that tournament.
World Cup Debut
Eskandarian played for Iran in the 1978 FIFA World Cup. This was a very special moment because it was Iran's first time ever playing in the World Cup.
During a match against Scotland, he accidentally scored an own-goal. This means the ball went into his own team's net. However, his teammate later scored, making the game a 1-1 tie. Even with the own-goal, Eskandarian played very well as a defender. He helped stop famous Scottish players like Kenny Dalglish and Joe Jordan. The tie was seen as a good result for Iran.
Moving to America
Soon after the World Cup, Andranik Eskandarian moved to the United States. He joined the New York Cosmos in 1979. This was one of the biggest football teams in America at the time.
After the Cosmos team stopped playing in 1984, Eskandarian continued his career. He played for the New York Express in an indoor soccer league. From 1989 to 1990, he played for the New Jersey Eagles.
Personal Life
Andranik Eskandarian was born in Tehran, Iran, on December 31, 1951. He comes from an Armenian family.
He is the father of Alecko Eskandarian, who also became a professional football player. Alecko played in Major League Soccer. In 1984, Andranik Eskandarian became a citizen of the United States. Today, he owns and runs two sports stores in New Jersey.
Honours
Club
- Taj
- Iranian Football League: 1974–75
- Hazfi Cup: 1976–77
- New York Cosmos
- North American Soccer League: 1978, 1980, 1982
National
- Iran
- AFC Asian Cup: 1976
See also
In Spanish: Andranik Eskandarian para niños
