Iran men's national volleyball team facts for kids
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| Association | IRIVF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Head coach | Roberto Piazza | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FIVB ranking | 10 (as of September 2014) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Uniforms | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Summer Olympics | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appearances | 2 (First in 2016) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best result | 5th (2016) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Championship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appearances | 8 (First in 1970) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best result | 6th (2014) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| FIVB World Cup | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appearances | 4 (First in 1991) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best result | 8th (2015, 2019) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Asian Championship | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Appearances | 20 (First in 1979) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best result |  (2011, 2013, 2019, 2021) |
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| Website | volleyball.ir | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
The Iran men's national volleyball team is the official team that represents Iran in international volleyball games. The Iran Volleyball Federation (I.R.I.V.F.) manages the team.
As of September 2022, Team Melli is one of the top teams in Asia. It ranks among the best in the FIVB World Rankings.
The national team has won the Asian Volleyball Championship four times. These wins were in 2011 (Tehran), 2013 (Dubai), 2019 (Tehran), and 2021 (Chiba & Funabashi).
When Iran joined the World League in 2013, they quickly became a strong team. In the 2014 World League, Iran finished fourth. They had beaten strong teams like Brazil, Italy, and Poland.
Iran has also played in the World Championship several times. Their best result was in 2014 in Poland, where they finished 6th. In that tournament, Iran won many games in the early rounds.
The team won the gold medal at the Asian Games in Korea in 2014 by defeating Japan. They continued their success in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, winning gold again. They beat Japan and South Korea in that competition.
Iran first played in the Olympic Games in 1984. They were the top-ranked Asian team at the Olympic Qualification Tournament in Japan. Iran finished in 5th place in that competition.
Contents
Team History and Achievements
Early Days of Iranian Volleyball
The history of Iran's national volleyball team began around 1941. That's when Alireza Beiranvand brought volleyball rules to Iran. During World War II, Allied forces were in Iran. Iranians played sports, including volleyball, with the soldiers. A friendly match was even held between the Iranian and Russian Army teams.
In 1958, the national men's team from Pakistan visited Tehran. They played friendly matches against Iran's national team and other local teams. Iran's national team first competed internationally at the 1958 Asian Games. They won a silver medal there.
Olympic Games Success
Iran has participated in the Olympic Games two times. Their best finish was 5th place in 2016. They also competed in 2020.
World Championship Highlights
The team has played in the World Championship eight times. Their highest finish was 6th place in 2014. This shows their growth on the world stage.
Asian Championship Dominance
Iran has a strong record in the Asian Championship. They have won the gold medal four times. They also have three silver medals and one bronze medal. This makes them one of the most successful teams in Asia.
Asian Games Victories
The team has won three gold medals at the Asian Games. These wins were in 2014, 2018, and 2022. They also have three silver medals and one bronze medal from these games.
Asian Cup Triumphs
Iran has also performed well in the Asian Cup. They have won three gold medals and two silver medals in this competition.
Other Tournament Wins
The Iranian team has also won gold medals in other important tournaments. They have won the Islamic Solidarity Games four times. They also have two gold medals and two silver medals from the Central Asian Championship.
Current Team Players
Meet the 2024 Squad
This is the team representing Iran at the 2024 FIVB Volleyball Men's Nations League.
- Head coach:
Mauricio Motta Paes
| No. | Name | Date of birth | Height | 2024 club |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mahdi Jelveh | 21 May 2001 | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) |  Olympiacos Piraeus |
| 2 | Milad Ebadipour (C) | 17 October 1993 | 1.96 m (6 ft 5 in) |  KS Norwid Częstochowa |
| 5 | Amir Hossein Toukhteh | 9 April 2001 | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) |  Haraz Amol |
| 7 | Shahrooz Homayonfarmanesh | 18 December 1989 | 1.92 m (6 ft 4 in) | |
| 8 | Mohammad Reza Hazratpour | 31 March 1999 | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | |
| 8 | Mohammad Reza Moazzen | 20 September 1991 | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | |
| 11 | Mohammad Barbast | 14 February 2002 | 2.05 m (6 ft 9 in) |  CS Dinamo București |
| 12 | Amir Hossein Esfandiar | 24 January 1999 | 2.06 m (6 ft 9 in) |  Tianjin Food Group |
| 14 | Poriya Hossein Khanzadeh | 1 July 2004 | 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) |  Cucine Lube Civitanova |
| 15 | Aliasghar Mojarad | 30 October 1997 | 2.03 m (6 ft 8 in) | CS Rapid București |
| 17 | Amin Esmaeilnejad | 17 December 1996 | 2.02 m (6 ft 8 in) | PGE Skra Bełchatów |
| 18 | Mohammad Taher Vadi | 10 October 1989 | 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in) | Foolad Sirjan |
| 21 | Meisam Salehi | 17 November 1998 | 1.98 m (6 ft 6 in) |  Fenerbahçe |
| 24 | Javad Karimi | 1 March 1998 | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) | Minas Tênis Clube |
| 25 | Mobin Nasri | 7 January 2003 | 2.01 m (6 ft 7 in) | Warta Zawiercie |
| 49 | Morteza Sharifi | 27 May 1999 | 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in) | Galatasaray S.K. |
Coaching the National Team
Many coaches have led the Iranian national volleyball team over the years. They have helped the team achieve great success in different competitions.
Head Coaches of the A Team
Some notable coaches and their achievements include:
- Sardar Nasrollahkhan (1958): Led the team to a silver medal at the 1958 Asian Games.
- Hossein Jabbarzadegan (1964-1966): Guided the team to a 3rd place finish at the 1966 Asian Games.
- Park Ki-won (2002-2005): Helped the team win silver at the 2002 Asian Games and bronze at the 2003 Asian Championship.
- Hossein Maadani (2008-2010): Coached the team to gold at the 2008 and 2010 Asian Cups, and silver at the 2009 Asian Championship and 2010 Asian Games.
- Julio Velasco (2011-2014): Under his leadership, Iran won the Asian Championship in 2011 and 2013. They also finished 4th at the 2013 World Grand Champions Cup.
- Slobodan Kovač (2014-2015): Led the team to 4th place in the 2014 World League and 6th place in the 2014 World Championship. They also won gold at the 2014 Asian Games.
- Raúl Lozano (2016): Coached the team to a 5th place finish at the 2016 Olympic Games.
- Igor Kolaković (2017-2020): Achieved 3rd place at the 2017 World Grand Champions Cup, gold at the 2018 Asian Games, and 5th place in the 2019 Nations League. He also led them to gold at the 2019 Asian Championship and helped them qualify for the 2020 Olympic Games.
- Behrouz Ataei (2021-2023): Led the team to gold at the 2021 Asian Championship and gold at the 2022 Asian Games.
Home Stadiums
The Iran national volleyball team plays its home games in several stadiums. These include Azadi Indoor Stadium, Azadi Volleyball Hall, Rezazadeh Stadium, and Ghadir Stadium.
Team Sponsors and Gear
Kit Providers Over Time
The team has used different companies for their uniforms and gear.
| Period | Kit provider |
|---|---|
| 2000–2008 | Asics, Mikasa, Fuerza, Mizuno, Ideal |
| 2008–Present | Merooj |
Main Sponsors
The team also has important sponsors who help support them. These include MCI, Tourism Bank, Refah Stores, and Roamer.
See also
In Spanish: Selección de voleibol de Irán para niños
