Karim Ansarifard facts for kids
Ansarifard with Iran at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Karim Adil Ansarifard | ||
| Date of birth | 3 April 1990 | ||
| Place of birth | Ardabil, Iran | ||
| Height | 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Forward | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2000–2005 | Inter Campus | ||
| 2005–2006 | Zob Ahan Ardabil | ||
| 2006–2007 | Saipa | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2007–2012 | Saipa | 123 | (55) |
| 2012–2014 | Persepolis | 31 | (8) |
| 2013–2014 | → Tractor | 28 | (14) |
| 2014–2015 | Osasuna | 16 | (0) |
| 2015–2017 | Panionios | 41 | (13) |
| 2017–2018 | Olympiacos | 34 | (18) |
| 2018–2019 | Nottingham Forest | 12 | (2) |
| 2019–2020 | Al-Sailiya | 20 | (6) |
| 2020–2022 | AEK Athens | 63 | (17) |
| 2022–2024 | Omonia | 46 | (6) |
| 2024 | Aris | 12 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2005–2006 | Iran U17 | 6 | (1) |
| 2007–2008 | Iran U20 | 9 | (6) |
| 2009–2011 | Iran U23 | 15 | (6) |
| 2009–2024 | Iran | 104 | (30) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 19 May 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 3 February 2024 |
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Karim Adil Ansarifard (Persian: کریم انصاریفرد) was born on April 3, 1990. He is an Iranian professional football player. Karim plays as a forward for the Iran national team. People often compare his playing style to Ali Daei, who was also his coach. Some even called him Daei's "successor."
Magazines like World Soccer have named Karim as one of the best young talents. This was alongside famous players like Javier Hernández and Jack Wilshere. In 2012, FIFA.com also listed him as a player to watch. Goal.com included him in their list of the top 100 young football players worldwide. FIFA also ranked him as the 48th best goal scorer globally and second best in Asia in 2012.
Contents
Karim Ansarifard's Club Journey
Playing for Saipa
Karim Ansarifard started his journey with Saipa. He joined their youth academy after a trial with coach Ali Daei. In 2007, Saipa, who were champions, needed more goals. Ali Daei moved Karim from the reserves to the main team. Karim quickly showed his talent, scoring important goals.
He scored 13 goals in the 2009–10 season. Many European clubs, like Borussia Dortmund and Celtic, became interested in him. Even Steaua București made an offer. In 2011, Everton also showed interest. However, due to military service rules in Iran, it was hard for him to move abroad.
Karim signed a new contract with Saipa in July 2011. In the 2011–12 Iranian Pro League season, he became the league's top scorer. He scored 21 goals and made 5 assists for Saipa.
Time at Persepolis
After his success at Saipa, Karim joined Persepolis in June 2012. He signed a three-year contract and wore the number 9 shirt. He scored his first goal for Persepolis against Gahar Zagros.
Karim scored his second career Hat-trick while playing for Persepolis against Paykan. He also scored another hat-trick in the Hazfi Cup. He scored Persepolis' first goal in the Hazfi Cup final, but his team lost on penalties.
Even though other clubs wanted him, Karim first decided to stay at Persepolis. But he had disagreements with coach Ali Daei. Because of this, he moved to Tractor in July 2013.
Playing for Tractor
After leaving Persepolis, Karim joined Tractor for one season. He signed a one-year contract. He played his first game for Tractor in August 2013.
He helped Tractor win the Hazfi Cup title. Karim was also named the tournament's Most Valuable Player. He scored 17 goals for Tractor, with 14 of them in the league. This made him the league's top scorer for the second time in his career. In July 2014, Karim left Tractor to join a European club.
Move to Osasuna
On August 29, 2014, Karim signed a two-year deal with CA Osasuna in Spain. This team plays in the Segunda División. He made his first league appearance in October 2014. He came on as a substitute in a game against Racing de Santander. His first start was on October 18 in a win against CD Tenerife.
Joining Panionios
In the summer of 2015, Karim moved to Greece and joined Panionios. He scored his first goal for the club in October 2015. This was in a big 5–1 win against Panetolikos. He scored the winning goal against Platanias in November 2015.
In November 2015, Karim scored two goals, helping Panionios win 2–0 against PAS Giannina. In April 2016, his amazing solo goal against PAOK was named "Goal of the Week." He started the 2016–17 season as a key player for Panionios. He scored his first goal of that season in September 2016.
Time at Olympiacos
On January 13, 2017, Karim signed a 3.5-year contract with Olympiacos, a big Greek club. He was given the number 17 shirt. He made his first appearance and scored his first goal for Olympiacos in a Greek Cup game in January 2017.
Karim made his league debut in February 2017. He scored two goals in his second Europa League game against Osmanlıspor. These goals helped Olympiacos reach the Round of 16 for the first time since 2012. He was even named the UEFA Europa League Player of the Week for his great performance.
He scored his first league goal for Olympiacos in March 2017. In August 2017, he scored and assisted a goal in his team's 4–1 victory. Even though he helped Olympiacos win a league title, he was not included in the UEFA Champions League squad. The new manager decided to put him up for sale.
In October 2017, he scored two goals against his old club, Panionios. In December 2017, he scored two more goals in a 3–1 win. By December 2017, Karim was having one of the best years of his career. He became the league's top scorer with seven goals from 11 matches. He was also ranked as the 6th best Asian player in Europe.
He continued to score goals in January 2018, helping his team win games. He was named MVP (Most Valuable Player) in a game against Xanthi. In April 2018, he scored two goals in a 4–0 win. His contract with Olympiacos ended after the 2017–18 season.
Nottingham Forest Experience
On November 3, 2018, Karim signed with Nottingham Forest in the Sky Bet Championship in England. This happened after some delays in getting his work permit. He signed a one-and-a-half-year contract. He made his debut for the club as a substitute in a 1–0 win. Karim scored his first goal for Nottingham Forest in a 3–0 win against Hull City. He also assisted the first goal in that game.
Playing for Al-Sailiya
On July 12, 2019, Karim moved to Al-Sailiya in the Qatar Stars League.
Return to Greece with AEK Athens
On August 25, 2020, Karim signed a three-year contract with AEK Athens in the Greek Super League. On October 1, 2020, he scored the winning goal in the last minute of the game. This helped AEK Athens win 2–1 against Wolfsburg in the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League play-off round.
In November 2020, he scored in a 2–1 away win. In December 2020, he scored two goals in a dramatic 4–3 win. He continued scoring in January and March 2021. In April 2021, he scored a penalty in a 3–1 away win. In July 2021, he scored for the club in the UEFA Europa Conference League. In October 2021, he scored in a 3–1 away win.
Time in Cyprus with Omonia
On August 30, 2022, Karim joined Cypriot First Division club Omonia on a two-year contract. He had an option for an extra year. On September 18, he scored his first goal for Omonia in a 4–0 home win.
On October 6, he scored in a 2–3 home defeat to Manchester United in the Europa League. This goal made Karim the 100th player to score for Omonia in a European competition. He scored two goals against APOEL in the quarter-finals of the 2022–23 Cypriot Cup. This helped his team win 3–2 overall. On May 24, 2023, he scored the winning goal in the final against AEL Limassol. This win gave Omonia their 16th domestic cup.
Latest Club: Aris
In late January 2024, Karim Ansarifard signed for Greek side Aris.
Karim Ansarifard's International Career
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Karim was first invited to the Iran U17 national team in 2005. He played as a substitute in two matches in the 2006 AFC U-17 Championship.
He made his debut for the senior Iran national team in November 2009. This was in a match against Iceland. He scored his first international goal in that game, which was the only goal of the match. He was given the number 10 shirt, which was previously worn by Ali Daei.
In January 2011, he scored his third international goal against North Korea. This made him Iran's youngest ever goal scorer in the AFC Asian Cup. In the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification, Karim scored two goals against Maldives. He also assisted a winning goal against Uzbekistan.
On June 1, 2014, he was chosen for Iran's 2014 FIFA World Cup squad. He played his first World Cup match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. He was also part of Iran's 2015 AFC Asian Cup squad.
In May 2018, he was named in Iran's team for the 2018 World Cup in Russia. He scored a penalty against Portugal, making the score 1–1.
In December 2018, he was called up for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. In the quarter-final match against China, he scored the third goal in a 3–0 victory.
On October 10, 2019, he scored four goals in a huge 14–0 win against Cambodia. This was during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification. In November 2022, he was named in the squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.
In January 2024, he was included in the team for the 2023 AFC Asian Cup. In the first group match, he scored the opening goal in a 4–1 victory against Palestine. This game also marked his 100th match with the national team.
How Karim Ansarifard Plays
Karim is often compared to Iranian football legend Ali Daei. Some fans also compare him to German forward Thomas Müller. His favorite player is Fernando Torres. He plays as a central forward. He has a lot of energy and is good at both heading the ball and playing on the ground. He started as a right winger for Saipa but later returned to his main position as a forward.
Karim Ansarifard's Personal Life
Karim Ansarifard was born in Ardabil, Iran. He is the youngest of seven children, with three brothers and three sisters. He studied physical education at Islamic Azad University Central Tehran Branch.
In August 2018, Karim married Alexandra Sofia Kalouli. She is a businesswoman from Greece. Their wedding was in Vouliagmeni, Greece. Alexandra is in charge of a mental health research center called IMEQ Center.
Career statistics
Club
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Saipa | 2007–08 | Persian Gulf Pro League | 18 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | 23 | 2 | |
| 2008–09 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 1 | ||||
| 2009–10 | 31 | 13 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 32 | 13 | ||||
| 2010–11 | 29 | 19 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 19 | ||||
| 2011–12 | 31 | 21 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 21 | ||||
| Total | 123 | 55 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | 131 | 56 | |||
| Persepolis | 2012–13 | Iran Pro League | 31 | 8 | 5 | 4 | — | — | 36 | 12 | ||
| Tractor | 2013–14 | Iran Pro League | 28 | 14 | 4 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | 36 | 17 | |
| Osasuna | 2014–15 | Segunda División | 16 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 17 | 0 | ||
| Panionios | 2015–16 | Super League Greece | 27 | 8 | 6 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 36 | 10 | |
| 2016–17 | 14 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 5 | ||||
| Total | 41 | 13 | 7 | 1 | — | 3 | 1 | 51 | 15 | |||
| Olympiacos | 2016–17 | Super League Greece | 9 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 4 | 2 | — | 19 | 4 | |
| 2017–18 | 25 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 27 | 18 | |||
| 2018–19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total | 34 | 18 | 8 | 2 | 6 | 2 | — | 48 | 22 | |||
| Nottingham Forest | 2018–19 | Championship | 12 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 2 | ||
| Al-Sailiya | 2019–20 | Qatar Stars League | 20 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 21 | 6 | |
| AEK Athens | 2020–21 | Super League Greece | 34 | 13 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 1 | — | 47 | 14 | |
| 2021–22 | 29 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | — | 35 | 6 | |||
| Total | 63 | 17 | 9 | 1 | 10 | 2 | — | 82 | 20 | |||
| Omonia | 2022–23 | Cypriot First Division | 31 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 1 | — | 41 | 8 | |
| 2023–24 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 20 | 2 | ||
| Aris | 2023–24 | Super League Greece | 12 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 14 | 1 | |
| Career total | 426 | 140 | 44 | 13 | 35 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 509 | 161 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iran | 2009 | 6 | 2 |
| 2010 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2011 | 10 | 5 | |
| 2012 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2013 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 6 | 2 | |
| 2015 | 4 | 1 | |
| 2016 | 7 | 4 | |
| 2017 | 4 | 2 | |
| 2018 | 13 | 3 | |
| 2019 | 12 | 6 | |
| 2020 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 8 | 3 | |
| 2022 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 6 | 1 | |
| Total | 104 | 30 | |
- Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Ansarifard goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 November 2009 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | 2 |  Iceland |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 30 December 2009 | Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar | 6 |  Mali |
1–0 | 1–2 | Friendly |
| 3 | 15 January 2011 | Suheim Bin Hamad Stadium, Doha, Qatar | 17 |  North Korea |
1–0 | 1–0 | 2011 AFC Asian Cup |
| 4 | 23 July 2011 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | 20 |  Maldives |
1–0 | 4–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 2–0 | ||||||
| 6 | 5 October 2011 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | 23 |  [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]] |
2–0 | 7–0 | Friendly |
| 7 | 11 October 2011 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | 24 |  Bahrain |
5–0 | 6–0 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 8 | 18 April 2012 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | 28 |  Mauritania |
2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 9 | 3 March 2014 | Enghelab Stadium, Karaj, Iran | 39 |  Kuwait |
3–2 | 3–2 | 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
| 10 | 30 May 2014 | Stadion Hartberg, Hartberg, Austria | 42 |  Angola |
1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 11 | 17 November 2015 | Guam National Football Stadium, Tamuning, Guam | 48 |  Guam |
5–0 | 6–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 12 | 7 June 2016 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | 52 |  Kyrgyzstan |
4–0 | 6–0 | Friendly |
| 13 | 6–0 | ||||||
| 14 | 10 November 2016 | Shah Alam Stadium, Shah Alam, Malaysia | 54 |  Papua New Guinea |
4–1 | 8–1 | Friendly |
| 15 | 8–1 | ||||||
| 16 | 5 October 2017 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | 58 |  Togo |
1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 17 | 2–0 | ||||||
| 18 | 8 June 2018 | Spartak Training Ground, Moscow, Russia | 64 |  Lithuania |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 19 | 25 June 2018 | Mordovia Arena, Saransk, Russia | 67 |  Portugal |
1–1 | 1–1 | 2018 FIFA World Cup |
| 20 | 15 November 2018 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | 70 |  Trinidad and Tobago |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 21 | 24 January 2019 | Mohammed bin Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | 75 |  China |
3–0 | 3–0 | 2019 AFC Asian Cup |
| 22 | 10 September 2019 | Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong | 79 |  Hong Kong |
2–0 | 2–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 23 | 10 October 2019 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | 80 |  Cambodia |
6–0 | 14–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 24 | 8–0 | ||||||
| 25 | 10–0 | ||||||
| 26 | 14–0 | ||||||
| 27 | 30 March 2021 | Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran | 83 |  Syria |
1–0 | 3–0 | Friendly |
| 28 | 3 June 2021 | Al Muharraq Stadium, Arad, Bahrain | 84 | Hong Kong |
3–0 | 3–1 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 29 | 11 June 2021 | Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain | 85 | Cambodia |
7–0 | 10–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 30 | 14 January 2024 | Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar | 101 | [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]] |
1–0 | 4–1 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup |
Awards and Achievements
Team Trophies
- Tractor:
- Hazfi Cup: 2013–14
- Olympiacos:
- Super League Greece: 2016–17
- Omonia:
- Cypriot Cup: 2022–23
Individual Awards
- Persian Gulf Pro League Player of the Month: August 2011
- Persian Gulf Pro League Top Scorer: 2011–12 (21 goals), 2013–14 (14 goals)
- Persian Gulf Pro League Striker of the Year: 2011–12, 2013–14
- Persian Gulf Pro League Team of the Season: 2011–12, 2013–14
- Super League Greece Team of the Season: 2017–18
See also
In Spanish: Karim Ansarifard para niños
- List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
- Iranians in Spain
