Khodadad Azizi facts for kids
Azizi in 2019
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Khodadad Azizi | ||
| Date of birth | 22 June 1971 | ||
| Place of birth | Fariman,Iran | ||
| Height | 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1983–1988 | Aboomoslem | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1988–1993 | Aboomoslem | ||
| 1993–1995 | Fath Tehran | ||
| 1995–1996 | Bahman | ||
| 1996–1997 | Persepolis | 4 | (4) |
| 1997–2000 | 1. FC Köln | 50 | (10) |
| 2000 | San Jose Earthquakes | 20 | (3) |
| 2001 | Al-Nasr | 10 | (2) |
| 2001–2005 | Pas | 82 | (23) |
| 2005 | Admira Wacker | 0 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | Oghab | ||
| 2006 | Rah Ahan | 11 | (2) |
| International career | |||
| 1992–2004 | Iran | 45 | (11) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2006–2007 | Aboomoslem | ||
| 2008 | Payam Khorasan | ||
| 2009 | Esteghlal Ahvaz | ||
| 2011–2012 | Aboomoslem | ||
| 2015 | Shahrdari Tabriz | ||
| 2016–2017 | Siah Jamegan | ||
| 2018 | Sepidrood Rasht | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Khodadad Azizi (Persian: خداداد عزیزی; born on June 22, 1971) is a famous Iranian football coach and former player. He was known as a fantastic striker, scoring many goals for his teams. People often remember him for his speed and exciting plays on the field.
Contents
Early Life and Football Dreams
Khodadad grew up in Mashhad, Iran. Even as a young boy, he loved playing football. He sometimes played with shoes that didn't even match! He faced challenges early on, working to help his family when he was just 11 years old. His passion for football helped him through these times.
Playing for Clubs Around the World
Khodadad Azizi played for several clubs in Iran. After showing his amazing skills in Asia, he moved to Germany in 1997. He joined a team called 1. FC Köln. Azizi, along with other Iranian players like Ali Daei and Karim Bagheri, were among the first Iranians to play in the top German league, known as the Bundesliga.
After playing for three seasons with 1. FC Köln, he moved to the United States. In 2000, he signed with the San Jose Earthquakes in California. This made him the second Iranian player to play in the United States' Major League Soccer.
In 2001, Khodadad Azizi moved to the United Arab Emirates to play for Al Nasr. Soon after, he returned to Iran and joined Pas Tehran. In 2005, he played for Admira Wacker in the Austrian Bundesliga for a short time. He then returned to Iran to play for Oghab and Rah Ahan.
Khodadad Azizi retired from playing club and international football after the 2005–06 season. He finished his international career with 47 games played and 11 goals scored.
Playing for His Country: Iran
Azizi was a key player for the Iran national football team. He played in important tournaments like the 1996 AFC Asian Cup, the 1998 FIFA World Cup, and the 2000 Asian Cup.
He was recognized as the best player in Asia! He was named Asian Player of the Year in 1996. He also won the Asian Cup Most Valuable Player award at the 1996 Asian Cup.
Khodadad Azizi is especially remembered for a very important goal. In November 1997, he scored the goal against Australia that tied the game. This goal helped send Iran to the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France! It was a huge moment for Iranian football fans.
Life as a Coach
After retiring as a player, Khodadad Azizi became a football coach. In December 2006, he became the manager of Aboomoslem. This was the same club where he started his playing career many years before. He also coached other teams like Payam Khorasan and Esteghlal Ahvaz. He returned to coach Aboomoslem for a second time in 2011.
Achievements and Awards
Khodadad Azizi won several important titles and awards during his career:
Team Honours
- 1. FC Köln
- 2. Bundesliga: 1999–2000 (This means his team won the second division league in Germany)
- Pas
- Iran Pro League: 2003–04 (His team won the top league in Iran)
Individual Awards
- AFC Player of the Year: 1996
- AFC Asian Cup Most Valuable Player: 1996
- MLS All-Star: 2000 (He was chosen as one of the best players in the US league)
- MasterCard Asian/Oceanian Team of the 20th Century: 1998 (He was recognized as one of the best players from Asia/Oceania in the 20th century)
See also
In Spanish: Khodadad Azizi para niños
