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Mehdi Mahdavikia
Personal information
Mahdavikia in 2014
Full name	Mehdi Mahdavikia
Date of birth	(1977-07-24) 24 July 1977 (age 46)
Place of birth	Ray, Iran
Height	1.72 m
Playing position	Right winger, right back
Youth career
1991–1995	Bank Melli
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps^†	(Gls)^†
1995–1999	Persepolis	54	(18)
1998–1999	→ VfL Bochum (loan)	12	(3)
1999–2007	Hamburger SV	211	(26)
2002	→ Hamburger SV Amateure (loan)	2	(0)
2007–2010	Eintracht Frankfurt	32	(0)
2010–2011	Steel Azin	34	(4)
2011–2012	Damash Gilan	14	(0)
2012–2013	Persepolis	27	(3)
Total		386	(54)
National team
1994	Iran U20	2	(0)
1994–1999	Iran U23	12	(2)
1997	Iran CISM	3	(1)
1996–2009	Iran	110	(13)
Teams managed
2013	Iran U17 (technical manager)
2013–2015	Iran U19 (technical manager)
2015–2018	Hamburger SV Academy (offensive coach)
2018	Hamburger SV U16 (assistant)
2018–2019	Hamburger SV II (assistant)
2021–2022	Iran U23
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Mehdi Mahdavikia ([] Error: {{Lang-xx}}: no text (help); born 24 July 1977) is an Iranian professional football coach and former player usually played as a right winger or right back.

He is currently under contract by Hamburger SV as a youth coach, and also manages his own youth academy, FC KIA.

Mahdavikia currently represents Asian Football Confederation (AFC) in the Football Advisory Panel of International Football Association Board (IFAB), joining the body in 2019. On 15 May 2013, Mahdavikia was appointed as AFC Grassroots Ambassador.

During his playing career, Mahdavikia internationally represented Iranian national team, which he captained from 2006 to 2009, and currently is the fourth most capped player of all-time. He played for Iranian clubs Bank Melli, Persepolis, Steel Azin and Damash Gilan, as well as German clubs VfL Bochum, Hamburger SV and Eintracht Frankfurt, spending 12 consecutive seasons in Bundesliga.

He won the Asian Young Footballer of the Year award in 1997 as well as the Asian Footballer of the Year award in 2003. He was known for his crossing, speed and dribbling.

Club career
International career
Managerial career
Famous matches
Personal life
Career statistics
- Club
- International
Honours
See also

Club career

Early career

Mahdavikia first played for Persepolis in his native Iran before moving to VfL Bochum in Germany. After Bochum's relegation, he signed for Bundesliga side Hamburg where he stayed for the next eight seasons.

Hamburger SV

Hamburger Morgenpost estimated market value of Mahdavikia in 1999 as DM6.5 million.

His initial position for HSV was right fullback, from which he was known for his attacking runs, as he has previous experience as a right winger and at times has played as a striker. He also played some matches for Pas in Asian games as help for the club. Under coach Frank Pagelsdorf Mahdavikia used to play wide striker. For the 2006–07 Bundesliga season he moved back to his natural position of right wing, in support of Central Midfielder Rafael van der Vaart. He was awarded Hamburg Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004 by the fans, and also attained the title of the top assister of goals in the Bundesliga.

In 2003, Die Welt wrote that Mahdavikia is worth €8–10 million.

However, compared to his previous season, he had a poor season in 2004–05 and was benched. In the 2005–06 season he gained his old form back and was able to regain his spot as a starter, being influential in many of Hamburg's victories, such as scoring the winning goal against then Bundesliga heavyweights Schalke.

Mahdavikia's strongest points were his vision, passing skills, fast-paced runs (his nickname in Iran is "The Rocket"), and set-pieces such as corners, spotkicks and free kicks. He usually was the right-footed alternative to Van der Vaart's well known left foot. Apart from being a total professional on the pitch, he is also known as a perfect gentleman off the pitch, always finding the time for fans and reporters to answer questions or sign autographs.

His nickname in Hamburg is The Carpet (der Teppich) for his ability to "magically glide past" his opponents like the enchanted carpet.

Eintracht Frankfurt

On 8 June 2007, Mahdavikia signed a three-year contract with Eintracht Frankfurt.

In his first season, he had two bad injuries that forced him to miss many matches. In the second season he was mostly benched and not used in many matches which showed that the club did not want him anymore. After 255 Games (26 goals, 55 assists) in the Bundesliga for HSV, Bochum and Eintracht Frankfurt, left Germany to sign for Steel Azin in January 2010.

Return to Iran

On 4 July 2011, Mahdavikia signed a contract with Amir Abedini, President of the Damash Gilan to join to the club for one year but he was joined to his beloved club, Persepolis in mid-season to play for club in his last year of playing football. He extended his contract with Persepolis for another season on 19 June 2012.

Retirement

Mahdavikia in his last match for Persepolis

On 2 March 2013, Mahdavikia announced that he would retire at the end of the 2012–13 season. Persepolis also announced that Mahdavikia's farewell match would be in a pre-season friendly match against A.C. Milan in June 2013, played in the Azadi Stadium, but it was later announced that Mahdavikia's last match would be against his former side, Hamburger SV in June 2013 in the same stadium.

Mahdavikia confirmed on 14 March 2013 that he ended his active football career. He played his last match as a football player in the 2013 Hazfi Cup Final, coming on extra time as a substitute. On 28 November 2013, he played a farewell match at Azadi Stadium between Persepolis XI and A.C. Milan XI. Participants in the match included former teams' legends like Hamid Derakhshan, Mohammad Panjali, Farshad Pious, Karim Bagheri, Hamid Estili, Nasser Mohammadkhani, Pejman Jamshidi, Edmond Bezik which played for Persepolis and Franco Baresi, Paolo Maldini, Daniele Massaro, Gennaro Gattuso and Alberigo Evani for A.C. Milan. Persepolis were managed by the club's most successful manager Ali Parvin. When Mahdavikia came on as a substitute in the 32nd minute, Pious gave his shirt to Mahdavikia, in a remarkable replay after seventeen years that Pious did so in Mahdavikia's first match for Persepolis. The match was won by A.C. Milan XI 3–1 with Mahdavikia assisting the only goal.

International career

Mahdavikia in 2006

Having been awarded the Asian Young Footballer of the Year award in 1997, Mahdavikia was considered Iran's best player in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and was named in the list from which the team of the tournament was chosen. In 2003, he was awarded Asian Player of the Year by the Asian Football Confederation. He was also the top assister in the 2004 Asian Cup, exhibiting stunning form to steer Iran's attack to superb attacking football. He played in four Asian Cups (1996, 2000, 2004, 2007) and two World Cups (1998, 2006).

Mahdavikia was one of the influential players that played in Iran's crucial 1–0 victory over Bahrain to qualify for the 2006 FIFA World Cup held in Germany. Following the FIFA World Cup in Germany, 2006, Mahdavikia was expected to assume the role of Captain in the Iranian national side, replacing Ali Daei and Yahya Golmohammadi who had publicly announced their intention to retire after the tournament. Mahdavikia was given the captain's band on 16 August 2006 in an Asian Cup qualifier versus Syria.

Mahdavikia has reportedly been forced to "retire" from international football after wearing a green bracelet in the final World Cup 2010 qualification match against the Republic of Korea. The green bracelet was a sign of support for those protesting the highly contested Iranian presidential election. He was forced to retire from Team Melli after 13 years and playing in two World Cups (1998, 2006), four Asian Cups (1996, 2000, 2004, 2007), one Asian Games tournament (1998), four World Cup qualifying campaigns (1998, 2002, 2006, 2010), three Asian Cup qualifying campaigns (2000, 2004, 2007) and one AFC/OFC Cup.

Managerial career

Mahdavikia was the manager of the Iranian youth teams. In 2015, he founded the KIA Football Academy with Ali Doustimehr. He currently has a role as a youth coach with Hamburger SV.

In May 2019, Mahdavikia obtained UEFA A Licence and plans to enter DFB's Fußballlehrer course.

Famous matches

Mahdavikia's most prolific club match was Hamburger SV's match against Juventus in the Champions League. He was the impetus that rallied Hamburg back after being down 3–1 by scoring once, assisting one and winning a penalty for Hamburg that saw Hamburg take a 4–3 lead; Juve managed to equalise with an Inzaghi penalty.

Another famous game in the HSV shirt came in week 30 of the 2002–03 season. Mahdavikia scored one and assisted another two goals in Hamburg's 4–0 win over 1. FC Nuremberg. Kicker gave him a much rare perfect note of 1.0.

Mehdi's greatest national team match, arguably, was against South Korea in the 2004 Asia Cup where he assisted three goals in Iran's 4–3 win. Many also point to his dynamic game against the United States in World Cup 1998 that saw him score Iran's second and winning goal, as his best ever. Another excellent match where he scored two great goals was against China in the qualification round for the 1998 World Cup when he was just 20 years old.

Personal life

Mahdavikia in 2012

Mahdavikia played several sports as a youngster and was exceptionally talented at handball, even being named captain of Iran's under 14 team.

Mahdavikia is married to Sepideh and has a daughter, Asal.

In April 2006, Mahdavikia caused a stir when it came out he married a second wife named, Samira Samii, while being in his native Iran in December 2005, thus practising bigamy. He himself stated that he made a "big mistake", and they divorced after a short while.

Mahdavikia's younger brother, Hadi played for Homa F.C. and Persepolis F.C., and now is the head coach of KIA Football Academy. Mahdavikia's nephew Mostafa is also a football player in Iran.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National Cup		League Cup		Continental		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Bank Melli	1994–95	Division 2									18	10
Persepolis	1995–96	Azadegan League	11	1	–		–		–		11	1
	1996–97		28	9	2	2	–		7	1	37	12
	1997–98		6	6	–		–		4	3	10	9
	1998–99		9	2	0	0	–		–		9	2
	Total		54	18	2	2	–		11	4	67	24
Pas (loan)	1998–99	–	–		–		–		2	0	2	0
Bochum (loan)	1998–99	Bundesliga	12	3	0	0	–		–		12	3
Hamburger SV	1999–00	Bundesliga	29	4	1	0	–		6	2	36	6
	2000–01		29	5	1	1	1	0	9	3	40	9
	2001–02		11	1	0	0	–		–		11	1
	2002–03		26	2	2	0	–		–		28	2
	2003–04		32	5	2	1	3	0	2	0	39	6
	2004–05		26	2	1	0	–		0	0	27	2
	2005–06		31	5	3	1	–		10	0	44	6
	2006–07		27	2	1	0	2	0	8	0	38	2
	Total		211	26	11	3	6	0	35	5	263	34
Hamburger SV Amateure	2002–03	Regionalliga Nord	2	0	0	0	–		–		2	0
Eintracht Frankfurt	2007–08	Bundesliga	20	0	1	0	–		–		21	0
	2008–09		12	0	2	0	–		–		14	0
	2009–10		0	0	0	0	–		–		0	0
	Total		32	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	35	0
Steel Azin	2009–10	Iran Pro League	8	2	3	2	–		–		11	4
	2010–11	Iran Pro League	26	2	0	0	–		–		26	2
	Total		34	4	3	2	–		0	0	37	6
Damash	2011–12	Iran Pro League	14	0	2	0	–		–		16	0
Persepolis	2011–12	Iran Pro League	11	0	0	0	–		3	0	14	0
	2012–13	Iran Pro League	16	3	2	0	–		–		18	3
	Total		27	3	2	0	–		3	0	32	3
Career total			386	54	23	7	6	0	51	9	484	80

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Iran	1996	3	0
	1997	21	5
	1998	17	2
	1999	2	0
	2000	14	2
	2001	11	1
	2003	3	0
	2004	10	1
	2005	7	1
	2006	7	0
	2007	6	0
	2008	3	1
	2009	6	0
Total		110	13

1.Excluding a friendly match against Ghana U-23 that is not considered a full international.

Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Mahdavikia goal.

List of international goals scored by Mehdi Mahdavikia
No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Result	Competition
1	21 April 1997	Tabriz, Iran	Kenya	3–0	Friendly
2	2 June 1997	Damascus, Syria	Maldives	17–0	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
3	11 June 1997	Tehran, Iran	Maldives	9–0	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
4	13 September 1997	Dalian, China	China	4–2	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
5	13 September 1997	Dalian, China	China	4–2	1998 FIFA World Cup qualification
6	31 January 1998	Hong Kong, Hong Kong	Chile	1–1	Friendly
7	21 June 1998	Lyon, France	United States	2–1	1998 FIFA World Cup
8	16 January 2000	Pasadena, USA	United States	1–1	Friendly
9	31 March 2000	Aleppo, Syria	Maldives	8–0	2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification
10	12 October 2001	Tehran, Iran	Iraq	2–1	2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
11	18 February 2004	Tehran, Iran	Qatar	3–1	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
12	30 March 2005	Pyongyang, North Korea	North Korea	2–0	2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
13	15 October 2008	Tehran, Iran	North Korea	2–1	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification