Wikipedia

Alireza Beiranvand

Alireza Safar Beiranvand (Persian: علیرضا بیرانوند; born 21 September 1992) is an Iranian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for the Persian Gulf Pro League club Tractor and the Iran national team.[2][3]

Alireza Beiranvand
Beiranvand in 2024
Personal information
Full name Alireza Safar Beiranvand[1]
Date of birth (1992-09-21) 21 September 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Sarab-e Yas, Khorramabad, Iran
Height 1.94 m (6 ft 4 in)[1]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
 Tractor
Number 1
Youth career
2007–2008 Vahdat
2008–2016 Naft Tehran
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2016 Naft Tehran 68 (0)
2016–2020 Persepolis 89 (0)
2020–2022 Royal Antwerp 10 (0)
2021–2022 → Boavista (loan) 8 (0)
2022–2024 Persepolis 55 (0)
2024– Tractor 10 (0)
International career‡
2010–2012 Iran U20 1 (0)
2012–2014 Iran U23 11 (0)
2015– Iran 76 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Iran
CAFA Nations Cup
Winner 2023 Kyrgyzstan – Uzbekistan Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 June 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 14 November 2024

Beiranvand represented Iran internationally at the AFC Asian Cup in 2015, 2019 and 2023, and at the FIFA World Cup in 2018[4] and 2022.[5][6]

In 2017, Beiranvand became the first Iranian ever to be nominated for an individual award at The Best FIFA Football Awards.[7] He has been the best goalkeeper in the Persian Gulf Pro League for four consecutive seasons from 2014 to 2019 and has also been the Iranian Footballer of the Year in 2019.[8] With 23 clean sheets in 37 matches during the 2017–18 season, he ranked as the second goalkeeper in the world for the cleanest sheets.[9]

In addition, Beiranvand achieved two Guinness World Records during his career, including the farthest distance throw of a football at 61.0026 metres (200.140 ft) against South Korea on 11 October 2016,[10] and the longest football drop kick at 78.014 metres (255.95 ft) on 17 April 2019.[11]

Early life

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Beiranvand was born in the small village of Sarab-e Yas in Khorramabad County, Lorestan Province, and grew up in a Lak-Kurdish[12] nomadic family.[13] In his teenage years, Beiranvand ran away from home and moved to Tehran in order to realize his dream of becoming a professional footballer, where he was homeless for some time.[13] Before his career in football, he worked at a carwash focused on four-wheel drives, leveraging his height advantage, as well as in a dressmaking factory and a pizza shop.[14]

Beiranvand got married in 2010 at the age of 18. He has a son named Taha and a daughter named Barana.[15]

Club career

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Naft Tehran

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Beiranvand has played with Naft Tehran since 2011.[16] He made his debut in the Hazfi Cup against Damash on 25 October 2011.[17] There were links between him and the red half of Tehran, Persepolis, but the chairman of Naft Tehran, Mansour Ghanbarzadeh, did not allow him to leave the club.[18] In his first year as the first-choice goalkeeper, Beiranvand led the team to a 3rd place League finish and a spot in the AFC Champions League for the first time in the club's history. On 23 March 2014, he extended his contract with the club until June 2019. On 24 November 2014, Beiranvand provided an assist in their match against Tractor Sazi by throwing the ball into the opponent's half.[19]

He was linked with a move to Persepolis in January 2016, but the move fell through at the last moment. Beiranvand left Naft at the end of the 2015–16 season after his contract expired.[20]

Persepolis

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Beiranvand with Persepolis in Tehran Derby, February 2017

On 16 May 2016, Beiranvand signed a two–year contract with league runners-up Persepolis.[21] In 2017 Beiranvand extended his contract with the club until 2021.[22] In December 2017, in a match against Foolad, Beiranvand set a League record of going 718 minutes without conceding a goal,[23] which was later broken by Esteghlal goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini.[citation needed]

What he did was amazing. He was the difference against us. He is truly a great goalkeeper; he fought and kept out our attack. There may have been other good players in the Persepolis team but the one who made the result possible was Beiranvand.[24]

–Portuguese coach Jesualdo Ferreira, October 2018.

Beiranvand was named 2018 AFC Champions League semi-final first leg player of the week following his performance against Al Sadd.[25] He was also "Man of the match" and with "Team of the Week" 2nd leg after he saved many of Al Sadd's chances and helped Persepolis reach the final,[6][26] His five clean sheets during the competition was the most of any goalkeeper.[27] He was reportedly chosen as one of the candidates for the 2018 Asian Footballer of the Year award,[28] but his exclusion was described by Asian football writers as a big shock, and an outrageous and scandalous event.[29][30][31] The following season Beiranvand kept 16 clean sheets in 2018–19 Pro League and claimed Golden Gloves for three consecutive years and four successive times overall.

Antwerp

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In late July 2020, Jupiler Pro League side Royal Antwerp confirmed the signing of Beiranvand a three-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[3] He made his debut on 10 December in a Europa League away match against Tottenham Hotspur.[32]

Boavista (loan)

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On 10 July 2021, Beiranvand joined Primeira Liga side Boavista on a one-year loan,[33] with a purchase option for €1 million.[34]

Return to Persepolis

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Beiranvand joined Persepolis on 31 May 2022 with a new 3-year contract on a free transfer.[35][36]

Tractor

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On 16 July 2024, Beiranvand joined Tractor on a one-year deal from Persepolis.

International career

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Youth levels

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He represented Iran at various youth levels, such as the U-19 team during the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship[37][38] and the U-22 team in the 2013 U-22 Asian Cup qualifiers.[39]

Senior team

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Beiranvand training with Iran in 2016
 
Beiranvand saving a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
 
Beiranvand and Queiroz after a 2019 AFC Asian Cup match.

In April 2014, he was called up to the Iran national football team training camp in South Africa by coach Carlos Queiroz after many Sepahan players could not make it because of AFC Champions League matches, including goalkeeper Rahman Ahmadi. He was also selected in Iran's 30-man provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. However, Beiranvand was not included in Iran's squad for the World Cup, without playing any match in pre-World Cup friendly matches. He was called into Iran's 2015 AFC Asian Cup squad on 30 December 2014 by Carlos Queiroz.[40] He made his debut in a friendly match against Iraq on 4 January 2015, just before the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

During the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, first-choice goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi was denied a visa for entry to Guam ahead of their fixture, alongside left back Ehsan Hajsafi. Beiranvand was thus given his first competitive start for the senior team. However, he was given a straight red in the 72nd minute for a foul on Guam midfielder Dylan Naputi, less than a minute after Iran had used up all of their substitutions, forcing defender Ezzatollah Pourghaz to take on goalkeeper duties.[41]

During the final round of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, Beiranvand became Iran's starting goalkeeper, replacing Alireza Haghighi. In May 2018, he was named in Iran's preliminary squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[42]

In Iran's last match of the 2018 World Cup, Beiranvand saved a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo, as Iran drew 1–1 with Portugal.[43][44] Beiranvand was the starting goalkeeper of the Iran squad at the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. He was again in the spotlight when he saved a penalty from Ahmed Mubarak Al-Mahaijri, as Iran won 2–0 against Oman.[20] He was again in the spotlight when he saved a penalty from the captain of Cambodia, as Iran won 14–0 against Cambodia.

He was Iran's starting goalkeeper at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but during the match against England he collided with defender Majid Hosseini; after a lengthy medical treatment on the field, he was allowed to continue, but appeared disoriented and minutes later lied down on the ground and requested a substitution, after which he was taken to a nearby hospital.[45][46] Headway called the decision to keep him on the field an "utter disgrace" and an "abject failure" of the concussion protocol.[45] He was replaced by Hossein Hosseini, who remained in the starting position for the next match against Wales national football team; Beiranvand then returned for the third group stage match against the United States.[46]

Style of play

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Beiranvand playing for Iran against Spain at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.

Beiranvand's main trait is his ability to take very long throws.[47] In the 2015 AFC Champions League Round of 16 against Al Ahli, Beiranvand made a throw that reached 60m.[48] On 24 November 2014, he provided an assist against Tractor Sazi by throwing the ball into the opponent's half. Beiranvand is good in aerial duels and has been praised for his athleticism, "outstanding shot-stopping", acrobatic dives, and quick reflexes.[49]

He, along with Zahra Khajavi, are known as the record holders of the longest hand throws in Iranian football.[50]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 1 May 2024[51]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Naft Tehran 2013–14 Persian Gulf Pro League 23 0 1 0 — — 24 0
2014–15 26 0 2 0 9 0 37 0
2015–16 19 0 1 0 3 0 23 0
Total 68 0 4 0 12 0 — 84 0
Persepolis 2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League 24 0 0 0 8[a] 0 — 32 0
2017–18 27 0 3 0 12[a] 0 1[b] 0 43 0
2018–19 24 0 3 0 12[a] 0 0 0 39 0
2019–20 14 0 2 0 2[a] 0 0 0 18 0
Total 89 0 8 0 34 0 1 0 132 0
Antwerp 2020–21 Belgian First Division A 10 0 0 0 2[c] 0 0 0 12 0
Total 10 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 12 0
Boavista (loan) 2021–22 Primeira Liga 8 0 0 0 0 0 1[d] 0 9 0
Total 8 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 9 0
Persepolis 2022–23 Persian Gulf Pro League 29 0 5 0 — — 34 0
2023–24 26 0 1 0 6 0 33 0
Total 55 0 6 0 6 0 0 0 67 0
Tractor 2024-25 Persian Gulf Pro League 3 0 0 0 0 0 - 3 0
Career total 233 0 18 0 54 0 2 0 307 0
  1. ^ a b c d Appearances in AFC Champions League
  2. ^ Appearance in Iranian Super Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Appearance in Taça da Liga

International

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As of match played 14 November 2024[52]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Iran 2015 3 0
2016 6 0
2017 9 0
2018 10 0
2019 12 0
2021 9 0
2022 5 0
2023 8 0
2024 14 0
Total 76 0

Honours

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Beiranvand celebrating after winning the 2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League.

Naft Tehran

Persepolis

Iran

Individual

Guinness World Records

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Beiranvand achieved two Guinness World Records during his career, including the farthest distance throw of a football at 61.0026 metres (200.140 ft) against South Korea on 11 October 2016,[57] and the longest football drop kick at 78.014 metres (255.95 ft) on 17 April 2019.[58]

References

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  1. ^ a b "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Squad list: IR Iran (IRN)" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 15. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  2. ^ "Iran goalkeeper among 5 Asian FIFA World Cup Heroes". Islamic Republic News Agency. 7 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Antwerp completes signing of Iranian goalkeeper Beiranvand". Xinhua. 27 July 2020.
  4. ^ Sport, Telegraph (15 June 2018). "Iran World Cup 2018 squad list and team guide". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235.
  5. ^ Jones, Michael (15 November 2022). "Iran World Cup 2022 squad guide: Full fixtures, group, ones to watch, odds and more". The Independent. Retrieved 21 November 2022.
  6. ^ a b "Persepolis vs Al-Sadd man of match 2nd leg". AFC.
  7. ^ "FIFA Football Awards 2017 – Voting Results | THE BEST FIFA GOALKEEPER 2017" (PDF). FIFA.com. Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 January 2018. Retrieved 28 October 2017.
  8. ^ "Best of Persian Gulf Pro League Win Awards". Financial Tribune. 24 July 2018. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  9. ^ "FIFA World Cup 2018: Top 5 goalkeepers ranked by clean sheets kept". SportSkeeda. 14 June 2018.
  10. ^ "Farthest distance throw of a football (soccer ball) in a competitive match". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  11. ^ "Longest football (soccer) drop kick". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  12. ^ خنده بازی (10 November 2018). Khandevaneh S 4 E 77 - Alireza Beiranvand (خندوانه با علیرضا بیرانوند و مسابقه خنداننده شو). Retrieved 25 June 2024 – via YouTube.
  13. ^ a b Jafarzadeh, Behnam (1 June 2018). "Alireza Beiranvand: from sleeping rough to the World Cup with Iran". The Guardian.
  14. ^ "World Cup 2018: Five things you did not know about Asian players in Russia". BBC Sport. 12 June 2018.
  15. ^ "بیوگرافی علیرضا بیرانوند دروازه بان و همسرش + عکس خانواده و فرزنداش". شبونه ⭐️.
  16. ^ "Alireza Safar Beiranvand علیرضا صفربیرانوند - IPL 2012-2013 - Player Profile with career statistics and history - PersianLeague". 29 December 2014. Archived from the original on 29 December 2014.
  17. ^ "نفت، يك پنالتى كم آورد". Archived from the original on 6 April 2013.
  18. ^ Mehrdad. "قنبرزاده: بیرانوند گفت از طریق مدیربرنامه هایش با پرسپولیس مذاکره کرده نه محمدی". Perspolisnews. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012.
  19. ^ Ed Ran (24 November 2014). "Video: Goalkeeper gets insane assist after throwing ball directly into opponent's half". SportSkeeda.
  20. ^ a b "Watch: Alireza Beiranvand proves to be Iran's superman yet again with a fantastic penalty save against Oman in the AFC Asian Cup 2019". Fox Sports. 20 January 2019. Archived from the original on 21 January 2019.
  21. ^ علیرضا بیرانوند پرسپولیسی شد Archived 12 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Perspolis. Retrieved on 24 June 2017.
  22. ^ "علیرضا بیرانوند - پرسپولیس؛ ۱۴۰۰". ورزش سه.
  23. ^ "Alireza Beiranvand Sets Record for Minutes without Conceding Goal - Sports news". Tasnim News Agency.
  24. ^ "Beiranvand Profile". AFC. 24 October 2018
  25. ^ "TOYOTA PLAYER OF THE WEEK | AFC". AFC.
  26. ^ "This is your #ACL2018 semi-final second leg Team of the Week!".
  27. ^ "Iran's Beiranvand, Cheshmi Can Impress in UAE 2019". Tasnim News Agency. 25 July 2018.
  28. ^ "بعد ترشحه لنيل جائزة أفضل لاعب في آسيا.. ماذا قدم عبدالكريم حسن مع السد والعنابي الأول خلال عام 2018؟". استاد الدوحة (in Arabic). 18 November 2018.
  29. ^ "Paul Williams". 19 November 2018.
  30. ^ "John Duerden". 19 November 2018.
  31. ^ "Martin Lowe". 19 November 2018.
  32. ^ "Alireza Beiranvand, a remarkable debut of the Iranian hero [VIDEO]". Persian League. 12 December 2020.
  33. ^ "Oficial: Alireza Beiranvand é reforço (Boavista)" (in Portuguese). A Bola. 10 July 2021.
  34. ^ "Alireza Beirenvand chega sexta-feira ao Porto". Record. 9 July 2021.
  35. ^ "فوری؛ علیرضا بیرانوند به پرسپولیس پیوست". ورزش سه (in Persian). Retrieved 31 May 2022.
  36. ^ "Alireza Beiranvand returns to Persepolis - official". Tehran Times. 1 June 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2022.
  37. ^ "AFC U-19 CHAMPIONSHIP 2010 MATCH SUMMARY". 13 September 2012. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012.
  38. ^ "AFC U-19 CHAMPIONSHIP 2010 MATCH SUMMARY". 19 May 2019.
  39. ^ "Player Profile ALI REZA SAFARBEIRANVAND".
  40. ^ "Queiroz Names Team Melli Squad". afcasiancup.com. 30 December 2014. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015.
  41. ^ "بایگانی‌های ورزشی".
  42. ^ "World Cup 2018: All the confirmed squads for this summer's finals in Russia". BBC Sport. 4 June 2018.
  43. ^ "Iran Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand's Life Story Is The Most Inspirational Story You'll Ever Read". 25 June 2018.
  44. ^ "Iran deserve respect for denying Cristiano Ronaldo, says goalkeeper". The Independent. 26 June 2018.
  45. ^ a b "'Utter disgrace': Iran goalkeeper allowed to play on at World Cup after head clash". the Guardian. 21 November 2022.
  46. ^ a b "Iran will have backup goalkeeper against Wales and star Bale". AP NEWS. 24 November 2022.
  47. ^ "Iran Goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand Has The Longest Throw In Football". 26 June 2018.
  48. ^ "Inspiring Iranians". Facebook. 16 June 2018.
  49. ^ "Alireza Beiranvand proves the real deal with ACL heroics". FOX Sports Asia. 24 October 2018.
  50. ^ تاریخ و آمار فوتبال زنان ایران - چاپ دوم (in Persian). pp. 55, 56.
  51. ^ "Iran - A. Beiranvand - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". int.soccerway.com.
  52. ^ Alireza Beiranvand at National-Football-Teams.com
  53. ^ a b "The Best ACL2018 XI announced!". AFC. 9 August 2020.
  54. ^ "AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Technical Report and Statistics". AFC. 29 May 2019.
  55. ^ "Asia's World Cup Heroes: Expert verdict and results!". Asian Football Confederation. 16 April 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2021.
  56. ^ "Iran's Beiranvand named best Asian FIFA World Cup player". Iran Press. 15 April 2020.
  57. ^ "Farthest distance throw of a football (soccer ball) in a competitive match". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  58. ^ "Longest football (soccer) drop kick". Guinness World Records. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
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