Masoud Shojaei

Masoud Shojaei

Personal information
Full name	Masoud Soleimani Shojaei
Date of birth	9 June 1984 (1984-06-09)
Place of birth	Abadan, Iran
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Osasuna
Number	8
Youth career
1999–2000	Sanat Naft
2000–2002	Saipa
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2002–2003	Sanat Naft	12	(1)
2003–2006	Saipa	60	(5)
2006–2008	Al-Sharjah	40	(12)
2008–	Osasuna	87	(7)
National team‡
2005	Iran B	6	(0)
2004–	Iran	37	(4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 6 November 2011. † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22 January 2011

Masoud Soleimani Shojaei (Persian: مسعود سلیمانی شجاعی‎; born 9 June 1984), sometimes known as just Masoud, is an Iranian footballer who plays for CA Osasuna in La Liga.

Mainly an attacking midfielder who can also play as a forward, he is also an Iranian international.

Club career

Of Abadani descent, Shojaei was born in Shiraz. He started his career with Sanat Naft FC, before moving to Saipa F.C. of Karaj in the Iran Pro League, at age 19. He played three seasons with the latter, displaying good overall dribbling skills, and being dubbed The New Karimi.^{[citation needed]}

After the 2006 World Cup, Shojaei moved to the United Arab Emirates and signed for Al-Sharjah Sports Club, joining compatriot Rasoul Khatibi and penning a one-year contract, worth $1,200,000. He scored his first goal for the club in the League on 3 October, against Al-Emarat.

On 23 June 2008, after previous attempts from VfL Wolfsburg in Germany and Italy's S.S.C. Napoli, Shojaei signed with Spanish side CA Osasuna for three years, teaming up with compatriot Javad Nekounam. The deal included a €6 million buyout clause for the first 18 months of his contract, being reduced to €3.5 million for the remainder of his stay.

Shojaei made his La Liga debut on 31 August 2008, playing 32 minutes in a 1–1 home draw against Villarreal CF. During his first two seasons, he appeared almost always as a substitute, as the Navarrese managed to maintain its division status; the player remained a regular even after the coaching change at the club, as José Ángel Ziganda was replaced by José Antonio Camacho.

Masoud appeared regularly again for Osasuna in the 2010–11 season, but also spent one month at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup with his national team. In late May, he renewed his contract with the club for another two seasons, also having the option of an annual renewal of his link.

Masoud spent the entire 2011–12 on the sidelines, due to injury.

International career

After good performances with Saipa, Shojaei earned a place in Iran national under-23 football team, catching the eye of senior side coach Branko Ivanković.

He was first called-up to play for the full national team in November 2004, for a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Laos. It would be the only cap he would win until his inclusion in the training camp prior to the finals in Germany, held in Switzerland. During the camp, the manager was impressed enough to include the player in the final squad, but he only appeared once in the tournament, replacing injured Mohammad Nosrati in the early minutes of the 1–1 draw against Angola.

Shojaei began appearing more regularly in the 2010 World Cup qualification stages, scoring in a 1–1 draw against South Korea in the last game, as Team Melli eventually did not qualify for South Africa.

International goals

Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first.

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	28 March 2009	Azadi Stadium, Tehran	Saudi Arabia	1–0	1–2	2010 World Cup qualification
2	17 June 2009	Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul	South Korea	1–0	1–1	2010 World Cup qualification
3	12 August 2009	Asim Ferhatovic, Sarajevo	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1–2	3–2	Friendly
4	7 September 2010	Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul	South Korea	1–0	1–0	Friendly

Club statistics

As of 3 April 2011

Club performance			League		Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Iran			League		Hazfi Cup		Asia		Total
2002–03	Sanat Naft	Iran Pro League	12	1	0	0	-	-	12	1
2003–04	Saipa		14	2	0	0	-	-	14	2
2004–05			22	1	0	0	-	-	22	1
2005–06			24	2	1	0	-	-	25	2
United Arab Emirates			League		President's Cup		Asia		Total
2006–07	Al-Sharjah	UAE League	20	7	0	0	-	-	20	7
2007–08			20	5	0	0	-	-	20	5
Spain			League		Copa del Rey		Europe		Total
2008–09	Osasuna	La Liga	33	3	1	0	-	-	34	3
2009–10			36	2	5	1	-	-	41	3
2010–11			18	3	2	0	-	-	20	3
2011–12			0	0	0	0	-	-	0	0
Total	Iran		72	6	1	0	-	-	73	6
	United Arab Emirates		40	12	0	0	-	-	40	12
	Spain		87	8	8	1	-	-	95	9
Career total			199	26	9	1	-	-	208	27

• Assist Goals

Season	Team	Assists
2008–09	Osasuna	7
2009–10	Osasuna	1
2010–11	Osasuna	6

Honours

Country

• Islamic Solidarity Games: Third Place 2005

Personal life

Shojaei has six siblings, and two of his brothers are also involved in football.

External links

• Osasuna official profile (Spanish)
• BDFutbol profile
• TeamMelli official profile
• Masoud Shojaei at National-Football-Teams.com
• Masoud Shojaei – FIFA competition record
• Transfermarkt profile