Masoud Shojaei
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Masoud Soleimani Shojaei | ||
Date of birth | 9 June 1984 | ||
Place of birth | Shiraz, Iran | ||
Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) | ||
Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
Team information | |||
Current team | 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 | 100 | (8) |
International career‡ | |||
2005 | Iran B | 6 | (0) |
2004– | Iran | 45 | (5) |
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 1 June 2013 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 11 June 2013 |
Masoud Soleimani Shojaei (Persian: مسعود سلیمانی شجاعی; born 9 June 1984) is an Iranian professional footballer who plays for CA Osasuna in La Liga. Mainly an attacking midfielder, he can also play as a winger or forward.
After playing in his country for two clubs and with Al-Sharjah in the United Arab Emirates, he went on to spend several seasons in Spain with Osasuna, appearing in nearly 150 official games.
An Iranian international since 2004, Shojaei represented the country at the 2006 World Cup.
Club career
Early years
Shojaei was born in Shiraz.[1] He started his career with Sanat Naft F.C. 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.
After the 2006 World Cup, Shojaei moved to the United Arab Emirates and signed for Al Sharjah SC, 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.
Osasuna
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.[2]
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.
Shojaei – who was addressed by his first name during his spell in Spain – appeared regularly again for Osasuna in the 2010–11 campaign, 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.[3]
Shojaei spent the entire 2011–12 on the sidelines, due to injury.[4] On 25 February 2013, in only his fourth appearance since returning, he scored a stunning goal to help Osasuna win it 2–0 at Levante UD.[5][6]
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 | ![]() |
1–0 | 1–2 | 2010 World Cup qualification |
2 | 17 June 2009 | Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul | ![]() |
1–0 | 1–1 | 2010 World Cup qualification |
3 | 12 August 2009 | Asim Ferhatovic, Sarajevo | ![]() |
1–2 | 3–2 | Friendly |
4 | 7 September 2010 | Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul | ![]() |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
5 | 26 March 2013 | Al Kuwait Sports Club Stadium, Kuwait City | ![]() |
1–0 | 1–1 | 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification |
Honours
Country
- Islamic Solidarity Games: Third Place 2005
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 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 20 | 2 | ||
2011–12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||
2012–13 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 15 | 1 | ||
Total | Iran | 72 | 6 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 73 | 6 | |
United Arab Emirates | 40 | 12 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 40 | 12 | ||
Spain | 101 | 8 | 9 | 1 | - | - | 110 | 9 | ||
Career total | 213 | 26 | 10 | 1 | - | - | 223 | 27 |
- Assist Goals
Season | Team | Assists |
---|---|---|
2008–09 | Osasuna | 7 |
2009–10 | Osasuna | 1 |
2010–11 | Osasuna | 6 |
Personal life
Shojaei has six siblings, and two of his brothers are also involved in football.
References
- ^ Interview with Khanevadeye Sabz magazine Template:Fa icon
- ^ Masoud Shojaei, internacional iraní, ficha por Osasuna para tres temporadas (Masoud Shojaei, Iranian internacional, signs with Osasuna for three seasons); Osasuna's official website, 23 June 2008 Template:Es icon
- ^ Iranian duo to stay at Osasuna; Persian Football, 31 May 2011
- ^ Osasuna's Masoud Shojaei undergoes operation in Germany in an attempt to return from injury; Goal.com, 7 December 2011
- ^ Levante 0–2 Osasuna; ESPN FC, 25 February 2013
- ^ Masoud aparece justo a tiempo (Masoud just in time); Marca, 25 February 2013 Template:Es icon
External links
- Osasuna official profile Template:Es icon
- BDFutbol profile
- TeamMelli official profile
- Masoud Shojaei at National-Football-Teams.com
- Masoud Shojaei – FIFA competition record (archived)
- Transfermarkt profile
- 1984 births
- Living people
- People from Shiraz
- Iranian footballers
- Association football midfielders
- Sanat Naft players
- Saipa F.C. players
- Sharjah FC players
- La Liga footballers
- CA Osasuna footballers
- Iran international footballers
- 2006 FIFA World Cup players
- 2007 AFC Asian Cup players
- 2011 AFC Asian Cup players
- Iranian expatriate footballers
- Expatriate footballers in the United Arab Emirates
- Expatriate footballers in Spain