1. Javad Nekounam is an Iranian football manager and former player who played as a midfielder.
17 Facts About Javad Nekounam
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Javad Nekounam holds the record for the most appearances for the Iranian national team with 149 caps.
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In January 2006, Javad Nekounam joined Al Sharjah SC, although some European clubs such as 1.
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On 14 August 2007, Javad Nekounam suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his right knee and, after undergoing a successful surgery in Augsburg, Germany, was sidelined for eight months.
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On 21 May 2011, Javad Nekounam renewed his contract with Osasuna for another two seasons, with the option of an annual renewal of his link.
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On 21 July 2012, aged almost 32, Javad Nekounam returned to his country and signed a two-year deal with Esteghlal for a record fee of US$1,500,000, which made him the most expensive player in the Iran Pro League history.
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On 14 January 2014, Javad Nekounam agreed to a four-month contract at Kuwait SC.
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Carlos Queiroz 8.
Javad Nekounam scored three goals in the 2014 edition of the AFC Cup, and won the season's Kuwait Emir Cup.
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On 4 August 2014, Javad Nekounam returned to Osasuna by signing a two-year deal.
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Javad Nekounam returned to Iran and its Persian Gulf Pro League on 6 July 2015, joining Saipa FC for one year.
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On 21 January 2016, Javad Nekounam moved to Qatari club Al-Arabi SC on a four-month contract with an option to extend for a further year.
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Javad Nekounam left on 30 June 2016, and the 35-year-old announced his retirement two weeks later.
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Javad Nekounam became a starter for the national side during the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and, already a key midfield element, played two of the national team's matches during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, being suspended for the final group game against Angola after his second yellow card against Portugal.
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Additionally, Javad Nekounam helped Iran win the 2002 Asian Games and the 2004 West Asian Football Federation Championship, and represented the country in the 2004,2007 and 2011 AFC Asian Cups.
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Javad Nekounam was Team Melli's leading goalscorer in its successful 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign and, on 1 June 2014, he was selected by Carlos Queiroz for the finals in Brazil, where he captained the nation in an eventual group-stage exit.
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Javad Nekounam made the 2015 Asian Cup squad, in December 2014.
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Javad Nekounam's team won 23 points from his nine games in charge, and were promoted to the Persian Gulf Pro League after a 24-year absence.