1. Karim Bagheri is an Iranian professional football coach and former midfielder who most notably played for the Iranian national team and Persian Gulf Pro League club Persepolis, where he serves as assistant coach.
31 Facts About Karim Bagheri
1. 2.
Karim Bagheri holds the record for most international goals scored as a midfielder.
3.
Karim Bagheri was discovered by Vasile Godja and began playing for his hometown club Tractor, where he impressed enough to land himself a contract with Keshavarz.
4.
On 1 August 1996, Bagheri was signed on a free transfer by the capital's club, Persepolis.
5.
Karim Bagheri remained in Bielefeld for one more season, though his time in Germany ended sourly when he bought out his contract and returned to Persepolis again, though Persepolis loaned him to Al-Nasr in the United Arab Emirates.
6.
Karim Bagheri's father died and he had to return to Iran the next day and we didn't see him for three weeks.
7.
Karim Bagheri has all the attributes and understood the English game.
8.
Karim Bagheri had very little success there, only playing 15 minutes during the entire season in a game against Ipswich Town and being the first Iranian to play in the Premiership.
9.
In 2002, Karim Bagheri decided to return to Persepolis .
10.
Karim Bagheri has since established himself as one of the greatest icons of Persepolis and many compare his popularity with Ali Parvin.
11.
Karim Bagheri missed matches because of the differences he had with the coach Nelo Vingada at the end of the season.
12.
On 1 December 2010, Karim Bagheri announced that he would retire and leave Persepolis.
13.
Karim Bagheri was first called up to the Iran national team during the 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, making his debut versus Pakistan on 6 June 1993.
14.
Karim Bagheri displayed great football and soon became a starter for Iran in the midfield.
15.
Karim Bagheri played in 1996 AFC Asian Cup for Team Melli and finished third.
16.
Karim Bagheri sparked Iran's comeback against Australia in the second leg of their 1998 FIFA World Cup qualifier in 1997.
17.
Karim Bagheri played in 1998 Asian Games and won the competition.
18.
Karim Bagheri had one of the strongest right-footed shots and scored many fantastic goals against opponents, such as his game-tying goal against South Korea in the quarter finals of the 2000 Asian Cup in Lebanon.
19.
On 2 June 1997, Karim Bagheri scored seven times against the Maldives, and equalled the record for the most goals scored in a World Cup qualifying match, which was held by the Australian Gary Cole since 1981.
20.
Karim Bagheri was named the world's second top goal scorer in official international matches by International Federation of Football History and Statistics, having scored 20 goals for Iran in 1997.
21.
Karim Bagheri retired from the national team with 80 caps and 47 goals for the Iran national team after Iran's unsuccessful FIFA World Cup 2002 qualification campaign which ended with an aggregate defeat to Republic of Ireland in November 2001.
22.
Karim Bagheri was called up to the national team again soon after World Cup 2006, but said he would not participate as he is retired from international football and has no plans on returning to it.
23.
On 9 October 2008, Iran national team coach Ali Daei stated that because of Andranik Teymourian's injury Karim Bagheri would be called up for the national team .
24.
On 9 November 2008, in a friendly match against Qatar, Karim Bagheri appeared for Team Melli after almost seven years.
25.
Karim Bagheri captained Iran in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match against UAE on 19 November 2008, scoring for Iran.
26.
Karim Bagheri has been given his favorite number 6 jersey back.
27.
Karim Bagheri played few important matches for Team Melli in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification against UAE and South Korea.
28.
Karim Bagheri was invited again by Afshin Ghotbi but he stated in Navad that he only returned to the Iran national team because of Daei and would not participate in any more matches.
29.
On 2 October 2010, Karim Bagheri announced he would play his last match with the Iran national team on 7 October 2010 against Brazil in the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
30.
Karim Bagheri was promoted as the first-team coach in the coaching staff of Ali Daei.
31.
On 8 April 2015, Karim Bagheri was named assistant manager of Persepolis again.