- Masoud Shojaei
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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) 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 2011Masoud 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.
Contents
Club career
Of Abadani descent,[1] 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.[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.
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.[3]
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.
References
- ^ Interview with Khanevadeye Sabz magazine (Persian)
- ^ Masoud Shojaei, internacional iraní, ficha por Osasuna para tres temporadas (Masoud Shojaei, Iranian internacional, signs with Osasuna for three seasons); Osasuna official website, 23 June 2008 (Spanish)
- ^ Iranian duo to stay at Osasuna; Persian Football, 31 May 2011
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
CA Osasuna – current squad 1 Ricardo · 2 Bertrán · 3 Rubén · 4 M. Flaño · 5 Lolo · 6 Nekounam · 7 Sola · 8 Masoud · 9 Lekić · 10 Puñal (c) · 11 Calleja · 12 Echaide · 13 Riesgo · 14 García · 15 Rovérsio · 16 Cejudo · 17 Nino · 18 Annunziata · 19 Ibrahima · 20 Raitala · 21 Lamah · 22 Timor · 23 Sergio · 24 Damià · 25 Andrés · Coach: Mendilibar
Categories:- 1984 births
- Living people
- People from Abadan
- Iranian footballers
- Association football midfielders
- Sanat Naft players
- Saipa 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
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