Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
AFC President Shaikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa has offered his deepest condolences to the family and friends of Iranian AFC Hall of Fame inductee Homayoun Behzadi, who passed away on Thursday, aged 73.
The leading goal-scorer at the 1968 AFC Asian Cup, Khorramabad-born Behzadi enjoyed a glittering career with Team Melli, as well as with Tehran giants Persepolis.
His lethal finishing made him one of the greatest football stars Asia has ever produced, and he belonged to the famed generation of Iranian football which won back-to-back Asian Cups in 1968, 1972 and 1976.
Indeed, it was the 1968 Asian Cup, held in IR Iran, where he got the opportunity to truly showcase his talent by scoring four goals – including the winner in the final – as IR Iran were crowned champions.
Prior to the 1968 continental gathering, he played a key role in IR Iran’s silver medal win at the 1966 Asian Games in Thailand.
His influence as a player and, after retiring in 1975, as a coach, has also seen him included in Persepolis’ Hall of Fame.
The thoughts and prayers of the AFC, the IR Iran Football Federation and the rest of the Asian football community are with the family and friends of Behzadi.