Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Tehran: Former Iran captain Javad Nekounam has retired from football.
The 35-year-old central midfielder, who played for Qatari club Al Arabi last season, made the announcement on Friday via a short statement.
“As a football player, retiring is the toughest decision you have to make and I don't make it lightly,” he said.
“When I was a kid, I didn’t know to hang up the shoes means you have to forget your dreams.”
Nekounam – Iran’s most capped player with 151 international appearances to his name - was handed his debut in 1998 by Iran’s Pas, before eventually moving to Europe to play for Osasuna in Spain between 2006 and 2012.
After brief spells with Esteghlal and Al Kuwait, he returned to Osasuna for the 2014-15 season, ahead of deals with Saipa and, finally, Al Arabi.
During the course of an illustrious career with his country, Nekounam represented Iran at two FIFA World Cups and four AFC Asian Cups.
Photo: AFP