Seyed Mehdi Rahmati Oskuei (Persian: سید مهدی رحمتی اسکویی; born February 3, 1983) is an Iranian football coach and former player who currently manages Nassaji Mazandaran F.C. in the Persian Gulf Pro League. He played for the Iran national team between 2004 and 2013.

Mehdi Rahmati
Rahmati in 2022
Personal information
Full name Seyed Mehdi Rahmati Oskuei
Date of birth (1983-02-03) February 3, 1983 (age 41)[1]
Place of birth Tehran, Iran
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in) [2]
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
Nassaji Mazandaran (manager)
Youth career
1995–1997 Pas Tehran[3]
1997–2001 Fajr Sepasi
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2004 Fajr Sepasi 61 (1)
2004–2005 Sepahan 26 (0)
2005–2007 Esteghlal 23 (0)
2007–2009 Mes Kerman 65 (0)
2009–2011 Sepahan 62 (0)
2011–2014 Esteghlal 98 (0)
2014–2015 Paykan 29 (1)
2015–2019 Esteghlal 75 (0)
2019–2020 Padideh 29 (0)
Total 468 (2)
International career
2000–2002 Iran U20
2002–2004 Iran U23 6 (0)
2010 Iran U23 (Wild Card) 7 (0)
2004–2014 Iran 76 (0)
Managerial career
2020–2021 Padideh
2022–2023 Aluminium Arak
2023 Nassaji Mazandaran
Medal record
Representing  Iran
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2002 Busan Team Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:33, December 30, 2018 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of November 14, 2012

Club career edit

Early career edit

Rahmati started his professional career with Fajr Sepasi in 2000,[4] he stayed for four years at the club and made 40 appearances before transferring to Sepahan.[5] After only one season with Sepahan, Rahmati again transferred, this time to Esteghlal. Although he had good performance in the Esteghlal squad, Vahid Talebloo had better performances and he proved himself as the number one keeper for Esteghlal

Rahmati again left this time to Mes Kerman where he played very well. He continued performing well in Mes and helped the club qualify for the AFC Champions League for the first time in the club's history. Persepolis showed some interest on him but he reject the bid.

Sepahan edit

On July 14, 2009, Rahmati signed a two-year contract with Sepahan for an approximate sum of $450,000 turning down an offer from Norwegian club Rosenborg BK. At Sepahan he was the first choice keeper for the entire season and one of the most important players that helped the club win the league. He repeated the same feat with Sepahan the next season, he was regarded as the league's best goalkeeper after his performances with Sepahan.

Esteghlal edit

He joined Esteghlal in July 2011 where he won the Hazfi Cup in the first season. He extended his contract for another season on June 18, 2012. On April 12, 2013, Rahmati achieved a recorded twenty-four clean sheets, equalling with Iker Casillas in a season. He also helped his team to win league title after four years. At the end of the season, he extended his contract with the club. After the retirement of Farhad Majidi, Rahmati was named as Esteghlal's captain.

Paykan edit

On June 18, 2014, Rahmati left Esteghlal and joined Paykan for $1.5 million, signing a two-year contract. He played his first match for Paykan in 3-4 home loss to Tractor Sazi Tabriz F.C in 2014 Shohada Cup[6]

Return to Esteghlal edit

On June 29, 2015, Rahmati returned to his former club Esteghlal on a one-year contract.[7] In 2018 he won the Hazfi Cup with Esteghlal. He holds the record for the most Appearance in Persian gulf league and is the first player who appeared in 18 consecutive seasons in Persian gulf league . Considered one of the best goalkeepers in Asia, He also holds the record of most clean sheet in Persian gulf league with (180).[8]

Padideh edit

On June 16, 2019, Rahmati joined Padideh on a two-year contract.[9][10]

International career edit

He was part of the Iran national team in 2004 AFC Asian Cup but he did not play any match. He won the 2004 West Asian Football Federation Championship with Team Melli. He was again part of the team in 2007 AFC Asian Cup but he did not play any match again. Since the start of the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification, he has been the number one keeper for Team Melli. He also played for Team Melli in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification. He was one of the best players for Iran in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification and 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification where his saves played an important role. Rahmati was the first choice keeper in West Asian Football Federation Championship 2010 and 2011 Asian Cup.

Retirement edit

On January 20, 2012, Mehdi Rahmati announced his temporary retirement from the national team, he stated in an interview "Maybe I cannot be at the service of Team Melli, so I temporarily announce my resignation." He added, "Due to some problems, I prefer not to say anything for the time being, but I have to say just one thing that I am not at the service of Team Melli for a while."[11]

After the announcement Iran national team coach Carlos Queiroz made a comment that he respected Rahmati's decision and would not invite him any more. Many in the Iranian FA tried to convince him to invite Rahmati again but Queiroz said that he was not involved in the decision and he could not see any reason to negotiate this matter with Rahmati.

In March 2013 Rahmati made a comment that Queiroz should not be the coach of Iran and the best he could do was to help as the assistant. At the end of the season Rahmati apologised to the Iranian people but not Queiroz personally in Navad TV show. Before the final three matches in June 2013 for the World cup qualifications it was rumoured that the Iranian FA and Queiroz asked him to sign an apology letter provided by them which he refused. A month later in July 2013, Hadi Aghili revealed that Rahmati told him not to sign the apology and they will beg us to return after they lose the first match which did not happen. However Rahmati was present in Training Camp in October 2014, but he was never called for an international match.

Personal life edit

Rahmati's family is Iranian Azerbaijani[12] from the Osku city of East Azerbaijan Province.[13]

Mehdi Rahmati married in 2004. He has two children, Ali and Ata.[14]

Career statistics edit

As of 6 November 2019
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Hazfi Cup Asia Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Fajr 2000–01 Azadegan League 5 0 2 0 7 0
2001–02 Pro League 11 0 1 0 2 0 14 0
2002–03 20 0 1 0 21 0
2003–04 25 0 1 0 26 0
Total 61 0 5 0 2 0 68 0
Sepahan 2004–05 Pro League 26 0 0 0 6 0 32 0
Esteghlal 2005–06 Pro League 12 0 0 0 12 0
2006–07 9 0 0 0 9 0
Total 21 0 0 0 0 0 23 0
Mes 2007–08 Pro League 33 0 1 0 34 0
2008–09 33 0 0 0 33 0
Total 66 0 1 0 0 0 67 0
Sepahan 2009–10 Pro League 33 0 1 0 6 0 40 0
2010–11 32 0 4 0 7 0 43 0
Total 65 0 5 0 13 0 83 0
Esteghlal 2011–12 Pro League 34 0 5 0 9 0 48 0
2012–13 34 0 4 0 8 0 46 0
2013–14 30 0 3 0 9 0 42 0
Total 98 0 12 0 26 0 136 0
Paykan 2014–15 Pro League 29 0 1 0 30 0
Esteghlal 2015–16 Pro League 26 0 3 0 29 0
2016–17 22 0 4 0 7 0 33 0
2017–18 10 0 4 0 4 0 18 0
2018–19 19 0 0 0 2 0 21 0
Total 77 0 11 0 13 0 101 0
Padideh 2019–20 Pro League 16 0 1 0 2 0 19 0
Career total 459 0 38 0 62 0 559 0

Managerial record edit

As of match played 18 September 2023
Managerial record by team and tenure
Team From To Record
P W D L Win %
Padideh 31 August 2020 22 August 2021 34 10 8 16 029.41
Aluminium 13 March 2022 4 June 2023 43 13 22 8 030.23
Nassaji 6 June 2023 present 5 2 2 1 040.00
Total 82 25 32 25 030.49

Honours edit

 
Rahmati after winning the league with Esteghlal

Fajr Sepasi

Sepahan

Esteghlal

Iran U23

Iran

Individual

References edit

  1. ^ "وب سایت رسمی سید مهدی رحمتی". Retrieved January 5, 2017.
  2. ^ "Mehdi Rahmati". Asian Football Confederation. Retrieved October 9, 2018.
  3. ^ "وب سایت رسمی سید مهدی رحمتی :: بیوگرافی". Archived from the original on January 28, 2011. Retrieved February 1, 2011.
  4. ^ "چهره ای از رحمتی که به یاد نمی آورید/عکس".
  5. ^ "سید مهدی رحمتی ؛ عکس ؛ سید مهدی رحمتی در فجر سپاسی شیراز!". March 22, 2018.
  6. ^ "سیدمهدی رحمتی به پیکان پیوست".
  7. ^ "رحمتی رسماً استقلالی شد/ عکس با پیراهن شماره یک". خبرگزاری فارس. Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  8. ^ "Mehdi Rahmati Holds Iranian records in League". Retrieved February 19, 2019.
  9. ^ "قرارداد رحمتی با پدیده شهرخودرو امضا شد" (in Persian).
  10. ^ "جزئیات پیوستن مهدی رحمتی به پدیده".
  11. ^ "Mehdi Rahmati resigns from Team Melli". Retrieved May 17, 2016.
  12. ^ "باشگاه تراکتورسازی تبریز با سید مهدی رحمتی وارد مذاکره شد". tabnak.ir (in Persian). Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  13. ^ "با مهدی رحمتی از سال ۶۲ تا ۹۲/عکس+گفتگو". Khabar Online. Retrieved September 18, 2014.
  14. ^ "بیوگرافی مهدی رحمتی و همسرش + زندگی شخصی و فرزندان". September 27, 2018.

External links edit