Mehrdad Pooladi (Persian: مهرداد پولادی, born 26 February 1987) is an Iranian former professional footballer. He was also an Iranian international, where he played as a left back.

Mehrdad Pooladi
Pooladi with Iran in 2014
Personal information
Full name Mehrdad Pooladi
Date of birth (1987-02-26) 26 February 1987 (age 37)
Place of birth Karaj, Iran
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Left-back, midfielder
Youth career
2002–2006 Paykan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2007 Paykan 18 (2)
2007–2009 Esteghlal 37 (1)
2009–2010 Tractor Sazi 30 (6)
2010–2012 Mes Kerman 41 (3)
2012Persepolis (loan) 0 (0)
2012–2014 Persepolis 30 (0)
2014–2017 Al-Shahania 62 (5)
2017–2019 Bangkok United 10 (1)
2019–2020 Al-Kharitiyath 21 (0)
2020-2021 Muaither 0 (0)
International career
2005–2006 Iran U20 8 (0)
2006–2007 Iran U23 5 (0)
2011–2015 Iran 29 (0)
Medal record
Representing  Iran
Asian Games
Bronze medal – third place 2006 Qatar Team Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 07:53, 9 October 2018 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23 January 2015

Pooladi is a utility player, formerly playing as a forward and attacking midfielder in his youth and playing regularly as a full back, defensive midfielder and winger.[1][2][3]

Club career edit

Esteghlal edit

In August 2007, Pooladi moved from Paykan to Esteghlal as one of the number of young players that were chosen by coach Naser Hejazi. He scored his only goal in Estghlal's 2–1 away at Moghavemat Sepasi. After Hejazi was sacked and replaced with Firouz Karimi, he fell down in the pecking order and eventually left Esteghlal two years after joining the team.

Tractor Sazi edit

Pooladi joined Tractor Sazi for the 2008–09 season where he played only for a single season. In Tabriz he managed to regain his form playing mostly as a central midfielder, scoring six goals in the season. The most noteworthy was a 40-yard free-kick against his former team Esteghlal in the Azadi Stadium.

Mes Kerman edit

Pooladi transferred to Mes Kerman and played for the team for a year and a half, again mostly as a midfielder. In the mid-season of 2011–12, he was not included in Miroslav Blažević's squad and left the team.

Persepolis edit

In January 2012 Pooladi moved to Persepolis, Pooladi could not play in 2011–12 season as he had missed the transfer deadline day. He was however able to register for the 2012 AFC Champions League playing in 7 games and scoring a goal against Al-Shabab from a free-kick in a 3–1 win. He extended his contract with Persepolis for two years, keeping him in the team until 2014.[4] He has established himself as a fan favorite due to the high intensity at which he plays the game. Since he joined Persepolis he played the majority of the games as a left back, occasionally slotting in as a defensive midfielder and left wing. After a good showing in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, he was monitored by Premier League clubs such as Southampton, Hull City and Swansea City.[5] On 17 September 2014, the FFIRI disciplinary committee announced a sentence on his contract with Persepolis for the forthcoming 2014–15 season due to conscription issues. According to this sentence, the contract is cancelled after the end of the 2013–14 season (in May 2014), therefore he became a free agent and was free to choose his club.[6][7]

Al-Shahania edit

Pooladi officially joined coach Miguel Ángel Lotina's Qatari side Al-Shahania with a two-year contract after IFF's rule that he is a free agent due to conscription issues.[8] On 5 December 2014, he provided an assist to Masoud Shojaei.[9] He also scored a 35–yard free kick for them towards the end of the season.[10][11]

Bangkok United edit

In June 2017, Pooladi joined Bangkok United Football Club - a Thai professional football club based in Pathum Thani.

International career edit

 
Pooladi in 2014

Pooladi played all three games for Iran U20 at 2006 AFC Youth Championship, as a product of Paykan Tehran.[12][13][14] He also made five appearances in 2005 in Valentin A.Granatkin Memorial – International Youth Tournament for Iran U20.[15] He was also a member of Iran U-23, participating in the 2006 Asian Games.

He started his senior international career under Carlos Queiroz in July 2011 against Madagascar. Queiroz moved Pooladi to the left back position a position and Pooladi has taken the opportunity and established himself as first choice left back ever since.

2014 FIFA World Cup edit

On 1 June 2014, he was called into Iran's 2014 FIFA World Cup squad by Carlos Queiroz.[16] Pooladi was named as the second best-ranked player in the first week of the tournament behind Thomas Müller by FIFA, after receiving 9.7 points in the opening match against Nigeria.[17] He also showed a good performance in the next match against Argentina. In second half time he dribbled well Higuain and Messi to shows his technical ability

2015 Asian Cup edit

He was called into Iran's 2015 AFC Asian Cup squad on 30 December 2014 by Carlos Queiroz.[18] On 23 January 2015, he received a controversial red card in the quarter-final match of the 2015 AFC Asian Cup against Iraq by referee Ben Williams.[19][20]

Career statistics edit

As of 9 August 2018
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Asia Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Paykan 2006–07 Pro League 18 2 2 0 20 2
Esteghlal 2007–08 Pro League 28 1 1 0 29 1
2008–09 9 0 2 0 0 0 11 0
Total 37 1 3 0 0 0 40 1
Tractor Sazi 2009–10 Pro League 30 6 0 0 30 6
Mes 2010–11 Pro League 28 0 1 0 29 0
2011 13 3 1 0 14 3
Total 41 3 2 0 0 0 43 3
Persepolis 2012 Pro League 0 0 0 0 7 1 7 1
2012–13 22 0 3 0 25 0
2013–14 4 0 1 0 5 0
Total 26 0 4 0 7 1 37 1
Al-Shahania 2014–15 Qatar Stars League 20 2 1 1 21 3
2015–16 Second Division 23 3 0 0 23 3
2016–17 Qatar Stars League 19 0 1 0 20 0
Total 62 5 2 1 0 0 64 6
Bangkok United 2017 Thai League 1 4 0 1 0 5 0
2018 6 1 1 0 7 1
Total 10 1 2 0 0 0 12 1
Career total 222 17 15 1 7 1 244 19

Honours edit

Esteghlal

Persepolis

References edit

  1. ^ Iranvij-Group (1 January 2000). "خانه تکانی ویژه در پرسپولیس!". Archived from the original on 29 October 2014. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  2. ^ "پولادي هافبك الشحانيه نه دفاع چــــــــــپـــــــــــ !".
  3. ^ "پو?لادي: پست بازي بر?ايم مهم نيست".
  4. ^ Pouladi joins Persepolis Archived 6 June 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Wise, Mike (13 July 2014). "Evra to Juventus, Spurs chase Bony". ESPN. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  6. ^ "انضباطی". Archived from the original on 19 August 2016. Retrieved 17 September 2014.
  7. ^ admin (15 October 2014). "Mehrdad Pooladi saved by FIFA !".
  8. ^ "الشيحانية يخطف الايراني مهرداد من هال سيتي ويوقع معه لمدة عام".
  9. ^ "Shojaei and Dejagah on target in Qatar [VIDEO]".
  10. ^ Rex Xerxes (4 June 2015). "Mehrdad Pooladi Long Range Goal HD". Archived from the original on 21 December 2021 – via YouTube.
  11. ^ "Han nets brace as QSC punish clueless Shahaniya 4-1". 10 May 2015.
  12. ^ AFC Youth Championship 2006: Heartbreak for Iran as Japan, DPR Korea go through to last eight
  13. ^ AFC Youth Championship 2006: Jong, Kim double up as DPR Korea thrash Iran
  14. ^ Iran rally for 3-1 win over Tajikistan
  15. ^ RSSSF
  16. ^ "Queiroz trims Iran squad to 24". FIFA.com. 1 June 2014. Archived from the original on 1 June 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  17. ^ FIFA.com (18 June 2014). "Muller sets early pace, Pooladi on his shoulder". Archived from the original on 18 June 2014.
  18. ^ "Queiroz Names Team Melli Squad". afcasiancup.com. 30 December 2014. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015.
  19. ^ Gaskin, Lee (24 January 2015). "Former Socceroos blast referee Ben Williams for 'embarrasing' [sic] send-off in Iran's Asian Cup loss to Iraq".
  20. ^ "Video - News.com.au".

External links edit