Iraj Danaeifard
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Iraj Danaeifard or Iraj Danaifar | ||
| Date of birth | March 11, 1951 | ||
| Place of birth | Tehran, Iran | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1970–1972 | Taj | ||
| 1972–1974 | Oghab | ||
| 1974–1977 | PAS | ||
| 1977–1980 | Taj/Esteghlal | ||
| 1980–1984 | Tulsa Roughnecks | 67 | (3) |
| 1980–1984 | Tulsa Roughnecks (indoor) | 23 | (21) |
| National team‡ | |||
| 1977–1980 | Iran | 17 | (3) |
|
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 30 August 2006. | |||
Iraj Danaeifard (or Danaifar) (Persian: ايرج دانايي فرد, born March 11, 1951 in Tehran, Iran) is a retired Iranian football player.
Club career
Danaeifard became involved in football very early. His father, Ali Danaeifard was one of the founders of Taj SC football club. He became famous in Iran while playing for the club, winning the Iranian league in 1971. He also played for Oghab F.C. and Pas F.C., where he could win the Iranian Takht Jamshid in 1977. In 1977 he returned to Taj.
In 1980 he moved to the United States and started playing for the NASL team, the Tulsa Roughnecks. He remained in the club until 1984 when the league folded.
He retired from football altogether soon after.
International career
Danaeifard was invited to the national team for the first time in 1977 and helped the team qualify for 1978 World Cup. He played well in the tournament and many still remember his goal against Scotland, which was Iran's first goal ever at a world cup.
After the Asian Cup in Kuwait in 1980 and reaching the third place he retired from international football with 17 caps and 3 goals for his country.
Retirement
He now resides in Dallas with his wife and children and owns a small football shop.
External links
| .svg.png){kind=small} | |