Kaveh Rezaei

Kaveh Rezaei (Persian: کاوه رضایی‎; born 5 April 1992) is an Iranian professional footballer, who plays as a striker for Belgian First Division A club Charleroi on loan from Club Brugge and the Iran national team.

Kaveh Rezaei
Rezaei in Iran training
Personal information
Full name Kaveh Rezaei
Date of birth (1992-04-05) 5 April 1992
Place of birth Eslamabad Gharb, Iran
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)
Position(s) Forward
Club information
Current team
 Charleroi
(on loan from Club Brugge)
Number 10
Youth career
2005–2011 Foolad
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 Foolad 33 (1)
2012–2015 Saipa 69 (12)
2015–2016 Zob Ahan 34 (11)
2016–2017 Esteghlal 28 (7)
2017–2018 Charleroi 39 (16)
2018– Club Brugge 11 (1)
2019– → Charleroi (loan) 46 (22)
National team‡
2007–2009 Iran U17 13 (10)
2009–2010 Iran U20 3 (5)
2012–2014 Iran U23 19 (11)
2015– Iran 14 (2)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 8 February 2021
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 12 November 2020

Club career

Foolad

Rezaei started his career at Foolad. In the 2010–11 season, he scored one goal and provided two assists for his teammates in 16 games. During the next season, Rezaei played in 12 games starting in 4 and playing the whole 90 minutes in one of those games.

Saipa

Rezaei transferred to Saipa to gain more playing time in the 2012–13 season. Although he was not a regular starter, he managed to make 33 appearances, scoring 5 times against Saba, Paykan, Fajr Sepasi and Gahar. He also provided 2 assist during the season. During the 2014–15 season, Rezaei expressed that he does not intend to renew his contract with Saipa and the club transfer listed him in January to make money from his transfer.[1]

Zob Ahan
Rezaei celebrating his goal against Bunyodkor in 2016

On 28 December 2014, Rezaei joined Zob Ahan with an 18-month contract which would keep him until the end of 2015–16 season with the Isfahani side.[2]

He made his debut for the club on 30 January 2015, in a 1–0 win against Persepolis in which he assisted Masoud Hassanzadeh's single goal of the game.[3] The following week he scored his first goal for the club in a 3–0 away victory against Rah Ahan.[4] On 16 April 2015, he scored a hat-trick in a 5–3 victory against Naft Tehran.[5] He also featured in the 2015 Hazfi Cup Final where Zob Ahan beat Naft Tehran 3–1 to win the title in which Rezaei scored Zob Ahan's third goal.[6]

Rezaei made his first appearance of the 2015–16 season against Malavan on the opening day of the Persian Gulf Pro League season.[7] He scored his first goal of the season in 2–1 win against Persepolis.[8] On 29 May 2016, Rezaei won the Hazfi Cup for the second consecutive time, playing 111 minutes in the final as Zob Ahan defeated Esteghlal 5–4 in penalties.[9]

Esteghlal

On 16 June 2016, Rezaei refused to extend contract with Zob Ahan and signed a contract with Esteghlal.[10] He later revealed that he had an offer from Persepolis before but rejected it due to personal reasons.[11] He was handed the number 9 jersey that was previously held by Esteghlal's legend Arash Borhani.[12]

Rezaei celebrating after converting his penalty against Al Sadd along with Khosro Heydari.

Rezaei made his debut on 25 July 2016 in a 1–1 draw against Naft Tehran and he assisted Jaber Ansari's goal.[13] In the next match on 31 July, he scored his first goal for Esteghlal in a 2–1 loss against Esteghlal Khuzestan.[14] He scored a header in a 1–1 draw against Machine Sazi on 11 September.[15] On 12 February 2017, Esteghlal defeated city rivals Persepolis 3–2, with Rezaei scoring the third goal.[16] On 27 February 2017, in an AFC Champions League group-stage match against Al-Taawoun FC, he scored 53 seconds after kick-off; it was the fastest goal scored by an Iranian in an AFC Champions League match.[17] On 11 April, he scored another champions league goal against Lokomotiv Tashkent to equalise the scoreline, as the game ended 1–1.[18] In the following champions league game against Al-Ahli which the match finished at 1–1, he scored another equaliser.[19] On 4 May 2017, he assisted Jaber Ansari's goal in Esteghlal's 2–1 win against Sepahan. This assist made him the top provider in the league.[20] He finished the season with 7 goals and 9 assists as Esteghlal finished the season as runners-up in the league.[21] On 10 May, he scored and assisted in the champions league match against Al-Taawoun as Esteghlal beat their opponent 2–1 and qualified to the next round.[22] On 22 May, he scored a late winning goal from the penalty spot against Al Ain the match finished 1–0.[23]

Charleroi

On 14 June 2017, after rumours that he would sign a contract extension with Esteghlal, Rezaei signed a two-year contract, with an option to extend for another two years, with Belgian Pro League club Sporting Charleroi.[24][25] He was assigned the shirt number 9.

2017–18 season

Rezaei made his debut for the club in a 1–0 victory over Kortrijk on 29 June 2017, coming on as substitute for Chris Bedia.[26] On 26 August, he scored his first goal for the club, against Zulte Waregem. Later in that match he scored his second goal to help win the match 3–2.[27] After his stunning performance in September and scoring two goals in four games, Rezaei was voted as club's best player of the month by the fans.[28][29] On 18 November, he scored a brace against KV Mechelen and dedicated his goals to his fellow citizens who suffered in earthquake.[30][31]

2018–19 season

Rezaei started the new season by scoring a brace in a 4–1 victory over Eupen.[32]

Club Brugge

On 22 August 2018, Rezaei joined Club Brugge for a reported club-record fee of €5 million.[33][34]

Return to Charleroi

On 27 August 2019 he rejoined Charleroi on loan.[35]

On 31 July 2020 he joined Charleroi on another season-long loan. [36]

International

U17
Rezaei with Iran national under-17 football team in a friendly match in 2009

Rezaei finished as the top scorer of the 2008 AFC U-16 Championship scoring in every single game he played in and finishing with 6 goals in 5 games. Iran won the championship winning the final game 2–0 against South Korea.

Rezaei featured for Iran in the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup scoring a goal against Gambia.[37]

U19

Rezaei also made the squad for the unsuccessful 2010 AFC U-19 Championship, surprisingly his involvement was highly limited under the guidance of his former U17 manager, Ali Doustimehr. However, he started in Iran's last game of the group stages, scoring both goals in the game and helping to record Iran's only win of the tournament.

U23

In 2012, he broke in to coach Ali Reza Mansourian's squad and has been regular feature ever since. He was called up for the 2013 AFC U-22 Championship, where he was the leading goalscorer after the group stage with 5 goals in 3 matches, including a hat trick in his last game.[38] He named in Iran U23 final list for Incheon 2014.[39]

Senior
Rezaei attempting a bicycle kick in a friendly against Togo in 2017.

Rezaei received his first call-up to the senior side on 30 August 2015 replacing injured Alireza Jahanbakhsh.[40] He made his debut against India during Iran's 2018 World Cup Qualification campaign on 8 September 2015. After a 2-year absence from the international side, Rezaei received another call-up on 1 October 2017 to play for Iran in friendlies against Togo and Russia.[41] On 17 March 2018, he scored his first international goal in a 4–0 victory against Sierra Leone.[42] In May 2018 he was named in Iran's preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia [43] but did not make the final 23.[44]

Style of play

A hardworking, skillful and creative forward, who is good in the air and is known for his great striking ability.[45] A typical number 9, Rezaei been used on the wings through his career.[46] Charleroi teammate and French goalkeeper Nicolas Penneteau praised heaped praise towards Rezaei, calling him "a complete striker".[47]

Personal life

In May 2017, Rezaei married with Iran women's national volleyball team player Farnoosh Sheikhi.[48] His father in law, Fereydoun Sheikhi was killed in a plane crash in January 2019.

His idol was Thiery Henry.[47] He is friends with Mehdi Rahmati, Bakhtiar Rahmani and Soroush Rafiei.[49] He cites Navid Mohammadzadeh as his favourite actor.[49] He can speak Persian and Kurdish fluently.[50]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 15 August 2020[21]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental1 Other2 Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Foolad 2009–10 Persian Gulf Pro League 7010——80
2010–11 Persian Gulf Pro League 14110——151
2011–12 Persian Gulf Pro League 12000——120
Total 33120——351
Saipa 2012–13 Persian Gulf Pro League 33500——335
2013–14 Persian Gulf Pro League 25610——266
2014–15 Persian Gulf Pro League 11121——132
Total 691231——7213
Zob Ahan 2014–15 Persian Gulf Pro League 10511——116
2015–16 Persian Gulf Pro League 246307200348
Total 34114172004514
Esteghlal 2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League 2873096—4013
Charleroi 2017–18 Belgian First Division A 291220—1044116
2018–19 Belgian First Division A 4300——43
Total 331520—1044519
Club Brugge 2018–19 Belgian First Division A 111002000131
2019–20 Belgian First Division A 0000100010
Total 111003000141
Charleroi (loan) 2019–20 Belgian First Division A 221232——2514
2020–21 Belgian First Division A 550000—55
Total 27173200003019
Career total 2316017419810428180

1 Includes AFC Champions League matches.
2 Includes Iranian Super Cup and Belgian First Division A Championship Playoff.

International
As of 8 October 2020.[51]
Iran
YearAppsGoals
201530
201600
201730
201851
201910
202021
Total142

International goals
Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first.[51][52]
NoDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.17 March 2018Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran Sierra Leone3–04–0Friendly
2.12 November 2020Koševo, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina0–10–2Friendly

Honours

Club
Rezaei (sitting in the middle) celebrating with Zob Ahan teammates after winning the 2015 Hazfi Shield Cup

Zob Ahan

International

Iran U-16

Individual

References
  1. "600 میلیون تومان پول رضایتنامه کاوه رضایی". Varzesh3.com (in Persian).
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 December 2014. Retrieved 28 December 2014.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "ذوب آهن 1 - 0 پرسپولیس؛ حسن زاده قاتل سرخابی ها". Tarafdari.com (in Persian).
  4. "راه‌آهن 0 – ذوب‌آهن 3، هت‌تریک حدادی‌فر". Varzesh3.com (in Persian).
  5. "هت تریک کاوه رضایی ـ نفت تهران له شد". Varzesh3.com (in Persian).
  6. "ذوب آهن با شکست نفت قهرمان جام حذفی ایران شد" [Zob Ahan won the Hazfi Cup after beating Naft Tehran] (in Persian). BBC Persian. 1 June 2015. Retrieved 22 December 2017.
  7. "ملوان بندر انزلی 1-0 ذوب آهن اصفهان؛ شکست شاگردان یحیی در هوای شرجی انزلی". Tarafdari.com (in Persian).
  8. "پرسپولیس 1 - 2 ذوب آهن؛ 10 موقعیت و یک گل، این پرسپولیس بخت برگشته!". Tarafdari.com (in Persian).
  9. "ذوب آهن ١ (5) - استقلال ١ (4)؛ پایان فصل با شیرجه مظاهری". varzesh3.com (in Persian).
  10. "Kaveh Rezaei joins Esteghlal football team".
  11. "کاوه رضایی: با پرسپولیس فقط مذاکره کردم". Varzesh3.com (in Persian).
  12. "کاوه رضایی صاحب پیراهن آرش برهانی شد". Varzesh3.com (in Persian).
  13. "استقلال 1 - نفت 1؛ منصوریان از خودی‌ها خورد!". Varzesh3.com (in Persian).
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  16. "استقلال3 ـ پرسپولیس2؛ سلفی با شگفتی". Varzesh3.com (in Persian).
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  21. "Soccerway stats".
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  26. "Charleroi wint met kleinste verschil van KV Kortrijk" (in Dutch). 29 July 2017.
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  28. "Player Of The Month Septembre Sporting Charleroi". www.proximus11.be (in French).
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  30. "Rezaei: "Pour les victimes en Iran"" [Rezaei: "For the victims in Iran"] (in French).
  31. "کاوه رضایی: گل هایم مقابل میشلن را به زلزله زده های کرمانشاه تقدیم می کنم" [Kaveh Rezaei: I dedicate my goals against Mechelen to the victims of Kermanshah's earthquake]. Tarafdari.com (in Persian). 18 November 2017. Retrieved 20 November 2017.
  32. "گل‌های کاوه و سانتر قلی‌زاده برای اولین برد" [Kaveh Rezaei's goals and Gholizadeh's cross for the first victory]. Varzesh 3 (in Persian). 6 August 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2018.
  33. https://sporza.be/nl/2018/08/22/rezaei/
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  37. FIFA
  38. "Kalaf claims MVP Award". www.the-afc.com.
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  44. "Carlos Queiroz Names Provisional Iran Squad for FIFA World Cup 2018". IFPNews.com.
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  46. "کاوه؛ وینگر اتلتیک مرکز دوست (آنالیز)". Varzesh3.com (in Persian).
  47. "Kaveh Rezaei, le Shah botté" (in French).
  48. "ازدواج کاوه رضایی با ملی‌پوش والیبال ایران +عکس" (in Persian). 3 May 2017.
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