Iraj Danaeifard
Encyclopedia
Iraj Danaeifard ' onMouseout='HidePop("97030")' href="/topics/Tehran">Tehran
, Iran
) is a retired Iran
ian football
player.
. 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.
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.
with his wife and children and owns a small football shop.
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
) is a retired Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player.
Club career
Danaeifard became involved in football very early. His father, Ali Danaeifard was one of the founders of Taj F.C. football club. He became famous in Iran while playing for the club, winning the Iranian league in 1971Local League 1970–71
- Group A :- Group B :-Semifinals :*awarded 3-0, abandoned at 1-1 in 80' when Perspolis walked off-Final:...
. 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
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and started playing for the NASL
North American Soccer League
North American Soccer League was a professional soccer league with teams in the United States and Canada that operated from 1968 to 1984.-History:...
team, the Tulsa Roughnecks
Tulsa Roughnecks
-NASL:The Tulsa Roughnecks were a North American Soccer League team from Tulsa, Oklahoma. They played at Skelly Stadium on the campus of the University of Tulsa. The Roughnecks were a regular in the NASL playoffs, and won the NASL Soccer Bowl in 1983, defeating the Toronto Blizzard at B.C. Place...
. 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 teamIran national football team
The national football team of Iran represents Iran in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran...
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
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
, which was Iran's first goal ever at a world cup.
After the Asian Cup in Kuwait in 1980
1980 AFC Asian Cup
The 1980 AFC Asian Cup was the seventh edition of the Asian Nations Cup, the football championship of Asia . It was hosted by Kuwait between September 15 and 30. The field of ten teams was split into two groups of five. Kuwait won their first championship, beating Korea Republic in the final 3-0....
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, TexasTexas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
with his wife and children and owns a small football shop.