Mehrab Shahrokhi
Encyclopedia
Mehrab Shahrokhi (February 2, 1944 - February 1, 1993) was an Iran
ian football
er born in Ahvaz
, Iran
.
He was an African Iranian. He was nicknamed The Black Bomber (Persian
: بمب افکن سیاه) because of his style of play and black skin.
and began playing for Shahin F.C.
. Shahrokhi left for Daraei F.C.
in 1966, after problems with Shahin's management. His spell at Darei was short-lived, moving first to Paykan F.C. and then to Persepolis F.C.. There he could win the Iranian championship in 1972
and 1974.
He continued playing with Persepolis until 1974 and retired from football in 1975.
. He was to participate in the football tournament of the 1964 Summer Olympics
, but he missed out after boycotting the team along with a number of other Shahin players. They refused to accompany the national team because the national team director — a fan of Shahin's rival, Daraei F.C. — had decided to drop several Shahin players from the squad in favor of Daraei players. A number of players including Shahrokhi were banned from any involvement in football for one year.
In 1968 he won with the national team its first major title, the Asian Cup
in Iran.
, acting in a movie called Alafhaye Harz. Acting was not his passion though, and he became the manager of several teams after retirement, but was not able to achieve anything impressive, as the Iranian Revolution
and Iran–Iraq War caused football's presence to diminish in 1980s 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...
er born in Ahvaz
Ahvaz
-History:For a more comprehensive historical treatment of the area, see the history section of Khūzestān Province.-Ancient history:Ahvaz is the anagram of "Avaz" and "Avaja" which appear in Darius's epigraph...
, 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...
.
He was an African Iranian. He was nicknamed The Black Bomber (Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
: بمب افکن سیاه) because of his style of play and black skin.
Club career
Shahrokhi began his football career in his birthplace, Ahvaz, playing for Shenaye Ahvaz Club. In 1963 he moved to TehranTehran
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...
and began playing for Shahin F.C.
Shahin F.C.
Shahin Tehran Football Club was an Iranian football club based in Tehran, Iran that existed until the early 1990s. Shahin A.C. is located at Narmak, Golestan Street. They currently compete in the 2011–12 Iran Football's 3rd Division.-History:...
. Shahrokhi left for Daraei F.C.
Daraei F.C.
Daraei F.C. is an Iranian football club based in Tehran, Iran.The club has a long and rich history. It used to be one of Iran's most dominant and powerful football clubs competing with fierce rivals Shahin F.C. and Taj F.C. throughout the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s...
in 1966, after problems with Shahin's management. His spell at Darei was short-lived, moving first to Paykan F.C. and then to Persepolis F.C.. There he could win the Iranian championship in 1972
Local League 1971–72
-Results:-Top goalscorers:-See also:...
and 1974.
He continued playing with Persepolis until 1974 and retired from football in 1975.
International career
While still in Ahvaz, in 1963 Shahrokhi was invited to join the Iranian national football 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...
. He was to participate in the football tournament of the 1964 Summer Olympics
1964 Summer Olympics
The 1964 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XVIII Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event held in Tokyo, Japan in 1964. Tokyo had been awarded with the organization of the 1940 Summer Olympics, but this honor was subsequently passed to Helsinki because of Japan's...
, but he missed out after boycotting the team along with a number of other Shahin players. They refused to accompany the national team because the national team director — a fan of Shahin's rival, Daraei F.C. — had decided to drop several Shahin players from the squad in favor of Daraei players. A number of players including Shahrokhi were banned from any involvement in football for one year.
In 1968 he won with the national team its first major title, the Asian Cup
1968 AFC Asian Cup
The 1968 AFC Asian Cup finals were held in Iran between May 10 and May 19. It was organized on a round robin basis, with the home team Iran winning with a perfect record of four wins.- Qualification :...
in Iran.
Retirement
In 1976 came Shahrokhi's debut in Iranian cinemaCinema of Iran
The cinema of Iran is a flourishing film industry with a long history. Many popular commercial films are annually made in Iran, and Iranian art films win praise around the world....
, acting in a movie called Alafhaye Harz. Acting was not his passion though, and he became the manager of several teams after retirement, but was not able to achieve anything impressive, as the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
and Iran–Iraq War caused football's presence to diminish in 1980s Iran.