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Iran national under-23 football team
Found in: Football in Iran National sports teams of Iran
Iran national under-23 football team represents Iran in international football competitions in Olympic Games and Asian Games, as well as any other under-23 international football tournaments. It is controlled by the IR Iran Football Federation.
History
The winner of the gold medal at the 2002 Asian Games, the team was prepared to defend its championship title at the football tournament of the 2006 Asian Games in Doha, Qatar. Despite a suspension by FIFA, preventing Iran to enter any international football competition, the Iran under-23 team was given special permission to participate in the Asian Games, where they won the bronze medal.
Formation
The team is considered to be the feeder team for the Iran national football team. It is for players aged 23 and less, however 3 senior players can also be selected to play. Also in existence are national teams for Under-20s, Under-17s and Under-15s. As long as they are eligible, players can play at any level, hence it is possible for one to play for the U-23s, senior side and then again for the U-23s, as players such as Andranik Teymourian have done so. It is also possible to play for one country at youth level and for another at the senior level, providing the player is eligible. Ferydoon Zandi is a current Iranian international and former German u-21 player.
Managers
Heshmat Mohajerani (1976)
Rudi Gutendorf (1988)
Bijan Zolfagharnasab (1991)
Hamid Derakhshan (1991-1992)
Hassan Habibi (1992-1996)
Bahman Salehnia (1996-1999)
Egon Coordes (1999)
Mehdi Monajati (2000-2002)
Branko Ivankovic (2002)
Mohammad Mayeli Kohan (2003)
Hossein Faraki (2003-2006)
Rene Simoes (2006)
Vinko Begovic (2006-2007)
Nenad Nikolic (2008-Present)
Players
Current squad
Potential expatriate players
;Goalkeepers:
Daniel Davari, 1. FSV Mainz 05
Aghil Etemadi, SC Heerenveen
;Defenders:
Sasan Gohari, Hamburger SV
Shervin Radjabali-Fardi, Hertha Berlin
Emin Nouri, Osters IF
Behrang Safari, FC Basel
Ali Manouchehri, Coquimbo Unido
;Midfielders:
Brwa Nouri, FC Vasby United
Mani Tourang, IK Sirius Fotboll
Pedram Ardalany, Partick Thistle F.C.
Aria Jasuru Hasegawa, Yokohama F. Marinos
;Forwards:
Ashkan Dejagah, VfL Wolfsburg
Sebastian Ghasemi-Nobakht, VfB Oldenburg
Navid Mashinchi, Vancouver Whitecaps Residency
Reza Ghoochannejhad, SC Heerenveen
Keivan Zarineh, Cisco Roma
Matches
Last Matches
2006 Asian Games
2008 Olympics qualifications
Honours
Semi-Finalist 1999 Dunhill Cup, Vietnam
1st place in 2002 Asian Games
1st place in 2006 VTV-T&T Cup (Spring Cup)
3rd place in 2006 Asian Games
Tournament records
Olympic Games record
Prior to the 1992 Olympic Games campaign, the senior national team played in qualification.
Asian Games record
Prior to 2002 Asian Games, the senior national team participated in the tournament.
See also
Iran national football team
Iran national under-20 football team
Iran national under-17 football team
External links
Official Website of IR Iran Football Federation
Interview With Iran U-23 Coach Rene Simoes
This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article Iran national under-23 football team