Iraj Danaeifard

Iraj Danaeifard (Persian: ايرج دانايی فرد‎, 11 March 1951 – 12 December 2018) was an Iranian football player who played most of his career for Taj (currently Esteghlal) and also the Iran national football team.

Iraj Danaeifard
Personal information
Full name Iraj Danaeifard or Iraj Danaifar
Date of birth (1951-03-11)11 March 1951
Place of birth Tehran, Iran[1]
Date of death 12 December 2018(2018-12-12) (aged 67)
Place of death Shiraz, Iran
Playing position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1970–1972 Taj
1972–1974 Oghab
1974–1977 Pas
1977–1980 Taj
1980–1984 Tulsa Roughnecks 67 (3)
1980–1984 Tulsa Roughnecks (indoor) 32 (12)
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
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 30 August 2006

Club career

Danaeifard became involved in football at a young age. 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 won the Iranian Takht Jamshid in 1977. In 1977, he returned to Taj.[1]

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, and retired from football soon thereafter.

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.[1]

Death

Danaeifard died on 12 December 2018 of liver failure.[2][3][4] He was 67.

References
  1. Iraj Danaeifard. takhtejamshidcup.com
  2. http://www.iran-daily.com/News/235690.html
  3. اولین گلزن ایران در جام جهانی درگذشت (in Persian)
  4. https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/430567/Iran-s-first-goalscorer-at-World-Cup-Danaeifard-dies
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