Ehsan Hajsafi

Ehsan Hajsafi (Persian: احسان حاج‌صفی‎, born 25 February 1990) is an Iranian footballer who plays for Iranian club Tractor. He is a member of the Iranian national team.

Ehsan Hajsafi
Hajsafi playing for Iran at 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name Ehsan Hajsafi
Date of birth (1990-02-25) 25 February 1990
Place of birth Kashan, Iran
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Playing position(s) Left back / Midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Tractor
Number 28
Youth career
2000–2006 Zob Ahan
2006 Sepahan
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2015 Sepahan 204 (28)
2011–2012 → Tractor (loan) 45 (9)
2015–2016 FSV Frankfurt 27 (2)
2016–2017 Sepahan 25 (5)
2017–2018 Panionios 14 (1)
2018 Olympiacos 6 (1)
2018– Tractor 45 (8)
National team‡
2005–2006 Iran U17 6 (2)
2007–2008 Iran U20 8 (2)
2007–2011 Iran U23 12 (1)
2008– Iran 109[2] (6)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 5 October 2019
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 15 October 2019

Hajsafi is regarded as a utility player, being able to play as left midfielder, left-back, defensive midfielder, and winger.[3][4]

In 2009, Hajsafi was selected by Goal.com as the most promising player in Asian football.[5] Hajsafi has represented Iran at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups and also 2011, 2015 and 2019 AFC Asian Cup tournaments, in addition to Sepahan at the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup.

Club career

Sepahan
Ehsan Hajsafi with Sepahan

Hajsafi started his career in Zob Ahan in 2000 and left the club in 2006, joining Sepahan. He was extracted from Sepahan youth academy by Luka Bonačić.[6] Hajsafi played two matches from the start in the 2007 FIFA Club World Cup and has been a regular for Sepahan during recent seasons. Sepahan came second in the 2007 AFC Champions League.

Ehsan takes set pieces for Sepahan and plays both in central and left midfield, having scored six league goals for Sepahan in the 2007–08 season. In the last game of the league match against Persepolis, Hajsafi scored a goal for Sepahan that could have granted Sepahan the title, but Persepolis scored the vital winning goal in stoppage time to win the title. He continued to perform well and scored wonderful goals for Sepahan in the 2008–09 season. He was tested as the left back in the 2009–10 season when Sepahan won the league, and extended his contract with Sepahan for two another years.[7]

Tractor (loan)

In June 2011, Hajsafi signed a one and a half year loan conscription contract with Tractor, reuniting him with former coach Amir Ghalenoei.[8] Tractor finished second in the league, their best results in club history. His contract with Tractor ended in January 2012, and he returned to Sepahan.

Return to Sepahan

Hajsafi returned to Sepahan in January 2012, beginning this time with coach Zlatko Kranjčar. He won the Hazfi Cup with the team and extended his contract with Sepahan for another two seasons at the end of the season. In August 2014 after the end of his contract Hajsafi was close to signing with Championship side Fulham, but the deal fell through due to work permit issues.[9] Hajsafi returned to Iran and extended his contract for another two seasons with Sepahan.

FSV Frankfurt

2015–16

On 30 August 2015, Hajsafi joined FSV Frankfurt in the German 2. Bundesliga with a two-year contract.[10] He made his league debut on 13 September 2015 as a second-half substitute against Eintracht Braunschweig.[11] He made his first start a week later as a left-back on 20 September in a 1–0 league win over MSV Duisburg.[12] Hajsafi quickly established himself as the set-piece taker. Hajsafi scored his first goal for FSV Frankfurt on 2 March 2016 in a 3–3 draw against MSV Duisburg.[13] On 13 March 2016 Hajsafi scored from 50 yards against Freiburg.[14]

After FSV was relegated to the 3. Liga, the club announced that they had annulled the contract of Hajsafi and he was a free agent and could sign with any club.

Panionios

On 24 June 2017, Hajsafi signed a two-year contract with Greek Super League side Panionios. He is set to team up with fellow countryman Masoud Shojaei at Panionios.[15] Hajsafi became the third Iranian in recent years to play for the club.

Hajsafi made his first appearance for the club on 13 July 2017 in a second round Europa League qualifying match against Slovenian club Gorica. On 20 August 2017, on his league debut with Panionios, Hajsafi recorded an assist from a corner kick.

Olympiacos

On 29 December 2017, after six months with Panionios, Hajisafi reached an agreement with Greek side Olympiacos, signing a three and a half years' contract for a transfer fee of €600,000. His contract, was worth €400,000 per year.[16] The 27-year-old player was the team's first transfer in the January window. On 11 February 2018, he made his debut with the club in the Superleague Greece as a starter, scoring a late goal as he bundled home the rebound to sealed a point for Olympiacos when Atromitos keeper Andreas Gianniotis saved Uros Djurdjevic’s penalty-kick.[17]

Tractor

On 2 September 2018, Hajisafi returned to Tractor with 3 years contract.[18]

International career
Hajsafi playing for Iran against Argentinian star Lionel Messi, 2014 FIFA World Cup

Hajsafi competed for the Iran national under-17 football team at the 2006 AFC Youth Championship. He later went on to appear for the U-20 and U-23 teams.

On 25 May 2008, Hajsafi played his first A national team match for Iran in a friendly game against Zambia. He shone in his debut with two brilliant assists in Iran's 3–2 win at Azadi Stadium. On 2 June, he then played in Iran's 2010 FIFA World Cup World Cup qualification against United Arab Emirates at home. In the return game, Hajsafi came on as a substitute to help Iran win the crucial away game.

His first international goal was against Qatar in the 2008 West Asian Football Federation Championship, when Iran went on to win 6–1. He played in 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification, which was considered the best left side of the competition. He also played for the team in the tournament, in which Iran was eliminated in the Round 16 by South Korea. In March 2014, he was assigned as captain for the first time in his 57th national cap against Kuwait.

On 1 June 2014, he was called into Iran's 2014 FIFA World Cup squad by Carlos Queiroz.[19] He played the full 90 minutes in Iran's first match against Nigeria which ended 0–0. He then started in a match against Argentina and was one of the key players in the match. He substituted in the 88th minute and then Argentina scored their lone goal by Lionel Messi. He also played 63 minutes in Iran's final match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. Iran were eliminated in the group stages. He was called into Iran's 2015 AFC Asian Cup squad on 30 December 2014 by Carlos Queiroz.[20] On 11 January 2015, in Iran's opening match of the tournament, Hajsafi scored the first goal and was named man of the match in a 2–0 win against Bahrain.

On 10 August 2017, Hajsafi was banned from the national team, along with teammate Masoud Shojaei, for playing with their club Panionios against Israeli club Maccabi Tel Aviv.[21] His ban was rescinded after posting a religious message on his Instagram.[22] In May 2018 he was named in Iran's preliminary squad for the 2018 World Cup in Russia.[23] He played his 100th international game on 15 November 2018 at the age of 28 in Azadi Stadium against Trinidad and Tobago.

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 3 May 2018[24]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Sepahan 2006–07 Persian Gulf Pro League 801070—160
2007–08 3263150210427
2008–09 2961240—348
2009–10 3251060—395
2010–11 2823070—382
2012–13 1623050—242
2013–14 2921060—362
2014–15 2521000—262
2015–16 530000—53
Total 204281434002026031
Tractor (loan) 2011–12 Persian Gulf Pro League 32510——335
2012–13 1340000—134
Total 459100000469
FSV Frankfurt 2015–16 2. Bundesliga 27210——282
Sepahan 2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League 2554100—296
Panionios 2017–18 Superleague Greece 1413130—202
Olympiacos 611000—71
Tractor 2018–19 Persian Gulf Pro League 24 0 0 0 — — 24 0
Career total 323462454302039251

1 includes 2 matches in FIFA Club World Cup 2007.

International
Statistics accurate as of match played 15 October 2019.[25][26]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Iran
200891
2009101
2010100
2011110
2012110
201350
2014101
2015101
201662
201770
2018110
201990
Total1096

International goals
Hajsafi captaining Iran, against Portugal in the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first.[27]
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.11 August 2008Takhti Stadium, Tehran Qatar4–16–12008 WAFF
2.28 December 2009Suhaim bin Hamad, Doha Qatar2–22–3Qatar Friendship Cup
3.8 June 2014CT Joaquim Grava, São Paulo Trinidad and Tobago1–02–0Friendly
4.11 January 2015Melbourne Rectangular Stadium, Melbourne Bahrain1–02–02015 AFC Asian Cup
5.24 March 2016Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran India1–04–02018 FIFA World Cup qualification
6.3–0

Honours

Club
Sepahan
Tractor
  • Iran Pro League : 2011–12 Runner up

International
  • WAFF Championship (1): 2008

Individual
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gollark: Yes, since there are obviously finitely many of them.
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gollark: My solution just contains all possible JSON objects.

References
  1. "2018 FIFA World Cup: List of players" (PDF). FIFA. 18 June 2018. p. 14.
  2. Ehsan Hajsafy - Century of International Appearances
  3. "ParsFootball - پارس فوتبال - خبرگزاری فوتبال ایران - حاجی صفی آچار فرانسه کرانچار". www.parsfootball.com. Archived from the original on 20 December 2016. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  4. Football.ir. "Football.ir - حاجی صفی: به جای شریفی، یک بازیکن سن بالا پدیده لیگ شد". Archived from the original on 5 August 2014.
  5. "Feature: Ten Asian Players to Watch in 2009 - Goal.com". 1 January 2009.
  6. "jamejamonline".
  7. "fooladsepahansport.com". Archived from the original on 6 October 2011.
  8. "??? ??? ?? ?????? ??????? ????". navad.net. Archived from the original on 15 June 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  9. "PressTV". www.presstv.com. Archived from the original on 4 September 2014.
  10. "Hajsafi joins FSV Frankfurt". www.persianfootball.com.
  11. "FSV Frankfurt vs. Eintracht Braunschweig - 13 september 2015 - Soccerway". nl.soccerway.com.
  12. "MSV Duisburg vs. FSV Frankfurt - 20 september 2015 - Soccerway". nl.soccerway.com.
  13. http://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/2-bundesliga/2015–2016/fsv-frankfurt--msv-duisburg_mtc788780/live.shtml
  14. "Streamable - free video publishing".
  15. "Hajsafi reaches agreement with Panionios". www.tehrantimes.com. 24 June 2017.
  16. "Στα ερυθρόλευκα ο Χατζισαφί!". www.sport24.gr. 29 December 2017.
  17. "Ο Χατζισαφί έσωσε στο 90' τον Ολυμπιακό, 2-2 με τον Ατρόμητο". www.sport24.gr. 11 February 2018.
  18. "حاج صفی به تراکتورسازی پیوست" [Haj Safi joined the tractor]. isna.ir. 1 January 2009.
  19. "Queiroz trims Iran squad to 24". FIFA.com. 1 June 2014. Archived from the original on 1 June 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  20. "Queiroz Names Team Melli Squad". afcasiancup.com. 30 December 2014. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015.
  21. Erdbrink, Thomas (10 August 2017). "Iran Bans Two Soccer Stars for Playing Against Israelis". The New York Times.
  22. "Iran's Safi is recalled after apologising for playing against Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv - Inside World Football". Inside World Football. 30 August 2017. Retrieved 11 January 2018.
  23. "World Cup 2018: All the confirmed squads for this summer's finals in Russia".
  24. "E. Hajsafi". Soccerway. Perform Group. Retrieved 16 January 2018.
  25. "Ehsan Haji Safi profile in Fifa.com". Fifa.com. 26 June 2018.
  26. Ehsan Hajsafi at National-Football-Teams.com
  27. "Iran - E. Hajsafi - Profile with news, career statistics and history - Soccerway". www.soccerway.com.

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