 Shojaei withIran in 2019 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Masoud Soleimani Shojaei[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1984-06-09)9 June 1984 (age 41)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Shiraz, Iran[2] | ||
| Height | 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2] | ||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1999–2000 | Sanat Naft | ||
| 2000–2002 | Saipa | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2002–2003 | Sanat Naft | 12 | (1) |
| 2003–2006 | Saipa | 60 | (5) |
| 2006–2008 | Al-Sharjah | 12 | (3) |
| 2008–2013 | Osasuna | 101 | (8) |
| 2013–2014 | Las Palmas | 29 | (5) |
| 2014–2015 | Al Shahaniya | 24 | (5) |
| 2015–2016 | Al-Gharafa | 25 | (4) |
| 2016–2018 | Panionios | 41 | (7) |
| 2018 | AEK Athens | 12 | (0) |
| 2018–2021 | Tractor | 84 | (7) |
| 2021–2023 | Nassaji | 24 | (2) |
| 2023 | →Havadar (loan) | 11 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2005 | Iran B | 6 | (1) |
| 2004–2019 | Iran | 90 | (8) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2020 | Tractor (player-manager) | ||
| 2023–2024 | Havadar | ||
| 2024–2025 | Mes Rafsanjan | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Masoud Soleimani Shojaei (Persian:مسعود سلیمانی شجاعی; born 9 June 1984) is an Iranian coach and former professionalfootballer.[3] Shojaei played mainly as anattacking midfielder, he could also play as awinger orforward.
After playing in his country for two clubs and withAl-Sharjah in theUnited Arab Emirates, he went on to spend several seasons in Spain withOsasuna, appearing in 112 official matches.
AnIranian international since 2004, Shojaei has represented his country in threeWorld Cups and fourAsian Cups.
Shojaei was born inShiraz, and lived most of his life inAbadan andTehran.[4] He started his career withSanat Naft Abadan F.C. before moving toSaipa F.C. ofKaraj in theIran Pro League; having signed at the age of 19, he went on to play three seasons with the latter.
After the2006 World Cup, Shojaei moved to theUnited Arab Emirates and signed forAl Sharjah SC. He scored his first goal for the club inthe League on 3 October, againstEmirates Club.
On 23 June 2008, after previous attempts fromVfL Wolfsburg in Germany and Italy'sS.S.C. Napoli, Shojaei signed with Spanish sideCA Osasuna for three years, teaming up with compatriotJavad Nekounam. The deal included a€6 millionbuyout clause for the first 18 months of his contract, being reduced to €3.5 million for the remainder of his stay.[5][6]
Shojaei made hisLa Liga debut on 31 August 2008, playing 32 minutes in a 1–1 home draw againstVillarreal CF.[7] During his first two seasons he appeared almost always as asubstitute, as theNavarrese managed to maintain its division status; the player remained a regular even after the coaching changed at the club, asJosé Ángel Ziganda was replaced byJosé Antonio Camacho.[8][9]
Shojaei – who was addressed by his first name during his spell in Spain – appeared regularly again for Osasuna in the2010–11 campaign, but also spent one month at the2011 AFC Asian Cup with his national team. In late May, he renewed his contract with the club for another two seasons, also having the option of an annual renewal of his link.[10]
Shojaei spent the entire2011–12 on the sidelines, due to injury.[11] On 25 February 2013, in his fourth appearance since returning, he scored a stunning goal to help Osasuna win it 2–0 atLevante UD.[12][13]
Despite a solid start to his spell, Shojaei was eventually released in June 2013.[14] Shortly after, he was linked with a move to fellow league clubReal Valladolid,[15] but nothing came of it.
On 3 September 2013, Shojaei moved clubs but stayed in Spain, joiningSegunda División sideUD Las Palmas on a one-year contract.[16] He found the net in his debut, in a 3–1 away victory overCE Sabadell FC forthe second round of theCopa del Rey.[17]
Shojaei scored twice and provided anassist in the first half of the league fixture against the same opponent on 15 March 2014, in an eventual 5–0 home win.[18]
After the2014 World Cup, Shojaei turned down an offer fromReal Zaragoza and moved toAl-Shahania Sports Club in theQatar Stars League alongside compatriotMehrdad Pooladi.[19] On 14 December 2014, he scored ahat-trick in a 3–1 away win against eventual runners-upAl Sadd SC;[20] one year later, aftersuffering relegation,[21] he joined fellow league clubAl-Gharafa for$1 million.[22]
On 22 July 2016, Shojaei joinedSuper League Greece sidePanionios on a one-year contract.[23] He enjoyed a successfulfirst season, and subsequently extended his contract until June 2018;[24][25] on 25 December 2017, however, he severed his link by mutual consent[26] and agreed to a six-month deal at fellow league teamAEK Athens three days later,[27] announcing on hisInstagram he would be wearing number 24 in tribute ofHadi Norouzi who died in 2015.[28] He made his debut on 6 January, replacingAnastasios Bakasetas in the second half of the match againstPanetolikos and later providing the assist forHélder Lopes goal, in a 4–1 away win.[29] He started his first match three days later against the same opponent, making another assist in a1–0 victory for theGreek Football Cup's round of 16[30] and being named as the most valuable player of the match for his performance.[31]
On 1 March 2018, Shojaei put the visitors ahead in their domestic cup semi-final fixture away toAEL, in an eventual 1–2 loss which marked his first goal for the club and the first loss in 26 matches forManolo Jiménez's team.[32][33] He contributed to the club's firstnational championship conquest in 24 years, he left the club.[34]
On 2 August 2018, Shojaei joinedTractor S.C. on a three-year contract.[35] 8 days later, he made his debut in a 3–0 defeat againstEsteghlal F.C.[36][37] in which he was chosen as the side's firstcaptain.[38] On 19 April 2019, he was assaulted by a supporter of his own team who invaded the pitch after a 1–0 home defeat ofPaykan FC.[39]
Midway through the2019–20 campaign, Shojaei was offered theinterim position afterMustafa Denizli's departure. He declined, instead being named assistant toAhad Sheykhlari while also being involved in the taking of decisions in training.[40]
On 5 October 2021, Shojaei joinedNassaji on a two-year contract, reuniting with former Tractor managerSaket Elhami.[41] Following his arrival, he was named the team's new captain.[42] On 27 February in the2022 Hazfi Cup Final, he played the first half of a goalless draw withAluminium Arak that his team won on penalties.[43]
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Whilst at Saipa, Shojaei earned a place inIranian national under-23 team, catching the eye offull side coachBranko Ivanković. He was first called up to play for the latter in November 2004, for a2006 FIFA World Cupqualifier againstLaos – it was the onlycap he would win until the training camp prior to the finals in Germany, held in Switzerland; he was included in the final squad but only appeared once in the tournament, replacing the injuredMohammad Nosrati in the early minutes of the 1–1 draw againstAngola.[44]
Shojaei began appearing more regularly in the2010 World Cup qualification stages, scoring in a 1–1 draw againstSouth Korea in the final game. However,Team Melli did not qualify for the tournament inSouth Africa.[45] Iran did manage to reach the2014 World Cup, with Shojaei as a regular starter inthe qualifiers.[46]
On 1 June 2014, Shojaei was included inCarlos Queiroz's list for the World Cup.[47] He appeared as a substitute in the team's opening draw withNigeria,[48] and was selected in the starting line-up for the following group matches againstArgentina andBosnia-Herzegovina.[49][50]
On 30 December 2014, Shojaei was called into Iran's2015 AFC Asian Cup squad.[51] He scored the nation's second goal in its opening 2–0 defeat ofBahrain, inMelbourne.[52]
Shojaei captained the squad in2018 World Cup qualification home matches againstChina andUzbekistan.[53][54][55] On 10 August 2017, Mohammad Reza Davarzani, Iran's deputy sports minister, said on Iranian state television both Shojaei and teammateEhsan Hajsafi would never be invited to the national team again for playing with their club Panionios against Israel'sMaccabi Tel Aviv FC;[56] however, theIranian Football Federation later stated it would review the case and reach a decision after speaking with both,[57] with Hajsafi eventually returning to the side in November[58] and Shojaei stating that they were pressured by their club to play.[59]
On 18 March 2018, Shojaei was called up forfriendlies againstTunisia andAlgeria,[60] being criticised after his return against the former by an Iranian member of parliament who called for his life ban.[61][62] He was eventually selected forthe finals in Russia[63] as team captain,[64] becoming the first Iranian player to travel to threeWorld Cups.[65] He made his debut in the tournament on 15 June in a 1–0 group stage win againstMorocco,[66] but sat on the bench for the next two games in an eventual group stage elimination.[67]
In December 2018, Shojaei was selected forIran's 23-man squad for the2019 AFC Asian Cup.[68] He became the only Iranian to participate in seven international tournaments.[69]
Shojaei expressed support for theIranian Green Movement on 17 June 2009, when he wore a green bracelet againstSouth Korea in a World Cup 2010 qualifier along with five other players. During the match, he also wore a green undershirt previewing a possible goal celebration.[70]
Shojaei discussed corruption inIranian football in an interview withRadio Farda,[71] and also spoke out against child sexual abuses in December 2016.[72] He was subsequently summoned to the Ethics Committee of theFootball Federation Islamic Republic of Iran.[71]
A vocal advocate of lifting stadium ban for women in Iran, Shojaei openly expressed his regret that his mother, sister and wife were unable to see him play.[73] He reportedly called for repealing the ban, when he met with presidentHassan Rouhani in July 2017.[74]
Shojaei's sister, Maryam, was also an activist campaigning for women's rights in Iran.[75]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sanat Naft | 2002–03 | Persian Gulf Pro League | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 1 | ||
| Saipa | 2003–04 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 14 | 2 | |||
| 2004–05 | 22 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 1 | ||||
| 2005–06 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 60 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 61 | 5 | ||||
| Sharjah | 2006–07 | UAE Pro League | 20 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 7 | ||
| 2007–08 | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 5 | ||||
| Total | 40 | 12 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 12 | ||||
| Osasuna | 2008–09 | La Liga | 33 | 3 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 3 | ||
| 2009–10 | 36 | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 41 | 3 | ||||
| 2010–11 | 18 | 2 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 2 | ||||
| 2011–12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2012–13 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 101 | 8 | 11 | 1 | — | — | 112 | 9 | ||||
| Las Palmas | 2013–14 | Segunda División | 29 | 5 | 2 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 31 | 6 | |
| Al Shahaniya | 2014–15 | Qatar Stars League | 24 | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 24 | 5 | ||
| Al Gharafa | 2015–16 | Qatar Stars League | 25 | 4 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 4 | ||
| Panionios | 2016–17 | Super League Greece | 30 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | 37 | 4 | |
| 2017–18 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 15 | 3 | |||
| Total | 41 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 52 | 7 | ||
| AEK Athens | 2017–18 | Super League Greece | 12 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | 18 | 1 | |
| Tractor | 2018–19 | Persian Gulf Pro League | 25 | 4 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 4 | ||
| 2019–20 | 24 | 3 | 4 | 1 | — | — | 28 | 4 | ||||
| 2020–21 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | ||
| Total | 65 | 7 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 71 | 7 | ||
| Nassaji | 2021–22 | Persian Gulf Pro League | 24 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 27 | 2 | |
| Havadar | 2022–23 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 14 | 1 | ||
| Career total | 446 | 56 | 33 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 489 | 61 | ||
| Team | From | To | Record | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | Win % | GF | GA | +/- | |||
| Tractor | December 2020 | February 2020 | 10 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 050.00 | 12 | 10 | +2 |
| Havadar | December 2023 | June 2024 | 20 | 6 | 7 | 7 | 030.00 | 25 | 36 | -11 |
| Mes Rafsanjan | November 2024 | January 2025 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 5 | 033.33 | 11 | 17 | -6 |
| Total | 39 | 14 | 9 | 16 | 035.90 | 48 | 63 | -15 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Iran | 2004 | 1 | 0 |
| 2006 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2007 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2008 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2009 | 10 | 3 | |
| 2010 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2011 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2014 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2015 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2016 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2018 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2019 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 87 | 8 | |
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 28 March 2009 | Azadi,Tehran, Iran | 20 |  Saudi Arabia | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2010 World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 17 June 2009 | World Cup Stadium,Seoul, South Korea | 24 |  South Korea | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2010 World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 12 August 2009 | Asim Ferhatović Hase,Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina | 25 |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1–2 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| 4 | 7 September 2010 | World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea | 31 | South Korea | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 5 | 26 March 2013 | Al-Sadaqua Walsalam,Kuwait City, Kuwait | 42 |  Kuwait | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2015 Asian Cup qualification |
| 6 | 11 January 2015 | Rectangular Stadium,Melbourne, Australia | 56 |  Bahrain | 2–0 | 2–0 | 2015 AFC Asian Cup |
| 7 | 17 November 2015 | National Football Stadium,Tamuning, Guam | 63 |  Guam | 4–0 | 6–0 | 2018 World Cup qualification,2019 Asian Cup qualification |
| 8 | 7 June 2016 | Azadi, Tehran, Iran | 65 |  Kyrgyzstan | 1–0 | 6–0 | Friendly |
AEK Athens
Tractor
Nassaji
Iran
Individual
