Alireza Beiranvand


Alireza Safar Beiranvand is an Iranian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Belgian First Division A club Royal Antwerp and the Iran national team. Beiranvand represented Iran internationally at the 2015 and 2019 AFC Asian Cups, and at the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
In 2017, Beiranvand became the first Iranian ever to be nominated for an individual award at The Best FIFA Football Awards. He has been the best goalkeeper in the Persian Gulf Pro League for four consecutive seasons from 2014 to 2019, and has also been the Iranian Footballer of the Year in 2019. With 23 clean sheets in 37 matches during the 2017–18 season, he ranked as the second goalkeeper in the world for the most clean sheets.

Early life

Beiranvand was born in the small village of Sarab-e Yas in Khorramabad County, Lorestan Province, and grew up in a nomadic Lak Kurdish family. In his teenage years, Beiranvand ran away from home and moved to Tehran in order to fulfill his dream of becoming a professional footballer, where he was homeless for some time.

Club career

Naft Tehran

Beiranvand has played with Naft Tehran since 2011. He made his debut in Hazfi cup against Damash on 25 October 2011. There were links between him and Tehran giant, Persepolis, but the chairman of Naft Tehran, Mansour Ghanbarzadeh, did not allow him to leave the club. In his first year as the first choice goalkeeper, Beiranvand led Naft to a 3rd place League finish and a spot in the AFC Champions League for the first time in the club's history. On 23 March 2014, Beiranvand extended his contract with Naft until 2019. On 24 November 2014, Beiranvand provided an assist in their match against Tractor Sazi by throwing the ball into the opponent's half.
He was linked with a move to Iranian side Persepolis in January 2016 but the move fell through at the last moment. Beiranvand left Naft at the end of the 2015–16 season after his contract expired.

Persepolis

On 16 May 2016, after the completion of the 2015–16 Persian Gulf Pro League season, Beiranvand signed a two–year contract with league runners up Persepolis. In 2017 Beiranvand extended his contract with Persepolis until 2021. In December 2017, in a match against Foolad, Beiranvand set a Persian Gulf Pro League record of going 718 minutes without conceding a goal, which was later broken by Esteghlal goalkeeper Hossein Hosseini.
Beiranvand was named ََ2018 AFC Champions League semi-final first leg player of the week following his performance against Al-Sadd. He was also "Man of the match" and with "Team of the Week" 2nd leg after saved many Al-Sadd's chances and help Persepolis to reach the final, His five clean sheets during the competition was the most of any goalkeeper. He was reportedly chosen as one of the candidates for the 2018 Asian Footballer of the Year award, but his exclusion was described by Asian football writers as a big shock, and an outrageous and scandalous event. The following season Beiranvand kept 16 Clean sheets in 2018–19 Pro League and claimed Golden Gloves for three Years in row and four times as a whole.

Antwerp

On 29 January 2020, Beiranvand signed a pre-contract for Antwerp to join them in summer of 2020.

International career

Youth team

He was part of Iran U20 during the 2010 AFC U-19 Championship.

Olympic team

He was invited to Iran U22 by Alireza Mansourian to compete in the 2013 AFC U-22 Asian Cup qualification.

Senior team

In April 2014, he was called up to the Iran national football team training camp in South Africa by coach Carlos Queiroz after many Sepahan players could not make it because of AFC Champions League matches, including goalkeeper Rahman Ahmadi. He was also selected in Iran's 30-man provisional squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. However, Beiranvand was not included in Iran's squad for the World Cup, without playing any match in pre-World Cup friendly matches. He was called into Iran's 2015 AFC Asian Cup squad on 30 December 2014 by Carlos Queiroz.
He made his debut in a friendly match against Iraq on 4 January 2015, just before the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
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During the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, first-choice goalkeeper Alireza Haghighi was denied a visa for entry to Guam ahead of their fixture, alongside left back Ehsan Hajsafi. Beiranvand was thus given his first competitive start for the senior team. However, he was given a straight-red in the 72nd minute for a foul on Guam midfielder Dylan Naputi, less than a minute after Iran had used up all of their substitutions, forcing defender Ezzatollah Pourghaz to take on goalkeeper duties.
During the final round of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification, Beiranvand became Iran's starting goalkeeper, replacing Alireza Haghighi. In May 2018 he was named in Iran's preliminary squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
In Iran's last match of the 2018 World Cup, Beiranvand saved a penalty from Cristiano Ronaldo, as Iran drew 1–1 with Portugal. Beiranvand was the starting goalkeeper of the Iran squad at Asian cup 2019. He was again in spotlight when he saved a penalty from Ahmed Mubarak Al-Mahaijri, as Iran won 2–0 against Oman.He was again in spotlight when he saved a penalty from captain of Cambodia, as Iran won 14–0 against Cambodia.

Style of play

Beiranvand's main trait is his ability to make very long throws. In the 2015 AFC Champions League Round of 16, on 20 May 2015, against Al Ahli, Beiranvand made a throw that reached 60m. On 24 November 2014, Beiranvand provided an assist against Tractor Sazi by throwing the ball into the opponent's half. Beiranvand is good in aerial duels, and has been praised for his athleticism, "outstanding shot-stopping", acrobatic dives, and his quick reflexes.

Career statistics

Club

International

Honours

Club

;Persepolis
;Royal Antwerp