Iranian Mehdi Mahdavikia has signed for German club Eintracht Frankfurt on a Bosman.
The former Hamburg winger was out of contract and has agreed terms on a three-year deal with Eintracht Frankfurt. The German club has already signed another Asian star, Japan's Junichi Inamoto, in the past week. Mahdavikia chose to remain in the Bundesliga despite interest from Spain's Real Mallorca and Deportivo La Coruna.
Personal information
Full name: Mehdi Mahdavikia
Date of birth: 24-07-1977 (age 29)
Place of birth: Tehran, Iran
Height: 1.72 m
Playing position: Right Wing Midfielder
Club information
Youth clubs
1991...Bank Melli F.C.
Senior clubs
Years Club App (Gls)*
1991-1995...Bank Melli F.C.
1995-1998...Persepolis F.C.
1998-1999...VfL Bochum...12 (3)
1999-2007...Hamburger SV...211 (26)
2007- Eintracht Frankfurt
National team
1996-...Iran...97 (12)
Hamburg Player of the Year in 2003 and 2004 by the fans and also top assister of goals in the Bundesliga in 2004.
Mehdi Mahdavikia's strongest points are his vision, passing skills, fast paced runs, and set-pieces such as corners, spotkicks and free kicks.
His nickname in Hamburg is The Carpet for his ability to "magically glide past" his opponents like the popular Iranian tapestry.
He was awarded Asian Young Footballer of the Year in 1997.
Mehdi Mahdavikia was considered Iran's best player in the 1998 FIFA World Cup and was named in the list from which the team of the tournament was chosen.
In 2003, he was awarded Asian Player of the Year.
He was also the top assister in the 2004 Asian Cup.
Awards and Honours
Individual
HSV Player of the Year, 2002/03 and 2003/04
Asian Footballer of the Year, 2003
Won the Golden Boot award with Bank Melli F.C, 1995
Chosen as the best offensive winger of the Bundesliga in the 2002/03 season by Kicker
Team
With the Iran national football team
FIFA World Cup
Appearances and Goals: 1998 (1), 2006
AFC Asian Cup Appearances: 2000 (Quarter Finals) , 2004 (Third Place)
With Hamburger SV
German League Cup: 2003
UEFA Intertoto Cup: 2005
With Persepolis F.C.
Iranian Premier League champion: 1995/1996, 1996/1997,1998/1999
Personal life
Mahdavikia is married to Sepideh and has a daughter, Asal.
In April 2006, Mahdavikia caused a stir when it came out he married a second wife named Samira while being in his native Iran, thus practising bigamy. He himself has stated that he made a "big mistake", was "lured into a trap" and ended the affair after a short while. As of May 2006, Mahdavikia plans to prosecute Samira for slander.
Mahdavikia's brother, Hadi currently plays for Saipa F.C. and his nephew, Mostafa plays for Fajr Sepasi both in Iran's Premier Football League.
Famous matches
Mehdi's most prolific club match was Hamburger SV's match against Juventus in the Champions League. He was the impetus that rallied Hamburg back after being down 3-1 by scoring once, assisting one and winning a penalty for Hamburg that saw Hamburg take a 4-3 lead; Juve managed to equalise with an Inzaghi penalty. Mehdi's greatest national team match, arguably, was against South Korea in the 2004 Asia Cup where he assisted three goals in Iran's 4-3 win. Many also point to his dynamic game against the United States in World Cup 1998 that saw him score Iran's second and winning goal, as his best ever.
Mehdi Mahdavikia is a candidate for the greatest Iranian player of all time because of his impressive longevity while playing top-flight football, and regular contributions to both his club and national team.
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