Javad Nekounam (; born 7 September 1980) is an Iranian football manager and former Football player who played as a midfielder. He holds the record for the most appearances for the Iranian national team with 149 caps.
Nicknamed Neku by numerous Iranian football fans,
Club career
Early years
Nekounam was born in Ray, Iran. Having played for Pas Tehran F.C. for several years, appearing in the AFC Champions League with the team, he signed a five-month contract with Al-Wahda F.C. in the United Arab Emirates for US$1 million, in 2005.
In January 2006, Nekounam joined Al Sharjah SC, although some European clubs such as 1. FC Kaiserslautern and Tottenham Hotspur had previously shown interest in him.
Osasuna
After his performance at the 2006 World Cup Nekounam was linked to the likes of
Hertha BSC of the
Bundesliga and Ligue 1's Olympique Lyonnais, but he eventually joined
CA Osasuna on a two-year contract, with an option to a third year and a (about)
Euro5 million minimum release-fee clause.
On 22 February 2007, Nekunam finally scored in the
Last-minute goal of the match against FC Girondins de Bordeaux in the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup to help to a 1–0 home win and aggregate score, and after a particularly successful first season began to attract interest from other European sides, notably Scotland's Rangers who had a
Pound sterling1 million pound offer rejected. On 14 August 2007, Nekounam suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his right knee and, after undergoing a successful surgery in
Augsburg, Germany, was sidelined for eight months. His number 24 was given to new signing Jaroslav Plašil, and after some time finally he recovered from his injury.
On 31 August 2008, Nekounam scored Osasuna's first goal of the season, from the penalty spot in a 1–1 home draw against
Villarreal CF. In November/December he also netted, but the
failed to win at Málaga CF (4–2 loss) and with
Real Valladolid (3–3), also opening the score in the 3–1 away defeat to Real Madrid on 18 January 2009.
On 21 May 2011, Nekounam renewed his contract with Osasuna for another two seasons, with the option of an annual renewal of his link.
In July of the following year, amidst interest from Iranian club Esteghlal F.C. and unnamed Turkey and Qatari clubs, it was reported that he would only remain with at the El Sadar Stadium if he accepted a salary reduction – he was the highest-paid player.
Esteghlal
On 21 July 2012, aged almost 32, Nekounam returned to his country and signed a two-year deal with Esteghlal for a record fee of US$1,500,000, which made him the most expensive player in the Iran Pro League history.
He scored his first goal for his new club in a 3–2 loss to Foolad F.C. on 28 November, through a penalty.
On 5 May 2013, against the same opponent, he also found the net, helping his team secure their 28th league title[ Esteghlal won the league ; Goal, 5 May 2013 (in Persian)] and winning his second national championship.
Al-Kuwait
On 14 January 2014, Nekounam agreed to a four-month contract at
Kuwait SC.
[ الإيراني نيكونام كويتاي رسمياً ; Kuwait Club, 14 January 2014 (in Persian)] He scored his first goal for the club on 2 February, netting the only in an AFC Champions League qualifier against Al Shorta SC.
Nekounam scored three goals in the 2014 edition of the AFC Cup,[ One more trophy for Nekounam in his club career ; Persian Football, 8 May 2014]
Return to Osasuna
On 4 August 2014, Nekounam returned to Osasuna by signing a two-year deal.
He scored in his first game upon his return, a 3–1 Segunda División loss against Deportivo Alavés on 6 September.
On 2 November he added another, helping to a 3–2 home victory over
Real Betis.
Saipa
Nekounam returned to Iran and its Persian Gulf Pro League on 6 July 2015, joining Saipa F.C. for one year.
He scored his first competitive goal for his new team on 6 August, the second in a 2–0 win at Rah Ahan Yazdan FC.
Al-Arabi
On 21 January 2016, Nekounam moved to Qatari club Al-Arabi SC on a four-month contract with an option to extend for a further year.
In his first match, at home against
Qatar SC, he assisted countryman
Ashkan Dejagah in an eventual 1–1 draw.
Nekounam left on 30 June 2016, and the 35-year-old announced his retirement two weeks later.[ رسمی؛ خداحافظی جواد نکونام از فوتبال (Official; Nekounam retired from football) ; IRIB Varzesh, 15 July 2016 (in Persian)]
International career
Nekounam received his first call-up to Iran in 2000. He became a starter for the national side during the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and, already a key midfield element, played two of the national team's matches during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, being suspended for the final group game against Angola after his second yellow card against Portugal.
Additionally, Nekounam helped Iran win the 2002 Asian Games and the 2004 West Asian Football Federation Championship, and also represented the country in the 2004, 2007 and 2011 AFC Asian Cups.[ Javad Nekounam – Century of International Appearances ; at RSSSF] He was Team Melli's leading goalscorer in its successful 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign and, on 1 June 2014, he was selected by Carlos Queiroz for the finals in Brazil,
Nekounam also made the 2015 Asian Cup squad, in December 2014.
Managerial career
Midway through the 2017–18 season, Nekounam became the manager of F.C. Nassaji Mazandaran.
His team won 23 points from his nine games in charge, and were promoted to the Persian Gulf Pro League after a 24-year absence.
Career statistics
Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |
|
|
| Pas | 1998–99 | Azadegan League | 2 |
| 1999–00 | 5 |
| 2000–01 | 5 |
| 2001–02 | Iran Pro League | 4 |
| 2002–03 | 7 |
| 2003–04 | 10 |
| 2004–05 | 13 |
| 2005–06 | 3 |
|
| Al Wahda | 2005–06 | UAE Football League | 3 |
| Sharjah FC | 2005–06 | UAE Football League | 8 |
| CA Osasuna | 2006–07 | La Liga | 3 |
| 2007–08 | 0 |
| 2008–09 | 8 |
| 2009–10 | 3 |
| 2010–11 | 6 |
| 2011–12 | 6 |
|
| Esteghlal | 2012–13 | Persian Gulf Cup | 9 |
| 2013–14 | 3 |
|
| Kuwait SC | 2013–14 | Kuwaiti Premier League | 5 |
| Osasuna | 2014–15 | Segunda División | 5 |
| Saipa | 2015–16 | Persian Gulf Pro League | 3 |
| Al-Arabi | 2015–16 | Qatar Stars League | 1 |
|
International
- Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Nekounam goal.
Managerial statistics
|
|
|
| Khooneh be Khooneh | 1 August 2017 | 10 January 2018
|
| Nassaji Mazandaran | 1 March 2018 | 1 January 2019
|
| Foolad | 1 June 2019 | 23 August 2021
|
| Foolad | 7 November 2021 | 22 February 2023
|
| Esteghlal | 21 June 2023 | 1 October 2024
|
|
Honours
Player
Pas
Esteghlal
Al-Kuwait
Iran
-
Asian Games:2002
-
AFC – OFC Challenge Cup: 2003
-
West Asian Football Federation Championship: 2004
Individual
-
Iran football award winners: Player of the Year
-
AFC Champions League Dream Team: 2013
-
Asian Footballer of the Year nominee: 2013
Manager
Nassaji Mazandaran
Foolad
Esteghlal
-
Iran Pro League runner-up: 2023–24
Personal life
On 4 January 2026, Nekounam publicly supported the 2025–2026 Iranian protests on his
Instagram, stating: "This sound of protest you hear is the sound of people's lives becoming suffocated."
/ref> On 9 February 2026, he publicly objected to being included on a list of supporters of the 1979 Islamic Revolution by the Ministry of Sport and Youth, ahead of the Revolution'
/ref>
Notes
See also
-
List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps
-
Iranians in Spain
External links
