Iraj Danaeifard

Iraj Danaeifard

Personal information
Full name	Iraj Danaeifard or Iraj Danaifar
Date of birth	(1951-03-11) March 11, 1951
Place of birth	Tehran, Iran
Position(s)	Midfielder
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1970–1972	Taj
1972–1974	Oghab
1974–1977	PAS
1977–1980	Taj/Esteghlal
1980–1984	Tulsa Roughnecks	67	(3)
1980–1984	Tulsa Roughnecks (indoor)	23	(21)
International career‡
1977–1980	Iran	17	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 August 2006 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 30 August 2006

Iraj Danaeifard (or Danaifar) (Persian: ايرج دانايي فرد‎‎, born March 11, 1951 in Tehran, Iran) is a retired Iranian football player.

Club career

Danaeifard became involved in football very early. His father, Ali Danaeifard was one of the founders of Taj SC football club. He became famous in Iran while playing for the club, winning the Iranian league in 1971. He also played for Oghab F.C. and Pas F.C., where he could win the Iranian Takht Jamshid in 1977. In 1977 he returned to Taj.

In 1980 he moved to the United States and started playing for the NASL team, the Tulsa Roughnecks. He remained in the club until 1984 when the league folded.

He retired from football altogether soon after.

International career

Danaeifard was invited to the national team for the first time in 1977 and helped the team qualify for 1978 World Cup. He played well in the tournament and many still remember his goal against Scotland, which was Iran's first goal ever at a world cup.

After the Asian Cup in Kuwait in 1980 and reaching the third place he retired from international football with 17 caps and 3 goals for his country.

Retirement

He now resides in Dallas, Texas with his wife and children and owns a small football shop.

External links

• National Team Statistics
• Interview with Irankicks.com
• Tulsa Roughnecks stats