Never thought I'd ever say "Proud to be an Iran supporter"
but they do have my team Charlton Athletic's first World Cup player since 2002 when they had five players at the Finals:
"Go Reza and the Islamic Republic of Iran!"
Signed by Charlton late in the season when the new Belgian billionaire owner took over - he also owns three clubs on the Continent.
Scored the crucial goals in Iran's last few games that took them to the Finals.
A former Dutch youth international and Eredivisie player with Heerenveen - emigrated to Holland aged eight from Iran. Also a talented violinist.
A nice fit for me, being the son a mother from Charlton and a father from Holland.
One of a number of Iranians living overseas recruited by Iran's new Portuguese manager Queiroz - many were initially reluctant since they disagree politically with the Iranian regime but were assured by Queiroz that their participation could only lead to improvements in Iran and that the Iranian FA and the regime were becoming more tolerant. I noticed women were prominent amongst supporters in the stadiums during the qualifiers (were banned under previous regimes). The new President Hassan Rouhani is something of a progressive reformer compared to his predecessors and there is some relative improvement in women's rights, rights of religious and ethnic minorities, removal of internet censorship etc.
President Hassan Rouhani, NBC News 19/9/13: "We want the people, in their private lives, to be completely free, and in today’s world having access to information and the right of free dialogue, and the right to think freely, is the right of all peoples, including the people of Iran."
16 Reza GHOOCHANNEJHAD
CHARLTON ATHLETIC FC
Profile
IRAN
- FORWARD
- 14 International Caps
- 10 International Goals
- 26 years old
- 181cm
- FIRST INTERNATIONAL Iran - Korea Republic 16 Oct 2012
- DATE OF BIRTH 20 Sep 1987
- CURRENT CLUB Charlton Athletic FC (ENG)
