Andranik Teymourian

Andranik Timotian-Samarani,[1] commonly known as Andranik "Ando" Teymourian (Armenian: Անդրանիկ Թէյմուրեան; Persian: آندرانيک تیموریان, romanized: Ândrânik Teymuryân, born 6 March 1983) is an Iranian retired professional footballer who usually played as a defensive midfielder, but could also play as a wide midfielder. He is notably the first Christian to captain the Iran national team.[2][3]

Andranik Teymourian
Teymourian in 2014
Personal information
Full name Andranik Timotian-Samarani[1]
Date of birth (1983-03-06) 6 March 1983
Place of birth Tehran, Iran
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Defensive midfielder
Youth career
1998–2000 Ararat Tehran
2000–2002 Esteghlal
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2004 Oghab
2004–2006 Aboumoslem 44 (3)
2006–2008 Bolton Wanderers 20 (2)
2008–2010 Fulham 10 (0)
2009 → Barnsley (loan) 11 (0)
2010–2011 Tractor 21 (1)
2011–2012 Esteghlal 20 (1)
2012–2013 Al Kharaitiyat 20 (0)
2013–2015 Esteghlal 36 (1)
2015 Tractor 13 (3)
2015–2016 Umm Salal 14 (0)
2016 Saipa 4 (0)
2016–2017 Machine Sazi 11 (0)
2017 Naft Tehran 10 (0)
2017–2018 Gostaresh Foulad 20 (0)
Total 245 (11)
International career
2005 Iran B 6 (0)
2005–2016 Iran 101 (9)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

From 2006 to the end of 2010, he played for three clubs in England, namely Bolton Wanderers and Fulham in the Premier League and Barnsley in the Football League Championship.

Teymourian played his first match for Iran in 2005, and has featured in their squads for the 2006 and 2014 World Cups, and also the 2007, 2011 and 2015 Asian Cups.

Club career

Early career

Andranik was born in Tehran, Iran to ethnic Armenian parents. He started with Oghab F.C. in Iran's Azadegan League, and continued his professional career playing for F.C. Aboomoslem in the Iranian Premier League. In the 2005–06 season, Andranik made 26 appearances for F.C. Aboomoslem and scored one goal.

Bolton Wanderers

In late August 2006 he signed a two-year deal with FA Premier League club Bolton Wanderers, for an undisclosed fee, after being granted a work permit.[4] He scored his first two goals for Bolton Wanderers in the FA Cup third round in a 4–0 win over Doncaster Rovers on 6 January 2007, in only his third appearance.[5] Andranik then went on to make his full Premier League debut against Fulham on 11 February 2007. His first two league goals came during a man-of-the-match performance against local rivals Wigan Athletic on 7 April 2007.[6][7]

Fulham

On 12 June 2008, Andranik signed a two-year contract with Fulham after moving on a free transfer.[8] He made his Fulham debut against Arsenal, in which he helped secure a 1–0 victory.[9] On 2 February 2009, he went on loan to Barnsley of the Football League Championship until the end of the season.[10] He later stated that he wanted to stay with Fulham for the 2009–10 season. On 1 July 2010, Fulham announced that Andranik had been released from his contract with Fulham.[11]

In July 2010, Teymourian was named in Blackburn Rovers' team to face Southport FC in a pre-season friendly.[12]

On 22 July 2010, Teymourian began talks with Sheffield United after turning down a tour with Blackburn Rovers across Australia. Blades coach Gary Speed was believed to have recommended Teymourian to Blades boss Kevin Blackwell as Speed and Teymourian played together at Bolton Wanderers.[13] Teymourian began talks with Blackburn Rovers about a deal to stay with the Premier League club possibly on a short-term deal.[14] The move broke down as he was denied a work permit.

Tractor

On 19 September 2010, Teymourian returned to Iran to join the Tabriz-based club Tractor, the move marked the end of his career in England.[15][16]

Esteghlal
Teymourian playing for Esteghlal in Tehran derby

It was confirmed in mid-July 2011 that Teymourian had signed a contract with Tehran and IPL club Esteghlal. He made his debut for club against Sepahan. On 9 November 2011, he was named as one of the ten finalists for the Asian Player of the Year.[17] He won the Hazfi Cup in his first season.

Al Kharaitiyat

Teymourian signed a one-year deal with Qatari side Al Kharaitiyat SC worth $1.8 million. After his contract ended on 1 July 2013, he left the club.

Return to Esteghlal

On 18 July 2013, Teymourian returned to Esteghlal after signing a three-year contract with the club.[18][19] He made his debut in a 2–1 loss to Sepahan. He scored a 40-yard goal in a match against Buriram United which Esteghlal won 2–1.[20] Teymourian suffered a broken arm and was out of play for a month. He returned to the fields at the league's two final matches which Esteghlal finished the season at fifth place and missed next years' Champions League.

On 2 August 2014, Teymourian was named the 2013–14 season's best player on the annual awards ceremony of the season.[21]

Return to Tractor

On 27 December 2014, Teymourian joined Tractor again with an 18–month contract.[22] He scored a free-kick on his debut in a match against Saba Qom.

Umm Salal

On 13 July 2015, Teymourian signed with Qatari side Umm Salal.[23] He left the club halfway through the season in January 2016 after a disagreement with the head coach, Bülent Uygun, and with only 14 appearances.[24]

Saipa

On 19 January 2016, Teymourian signed a six-month deal with Saipa, having previously been linked with Tehran-based club Esteghlal and Thailand's Buriram United.[25][26] Injury caused him to only play four matches for the club before leaving in July 2016.

Machine Sazi

In July 2016 Teymourian returned to Tabriz and signed a one–year contract with newly promoted Persian Gulf Pro League club Machine Sazi.

International career
Teymourian became the first Christian captain of the Iranian national team in 2015.
Teymourian playing for Iran against Lionel Messi and Argentina in 2014 World Cup

Teymourian played for Iran national teams at the youth level, before being selected to take part with the senior side. He was a member of the national team during the 2006 World Cup. Pictures of an emotionally and physically drained Teymourian at the end of Iran's last game of the 2006 World Cup have begun to take the shape of Iranian football's most notable photograph from the event. Teymourian dropped to the grass and began sobbing while trainers attended to him. He has started to be recognized as a national hero in Iran because of the passion he showed for his country in the 2006 World Cup. He played in the 2007 and 2011 Asian Cups, as well as the WAFF Championships. The midfielder cemented his spot as a starter next to Javad Nekounam, leading Iran to qualify for the 2014 World Cup.

On 18 May 2014, Teymourian captained Iran in the match against Belarus, making him the first Christian to captain the Iranian national team.[2][3] On 1 June 2014, he was called into Iran's 2014 FIFA World Cup squad by Carlos Queiroz.[27] He played the full 90 minutes in all three group stage matches, becoming the most capped Iran player at the World Cup with six matches alongside Mehdi Mahdavikia. He was called into Iran's 2015 AFC Asian Cup squad on 30 December 2014 by Carlos Queiroz.[28] He provided three assists in the tournament.

Prior to the start of qualification for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Teymourian was appointed as the new captain for Iran after Javad Nekounam's retirement.

Teymourian won his 100th cap for the national team in a 1–0 win over Uzbekistan.

Personal life

Andranik's elder brother Serjik Teymourian, was also a football player and played in Germany for 1. FSV Mainz 05 as a defensive midfielder. He died at the age of 46 in 2020, from a traffic collision.[29]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Aboomoslem 2004–05 Pro League 18250––232
2005–06 26100––261
Total 443500000493
Bolton 2006–07 Premier League 1722220–214
2007–08 3000005080
Total 202222050294
Fulham 2008–09 Premier League 1000100020
2009–10 0000000000
Total 1000100020
Barnsley (loan) 2008–09 Championship 1100000–110
Tractor 2010–11 Pro League 21110––221
Esteghlal 2011–12 Pro League 20120–30251
Al Kharaitiyat 2012–13 Qatar Stars League 20011––211
Esteghlal 2013–14 Pro League 22140–51312
2014–15 14030–00170
Total 361700051482
Tractor 2014–15 Pro League 13300–00133
Umm Salal 2015–16 Qatar Stars League 14000––140
Saipa 2016 Pro League 4000––40
Mashine Sazi 2016–17 Pro League 11000––110
Naft Tehran 2016–17 Pro League 10000––100
Gostaresh Foulad 2017–18 Pro League 20000––200
Career total 245111833013126615

International
Andranik Teymourian in Iran national football team training in 2016
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Iran 200530
2006141
200761
200880
2009112
2010112
2011112
201250
201370
201470
2015141
201640
Total1019
Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Teymourian goal.
List of international goals scored by Andranik Teymourian[30]
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
122 February 2006Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran Chinese Taipei1–04–02007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
218 July 2007Bukit Jalil Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Malaysia2–02–02007 AFC Asian Cup
312 August 2009Asim Ferhatovic, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina3–23–2Friendly
418 November 2009Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran Macedonia1–01–1Friendly
53 September 2010Zhengzhou Hanghai Stadium, Zhengzhou, China China1–02–0Friendly
628 September 2010Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan Oman2–22–22010 West Asian Football Federation Championship
72 September 2011Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran Indonesia3–03–02014 World Cup qualification
811 October 2011Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran Bahrain4–06–02014 World Cup qualification
98 September 2015Sree Kanteerawa Stadium, Bangalore, India India2–03–02018 World Cup qualification and 2019 AFC Asian Cup qualification

Honours

Esteghlal

Naft Tehran

Individual

See also

References
  1. Hugman, Barry J., ed. (2009). The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2009–10. Mainstream Publishing. p. 405. ISBN 978-1-84596-474-0.
  2. "Andranik Teymoruain, the first Iranian christian captain of Iran". Isport.ir. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  3. "Andranik Teymourian plays in the Iranian football team". Azad-Hye Middle East Armenian portal. Archived from the original on 8 December 2013. Retrieved 29 August 2006.
  4. "Trotters tie up Teymourian deal". Sky Sports. Archived from the original on 1 September 2006. Retrieved 29 August 2006.
  5. Hughes, Ian (6 January 2007). "Doncaster 0–4 Bolton". BBC. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
  6. Phillips, Owen (7 April 2007). "Wigan 1–3 Bolton". BBC. Retrieved 14 September 2009.
  7. "Wigan 1-3 Bolton: Andranik at the double". ESPN Soccernet. 4 April 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  8. "Andranik Signs". Fulham FC. Archived from the original on 13 June 2008. Retrieved 12 June 2008.
  9. "Match: Fulham vs Arsenal". ESPNsoccernet. 23 August 2008. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  10. "Andranik Loan". Fulham FC. Archived from the original on 5 February 2009. Retrieved 2 February 2009.
  11. "Player Contract Round-Up". Fulham FC. Archived from the original on 2 July 2010. Retrieved 1 July 2010.
  12. "Southport 0-3 blackburn rovers". Southport F.C. 17 July 2010. Archived from the original on 21 July 2010. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  13. "Blades consider Teymourian" skysports.com 26 July 2010 Link retrieved 26 July 2010
  14. Blackburn Rovers closing in on first signing lancashiretelegraph.co.uk 3 August 2010 Link retrieved 1 January 2014
  15. "Tractor takes Teymourian on board". AFC. Archived from the original on 19 May 2018. Retrieved 20 September 2010.
  16. "Reprint of aforementioned AFC article on messageboard". Tractor Sazi F.C. forum. 20 September 2010. Archived from the original on 26 April 2014. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  17. "آندو در جمع 10 بازيكن برتر آسيا". FC Esteghlal. Archived from the original on 17 January 2012. Retrieved 1 January 2014.
  18. "Official: Teymourian signs with Esteghlal". Goal.com. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  19. "آندرانيک تيموريان به استقلال پيوست". Varzesh3.com. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  20. "عکس روز: عجب شوتی بود پسر!". Goal.com. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  21. "Teymourian tops Iran league awards". The-afc.com. 4 August 2014. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014. Retrieved 12 August 2014.
  22. "خبرگزاری تسنیم – آندرانیک تیموریان به تراکتورسازی پیوست". خبرگزاری تسنیم.
  23. "Umm Salal contract with the Iranian Andranik Teymourian for one season". Qatar Stars League. 7 July 2015. Archived from the original on 12 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  24. "Iran captain Teymourian leaves Umm Salal".
  25. "Tasnim News Agency – Iran Captain Andranik Teymourian Joins Saipa". Tasnim News Agency.
  26. "Saipa signs Iran captain Teymourian". 20 January 2016.
  27. "Queiroz trims Iran squad to 24". FIFA.com. 1 June 2014. Archived from the original on 1 June 2014. Retrieved 1 June 2014.
  28. "Queiroz Names Team Melli Squad". afcasiancup.com. 30 December 2014. Archived from the original on 1 January 2015.
  29. "Ex-Esteghlal midfielder Serjik Teymourian dies". Tehran Times. 30 August 2020. Retrieved 9 November 2022.
  30. "Iran – A. Teymourian – Profile with news, career statistics and history – Soccerway".
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