Javad Nekounam and Masoud Shojaei both play for Osasuna of Spain. They have been there since 2006. Since then, all the others players in Europe have come home or taken slots with teams in Asia or across the Persian Gulf. And no others have been hired in Europe. Goal magazine says all left Europe “with a common frustration at not having featured regularly for their clubs.… All became benchwarmers during the latter stages of their continental careers.” Goal says it doesn’t expect new recruits to replace them. It says most European scouts watch the World Cup and Asian Cup players, and Iran’s poor showing there means fewer Iranians ever catch anyone’s eye. Of course, in a few weeks, Iran will be in the Asian Cup. Let’s see what develops there.
