Nasser Hejazi

“Legend” was one among many of Nasser Hejazi’s nicknames, and it was a moniker to which Iran’s premier football goalkeeper lived up. By the age of 18 he was a rising star in Taj FC and he joined the national team one year later. During his decade-long stint with Taj, he came in first in the Iranian League in 1971 and 1975, second in 1974 and won the Hazfi Cup in 1977, in addition to the 1970 Asian Club Championship (precursor to the AFC Champions League). At the same time he earned victories at the 1968, 1972, and 1976 Asian Cups and made appearances at the 1972 and 1976 Summer Olympics. He transferred to Shahbaz FC in 1977 and stayed there until 1980, at which point he rejoined Taj FC under its new name Esteghlal Tehran. During this time, he was the starting goalkeeper for Iran at the 1978 FIFA World Cup and captained the squad at the 1980 Asian Cup, but was forced to retire after the nation’s new revolutionary government (through its Physical Education Department) decreed that no one over the age of 27 would be allowed to represent Iran internationally.

Hejazi remained with Esteghlal Tehran until 1986, winning provincial titles in 1983 and 1985, and finished his career with Bangladesh’s Mohammedan Sporting Club in 1987, capturing one final league title. He then embarked on a management career, beginning with Mohammedan SC from 1987-1991 (including a stint as Bangladeshi national coach in 1989), where he led the squad to back-to-back league victories during his first two years. Among the many teams he coached, his only other championship would come with Esteghlal Tehran during the 1997-1998 season, when they captured the league title. He attempted to become a candidate for Iran’s 2005 national election, but his candidacy was rejected by the nation’s Guardian Council. Beginning in late 2009 he struggled with an aggressive form of lung cancer, which eventually led to his death in May 2011.