# Ferydoon Zandi

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Iranian footballer

Ferydoon Zandi Zandi in Saipa training in 2015 Personal information Full name Fereydon Zandi[1] Date of birth (1979-04-26) 26 April 1979 (age 47) Place of birth Emden, West Germany Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in) Position Attacking midfielder Youth career 1985–1988 Blau-Weiß Borssum 1988–1992 SV Meppen 1992–1993 Werder Bremen 1993–1995 TuS Esens 1995–1998 SV Meppen Senior career* Years Team Apps (Gls) 1998–2000 SV Meppen 60 (15) 2000–2001 SC Freiburg II 25 (7) 2000–2002 SC Freiburg 10 (0) 2002–2004 VfB Lübeck 54 (20) 2004–2006 1. FC Kaiserslautern 45 (6) 2006 TuS Koblenz 8 (0) 2007 Apollon Limassol 10 (2) 2008 Olympiakos Nicosia 10 (4) 2008–2009 Alki Larnaca 23 (12) 2009–2011 Steel Azin 41 (2) 2011–2012 Esteghlal 29 (4) 2012–2014 Al Ahli 3 (0) Total 318 (72) International career 2001 Germany U21 5 (0) 2005–2009 Iran 29[2] (5) Managerial career 2016–2020 St. Pauli II (assistant) 2020–2022 Dynamo Dresden (assistant) * Club domestic league appearances and goals

**Ferydoon Zandi** (born 26 April 1979) is an Iranian retired professional [footballer](/source/Association_football).

## Early life

Zandi was born in the city of [Emden](/source/Emden), in northern Germany, to an Iranian father and a German mother. He speaks [German](/source/German_language) and [Persian](/source/Persian_language). He started playing football at an early age when his talent shone through his playing for a number of youth clubs in and near his hometown.

## Club career

### Germany

Zandi was called up for the [Germany under-17 national football team](/source/Germany_national_football_team) and played for [SV Meppen](/source/SV_Meppen) before being signed by [SC Freiburg](/source/SC_Freiburg). There, he failed to establish himself as a starter and was traded to the [2. Bundesliga](/source/2._Bundesliga) club [VfB Lübeck](/source/VfB_L%C3%BCbeck). After struggling again initially, Zandi broke through and established himself as one of the most dangerous and versatile attackers of the league. He regularly was one of the top scorers and assist givers.

After enjoying two successful seasons in Lübeck, he was signed by [1. FC Kaiserslautern](/source/1._FC_Kaiserslautern) in 2004 and given the number 10.

In the [2005–06 season](/source/2005%E2%80%9306_Bundesliga), in which 1. FCK fell to the end of the table, he lost his position as a starting playmaker, was benched for a longer period of time, and had periods when he failed to be nominated as a bench player at all. Trainer [Wolfgang Wolf](/source/Wolfgang_Wolf) refused to play him in the second half of the season, and after the relegation of the club, Zandi was confirmed to be cut from the squad. Also, [Amir Ghalenoei](/source/Amir_Ghalenoei), the new manager of [Iran national team](/source/Iran_national_football_team), did not invite Ferydoon to the Iranian squad for the [AFC Asian Cup](/source/AFC_Asian_Cup) qualification games.

In September 2006, he signed a one-year contract with 2. Bundesliga club [TuS Koblenz](/source/TuS_Koblenz), which he left in January 2007 due to the limited number of appearance he made.

### Cyprus

On 2 January 2007, Zandi signed a contract till the end of the [2006–07 season](/source/2006%E2%80%9307_Cypriot_First_Division) with [Apollon Limassol](/source/Apollon_Limassol) of [Cyprus](/source/Cyprus).

After his return from the [2007 AFC Asian Cup](/source/2007_AFC_Asian_Cup) he was linked with moves to [Steaua București](/source/FC_Steaua_Bucure%C8%99ti), [Rapid București](/source/FC_Rapid_Bucure%C8%99ti) and [Birmingham City](/source/Birmingham_City_F.C.).[3]

On 18 January 2008, he joined [Olympiakos Nicosia](/source/Olympiakos_Nicosia).

On 24 March 2009, Zandi signed [Alki Larnaca](/source/Alki_Larnaca_FC) for a one-year contract where he became the top scorer.

### Iran

Zandi joined the Iranian side [Steel Azin](/source/Steel_Azin_F.C.) in 2009 and stayed there for two seasons. After the relegation of [Steel Azin](/source/Steel_Azin_F.C.) he left the club and in August 2011 he joined to [Esteghlal](/source/Esteghlal_F.C.)[4] but he started season with an injury.[5] On 22 October 2011, he made his debut for Esteghlal and made an assist against [Zob Ahan Esfahan F.C.](/source/Zob_Ahan_Esfahan_F.C.)[6] He won the [Hazfi Cup](/source/Hazfi_Cup) in his first season.

Having been released by Esteghlal on 29 September 2012 Zandi joined the Qatari side [Al Ahli](/source/Al_Ahli_SC_(Doha)). On 5 November 2015, he announced his retirement.

## International career

Raised in Germany, Zandi did not initially have the permission to play for his ancestral Iran as he did not have Iranian citizenship. However, the [Iranian Football Federation](/source/Iranian_Football_Federation) obtained permission for him to play for them, and Zandi began to compete on the [Iran national team](/source/Iran_national_football_team) in the second round of [2006 FIFA World Cup qualification](/source/2006_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification) against Bahrain. After the qualifications he did not compete again on the team until being invited again for the [2007 AFC Asian Cup](/source/2007_AFC_Asian_Cup).

He was recalled to the national squad in March 2007 for a friendly against [Qatar](/source/Qatar_national_football_team),[7] included in the [Asian Cup](/source/Asian_Cup) squad, and was featured for Iran in the friendly match against [Mexico](/source/Mexico_national_football_team) in June 2007. On 15 July 2007, Zandi scored from a free kick for Iran in their 2–2 draw versus [China](/source/China_national_football_team) in the Asian Cup.

Zandi also played for Iran in the [2010 FIFA World Cup qualification](/source/2010_FIFA_World_Cup_qualification) where after the departure of [Ali Daei](/source/Ali_Daei) he was not invited for around a year and was invited again by [Afshin Ghotbi](/source/Afshin_Ghotbi) for a couple of performances but was dropped again. He was invited again after around 18 months by [Carlos Queiroz](/source/Carlos_Queiroz) for a friendly in May 2012 against [Albania](/source/Albania) where before the match On 28 May 2012, Zandi announced his retirement from International football.[8]

## Coaching career

### Dynamo Dresden

After signing as assistant coach of [2. Bundesliga](/source/2._Bundesliga) club [Dynamo Dresden](/source/Dynamo_Dresden) in 2020, he was named head coach in March 2022 after [Alexander Schmidt](/source/Alexander_Schmidt_(football_manager)) was sacked, but was replaced just two days later without managing a match.[9]

## Traffic accident

In 2005, Zandi was victim of a heavy traffic accident on a highway. When another car swerved to the left directly in front of him, Zandi had to evade and crashed into a lorry of the [United States Air Force](/source/United_States_Air_Force). The lorry took heavy damage, and Zandi's car was utterly wrecked. Zandi made it out with minor injuries only.[10]

## Career statistics

### Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition Club Season League Cup Continental Total Ref. Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals SV Meppen 1998–99 Regionalliga 29 5 0 0 – 29 5 [11][12] 1999–00 31 10 2 0 – 33 10 [11][12] Total 60 15 2 0 – 62 15 – SC Freiburg II 2000–01 Oberliga 19 7 0 0 – 19 7 2001–02 6 0 0 0 – 6 0 Total 25 7 0 0 – 25 7 – SC Freiburg 2000–01 Bundesliga 7 0 2 0 – 9 0 [12] 2001–02 3 0 1 0 – 4 0 [12] Total 10 0 3 0 – 13 0 – VfB Lübeck 2002–03 2. Bundesliga 25 6 1 0 – 26 6 [12] 2003–04 29 14 5 3 – 34 17 [12] Total 54 20 6 3 – 60 23 – 1. FC Kaiserslautern 2004–05 Bundesliga 26 6 2 3 – 28 9 [12] 2005–06 19 0 3 1 – 22 1 [12] Total 45 6 5 4 – 50 10 – TuS Koblenz 2006–07 2. Bundesliga 8 0 0 0 – 8 0 [12] Apollon Limassol 2006–07 Cypriot First Division 10 2 – 10 2 [11] Olympiakos Nicosia 2007–08 Cypriot First Division 10 4 – 10 4 [11] Alki Larnaca 2008–09 Cypriot First Division 23 12 – 23 12 [11] Steel Azin 2009–10 Persian Gulf Pro League 19 1 1 0 – 20 1 2010–11 22 1 3 1 – 25 2 Total 41 2 4 1 – 45 3 – Esteghlal 2011–12 Persian Gulf Pro League 21 4 4 0 8 1 33 5 2012–13 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 Total 29 4 4 0 8 1 42 5 – Al Ahli 2012–13 Second Division 0 0 0 0 – 0 0 2013–14 Stars League 3 0 0 0 – 3 0 [13] Total 3 0 0 0 – 3 0 – Career total 318 72 24 8 8 1 350 81 –

### International

- *Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Zandi goal.*

List of international goals scored by Ferydoon Zandi No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1 28 May 2005 Azadi Stadium, Tehran, Iran Azerbaijan 1–0 2–1 Friendly 2 15 July 2007 Bukit Jalil Stadium, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia China 1–2 2–2 2007 AFC Asian Cup 3 7 June 2008 Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates United Arab Emirates 1–0 1–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 4 31 August 2009 Bahrain National Stadium, Riffa, Bahrain Bahrain 1–2 2–4 Friendly 5 2–3

## Honours

**Esteghlal**

- [Hazfi Cup](/source/Hazfi_Cup): [2011–12](/source/2011%E2%80%9312_Hazfi_Cup)

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Iran"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190610174527/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf) (PDF). FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 14. Archived from [the original](https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2006/PDF/FWC_2006_SquadLists.pdf) (PDF) on 10 June 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** [Ferydoon Zandi](https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/3220.html) at National-Football-Teams.com

1. **[^](#cite_ref-3)** ["Ferydoon Zandi, aproape de un transfer în Giuleşti"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070929043911/http://revista_presei.rapidfans.ro/2007.07_iulie/30__31.htm). *rapidfans.ro*. Archived from [the original](http://revista_presei.rapidfans.ro/2007.07_iulie/30__31.htm) on 29 September 2007. Retrieved 1 August 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** [\[1\]](http://www.khabaronline.ir/news-163939.aspx) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20120205014854/http://www.khabaronline.ir/news-163939.aspx) 5 February 2012 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** [\[2\]](http://www.khabaronline.ir/news-169678.aspx) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20110925211756/http://www.khabaronline.ir/news-169678.aspx) 25 September 2011 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine)

1. **[^](#cite_ref-6)** ["وب سایت رسمی باشگاه استقلال"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120124153658/http://www.fcesteghlal.ir/NewsView.aspx?id=2886). Archived from [the original](http://fcesteghlal.ir/NewsView.aspx?id=2886) on 24 January 2012. Retrieved 22 October 2011.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Full-strength Iran for Qatar friendly"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070927192005/http://www.persianleague.com/news/Morenews.cfm?News=3342). PersianLeague.com. Archived from [the original](http://www.persianleague.com/news/Morenews.cfm?News=3342) on 27 September 2007. Retrieved 16 July 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Ahmadov, Ahmad (28 May 2012). ["Ferydoon Zandi bids farewell to Iran football team"](https://web.archive.org/web/20120528174501/http://www.tehrantimes.com/sports/98310-ferydoon-zandi-bids-farewell-to-iran-football-team-). *Tehran Times*. Iran. Archived from [the original](http://tehrantimes.com/sports/98310-ferydoon-zandi-bids-farewell-to-iran-football-team-) on 28 May 2012. Retrieved 28 May 2012.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** ["Dynamo Dresden beurlaubt Alexander Schmidt"](https://web.archive.org/web/20220506135535/https://www.dynamo-dresden.de/saison/news/newsdetails/dynamo-dresden-beurlaubt-alexander-schmidt-1.html). *dynamo-dresden.de* (in German). 1 March 2022. Archived from [the original](https://www.dynamo-dresden.de/saison/news/newsdetails/dynamo-dresden-beurlaubt-alexander-schmidt-1.html) on 6 May 2022. Retrieved 1 March 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** ["Ferydoon Zandi slightly injured in accident"](https://web.archive.org/web/20050829043102/http://www.fck.de/aktuell/news/profi/2005/03/zandi_unfall_070305.php). *fck.de* (in German). Archived from [the original](http://www.fck.de/aktuell/news/profi/2005/03/zandi_unfall_070305.php) on 29 August 2005.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-nft_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-nft_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-nft_11-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-nft_11-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-nft_11-4) ["Ferydoon Zandi"](https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/3220/Ferydoon_Zandi.html). *National Football Teams*. Retrieved 6 June 2018.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-wf_12-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-wf_12-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-wf_12-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-wf_12-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-wf_12-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-wf_12-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-wf_12-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-wf_12-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-wf_12-8) ["Ferydoon Zandi " Club matches"](https://www.worldfootball.net/person/pe15870/ferydoon-zandi/club-matches/). *worldfootball.net*. Retrieved 6 June 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-sw_13-0)** ["F. Zandi"](https://int.soccerway.com/coaches/ferydoon-zandi/499/). *Soccerway*. Retrieved 6 June 2018.

## External links

- [Ferydoon Zandi](https://archive.today/20131105061348/http://www.persianleague.com/teams.html?id=696&view=player&sid=27) at [PersianLeague.com](http://www.persianleague.com)

- [Latest news, goal downloads, information on Zandi](https://web.archive.org/web/20090123095939/http://www.zandi-news.com/)

- [Ferydoon Zandi](https://web.archive.org/web/20060629202321/http://www.teammelli.com/Roster/ZandiRoster.htm) at [TeamMelli.com](http://www.teammelli.com)

- [Official Website](http://www.ferydoon-zandi.de)

Iran squads v t e Iran squad – 2006 FIFA World Cup 1 Mirzapour 2 Mahdavikia 3 Bakhtiarizadeh 4 Golmohammadi 5 Rezaei 6 Nekounam 7 Zandi 8 Karimi 9 Hashemian 10 Daei (c) 11 Khatibi 12 Roudbarian 13 Kaebi 14 Teymourian 15 Borhani 16 Enayati 17 Kazemian 18 Navidkia 19 Sadeghi 20 Nosrati 21 Madanchi 22 Talebloo 23 Shojaei Coach: Ivanković v t e Iran squad – 2007 AFC Asian Cup 1 Roudbarian 2 Mahdavikia (c) 3 A. Sadeghi 4 Teymourian 5 Rezaei 6 Nekounam 7 Zandi 8 Karimi 9 Hashemian 10 Khatibi 11 Madanchi 12 Hosseini 13 Kaebi 14 Mobali 15 Aghily 16 Enayati 17 Kazemian 18 Rajabzadeh 19 E. Sadeghi 20 Nosrati 22 Talebloo 24 Shojaei 30 Rahmati Coach: Ghalenoei

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ferydoon Zandi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferydoon_Zandi) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ferydoon_Zandi?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.