{{Short description|Iranian footballer (born 1987)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Mehrdad Pooladi | full_name = Mehrdad Pooladi | image = Iran vs. Montenegro 2014-05-26 (108).jpg | image_size = 220 | caption = Pooladi with Iran in 2014 | height = 1.81 m | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1987|2|26|df=y}} | birth_place = Karaj, Iran | currentclub = | clubnumber = | position = Left-back, midfielder | youthyears1 = 2002–2006 | youthclubs1 = Paykan | years2 = 2007–2009 | years1 = 2006–2007 | years3 = 2009–2010 | years4 = 2010–2012 | years5 = 2012 | years6 = 2012–2014 | years7 = 2014–2017 | years8 = 2017–2019 | years9 = 2019–2020 | years10 = 2020-2021 | clubs1 = Paykan | clubs2 = Esteghlal | clubs3 = Tractor Sazi | clubs4 = Mes Kerman | clubs5 = → Persepolis (loan) | clubs6 = Persepolis | clubs7 = Al-Shahania | clubs8 = Bangkok United | clubs9 = Al-Kharitiyath | clubs10 = Muaither | caps1 = 18 | caps2 = 37 | caps3 = 30 | caps4 = 41 | caps5 = 0 | caps6 = 30 | caps7 = 62 | caps8 = 10 | caps9 = 21 | caps10 = 0 | goals1 = 2 | goals2 = 1 | goals3 = 6 | goals4 = 3 | goals5 = 0 | goals6 = 0 | goals7 = 5 | goals8 = 1 | goals9 = 0 | goals10 = 0 | nationalyears1 = 2005–2006 | nationalteam1 = Iran U20 | nationalcaps1 = 8 | nationalgoals1 = 0 | nationalyears2 = 2006–2007 | nationalteam2 = Iran U23 | nationalcaps2 = 5 | nationalgoals2 = 0 | nationalyears3 = 2011–2015 | nationalteam3 = Iran | nationalcaps3 = 29 | nationalgoals3 = 0 | club-update = 07:53, 9 October 2018 (UTC) | nationalteam-update = 23 January 2015 | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{IRN}}}}{{MedalCompetition|Asian Games}} {{MedalBronze|2006 Qatar|Team Competition}} }}
'''Mehrdad Pooladi''' ({{langx|fa|مهرداد پولادی}}, born 26 February 1987) is an Iranian former professional footballer. He was also an Iranian international, where he played as a left back.
Pooladi is a utility player, formerly playing as a forward and attacking midfielder in his youth and playing regularly as a full back, defensive midfielder and winger.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iranvij.ir/860556/%D8%AE%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D8%AA%DA%A9%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D9%88%DB%8C%DA%98%D9%87-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%BE%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%B3/|title=خانه تکانی ویژه در پرسپولیس!|last=Iranvij-Group|date=1 January 2000|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141029190627/http://www.iranvij.ir/860556/%d8%ae%d8%a7%d9%86%d9%87-%d8%aa%da%a9%d8%a7%d9%86%db%8c-%d9%88%db%8c%da%98%d9%87-%d8%af%d8%b1-%d9%be%d8%b1%d8%b3%d9%be%d9%88%d9%84%db%8c%d8%b3/|archive-date=29 October 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://goaldaily.ir/GoalDaily/News.aspx?NID=57142|title=پولادي هافبك الشحانيه نه دفاع چــــــــــپـــــــــــ !}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://goaldaily.ir/GoalDaily/News.aspx?NID=41984|title=پو?لادي: پست بازي بر?ايم مهم نيست}}</ref>
==Club career==
===Esteghlal=== In August 2007, Pooladi moved from Paykan to Esteghlal as one of the number of young players that were chosen by coach Naser Hejazi. He scored his only goal in Estghlal's 2–1 away at Moghavemat Sepasi. After Hejazi was sacked and replaced with Firouz Karimi, he fell down in the pecking order and eventually left Esteghlal two years after joining the team.
===Tractor Sazi=== Pooladi joined Tractor Sazi for the 2008–09 season where he played only for a single season. In Tabriz he managed to regain his form playing mostly as a central midfielder, scoring six goals in the season. The most noteworthy was a 40-yard free-kick against his former team Esteghlal in the Azadi Stadium.
===Mes Kerman=== Pooladi transferred to Mes Kerman and played for the team for a year and a half, again mostly as a midfielder. In the mid-season of 2011–12, he was not included in Miroslav Blažević's squad and left the team.
===Persepolis=== In January 2012, Pooladi moved to Persepolis, Pooladi could not play in 2011–12 season as he had missed the transfer deadline day. He was however able to register for the 2012 AFC Champions League playing in 7 games and scoring a goal against Al-Shabab from a free-kick in a 3–1 win. He extended his contract with Persepolis for two years, keeping him in the team until 2014.<ref>[http://www.fc-perspolis.com/1391/%D8%AE%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF/15/%D9%BE%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%85%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%BE%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%AA.aspx?lang=fa Pouladi joins Persepolis] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120606221808/http://fc-perspolis.com/1391/%D8%AE%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF/15/%D9%BE%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%85%D8%A7-%D8%A8%D9%87-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%B3%D9%BE%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%B3-%D9%BE%DB%8C%D9%88%D8%B3%D8%AA.aspx?lang=fa |date=6 June 2012 }}</ref> He has established himself as a fan favorite due to the high intensity at which he plays the game. Since he joined Persepolis he played the majority of the games as a left back, occasionally slotting in as a defensive midfielder and left wing. After a good showing in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, he was monitored by Premier League clubs such as Southampton, Hull City and Swansea City.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Wise |first1=Mike |title=Evra to Juventus, Spurs chase Bony |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/blog/name/79/post/1947705/headline |website=ESPN |access-date=23 January 2021 |date=13 July 2014}}</ref> On 17 September 2014, the FFIRI disciplinary committee announced a sentence on his contract with Persepolis for the forthcoming 2014–15 season due to conscription issues. According to this sentence, the contract is cancelled after the end of the 2013–14 season (in May 2014), therefore he became a free agent and was free to choose his club.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ffiri.ir/news/detail/%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B6%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B7%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87-%D9%BE%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D9%BE%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-/118062/news.aspx|title=انضباطی|access-date=17 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819051045/http://ffiri.ir/news/detail/%D8%A7%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%85-%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%DA%A9%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%AA%D9%87-%D8%A7%D9%86%D8%B6%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B7%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87-%D9%BE%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D9%BE%D9%88%D9%84%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-/118062/news.aspx|archive-date=19 August 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.teammelli.com/2014/10/15/mehrdad-pooladi-saved-by-fifa/|title=Mehrdad Pooladi saved by FIFA !|last=admin|date=15 October 2014}}</ref>
===Al-Shahania=== Pooladi officially joined coach Miguel Ángel Lotina's Qatari side Al-Shahania with a two-year contract after IFF's rule that he is a free agent due to conscription issues.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alkass.net/news_details.aspx?news_id=78217|title=الشيحانية يخطف الايراني مهرداد من هال سيتي ويوقع معه لمدة عام}}</ref> On 5 December 2014, he provided an assist to Masoud Shojaei.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.persianfootball.com/news/2014/12/06/shojaei-and-dejagah-on-target-in-qatar-video/|title=Shojaei and Dejagah on target in Qatar [VIDEO]}}</ref> He also scored a 35–yard free kick for them towards the end of the season.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6Pp3Yvmjso |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/p6Pp3Yvmjso |archive-date=2021-12-21 |url-status=live|title=Mehrdad Pooladi Long Range Goal HD|last=Rex Xerxes|date=4 June 2015|via=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gulf-times.com/Mobile/Sport/192/details/438693/Han-nets-brace-as-QSC-punish-clueless-Shahaniya-4-1|title=Han nets brace as QSC punish clueless Shahaniya 4-1|date=10 May 2015}}</ref>
===Bangkok United=== In June 2017, Pooladi joined Bangkok United Football Club - a Thai professional football club based in Pathum Thani.
==International career== thumbnail|Pooladi in 2014 Pooladi played all three games for Iran U20 at 2006 AFC Youth Championship, as a product of Paykan Tehran.<ref>[https://archive.today/20130203151408/http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-u19-championship-2010-previous-competitions/afc-youth-championship-2006/7347 AFC Youth Championship 2006: Heartbreak for Iran as Japan, DPR Korea go through to last eight]</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20120913065844/http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-u19-championship-2010-previous-competitions/afc-youth-championship-2006/7325 AFC Youth Championship 2006: Jong, Kim double up as DPR Korea thrash Iran]</ref><ref>[https://archive.today/20130203164801/http://www.the-afc.com/en/afc-u19-championship-2010-previous-competitions/afc-youth-championship-2006/7295 Iran rally for 3-1 win over Tajikistan]</ref> He also made five appearances in 2005 in Valentin A.Granatkin Memorial – International Youth Tournament for Iran U20.<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesg/granatkin.html RSSSF]</ref> He was also a member of Iran U-23, participating in the 2006 Asian Games.
He started his senior international career under Carlos Queiroz in July 2011 against Madagascar. Queiroz moved Pooladi to the left back position a position and Pooladi has taken the opportunity and established himself as first choice left back ever since.
===2014 FIFA World Cup=== On 1 June 2014, he was called into Iran's 2014 FIFA World Cup squad by Queiroz.<ref name="2014wcsquad">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2014/m=6/news=quieroz-trims-squad-to-24-2351854.html |title=Queiroz trims Iran squad to 24 |date=1 June 2014 |access-date=1 June 2014 |publisher=FIFA.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140601164415/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y%3D2014/m%3D6/news%3Dquieroz-trims-squad-to-24-2351854.html |archive-date=1 June 2014 }}</ref> Pooladi was named as the second best-ranked player in the first week of the tournament behind Thomas Müller by FIFA, after receiving 9.7 points in the opening match against Nigeria.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2014/m=6/news=muller-sets-early-pace-pooladi-on-his-shoulder-2375655.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140618145834/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2014/m=6/news=muller-sets-early-pace-pooladi-on-his-shoulder-2375655.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=18 June 2014|title=Muller sets early pace, Pooladi on his shoulder|last=FIFA.com|date=18 June 2014}}</ref> He also showed a good performance in the next match against Argentina. In second half time he dribbled well Higuain and Messi to shows his technical ability.
===2015 Asian Cup=== He was called into Iran's 2015 AFC Asian Cup squad on 30 December 2014 by Queiroz.<ref name="2015acsquad">{{cite web|url=http://www.afcasiancup.com/news/en/nekounam-headlines-iranian-squad/10ppu97hz8lxf1ik1ux49b1ve0 |title=Queiroz Names Team Melli Squad |date=30 December 2014 |publisher=afcasiancup.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150101072926/http://www.afcasiancup.com/news/en/nekounam-headlines-iranian-squad/10ppu97hz8lxf1ik1ux49b1ve0 |archive-date=1 January 2015 }}</ref> On 23 January 2015, he received a controversial red card in the quarter-final of the competition against Iraq from referee Ben Williams.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smh.com.au/sport/soccer/afc-asian-cup/former-socceroos-blast-referee-ben-williams-for-embarrasing-sendoff-in-irans-asian-cup-loss-to-iraq-20150124-12xdox.html|title=Former Socceroos blast referee Ben Williams for 'embarrasing' [sic] send-off in Iran's Asian Cup loss to Iraq|first=Lee|last=Gaskin|date=24 January 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.news.com.au/video/id-RhbGV4cjr816Cp7As2TbgCVCEogk5D5D/Referee-Ben-Williams'-'embarrassing'-decision|title=Video - News.com.au}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|9 August 2018}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|Cup !colspan="2"|Asia !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |Paykan |2006–07 |Pro League |18||2||2||0||–||–||20||2 |- |rowspan="3"|Esteghlal |2007–08 |rowspan="2"|Pro League |28||1||1||0||–||–||29||1 |- |2008–09 |9||0||2||0||0||0||11||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !37!!1!!3!!0!!0!!0!!40!!1 |- |Tractor Sazi |2009–10 |Pro League |30||6||0||0||–||–||30||6 |- |rowspan="3"|Mes |2010–11 |rowspan="2"|Pro League |28||0||1||0||–||–||29||0 |- |2011 |13||3||1||0||–||–||14||3 |- !colspan="2"|Total !41!!3!!2!!0!!0!!0!!43!!3 |- |rowspan="4"|Persepolis |2012 |rowspan="3"|Pro League |0||0||0||0||7||1||7||1 |- |2012–13 |22||0||3||0||–||–||25||0 |- |2013–14 |4||0||1||0||–||–||5||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !26!!0!!4!!0!!7!!1!!37!!1 |- |rowspan="4"|Al-Shahania |2014–15 |Qatar Stars League |20||2||1||1||–||–||21||3 |- |2015–16 |Second Division |23||3||0||0||–||–||23||3 |- |2016–17 |Qatar Stars League |19||0||1||0||–||–||20||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total !62!!5!!2!!1!!0!!0!!64!!6 |- |rowspan="3"|Bangkok United |2017 |rowspan="2"|Thai League 1 |4||0||1||0||–||–||5||0 |- |2018 |6||1||1||0||–||–||7||1 |- !colspan="2"|Total !10!!1!!2!!0!!0!!0!!12!!1 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !222||17||15||1||7||1||244||19 |}
==Honours== '''Esteghlal''' *Iran Pro League: 2008–09 *Hazfi Cup: 2007–08
'''Persepolis''' *Iran Pro League: Runner-up 2013–14
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20120518122426/http://www.persianleague.com/teams.html?id=111&view=player&sid=24 Mehrdad Pooladi] at [http://www.persianleague.com PersianLeague.com] *[http://www.teammelli.com/matchdata/details/player.php?id=559 Mehrdad Pooladi] at [http://www.teammelli.com TeamMelli.com] *{{NFT|44128}}
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{{Navboxes |title = Iran squads |bg = white |fg = #FF0000 |bordercolor = Black |list1= {{Iran squad 2014 FIFA World Cup}} {{Iran squad 2015 AFC Asian Cup}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pooladi, Mehrdad}} Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:Iranian men's footballers Category:Men's association football midfielders Category:Iran men's international footballers Category:Iranian expatriate men's footballers Category:Men's association football utility players Category:Asian Games bronze medalists for Iran Category:Paykan F.C. players Category:Esteghlal F.C. players Category:Tractor S.C. players Category:Sanat Mes Kerman F.C. players Category:Persepolis F.C. players Category:Al Shahaniya SC players Mehrdad Pooladi Category:Al Kharaitiyat SC players Category:Muaither SC players Category:Persian Gulf Pro League players Category:Qatar Stars League players Category:Qatari Second Division players Category:2014 FIFA World Cup players Category:2015 AFC Asian Cup players Category:Footballers from Karaj Category:Footballers at the 2006 Asian Games Category:Medalists at the 2006 Asian Games Category:Iranian expatriate sportspeople in Thailand Category:Iranian expatriate sportspeople in Qatar Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Thailand Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Qatar Category:21st-century Iranian sportsmen Category:Asian Games bronze medalists in football