Nasser Hejazi

{{short description|Iranian footballer and coach}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2021}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Nasser Hejazi | image = Nasser Hejazi (4 8710060930 L600).jpg | image_size = | caption = Hejazi in December 2008 | birth_date = {{Birth date|1949|12|14|df=y}} | birth_place = [[Tehran]], Iran | death_date = {{death date and age|2011|5|23|1949|12|14|df=y}} | death_place = [[Tehran]], [[Iran]] | height = {{height|m=1.85}} | position = [[Goalkeeper (association football)|Goalkeeper]] | years1 = 1964–1969 | clubs1 = Nader | caps1 = | goals1 = | years2 = 1969–1976 | clubs2 = [[Esteghlal F.C.|Taj]] | caps2 = | goals2 = | years3 = 1976–1980 | clubs3 = [[Shahin F.C.|Shahbaz]] | caps3 = | goals3 = | years4 = 1980–1986 | clubs4 = [[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal]] | caps4 = | goals4 = | years5 = 1987 | clubs5 = [[Mohammedan Sporting Club (Dhaka)|Dhaka Mohammedan]] | caps5 = | goals5 = | nationalyears1 = 1969–1980 | nationalteam1 = [[Iran national football team|Iran]] | nationalcaps1 = 62 | nationalgoals1 = 0<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141213041951/http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/144/149/5/index.html Iran says farewell to ‘The Legend’]</ref> | manageryears1 = 1987–1992 | managerclubs1 = [[Mohammedan Sporting Club (Dhaka)|Dhaka Mohammedan]] | manageryears2 = 1988–1989 | managerclubs2 = Shahrdari Kerman | manageryears3 = 1989 | managerclubs3 = [[Bangladesh national football team|Bangladesh]] | manageryears4 = 1990–1992 | managerclubs4 = [[Bank Tejarat F.C.|Bank Tejarat]] | manageryears5 = 1992–1993 | managerclubs5 = Shahrdari Kerman | manageryears6 = 1994–1995 | managerclubs6 = [[Sepahan F.C.|Sepahan]] | manageryears7 = 1995–1996 | managerclubs7 = [[Mashin Sazi F.C.|Mashin Sazi]] | manageryears8 = 1996–1999 | managerclubs8 = [[Esteghlal Tehran FC|Esteghlal Tehran]] | manageryears9 = 1999–2001 | managerclubs9 = [[F.C. Zob Ahan|Zob Ahan]] | manageryears10 = 2001–2002 | managerclubs10 = [[Esteghlal Rasht F.C.|Esteghlal Rasht]] | manageryears11 = 2003 | managerclubs11 = [[Mashin Sazi F.C.|Mashin Sazi]] | manageryears12 = 2003–2004 | managerclubs12 = [[Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C.|Esteghlal Ahvaz]] | manageryears13 = 2006–2007 | managerclubs13 = [[Nassaji Mazandaran F.C.|Nassaji Mazandaran]] | manageryears14 = 2007 | managerclubs14 = [[Esteghlal Tehran FC|Esteghlal Tehran]] | medaltemplates = {{MedalCountry|{{IRN}}}} {{MedalCompetition|[[AFC Asian Cup]]}} {{MedalGold|[[1972 AFC Asian Cup|1972 Thailand]]|[[1972 AFC Asian Cup|Team competition]]}} {{MedalBronze|[[1980 AFC Asian Cup|1980 Kuwait]]|[[1980 AFC Asian Cup|Team competition]]}} {{MedalCompetition|[[Asian Games]]}} {{MedalGold|[[1974 Asian Games|1974 Iran]]|[[Football at the 1974 Asian Games|Team competition]]}} }} '''Nasser Hejazi''' ([[Persian language|Persian]]: ناصر حجازی, ''nāser hejāzi''; 14 December 1949 – 23 May 2011), nicknamed "the legendary Iranian [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]]",<ref>{{cite web| url = http://www.the-afc.com/en/news/35001-fa-nasser-hejazi| title = the-afc.com| access-date = 25 May 2011| archive-date = 6 March 2019| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190306042945/http://www.the-afc.com/en/news/35001-fa-nasser-hejazi| url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15097631,00.html|title=۶۲ سال با اسطوره دروازه‌بانی ایران، زنده یاد ناصر حجازی &#124; Dw &#124; 23.05.2011|access-date=24 May 2011|archive-date=3 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903050026/http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,15097631,00.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.aftabnews.ir/vdcd950fxyt0xj6.2a2y.html |title=ناصر حجازی؛ اسطوره فوتبال ایران دار فانی را وداع گفت |access-date=24 May 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521050612/http://aftabnews.ir/vdcd950fxyt0xj6.2a2y.html |archive-date=21 May 2016 |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kaleme.com/1390/03/02/klm-58775/|title=ناصر حجازی اسطوره فوتبال ایران درگذشت « سایت خبری تحلیلی کلمه|access-date=24 May 2011|archive-date=19 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200219211315/https://www.kaleme.com/1390/03/02/klm-58775/|url-status=live}}</ref> was an Iranian [[association football|football player]] and [[Coach (sports)|coach]] who most notably played for [[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal (Taj)]].

Considered as the best [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] in the history of [[Football in Iran|Iranian football]] and Asia, he was capped 62 times for the [[Iran national football team]]. In 2000, the [[Asian Football Confederation]] ranked him the second best Asian goalkeeper of the 20th century.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.iffhs.de/?03e32a16f43809fa3c17d72a0cf33731f92b0de33c11f32b17f7370eff3702bb1c2bbb6e28fc380de43110f83d00e42d03 |title=Hejazi second best Goalkeeper in Asia |access-date=24 May 2011 |archive-date=30 September 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220930164032/https://www.iffhs.de/?03e32a16f43809fa3c17d72a0cf33731f92b0de33c11f32b17f7370eff3702bb1c2bbb6e28fc380de43110f83d00e42d03 |url-status=live }}</ref>

He was goalkeeper of Iran national team in the 1960s and 1970s and won the [[AFC Asian Cup]] on two occasions in 1972 and 1976, and [[Asian Games]] title once, and competed in the 1972 Munich Olympics and 1976 Montreal Olympics and [[1978 FIFA World Cup]].

As a manager, he won an [[Azadegan League]] in 1998 and a [[Dhaka First Division Football League|Bangladesh League]] in 1988, as well as a runner-up place in [[1998–99 Asian Club Championship|1998–99 AFC Champions League]].

==Early life==

Hejazi was born on 14 December 1949 in [[Piranshahr]], [[Iran]].<ref>[http://www.3nasl.com/archive/view/2156892 Grave of Nasser Hejazi, Hejazi, Nasser, son of Ali Akbar (1949–2011)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703035945/http://www.3nasl.com/archive/view/2156892 |date=3 July 2011 }}</ref> His father, Ali Akbar had a real estate agency in Tehran and was an [[Iranian Azerbaijani]] from [[Tabriz]].<ref>{{Cite web| url=http://hamshahrionline.ir/details/30369| title=زندگینامه: ناصر حجازی (۱۳۲۸–۱۳۹۰)| date=2 September 2007| access-date=4 July 2013| archive-date=28 July 2018| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180728160811/http://hamshahrionline.ir/details/30369| url-status=live}}</ref> He was admitted to [[Allameh Tabatabai University]] in 1977.<ref>[http://www.hamshahrionline.ir/news-30369.aspx Biography: Nasser Hejazi] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110518074915/http://www.hamshahrionline.ir/news-30369.aspx |date=18 May 2011 }}</ref> He was later enrolled in Nader F.C. in 1964 and played for club until 1965. After that, he signed a contract with [[Taj SC|Taj Tehran]] and started his career in a professional club.

==Club career== Hejazi was the [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] of the [[Taj SC|Taj Tehran]] and [[Iran national football team|Iran]] during the 1970s. Hejazi first broke into the Taj side when he was only 18 years old and while a member of the now defunct Nader FC. He won the [[Asian Club Championship]] in 1970; he also won the Iranian league in [[1970–71 Local League|1971]] as well as [[1974–75 Takht Jamshid Cup|1975]] and was positioned second in [[1973–74 Takht Jamshid Cup|1974]]. Further on, he won the [[Hazfi Cup]] in 1977.

In summer 1977 he changed the club joining [[Shahin F.C.|Shahbaz Tehran]], trying to win the [[1977–78 Takht Jamshid Cup]] with his famous National teammates [[Gholam Hossein Mazloumi]], [[Nasrollah Abdollahi]], [[Ebrahim Ghasempour]] and [[Hamid Majd Teymouri]]. So it was a tremendous surprise, that Shahbaz could only reach the 11th place. In the following year Shahbaz was leading the ranking in the [[1978–79 Takht Jamshid Cup|season 1978/79]], when in autumn 1978 – due to the political uprisings, which ended with the [[Iranian Revolution]] in February 1979 – the season was canceled.

[[File:Taj1970.jpg|thumb|left|Taj Tehran after winning the Asian Champion Club Tournament in 1970]]

After the [[1978 FIFA World Cup]], Hejazi received an offer from [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]]. He trained and played with the club for a month, even appearing in a reserve matches against [[Stoke City F.C.|Stoke City]] and [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]] Manchester United manager [[Dave Sexton]] wanted Hejazi to stay for another two or three months before officially signing a contract with him, but there was no-one at the [[Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran|IRFF]] at the time of the [[Iranian Revolution]] to arrange the extension, which led to Manchester United signing [[Gary Bailey]] instead.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.in/football/columns/story/_/id/1045401/duerden%3A-iran-%27keeper-nasser-hejazi%27s-unrealised-man-utd-dream|title=Hejazi and the move that never was|access-date=26 November 2021|archive-date=26 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126135628/https://www.espn.in/football/columns/story/_/id/1045401/duerden%3A-iran-%27keeper-nasser-hejazi%27s-unrealised-man-utd-dream|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1827482-legendary-iran-goalkeeper-who-nearly-joined-man-united-gets-cameo-in-homeland|title=Legendary Iran Goalkeeper Who Nearly Joined Man United Gets Cameo in Homeland|website=[[Bleacher Report]]|access-date=26 November 2021|archive-date=26 November 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211126135629/https://bleacherreport.com/articles/1827482-legendary-iran-goalkeeper-who-nearly-joined-man-united-gets-cameo-in-homeland|url-status=live}}</ref>

Hejazi remained as Esteghlal's main goalkeeper until 1986. There he won the [[Tehran Province League]] in 1983 and 1985 and the runners-up position in 1982.

His last station was at Bangladeshi club [[Mohammedan Sporting Club (Dhaka)|Mohammedan]] in [[Dhaka]], where he served as player-cum-coach and won his last league title as a player in 1987.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/article/1644392/%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%82%E0%A6%B2%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0-%E0%A6%AB%E0%A7%81%E0%A6%9F%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%B2%E0%A7%87-%E0%A6%B8%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%BE-%E0%A7%AD-%E0%A6%AC%E0%A6%BF%E0%A6%A6%E0%A7%87%E0%A6%B6%E0%A6%BF-%E0%A6%A4%E0%A6%BE%E0%A6%B0%E0%A6%95%E0%A6%BE|script-title=bn:বাংলাদেশের ফুটবলে সেরা সাত বিদেশি তারকা|work=Prothom Alo|language=bn|date=17 March 2020|access-date=11 April 2020|archive-date=11 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200411131842/https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/article/1644392/%25E0%25A6%25AC%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%2582%25E0%25A6%25B2%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25A6%25E0%25A7%2587%25E0%25A6%25B6%25E0%25A7%2587%25E0%25A6%25B0-%25E0%25A6%25AB%25E0%25A7%2581%25E0%25A6%259F%25E0%25A6%25AC%25E0%25A6%25B2%25E0%25A7%2587-%25E0%25A6%25B8%25E0%25A7%2587%25E0%25A6%25B0%25E0%25A6%25BE-%25E0%25A7%25AD-%25E0%25A6%25AC%25E0%25A6%25BF%25E0%25A6%25A6%25E0%25A7%2587%25E0%25A6%25B6%25E0%25A6%25BF-%25E0%25A6%25A4%25E0%25A6%25BE%25E0%25A6%25B0%25E0%25A6%2595%25E0%25A6%25BE|url-status=live}}</ref> He made his only appearance in the final league game against arch-rivals [[Abahani Limited Dhaka|Dhaka Abahani]], coming on as a substitute in the last 21 minutes for the injured [[Sayeed Hassan Kanan]]. With Mohammedan needing a victory to keep their title hopes alive, Hejazi led the team to a 3–2 win, securing a play-off match, which the club went on to win 2–0 over two legs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bd-pratidin.com/sport-news/2016/12/06/190339|script-title=bn:কোচ যখন বদলি গোলরক্ষক!|work=Bangladesh Pratidin|language=bn|date=6 December 2016|access-date=13 February 2025|archive-date=13 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250213165800/https://www.bd-pratidin.com/sport-news/2016/12/06/190339|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|first=Niar|last=Iqbal|url=https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/football/u2mo5xiif4?|script-title=bn:ব্রাদার্সের ‘ছায়া কোচ’ ওতাবেক|work=Prothom Alo|language=bn|date=18 January 2024|access-date=13 February 2025|archive-date=13 February 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250213170332/https://www.prothomalo.com/sports/football/u2mo5xiif4?|url-status=live}}</ref>

==International career== [[File:Iran1977.jpg|thumb|Iran's squad in a 1978 World Cup qualification match against South Korea in Tehran on 11 November 1977]] Hejazi made his debut for the [[Iran national football team|Iran national team]] in 1969 against [[Pakistan national football team|Pakistan]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Nasser Hejazi - International Appearances |url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/iran-hejazi-intl.html |access-date=2026-05-07 |website=www.rsssf.org}}</ref> He became the first-choice goalkeeper in time for the [[1972 AFC Asian Cup|1972 Asian Cup]], which Iran won for a second time in a row. Later that year, he was part of the Iran squad for the [[Football at the 1972 Summer Olympics|Olympic Games]] in Munich, where Iran failed to qualify for the second round. In 1974, he shared goalkeeping duties with [[Bahram Mavaddat]] and [[Mansour Rashidi]] at the [[Football at the 1974 Asian Games|Asian Games]] in Tehran, but played a key role in the 1–0 victory over [[Israel national football team|Israel]] in the final. In 1976, he was again part of the squad that won the [[1976 AFC Asian Cup|Asian Cup]], but as second-choice behind Rashidi, before returning to the starting role for the [[Football at the 1976 Summer Olympics|1976 Olympics]] in Montreal, playing in all three matches as Iran reached the quarter-finals.

Hejazi continued as Iran's starting goalkeeper at the [[1978 FIFA World Cup]] in Argentina, but Iran conceded eight goals in their three games, managing just one draw. He was then named captain for the [[1980 AFC Asian Cup|1980 Asian Cup]] in Kuwait; Iran finished top of their group and faced the host nation in the semi-finals but lost 2–1 as [[Kuwait national football team|Kuwait]] went on to win the title. After the tournament, a member of Iran's Physical Education Department implemented a policy in which athletes older than 27 years of age would no longer be allowed to compete internationally. Hejazi was effectively forced to retire from international football, despite being only 29 years old at the time of implementation.

===International caps=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |- !colspan="3"| [[Iran national football team|Iran]] |- !Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |1969||2||0 |- |1970||4||0 |- |1971||4||0 |- |1972||11||0 |- |1973||4||0 |- |1974||2||0 |- |1975||4||0 |- |1976||4||0 |- |1977||9||0 |- |1978||6||0 |- |1980||12||0 |- !Total||62||0 |}

==Managerial career== Hejazi coached [[Bangladesh]]i football club Mohammedan from 1987 to 1992. During his time, Bangladeshi football was enlightened with the modern day technique of football and embraced top football coaching. At continental level, Hejazi guided Mohammedan to the Semi-Final Group round of the [[1988–89 Asian Club Championship]], by defeating Iranian club [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]] 2–1.<ref>{{cite news |script-title=bn:স্বাধীনতার ৫০ বছর: যেদিন আবাহনীর অভিনন্দনে সিক্ত মোহামেডান] |url=https://opinion.bdnews24.com/bangla/archives/65626 |work=bdnews24.com |type=Opinion |language=bn |access-date=13 August 2021 |archive-date=13 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813145720/https://opinion.bdnews24.com/bangla/archives/65626 |url-status=live }}</ref> The Bangladeshi Football Federation rewarded him by making him national team coach in 1989.

During the 1990s, Hejazi was the manager of a number of football clubs including the [[Mohammedan Sporting Club (Bangladesh)|Mohammedan SC]], the [[Esteghlal Tehran FC|Esteghlal]] (former Taj) and [[Esteghlal Ahvaz]]. During his tenure with the Esteghlal, Hejazi won the [[1997–98 Azadegan League|Iranian League in 1998]], then took the [[football club|club]] to the [[Final (competition)|final]] match of the [[Asian Champions League]] in [[1998–99 Asian Club Championship|1999]]. They were beaten by the [[Júbilo Iwata]] in [[Tehran]]. During his years as a coach, Hejazi was the first to discover several talented Iranian football players, including [[Rahman Rezaei]] in Zobahan and [[Alireza Akbarpour]] in Machine Sazi Tabriz. In early August 2006 Hejazi announced he signed a one-year contract as head coach of [[Azadegan League]] outfit [[Nassaji Mazandaran]]. He resigned from the post on 19 January 2007. On 5 August 2007, he was appointed as head coach of Esteghlal for a second time but he was sacked by club on 8 November 2007 because of bad results after 14 matches.

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |- !rowspan="2"|Team !rowspan="2"|From !rowspan="2"|To !colspan="8"|Record |- !G!!W!!D!!L!! GF!!GA!!+/- |- |[[Esteghlal Tehran FC|Esteghlal]] |align="left"|February 1996 |align="left"|December 1999 |81||39||25||17|| 127||73||+54 |- |[[Esteghlal Tehran FC|Esteghlal]] |align="left"|August 2007 |align="left"|November 2007 |14||5||5||4|| 21||19||+2 |}

==Honours== [[File:NasserHejazi.jpg|thumb|Hejazi (right) in a match against [[Australia men's national soccer team|Australia]] in Melbourne, 1977.]]

===Player=== '''Esteghlal''' *[[AFC Champions League|Asian Club Championship]]: [[1970 Asian Champion Club Tournament|1970]] *[[Iranian Football League]]: [[1970–71 Local League|1970–71]], [[1974–75 Takht Jamshid Cup|1974–75]] *[[Tehran Provincial League]]: 1982–83, 1984–85

'''Dhaka Mohammedan''' *[[Dhaka First Division Football League|Dhaka First Division League]]: 1987

'''Iran''' *[[AFC Asian Cup|Asian Cup]]: [[1972 AFC Asian Cup|1972]] *[[Football at the Asian Games|Asian Games]]: [[Football at the 1974 Asian Games|1974]]

'''Iran XI''' *Afghanistan Republic Day Cup runner-up: 1977<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesj/jasson76.html|title=Afghanistan Republic Day Festival Cup (Kabul, Afghanistan): Palmares|website=rsssf.com|publisher=Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation|first=Neil|last=Morrison|date=2008|access-date=26 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221002123509/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesj/jasson76.html|archive-date=2 October 2022}}</ref>

'''Individual''' *[[AFC Asian Cup records and statistics#Fans' All-time Best XI|AFC Asian Cup Fans' All Time Best XI]]: 2018<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.the-afc.com/features/the-fans-afc-asian-cup-xi-announced |title=Fans' Best XI Announced! |website=The-AFC.com |publisher=AFC |date=16 November 2018 |access-date=10 December 2019 |archive-date=8 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210508184149/https://www.the-afc.com/features/the-fans-afc-asian-cup-xi-announced |url-status=live }}</ref> *[[IFFHS|IFFHS Best Goalkeepers of the Century Xxth]]<ref>{{cite web|title=BEST GOALKEEPERS RANKING OF THE XXth CENTURY|url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1054|access-date=7 March 2023|archive-date=1 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201090035/https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1054|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=IFFHS |url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1054 |access-date=2022-06-15 |website=www.iffhs.com |archive-date=1 December 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221201090035/https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1054 |url-status=live }}</ref> *[[International Federation of Football History & Statistics|IFFHS All Time Iran Dream Team]] *[[1980 AFC Asian Cup|AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 1980]] *[[International Federation of Football History & Statistics|IFFHS The second best Asian Goalkeeper of the 20th century]] *Best Goalkeeper of the [[AFC Champions League|Asian Club Championship]]: 1970 *Best Goalkeeper of the [[1968 AFC Asian Cup|AFC Asian Cup]]: 1980 *Best Goalkeeper of the Iranian Football League: 1973

===Manager=== '''Dhaka Mohammedan''' *[[Dhaka First Division Football League|Dhaka First Division League]]: 1987, 1988–89 *[[Federation Cup (Bangladesh)|Federation Cup]]: 1989

'''Bangladesh''' * [[Football at the South Asian Games|South Asian Games]] Silver medal: [[Football at the 1989 South Asian Games|1989]]

'''Esteghlal''' *[[Iranian Football League]]: [[1997–98 Azadegan League|1997–98]] *[[Asian Club Championship]] runner-up: [[1998–99 Asian Club Championship|1998–99]]

==Political career==

===Presidential candidacy=== On 3 November 2004, Hejazi announced his nomination for [[Iranian presidential election, 2005|2005 presidential election]]. He was rejected by the [[Guardian Council|Guardian Council of the Constitution]] of [[Islamic Republic of Iran]], arguing his lack of political career prior to the election. Later on, he became a supporter of [[Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani]].

In [[Iranian presidential election, 2009|2009 presidential election]], he supported [[Mir-Hossein Mousavi]].

===Opposition to Ahmadinejad=== He was an opponent to the Economic reform plan of [[President of Iran|President]] [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]]'s Government. In April 2011, he made a statement regarding the plan: "I'm very sorry for our people, they have oil, petroleum and ... but some of them are poor".<ref>[http://nasserhejazi.ir/web/guest/home?p_p_id=62_INSTANCE_U5ek&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=maximized&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_pos=2&p_p_col_count=4&_62_INSTANCE_U5ek_struts_action=%2Fjournal_articles%2Fview&_62_INSTANCE_U5ek_groupId=173791&_62_INSTANCE_U5ek_articleId=188558&_62_INSTANCE_U5ek_version=1.0 I'm an Iranian] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514205230/http://www.nasserhejazi.ir/web/guest/home?p_p_id=62_INSTANCE_U5ek&p_p_lifecycle=0&p_p_state=maximized&p_p_mode=view&p_p_col_id=column-1&p_p_col_pos=2&p_p_col_count=4&_62_INSTANCE_U5ek_struts_action=%2Fjournal_articles%2Fview&_62_INSTANCE_U5ek_groupId=173791&_62_INSTANCE_U5ek_articleId=188558&_62_INSTANCE_U5ek_version=1.0 |date=14 May 2011 }}</ref>

It is known that after this comment, he was unofficially banned from Iranian Television Network. This was later revoked due to his popularity and the perceived side effects that could have come from this decision.

==Personal life== [[File:Nase Hejazi with his bride.jpg|thumb|upright|Hejazi with his spouse in 1973]] Hejazi married Behnaz Shafie in 1973.<ref>[http://www.rajanews.ir/article-6169-thread-0-0.html A talk with Hejazi and his spouse]{{Dead link|date=April 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> They had two children: one daughter, Atoosa and one son, [[Attila Hejazi|Attila]], who both grew up to play soccer just like their father. Attila had been playing in [[Esteghlal Tehran FC|Esteghlal B]] from 1997 to 2004 and Atoosa was the captain of [[Iran national futsal team|Iran national women futsal team]]. Atoosa is married to an Iranian retired soccer player [[Saeed Ramezani]] who formerly played for [[Zob Ahan F.C.|Zob Ahan]], [[Sepahan F.C.|Sepahan]] and [[Foolad F.C.|Foolad]] in the [[Iran Pro League]]. They have a son named Amir Arsalan. He was also a part of plot within ''[[Homeland (season 3)|Season 3]]'' in [[Homeland (TV series)|Homeland]].

==Cancer struggle and death==

Hejazi was diagnosed with aggressive [[lung cancer]] in late 2009. While trying to resume normal daily activities as a coach, his illness forced him to be hospitalised. Hejazi went into a [[coma]] on 20 May 2011 as he was watching the match between [[Esteghlal Tehran FC|Esteghlal]] and [[Pas Hamedan]] soccer teams in the final week of the [[Iran Pro League]]. On 23 May 2011, after being unable to recover from a stroke, he died at 10:55&nbsp;a.m. in Kasra Hospital in [[Tehran]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.irna.ir/NewsShow.aspx?NID=30398421 |title=Nasser Hejazi passed away... |access-date=23 May 2011 |archive-date=16 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316175053/http://www.irna.ir/NewsShow.aspx?NID=30398421 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>[http://www.isna.ir/ISNA/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-1773307&Lang=E Nasser dies] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120126084006/http://www.isna.ir/ISNA/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-1773307&Lang=E |date=26 January 2012 }}</ref> His funeral was held on 25 May 2011 in [[Azadi Stadium]] in western Tehran and his body was buried in the [[Behesht-e Zahra]] cemetery in southern Tehran on the same day as his final resting place. More than 20,000 people attended his funeral.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.tabnak.ir/fa/news/166808/%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87-1-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%B4%D8%AF+%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%B1 |title=Good-Bye with number 1 of Iran's football |access-date=25 May 2011 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304023141/http://www.tabnak.ir/fa/news/166808/%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%B4%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87-1-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B9-%D8%B4%D8%AF+%D8%AA%D8%B5%D8%A7%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%B1 |url-status=live }}</ref>

Hejazi's popularity went beyond Iran's borders as [[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] manager [[Alex Ferguson|Sir Alex Ferguson]] expressed the club's sympathy for Hejazi's illness in April 2010. In a message, President [[Mahmoud Ahmadinejad]] paid homage to Hejazi and characterised him as a renowned and good-tempered [[Football in Iran|Iranian football]] figure who offered valuable services to national sport.

==Legacy== Hejazi is considered by many to be the best [[Iran]]ian and Asian [[Goalkeeper (association football)|goalkeeper]] of all time. Hejazi was a member of the all-conquering [[Iran national football team|Iran national team]] of the 1960s and 1970s that won the [[AFC Asian Cup|Asian Cup]] a record three times in a row and represented [[Iran national football team|Iran]] at two [[Football at the Summer Olympics|Summer Olympics]] as well as [[1978 FIFA World Cup]]. After his death, it was proposed that a new stadium named after Hejazi would be built in [[Tehran]]. Esteghlal's training camp was also renamed to ''Hejazi Training Camp''.

==See also== * [[List of Bangladesh national football team managers]]

==References== {{reflist}}

==Further reading== *{{cite web|url=https://www.eyenews.news/feature/news/51954|title=ঢাকার মাঠ মাতানো বিদেশি ফুটবলাররা|trans-title=Those iconic foreign players during the golden days in Dhaka football|language=bn|date=16 February 2023|access-date=7 June 2023|first=Saifur Rahaman|last=Tuhin|work=Durbin24.com|location=Dhaka|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607152838/https://www.eyenews.news/feature/news/51954|archive-date=7 June 2023}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{official website|http://www.nasserhejazi.ir/}}

{{1980 AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament}} {{Iran Coach of the Year}} {{Navboxes |title= Nasser Hejazi international tournaments |list1= {{Iran squad 1972 AFC Asian Cup}} {{Iran Squad 1976 AFC Asian Cup}} {{Iran Squad 1976 Summer Olympics}} {{Iran Squad 1978 World Cup}} {{Iran squad 1980 AFC Asian Cup}} }} {{Navboxes |title= Nasser Hejazi managerial positions |list1= {{Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C. managers}} {{Bangladesh national football team managers}} {{Sepahan F.C. managers}} {{Esteghlal F.C. managers}} {{Zob Ahan F.C. managers}} {{F.C. Nassaji Mazandaran managers}} }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hejazi, Nasser}} [[Category:1949 births]] [[Category:2011 deaths]] [[Category:Iranian men's footballers]] [[Category:Azerbaijani people in Iran]] [[Category:Iran men's international footballers]] [[Category:Iranian football managers]] [[Category:Esteghlal F.C. players]] [[Category:Shahin Tehran F.C. players]] [[Category:Mohammedan SC (Dhaka) players]] [[Category:1978 FIFA World Cup players]] [[Category:Olympic footballers for Iran]] [[Category:Footballers at the 1976 Summer Olympics]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Bangladesh]] [[Category:Expatriate football managers in Bangladesh]] [[Category:Iranian expatriate sportspeople in Bangladesh]] [[Category:Bangladesh national football team managers]] [[Category:Iranian expatriate men's footballers]] [[Category:Iranian expatriate football managers]] [[Category:Asian Games gold medalists for Iran]] [[Category:Asian Games footballers for Iran]] [[Category:Esteghlal F.C. managers]] [[Category:Sepahan S.C. managers]] [[Category:Zob Ahan Esfahan F.C. managers]] [[Category:Footballers from Tehran]] [[Category:1972 AFC Asian Cup players]] [[Category:1976 AFC Asian Cup players]] [[Category:1980 AFC Asian Cup players]] [[Category:AFC Asian Cup–winning players]] [[Category:Footballers at the 1970 Asian Games]] [[Category:Footballers at the 1974 Asian Games]] [[Category:Men's association football goalkeepers]] [[Category:Medalists at the 1970 Asian Games]] [[Category:F.C. Nassaji Mazandaran managers]] [[Category:Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C. managers]] [[Category:Persian Gulf Pro League managers]] [[Category:AFC Champions League Elite–winning players]] [[Category:20th-century Iranian sportsmen]] [[Category:Asian Games gold medalists in football]]