Nekounam to sing swan song in match against ex-La Liga stars

The former captain of Iran's national soccer team Javad Nekounam is all set to play his testimonial match against the team of the Spanish Primera División, commonly known as La Liga, retired professional footballers later this month.

The testimonial for the 35-year-old, who played as a central midfielder and represented Team Melli 151 times in major tournaments including two FIFA World Cups and four AFC Asian Cups, will be staged at Azadi Stadium in western Tehran on August 25. He netted 38 goals during his international appearances.

Former La Liga giants such as French international footballer and the current Strategic Advisor of Olympiacos FC Christian Karembeu, Spanish striker Fernando Morientes Sánchez, French professional footballer Éric Sylvain Abidal and Spanish footballer Gaizka Mendieta Zabala will feature in the forthcoming match against Nekounam’s Yaran team.

Nekounam brought down the curtains on his soccer-playing career, and announced his retirement in a statement on July 16.

“This is not a permanent end. I have to step into a new world in the professional career very soon, and I will return to soccer again,” the statement read.

Nekounam started his professional career in Pas Tehran football club in 1998, and joined Abu Dhabi-based Al-Wahda FC of the United Arab Emirates in 2005. He signed for Al-Sharjah SCC, another Emirati club, in 2006.

After his great performance at the 2006 World Cup, many soccer clubs in Europe showed enthusiasm to sign Nekounam. However, the Iranian football player decided to join the Spanish club Osasuna on a two-year contract, with an option to a third year.

Osasuna pinned faith on Nekounam on November 24, 2007, and agreed to a three-year contract extension on his contract.

The Iranian footballer renewed his contract with the Spanish club for another two seasons on May 21, 2011, with the option of an annual renewal.

On July 21, 2012, Nekounam returned to Iran and signed a two-year contract with Esteghlal Tehran Football Club for a record fee of USD 9.5 million, which made him the most expensive player in the Iranian Persian Gulf League history.

He agreed to a four-month deal with Kuwait SC in January 2014, and returned to Osasuna in August the same year by signing a two-year contract.

Nekounam joined Iran's Saipa Football Club in 2015. He moved to Qatari sports club Al-Arabi on January 21 on a four-month contract with an option to extend for a further year. Al-Arabi severed links with him in early June.

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