Javad Nekounam bids farewell to Team Melli

[persepolisfan]

He was the last player playing from the time I started to closely follow TM. Farewell Captain.

[Taz]

An absolute model professional which is even more commendable than his actual top-level ability. Still doesn't look a day over 30 and given the alternativess, it's fair to say he could walk into our 2018 squad if he so wished. What a man.

[irani8perspolis]

Javad was something we've never had in our Team Melli. A consummate professional who was not all about flair - but played with his mind and flawlessly positioned himself in the field. No extra dribbles, just smart plays. He was the first Iranian to play in La Liga and one year, made even the top-22 best players in La Liga for the year according to (one of their two) most famous magazine.

As a defensive midfielder, he is the third highest scorer in Team Melli history. WOW. He's scored crucial goals so many times.

This is now Ando's team.

thanks for sharing my video, i will make a new MUCH better quality one soon

[teammelli8080]

mersi javad

[The Realist]

Javad and his captaincy will be missed. That's what you expect from your Captain, to lead by example.

I feel he had another year or possibly two left in him - he could have brewed the incoming youngsters. perhaps CQ's forced departure made up his mind too? I doubt he wiould be able to work with IFF but we may have a great coach in waiting!

Simply thank you Javad, an era has ended.

[PersianLegion]

Thank you Neko! For everything you have done so far! Wish you all the best in your life... Please stay a gentleman for us and do not join the ranks of former Team Melli players who attached themselves to the IR just to have a salary with any cost.

It was about time for him to say the farewell when still in prime! Same way Karimi, Hashemian, Park Ji Sung, Nakata, and ChaDuRi did it.

He was literary our last surviving member of our Golden Generation of late 90s early 2000s. Farewell Iranian Goldern Generation with all hopes and hypes! Today an era of relying on key players with natural home grown skills will come to an end!

We are on a dilemma here
1. to go back to our non-professional inadequate management of the past
or
2. to continue this pace and go toward professional management with modern football methods


Ando is our leader from now on!

[teammelli8080]

He was literary our last surviving member of our Golden Generation of late 90s early 2000s. Farewell Iranian Goldern Generation with all hopes and hypes! Today an era of key players with natural skills will come to an end!

very true, didn't even think about that.. how bittersweet that it comes to an end.

We are on a dilemma here
1. to go back to our non-professional inadequate management of the past
or
2. to continue this pace and go toward professional management with modern football methods

Ando is our leader from now on!

i predict #1, with a good ol' vatani coach. hey, does mayelikohan have a job??

[O-ZoNe]

Didn't he say he isn't ready to retire yet...what happened?

[OFFSIDE_1]

Perhaps a good place to mention that he surpassed Karimi's goal count for TM today as well. He is in 3rd place after Daei and Bagheri.

Two very impressive records in a week, so ending his impressive TM career on a very high, albeit sad note.

He may not play for TM any more, but I'm sure he will be a part of our football program in the future and in some capacity.

Best of luck to you Javad and thank you for always giving it 100% for TM. We'll miss you on the field.

and for him to score so many goals as a defensive MF, makes this record even more impressive.

I place him in the top-3. Nekounam, Daei and Kia are the three best (post-revolution) national players we have ever had

[OFFSIDE_1]

CQ on Nekounam's retirement: Nekounam was the best captain in my coaching career, even higher than Donadoni, Raul, Keane, and Ronaldo.

wow, that is one heck of a complement. What a sad day.

[arseces]

this guy was a hard working player from THE start of his career, very polite, always respected the fans, always stood up for whats right and never budged to goons, played at top level of football in the best league for years,
Nekounam we are very proud of you, you where there for every iranian fan when we needed you
THANK YOU!

[PersianLegion]

A close look and we will be losing many of our NT members in next couple of years!

Jalal 33
Sadeghi 33.5
Montazeri 31.5
Gordani 31 (almost 32)
Heydari 31.5
Ando 32
Ahmadi almost 35
Alenemeh 32.5
Mobali 32.5
M. Noori 32
Khalatbari 31.5
Hadadifar almost 32
Nourozi 32.5

[BacheLot]

wtf,
can it get more depressing ...?
this is like roooze azaa dari bara ma tm-fans.!!

lol, need to get away from this site for a while

PS
the way game ended today figured he will retire

thank you el capitano

[Z Joon]

"اخرین بازمانده از مکتب پاس,هم رفت.خدا بهمراهت."


Anyways some of the fan reactions of Iranians on social medias really surprise me, I don't understand how a player like Nekounam has haters, which apparently he has much more than I thought:

"خدایا شکرت"

"بهتر خداروشکر راحت شدیم"

"عجب :||||||||||||| زودتر از اینا باید خدافظی میکرد"

"چکش بالاخره خدافظی کرد"

"چکش به این راحتی دل نمی کنه که"
etc...

This guy said it well:
"اقا مرتضي يك روز حسرت همين نكونام را مي خوريم."

[rezabmehr]

Let us not be depressed. We should celebrate who Javad was for TM, the fans and our football.
A true gentleman on and off the field.
Hardest working Captain in our recent history
Demanded respect on the pitch and was always a warrior on the field
Very high football IQ
and so many more qualities....
We love and acknowledge you for sacrificing so many years of your life the make the fans happy.