Past experience paying dividends for Jahanbakhsh [VIDEO]

AFC – TEHRAN, When the Islamic Republic of Iran appeared at the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil, Alireza Jahanbakhsh was just 20 years old, but the midfielder’s development for both club and country was well underway.

Jahanbakhsh came off the bench in all three of his side’s Group F games but a scoreless draw with Nigeria was followed by a last-gasp 1-0 defeat to Argentina and a 3-1 loss to Bosnia and Herzegovina as Team Melli exited at the first hurdle.

The experience, though, proved invaluable for the forward, who has since go on to become one of the leading lights in a side that is now only a home win against Uzbekistan on Monday away from qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Russia 2018.

“It was unbelievably great, I went to the World Cup and I was the youngest player in the Iran squad,” recalled AZ Alkmaar player Jahanbakhsh, who joined Dutch Eredivisie outfit NEC prior to the Brazil tournament when he was just 19-years-old.

Jahanbakhsh on development in Holland

“I was really happy to be there because I could learn a lot and see what the big players did against Argentina. I was looking at their movement and all the things they were doing so I could bring it to my game.

“It was a great experience to play at the World Cup after training for six months with the national team, it couldn’t be better than that as it was an opportunity to show my skills and potential.”

Almost three years on since making their fourth appearance at the global showpiece, Iran stand on the brink of advancing to successive FIFA World Cups for the first time in their history.

Four points ahead of Korea Republic at the top of Group A and five ahead of Monday’s opponents with three games to play, Team Melli will secure their place at next year’s tournament if they claim all three points in front of a packed Azadi Stadium.

And, under the stewardship of long-term coach Carlos Queiroz, Jahanbakhsh is keen to point out the influence the Portuguese has had on a squad that is looking to lead their country to a fifth FIFA World Cup.

“He plays the main role in our team and his experience is unbelievably good,” said Jahanbakhsh.

“When you see the results we have got in the last couple of games, of course all the people in Iran are happy with him. The players also have a really good relationship with him and he makes things easy for us.

“These are the things that make him different from other coaches; we are very happy to work for him and hopefully we will keep him for a longer time.”

Jahanbakhsh on Queiroz

After starting his senior career with Parseh Tehran, Jahanbakhsh was spotted early and signed for NEC in the summer of 2013, a year after leading his country to the last eight of the 2012 AFC U-19 Championship in China, a tournament where he starred alongside Russia-based forward Sardar Azmoun.

Two successful seasons with NEC followed before, amid reported interest from clubs across Europe, the midfielder opted to stay in the Netherlands and joined AZ Alkmaar.

Four years on since making the move to Europe, Jahanbakhsh is integral for both club and country in a career that is undoubtedly on an upward trajectory.

“Holland is a country where you can grow up as a footballer,” noted Jahanbakhsh. “The focus they have on the players and the way they work with the players, especially young talented ones, is unbelievably good.

“They have everything to help you achieve your goals, so when I got the offer from NEC I didn’t think, I just moved there and tried to integrate myself into the country and culture.

“Two years ago I moved to AZ Alkmaar. It’s such a good club, always in the top four or five in Holland, so for developing as a young player it’s great.

“When you have goals and you have people around who help you to achieve your ambitions that makes you really happy.”

Jahanbakhsh has played in six of Iran’s seven qualifying games to date, scoring the second in a 2-0 victory over Qatar last September, as his country have remained unbeaten and yet to concede.

And while goals have been hard to come by – Team Melli have scored just six in seven games – the threat upfront is undeniable with Persepolis hitman Mehdi Taremi and Rostov’s Azmoun, who moved to Europe just a few months before Jahanbakhsh.

“I’ve known him for five or six years, we played together for the under-19s and have always been good friends, close friends,” he added.

“We are always chilling together, having fun with the national team. We grew up together as players and the last few years we have been in the first team of the national team.

“He’s been doing very well; he moved to Russia and has scored important goals for his club, even in the UEFA Champions League.

“We have a really young squad with a combination of experienced players and that is what makes the Iran national team and why we are one of the strongest in Asia.”