Jahanbakhsh set for new chapter in Dutch Eredivisie
Iranian midfielder Alireza Jahanbakhsh will be looking to make his debut for SC Heerenveen when the Dutch club takes on Go Ahead Eagles at home in the Eredivisie today.
Having parted ways with Feyenoord in the summer Jahanbakhsh, 31, joined Heerenveen as a free agent for the rest of the season last Wednesday – marking a fourth chapter in the Dutch top flight for the Iranian.
First introduced to the European club football with NEC Nijmegen in 2013, Jahanbakhsh enjoyed his most prolific spell with AZ Alkmaar between 2015 and 2018, contributing with 37 goals and 31 assists in 111 outings.
The Iranian enjoyed a most successful campaign in the 2017/18 season, finishing as the league’s leading marksman with 21 strikes, which convinced Brighton & Hove Albion pay a then-club record €22.5 million to sign him.
His contribution for the Premier League outfit, however, was limited to four goals and two assists in 61 games, with 31 of those appearances coming in the starting XI.
On his return to the Netherlands, Jahanbakhsh won the Eredivisie title with Feyenoord in 2023 before lifting the KNVB Cup trophy last season, while finishing runner-up to AS Roma in the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League in 2022.
“I can add experience, but, of course, also creativity, goals and assists. I promise the supporters that I will always work hard and do everything I can to make them happy,” Jahanbakhsh – involved in 91 goals as a provider or finisher in 183 Eredivisie appearances – said in a first interview with Heerenveen official website.
Jahanbakhsh is the second Iranian to wear the Heerenveen shirt over the past decade, following former international teammate Reza Qouchannejad, who scored 32 goals in 77 games for the club between 2016 and 2018.
“I used to watch a lot of Heerenveen games when Reza played here. He is one of the best players we have ever had in our national team. He has scored a lot of goals here and done well. I hope I can do that too,” Jahanbakhsh said.
Heerenveen head coach Robin van Persie, who worked with Jahanbakhsh as an assistant to Arne Slot in Feyenoord, will hope the Iranian’s addition will turn his side’s fortunes around after a slow start to season, which has seen the club sit 14th in the 18-team table with 11 points in as many games – just a couple of points clear of the relegation playoff spot.
“I know Robin van Persie from my time at Feyenoord. He was with us once or twice a week to work with the wingers and the strikers. I had a really good relationship with him at the time. He called me a couple of weeks ago to ask me about my situation. He explained the project and told me what he expected from me tactically, and I then decided to come here,” the Iranian said of his previous collaboration with the former Arsenal and Manchester United striker.
The ex-Dutch international was full of praise for his new signing in a press conference on Friday.
“He’s a great guy,” RvP said. “But of course he’s here because he can play football well. Ali brings positivity, quality and hopefully goals and assists. He’s also a real leader, on and off the pitch.”
The Dutchman, however, believes today’s game may come a bit too soon for the Iranian.
“He has played 90 minutes once in the past five months, so we have to build it up slowly. We all want to see him, but he needs time. He has trained twice so far and that went well. We will see tomorrow whether he is there.”