Iranians steal the show in Emirati top flight
The recently-concluded Emirati ADNOC Pro League season was one to remember for Iranian players, who delivered impressive stats, and title-winning contributions for their clubs.
While Sardar Azmoun and Saeid Ezzatollahi played pivotal roles in leading Shabab Al Ahli to a second top-flight title in three years, Mahdi Qayedi enjoyed a prolific campaign in Ittihad Kalba’s colors.
Glittering debut
When Azmoun left Bayer Leverkusen for Shabab Al Ahli last summer, his move was deemed by many as the beginning of the end for the 30-year-old striker, who had spent all of his career in the European leagues.
However, it proved to be a statement debut in the Asian club football for Azmoun, with 26 goals and 10 assists in 39 appearances in all competitions.
The Iranian talisman netted 11 goals in 21 league outings, while another nine strikes in as many games saw him finish as the top scorer at the inaugural AFC Champions League Two, though his team was knocked out by fellow-Emirati club and ultimate champion Sharjah FC in the quarterfinals.
There was further contribution by Azmoun and Ezzatollahi – who finished the season with seven goals and two assists in 36 outings – in the cup competitions, as the Team Melli duo also lifted the UAE President’s Cup and Qatar-UAE Challenge Shield trophies with Shabab Al Ahli.
Integral trio
Wizard winger Qayedi will be among the most sought-after players in the Emirati top-flight in the upcoming summer transfer window following a goal-laden loan season at Kalba.
Qayedi found the net on 16 occasions, including six in the final five games of the campaign, in 23 games to stand second in the Emirati league’s leading marksmen chart – a massive feat for a minnow club player.
The 26-year-old added another two cup goals to his tally to finish the season with 18 goals and eight assists in 26 outings.
Meanwhile, International midfielder Saman Qoddous – also making his Asian club debut – registered four goals and three assists in 18 league appearances and striker Shahriar Moghanlou had eight goals, plus two assists, as the Iranian trio took credit for 28 of Kalba’s 39 league goals this season.
Elsewhere, Ahmad Nourollahi – who joined the ADNOC Pro League form Persepolis in the summer of 2021 – relished another successful campaign on the southern coast of the Persian Gulf.
Wearing the Al Wahda armband, the Iranian midfielder contributed with six goals and assists apiece in 26 appearances to lead the club to a third-place finish in the 14-team table and direct qualification for the league phase of the AFC Champions League Elite next season.
Mohammad Qorbani was the other Iranian to play for Al Wahda this season.
Having joined from Russian club Orenburg in February, the defensive midfielder played the full 90 minutes in 11 matches, contributing with one goal and one assist.
Meanwhile, former Esteghlal head coach Farhad Majidi made an impressive return to a managerial role in the UAE Pro League midway through the campaign.
The 48-year-old Iranian, who had been without a job since parting ways with Kalba in March 2024, took charge of the bench at relegation-threatened Al Bataeh in January.
Majidi steered the club to five victories – including massive wins against Sharjah and Al Wahda – and four draws in 15 games as Al Bataeh managed to finish 11 points clear of the drop zone.