Hamed Hajimehdi

Hamed Hajimehdi
Personal information
Full name Hamed Hajimehdi[1]
Date of birth (1988-01-19) January 19, 1988 (age 37)
Place of birth Tehran, Iran
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Mendiola 1991
Number 10
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
Persepolis (futsal)
2012–2013 Pasargad
2013 Inter Manila
2014 Stallion 9 (3)
2014 Global 5 (0)
2015–2016 Pachanga Diliman 12 (8)
2016–2017 Laos 17 (4)
2019–2022 Mendiola 1991 25 (3)
2022–2023 Stallion Laguna 6 (1)
2023– Mendiola 1991
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Hamed Hajimehdi (Persian: حامد حاجی مهدی; born 19 January 1988) is an Iranian professional footballer and former futsal player who plays as a midfielder for Mendiola 1991 of the Philippines Football League. He has mainly played for various clubs in the Philippines.[1]

Football career

Pasargad

Hajimehdi first played futsal in various countries, playing for the futsal team of Persepolis in his home country of Iran and also the UAE and Thailand.[2][3]

In 2012, he and his brother Hassan signed for Pasargard FC in the Philippines, who were participating in the United Football League.[4][5] In 2013, Pasargad made it to the final of the 2012–13 PFF National Men's Club Championship, but lost to Ceres–La Salle.[6] He left after two seasons at the club.

Stallion and Global

After playing one season with Union Internacional Manila, he joined then-UFL champions Stallion.[7][8] After half a season with the team, he joined Global, where he won the 2014 United Football League.[9]

Pachanga Diliman

In 2015, he joined Pachanga Diliman alongside other Iranian players. He had his most successful club stint so far, notching 8 goals that season.[10][11]

Laos FC

For the 2016 United Football League he left Pachanga as they withdrew from the UFL to play for newly promoted side Laos FC.[12][13]

Mendiola 1991

In 2019, he joined newly formed Mendiola 1991 that would be having its first-ever season in the professionalized Philippines Football League. He would play three seasons there, guiding the club to a semifinal finish at the 2019 Copa Paulino Alcantara.[14][15][16]

Reuniting with Stallion

Hajimehdi would reunite with coach Ernest Nierras and Stallion, now renamed Stallion Laguna, at the onset of the 2022–23 Philippines Football League. He scored his first goal for the club on matchday 2 in a 2–1 win over Maharlika Manila and notched an assist, though his season would be hampered by injuries.[17][18]

Return to Mendiola

In early 2023, Stallion would confirm his departure from the club as he rejoined Mendiola, though injuries kept him on the bench until the 2023 edition of the Copa Paulino Alcantara.[19]

Futsal career

Although his latter career saw him play football, Hajimehdi began it playing for the futsal team of Iranian side Persepolis.[3] When he went to the Philippines he would also join futsal leagues, being one of the foreign players of Bohemian SC.[20]

Hajimehdi would play 7's football, and represented the National Capital Region in the Philam 7's Kampeon Cup.[21] In 2018, a team composed of various foreigners including Hajimehdi nicknamed "Persepolis" won the Philippine division of Neymar Jr's Five World Finals, representing the country in Brazil.[22]

Coaching career

Aside from playing, Hajimehdi is also a coach, mostly for youth sides. Alongside Jason de Jong, he played for and coached Bohemian SC.[20] He was coaching youth team FC Arayat in 2023.[23]

He also led the Philippine national seven-a-side team also known as the "Azkals" to a runner-up finish in the 2024 Asia 7s tournament.[24]

Personal life

Hajimehdi was born in Tehran, Iran. His brother, Hassan, also played alongside him at Pasargad.[25]

In 2020, after Typhoon Ulysses, he was one of several professional footballers who auctioned his jersey off in a fundraiser for the victims.[26]

References

  1. ^ a b "Hamed Hajimehdi - Global Sports Archive". Global Sports Archive. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  2. ^ "اختصاصی ؛ عجیب اما واقعی ؛ پرسپولیس برای شرکت در جام نیمار به برزیل می رود". parsfootball.com. May 6, 2017. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  3. ^ a b "معماری: لیگ برتر فیلیپین امکانات و بازیکنان خوبی دارد". sptfiran.ir. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  4. ^ Sacamos, Karlo (February 22, 2013). "Slow-starting PSG out to finally make mark in UFL". spin.ph. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  5. ^ Sacamos, Karlo (May 28, 2013). "Depleted PSG secures place in UFL top flight". spin.ph. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  6. ^ Sacamos, Karlo (February 2, 2013). "Provincial side Ceres puts storybook ending to dream run with 1-0 final win over PSG". spin.ph. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  7. ^ Miravite, Myke (February 26, 2014). "UFL: Loyola bounces back with win over Army; Stallion whips GAU". Rappler. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  8. ^ Sacamos, Karlo (February 13, 2014). "Stallions lean on defense anew after blanking Pasargad". spin.ph. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  9. ^ Guerrero, Bob (June 13, 2014). "Engineered for Silverware: How Global won the 2014 UFL League". sg.news.yahoo.com. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  10. ^ Sacamos, Karlo (July 20, 2015). "Ceres-La Salle on the cusp of UFL title, AFC Cup berth after downing Kaya FC". spin.ph. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  11. ^ Valderrama, Aeron Paul (August 16, 2015). "Pachanga-Diliman lock quarters berth with victory over Laos". Tiebreaker Times. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  12. ^ Sacamos, Karlo (August 23, 2016). "Global FC eager to atone for trophy-less season, takes on Pasargad in UFL Cup debut". spin.ph. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  13. ^ Guerrero, Bob (February 4, 2016). "Football frenzy begins: Previewing the 2016 UFL Cup". Rappler. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  14. ^ Go, Beatrice (February 29, 2020). "Mendiola FC aims for top 3 finish in 2020 PFL Season". Rappler. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  15. ^ "Mendiola wallops Global-Makati in PH Football League". panaynews.net. August 7, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  16. ^ Rosal, Glendale (May 3, 2022). "CFC outlasts Mendiola FC in Copa Paulino Alcantara". Cebu Daily News. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  17. ^ Castillo, Jethro (August 8, 2022). "Journeyman Hamed Hajimehdi back with Stallion Laguna". spin.ph. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  18. ^ Castillo, Jethro (August 15, 2022). "Kaya FC, United City FC keep unbeaten slates in PFL". spin.ph. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  19. ^ "𝐓𝐄𝐀𝐌 𝐑𝐎𝐒𝐓𝐄𝐑: Mendiola FC 1991". Twitter. wearepfl. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  20. ^ a b Averilla, Earl (January 20, 2019). "Bohemian SC aims to challenge for title in 7's Football League debut". 5th Minute of Added Time. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  21. ^ "Leylam claims Kampeon 7's Cup title". dugout.ph. July 29, 2019. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  22. ^ "Tondo FC Falls Short at Neymar Jr's Five National Finals to Winners Perspolise". primer.com.ph. April 26, 2018. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  23. ^ "Arayat FC wagi ng silver sa La Liga Youth Tournament". philstar. September 28, 2023. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  24. ^ "Azkals' legacy continues after runner-up finish in Asia 7s". Manila Bulletin. October 13, 2024. Retrieved October 14, 2024.
  25. ^ Olivares, Rick (September 28, 2012). "UFL Cup Preview: A call to arms Part 2". Bleachers Brew. Retrieved October 5, 2023.
  26. ^ Tupas, Cedelf (November 25, 2020). "Schrock initiates fundraiser for Typhoon Ulysses victims". Negros Now Daily. Retrieved October 5, 2023.