Bagheri, Karim

Karim Bagheri (کریم باقری) is an Iranian football coach and former holing midfielder who played as a striker. Born in 1974 in Tabriz, he embarked on a playing career that took him to Germany, the UAE and Qatar in addition to a number of clubs in Iran’s domestic league. Internationally he represented Iran both at the youth level and full side before beginning his coaching career.

Bagheri was discovered by Romanian coach Vasile Godja and began playing for his hometown club Tractorsazi in 1992. In his first season, Tractorsazi would advance to the semifinals of the 1992-93 Azadegan League, losing to eventual champions Pas of Tehran. Bagheri would make his debut against Esteghlal in the 5^th week of league play. Playing as a defender, Bagheri would score a solitary goal against Sepahan (from the penalty spot). The team would finish mid table the following season. 

He impressed enough to land himself a contract with newly founded and high spending Tehrani club Keshavarz in 1994. Bagheri would once again reach the semifinals of the Azadegan League in the 1994-95 season, this time falling to the eventual champion (Saipa). Following his prior team’s pattern, Keshavarz would finish mid table at the end of the 1995-96 season.

In 1996 Bagheri was signed on a free transfer by Persepolis. In his (initial) lone season there, he would be a constant presence in the Persepolis lineup and go on to win the 1996-97 Azadegan League. In addition he would also represent Persepolis in the 1996-97 Asian Club Championship (alongside national team teammate Azizi), score 3 times and ultimately win continental bronze. Overall Bagheri would play 24 times for Persepolis, scoring 7 goals in the process. In the summer of 1997 Bagheri would line up for an Asian All Star selection against the World All Star selection where he would score once in a 5-3 defeat.

Following Bagheri’s displays for the national team in the 1996 Asian Championship and 1998 World Cup qualifiers, he ended up attracting attention from many European clubs and a year after joining Persepolis, Bagheri signed with Bundesliga side Arminia Bielefeld (along with his fellow Iranian international Ali Daei). Bagheri’s first season in Germany was not a huge success as Bielefeld was relegated to the 2. Bundesliga although Bagheri would make 18 appearances and score 3 goals, the first of them against Karlsruher SC. In his second season, he established himself as a starter playing in the libero position, helping the team make it back to the Bundesliga. He would match his prior season’s goal scoring stats while lining up for his team 25 times. His performances during the 1998–99 season earned him a place in Kicker magazine's team of the year. He would remain in Bielefeld partially through the 1999-2000 season but after 12 appearances he would buy out his contract mid season.

Bagheri would return to Persepolis although Persepolis would immediately loan him to Al-Nasr in the United Arab Emirates. In his short stay in the UAE Bagheri would nearly score every other game (5 goals in 9 games) while his team would finish a solitary point behind the league champions. Bagheri would use this as a springboard to reach the English Premier League when Charlton Athletic signed him for an initial fee of £400,000 at the start of the 2000-01 season. His father's death, international call-ups and injuries to his groin and hamstring restricted him to a single appearance although he would suit up for Charlton in reserve matches. He would be the first Iranian to play in the Premiership.

He moved to Al Sadd in Qatar for the 2001-02 season. With Al Sadd he would also participate in the 2001 Arab Club Championship and win gold after defeating Algerian club Mouloudia in the Final while also reaching the semifinals of the 2001-02 Asian Cup Winners Cup. After 15 games and 5 goals, Bagheri decided to return to Persepolis once again for a 9 year stint that ultimately would be his last stop.

Bagheri would play over 200 times for Persepolis scoring 39 goals. In addition he wore the captain’s armband starting with the 2005-06 season. In the 2007–08 season, he captained the team to glory in the IPL after a six-year drought. He was the top scorer of the team for the 2009–10 season and in the second Tehran derby of the season, Bagheri would score in the 87th minute with a trademark long-range shot for a victory for Persepolis after six consecutive draws in the derby. Bagheri would collect two Hazfi Cup gold medals as Persepolis would go on to win the Hazfi Cup in the 2009-10 season and successfully defend their championship the following year in what would be Bagheri’s last playing season.

At the international level Bagheri would get his first action with the U19s in its successful qualification for the 1992 Asian Youth Championship, playing in 2 of the qualifiers and scoring against Syria. He would also play in 2 games in the actual tournament as Iran would be eliminated in group play. In 1996 he would line up for the U23 team in its bid to qualify for the 1996 Olympics although they would fall short.

Before his introduction to the U23 team, Bagheri would make his full international debut in 1993 with the national team during the Eco Cup where he would score on his debut against Pakistan and would ultimately win the tournament as he played in 3 out of 4 games. Later that year he would be utilized during the 1994 World Cup qualifiers playing against Oman and South Korea as Iran would fail to make it to the finals.

A year later Bagheri would be selected for the 1994 Asian Games in which he participated in 3 out of 4 group games. Against Turkmenistan Bagheri’s header was deflected off of an opponent in the net for Iran’s equalizer. Ultimately Iran would fail to defend its title and was eliminated in group play.

Following a long break, 1996 would be a banner year for Bagheri as he took part in the qualifiers for the 1996 Asian Championship. Iran would sweep all 6 games to qualify for the 1996 Asian Championship with Bagheri scoring in 5 of the games and managing 9 goals. He would continue his fine form during the finals scoring crucial goals against Saudi Arabia in group play and South Korea in the quarterfinals while also converting twice in shootouts against Saudi Arabia in the semifinals and Kuwait in the third place match to win a bronze medal.

With the 1998 World Cup qualification taking up much of the national team’s 1997 schedule, Bagheri once again put in remarkable numbers. Iran would begin the campaign with a record 17-0 demolition of Maldives in which Bagheri would score 7 goals. He would score or assist in the next 4 games (he would be absent from the inconsequential last game) for a total of 12 goals as Iran advanced to the next round of qualifying.

In the next round Bagheri’s goal would spark a comeback after trailing by 2 goals against China for a 4-2 win. Against the Saudis at home he would miss a penalty kick although make up for it by scoring from open play in a 1-1 tie. In the next game against Kuwait Bagheri would once again salvage a point for Iran by scoring a goal in injury time to preserve a tie. His scoring streak would continue as he converted twice against visiting Qatar. In the return matches he would once again score against China although he (and Iran) would go scoreless against the Saudies in a 1-0 loss. He would fail to find the net in Iran’s last two games against Kuwait and Qatar while also being red carded in the latter.

Bagheri would miss playoff games against Japan and the home leg against Australia but would be back in the lineup for the return match. Following a 1-1 tie at home, Iran trailed Australia 2-0 away before Bagheri struck to halve the deficit. Another goal by Azizi meant that Iran would qualify for the 1998 World Cup on away goals.

Bagheri would miss much of the preparation for the World Cup and only play in the last friendly prior but he would be ever present in all 3 games in France. Iran would go home in group play in spite of a 2-1 win against the US.

Bagheri would accompany the team to the 1998 Asian Games and while he would not be utilized in the first game against Kazakhstan, he would start the other 7 games. He would score 3 goals in the process, including one in the Final, as Iran would once again win gold.

Bagheri would not suit up for Iran in 1999 but would be back for the first 4 qualifying games for the 2000 Asian Championship. While he would not score, however, he would contribute to Iran’s advancement to the finals. At the 2000 Asian Championship Bagheri would score and assist in the opening game against hosts Lebanon. He would play in all group games and in the quarterfinal against South Korea he would give Iran the lead with a blast from 40 meters out although the Koreans would eventually come back to win the game.

Iran would open the 2002 World Cup qualifiers against Guam where their previous record would be broken as they won 19-0 with Bagheri scoring 6 goals. Bagheri would not score again throughout the course of qualifiers until the playoffs where he would convert both home and away against the UAE. He would play home and away against Ireland but an aggregate 2-1 loss meant Iran missed out on the World Cup.

Bagheri would retire from the national team after Iran's unsuccessful World Cup qualification campaign. He was called up to the national team again soon after the 2006 World Cup but rejected the call. In 2008 with Daei now acting as head coach, he would once again wear Iran’s jersey and take part in both 2011 Asian Championship qualifiers and 2010 World Cup qualifiers. His return stretched over 6 games in which he scored 3 goals in acted as captain in all of them. His last game was a home tie against South Korea in World Cup qualification. Upon the ouster of Daei he turned down further invitations. Bagheri would get one more match, a friendly against Brazil in Abu Dhabi in October of 2010 where he came on as a sub for the final 17 minutes and which would serve as his retirement match. Overall he would represent Iran 87 times and score 50 goals.

Two years after his retirement Bagheri began serving as interim coach/assistant for Persepolis intermittently. He also spent a two-year stretch as national team assistant coach between 2020 until 2022.