Zarrincheh, Javad

Javad Zarrincheh (جواد زرینچه) is an Iranian defender, mainly a right wing back but also at times would play sweeper. He spent the entirety of his career in Iran’s domestic league and for the majority of it would suit up for Esteghlal (formerly Taj). Born in Tehran in 1966, Zarrincheh began his youth career with Locomotive for a single season before transferring to Bootan in the 1980-81 season. 

Following a couple of years there, he would then move again to the military outfit Gendarmerie for which he would play through the 1985-86 season. His final year in Gendarmarie’s youth setup would include both his mandatory military service and his transition to the senior squad in his final two seasons with the team in which he would win Tehran’s 4^th division championship.

Zarrincheh would join Esteghlal in 1987. Shahin Bayani’s recent departure would open the door for him to quickly establish himself as its starting right back. With Esteghlal he would chase the Tehran League title unsuccessfully for four seasons finishing third in his first two seasons and second in the following two. However, he would pick up a winner’s medal in the 1989-90 national championship when Esteghlal would come from behind to defeat derby rival Persepolis 2-1 in the final.

Zarrincheh would join high-spending newcomers Keshavarz in 1991. In addition to him, the newly promoted team would also sign a number of other national team players and as such challenge the traditional top three (Esteghlal, Persepolis, Pas) for trophies. Keshavarz would go on to finish forth that season. He would also finish amongst the top 4 of the Tehran Cup, losing in the semifinals to eventual champions Pas. The following season Keshavarz played in a watered down version of the Tehran League (known as the Tehran Super Cup) and finish tied for first place although with an inferior goal difference. In 1992-93 Keshavarz would also play in the national Azadegan League and after finishing second in its group would advance to the semifinals at which point they would lose to Persepolis. Following the completion of the season Zarrincheh would return to Esteghlal in spite of them self relegating to the national third division.

In 1993-94 Esteghlal would easily win the national third division and the Tehran Super Cup while also advancing to the quarterfinals of the Hazfi Cup. In the 1994-95 season, returning to the Azadegan League, Esteghlal would finish second in its group and face Persepolis in the semifinals. In an ill tempered match that would see three red cards, Esteghlal would equalize late in the match at which point a brawl would ensue. The unfinished match would be rewarded 3-0 to Esteghlal although a loss in the final would deprive Zarrincheh of a championship.

The following season Esteghlal would finish third in the Azadegan League although Zarrincheh would collect gold in the Hazfi Cup thus qualifying for the 1996-97 Asian Cup Winners Cup. The following season would not be too successful for Zarrincheh as Esteghlal would finish a distant sixth in the league, fall in the quarterfinals of the Hazfi Cup and finish fourth in the Asian Cup Winners Cup.

The shortcomings of the prior season would be made up in 1997-98 with a hatrick of championships for Zarrincheh. Two gold medals in the domestic Caspian Cup and the international Turkmenistan President’s Cup where accompanied by a first place finish in the Azadegan League which qualified Esteghlal for the 1998-99 Asian Club Championship. Zarrincheh and Esteghlal would pick up 3 silver medals in 1998-99; a second place finish in the Azadegan League, a 2-1 loss in the Hazfi Cup Final against Persepolis and a 2-1 loss against Japanese outfit Jublio Iwata in the Asian Club Championship. The fact that Persepolis also won the Azadegan League enabled Esteghlal to qualify for the 1999-2000 Asian Cup Winners Cup. While Zarrincheh had occasionally captained Esteghlal in the past, however, he this season would establish himself as the main captain.

During the 1999-2000 season Zarrincheh would win a gold medal in the Hazfi Cup, defeating Bahman of Karaj in the final. He would also pick up a runners up medal in the Azadegan League while advancing to the round of 16 with Esteghlal in the Asian Cup Winners Cup. The 2000-2001 season would bring Zarrincheh another championship in the Azadegan League while the prior season’s Hazfi Cup enabled Esteghlal to participate in another Asian Cup Winners Cup where they would come up short in the semifinals.

The 2001-2002 would see Zarrincheh’s role in the club gradually diminish with him playing no role in Esteghlal’s second place finish in the newly renamed Persian Gulf and Hazfi Cup championship. The following season would be his last in Esteghlal where they would finish a disappointing ninth place in the Persian Gulf League. Zarrincheh would move to Saba Battery for the 2003-04 season in the second division, finishing as champions and allowing them promotion to the Persian Gulf League before finally hanging up his boots.

With the mass resignation of players following the 1986 Asian Games, the resulting void opened the door for Zarrincheh to join the national team. He would lineup in both the home and away game against Kuwait in early 1987 in Iran’s unsuccessful bid to qualify for the 1988 Olympics. He would retain his spot during the 1988 Asian Championship qualification and only miss the last game where a win with any margin would ensure qualification.

Zarrincheh would be Iran’s irreplaceable right wing back during the 1988 Asian Championship and play every minute of the tournament enroute to a bronze medal finish. Zarrincheh would be ever present during the 1990 World Cup qualifiers and create the opening goal against Thailand with a pinpoint cross. He would keep his spot for the next 3 qualifiers (in spite of a coaching change of Monajati for Dehdari). For the final crucial series against China, he was absent for the away game in which a bizarre lineup was fielded while for the return match in Tehran he lasted just over 20 minutes before being substituted. Iran would fail to qualify for the World Cup.

Another coaching change would take place after the qualifiers where Parvin would take the reins. Following many friendlies, including the 1989 Peace and Friendship Cup, Zarrincheh would emerge as a fixed player under Parvin. While a returning Shahin Bayani would start the first game of the 1990 Asian Games, however, Zarrincheh would start all other games as Iran would go on to win gold.

Following the championship, Iran would face Algeria in 1991 for an intercontinental title. While Zarrincheh would feature in both home and away games, Iran would lose on away goals. The following year Zarrincheh would feature in both games in an easy 1992 Asian Championship qualifying group consisting of India and Pakistan. Having achieved qualification he would go on to play in the 1992 Asian Championship although in controversial fashion Iran would be eliminated in group play.

In early 1993 Iran began its 1994 World Cup qualification games. Iran would prepare with a few friendlies in Germany and a championship in the ECO Cup at home (in which Zarrincheh would score his lone international goal). In spite of some experimentation, Zarrincheh would not loosen his grip on the right back position. He would play in all of the first round groups where Iran would narrowly top Syria by goal difference to advance. In the next round he would once again be a starter although a red card against Iraq would bench him against North Korea. A disastrous campaign would end with Iran finishing fifth out of six teams and Parvin being removed as coach.

New coach Poklepovic began his on experimentation in search of an ideal starting lineup for the 1994 Asian Games. While Zarrincheh would hold on to his spot, however, an underwhelming campaign in which Zarrincheh would feature in all four games would result in another group play elimination and would cost the coach his job.

While the national team would not play another game until 1996, however, Zarrincheh’s absence in international play would extend beyond that as new coach Mayelikohan would not call him up for the 1996 Asian Championship qualifiers nor the actual tournament. He would also be overlooked for the 1998 World Cup qualifiers. It wouldn’t be until a last day loss to Qatar that dropped Iran to second place and into a playoff spot as opposed to direct qualification that would result in a coaching change. New coach Vieira would recall Zarrincheh for the playoff against Japan. A 3-2 loss in this game sent Iran to an intercontinental playoff against Australia for which Zarrincheh would be absent. Iran would win this 2-legged series on away goals and qualify for the 1998 World Cup.

In the buildup to the World Cup new coach initially ignore Zarrincheh although would eventually bring him back in camp. Some solid performances and another coaching change due to a 7-1 defeat against Italian club AC Roma solidified Zarrincheh’s spot. He would go on to play in all 3 games in the World Cup with his most memorable moment being his run down the right flank against the US where his cross was headed in for Iran’s first goal in a 2-1 win. 

Later that year he would make the national team’s roster for the 1998 Asian Games. While he would be rested for an easier game against Laos, he would play all 7 other games and ultimately win another gold medal.

Zarrincheh would feature predominantly in the national set up in 1999. In early 2000 Iran would embark on a 3-game tour of the US where they would face Mexico, Ecuador and the US. At the conclusion of the tour Zarrincheh announced his international retirement.

Zarrincheh would temporarily act as Esteghlal’s caretaker following the firing of Hejazi in 1999. He would once again take on this responsibility in 2003 upon the ouster of Roland Koch. In his final playing season he would also act as player-coach for Saba Battery. Following his retirement he would go on to coach a number of clubs domestically including a third stint with Esteghlal.