Three Iranian Defenders Nominated for ACL2018 Team

There are the 14 players in contention for the four places in the backline. The football fans should review the nominees and then choose their favorite defenders.

Vouria Ghafouri
Ghafouri appeared in all 10 of Esteghlal's games as the Tehran giant reached the quarter-finals for only the second time. The full-back's energy down the right was a constant threat to opposition defenses while he also weighed in with two goals, including a match-winning strike against Al Hilal.

Shoja Khalilzadeh
A rock in the heart of the Persepolis defense, Khalilzadeh enjoyed a superb 2018 campaign and played a huge role in helping the Tehran giant reach the final for the first time. No player won more tackles or made more clearances than the center-back, who was part of a backline that conceded fewer goals per game than any other side.

Jalal Hosseini
Fans' favorite Hosseini was not only excellent alongside Khalilzadeh in his side's defense, he also popped up with crucial goals along the way. The Persepolis captain's last-minute winner against Al Jazira in the last 16 sent Azadi Stadium into raptures before another goal against Al Duhail in the quarter-finals sparked a remarkable comeback in what was a memorable campaign for both club and player.