Beiranvand Receives Welcome from Antwerp
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand was given a warm welcome to Royal Antwerp.
The club’s Instagram account has published a post, welcoming the 27-year-old goalie.
Beiranvand joined Antwerp from Persepolis on a three-year deal.
He has become renowned as one of the best shot-stoppers in Asia, playing a key role for the Persepolis side which recently won the Iran Pro League for the fourth successive season, and finishing as the AFC Player of the Year runner-up in 2019.
He has also performed with distinction for the Iranian national team, famously saving a Cristiano Ronaldo penalty kick at the 2018 FIFA World Cup Russia.
Royal Antwerp finished fourth in a truncated 2019–20 Belgian First Division A season, giving Beiranvand the opportunity to play in the 2020-21 UEFA Europa League.
Beiranvand isn’t the first Asian player to sign for Antwerp, who featured Japanese midfielder Koji Miyoshi on loan last season, and is a former home of ex-China PR striker Dong Fangzhuo.
The new Belgian season is scheduled to begin on August 8, with Antwerp up against KAA Gent.