Sardar Azmoun Iran’s Key Player at AFC Asian Cup

Azmoun caused quite an uproar in the immediate aftermath of the World Cup when he announced his international retirement at the age of 23, although the subsequent reversal of his decision comes as a huge boost to Team Melli.

Having played his club football in Russia for the past seven years now, Azmoun has plenty of European experience and even netted against Bayern Munich and Atletico Madrid in the UEFA Champions League.

But Azmoun offers Iran so much more than just goals, especially with his tireless pressing of opposition defenders, intelligent movement and ability to bring his team-mates into the game.

Iran has been drawn in Group D along with Yemen, Vietnam and Iraq in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup.

Team Melli will start the campaign with a match against Yemen on January 7.