Alireza Jahanbakhsh Jirendeh (, ; born 11 August 1993) is an Iranian professional footballer who plays as a right winger and attacking midfielder for Eredivisie club Feyenoord and the Iran national team.
Jahanbakhsh was born on 11 August 1993 in Jirandeh, a small city located in Rudbar County, Gilan Province.
He grew up in Qazvin and is an ethnic Tat.
2008
Jahanbakhsh played most of his youth in Rasht and Persian Qazvin before joining the youth academy of Damash Tehran in 2008.
Jahanbaksh started his career in Tehran with Damash Tehran, an affiliate of Damash Gilan in the 2nd Division.
2011
In 2011, Jahanbakhsh returned to Gilan and at the age of 17.
In 2011, Jahanbakhsh played his first game for Damash Gilan in the Iran Pro League against Mes as one of Damash's youngest ever players.
2012
Jahanbakhsh scored his first goal on 15 January 2012 in a 1–0 victory against Fajr.
In 42 league appearances with Damash, he scored 10 goals.
2013
Though he was expected to join Iran's giants, Persepolis, On 26 May 2013, Jahanbakhsh reached a verbal agreement with Dutch Eredivisie outfit NEC for a three-year deal.
This deal was subject to a medical examination and obtaining a visa and work permit.
He officially joined the club on 1 July 2013.
He made his debut as a substitute in a league match against Groningen on 3 August 2013.
He scored his first goal in an 8–0 win over Harkemase Boys in the KNVB Cup.
On 1 December 2013, Jahanbakhsh scored two goals and assisted the other in a 3–2 league match win over AZ Alkmaar.
On the final day of the 2013–14 season, Jahanbakhsh scored two late goals against Ajax to save NEC from automatic relegation, instead securing a relegation playoff spot.
Jahanbakhsh was originally voted the Eredivisie's greatest talent of the season before becoming runner-up to Memphis Depay.
2014
In 2014 Jahanbakhsh was voted the second greatest young talent of the 2013–14 Eredivisie season.
Internationally, Jahanbakhsh represented Iran at the FIFA World Cup in 2014, 2018 and 2022, and the AFC Asian Cup in 2015, 2019 and 2023.
He also played for the nation at both the under-20 and under-21 levels.
On 22 December, he scored and assisted at FC Groningen while providing a secondary assist on 15 February 2014 against RKC Waalwijk.
On 22 March, when NEC were down 2–0 at halftime, Jahanbakhsh came on as a substitute after the half and provided an assist to Michael Higdon in their 2–2 draw at Heerenveen.
On the opening day of the 2014–15 Jupiler League, Jahanbakhsh scored a goal in a 3–1 win against FC Eindhoven.
On 29 August, he scored two goals and provided two assists in a 4–1 win at Helmond Sport.
On 20 September, he scored against FC Emmen to help bring NEC to the top of the league table.
Three days later, on 23 September, AJ scored a free kick in extra time and converted a penalty in their win against Ajax II at Amsterdam during the second round of the 2014–15 Dutch Cup.
On 3 October, he scored a goal and provided an assist in a 2–1 win against Almere City to send NEC to the Eredivisie play-offs as quarter-season league champions.
On 17 October 2014, Jahanbakhsh was named the Best Player of the First Period of the 2014–15 Jupiler League.
On 28 November, he opened the scoring with a volley and provided two assists in a 5–1 win over Jong Twente.
2015
On 1 February 2015, in his first game upon his return from the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, he scored a bicycle kick and was named man of the match in the 3–1 win over Helmond Sport.
On 13 February, he scored a goal and provided two assists in a 3–2 win over FC Emmen with another goal against Achilles '29 days later to bring his tally to 4 goals in 5 consecutive matches after the Asian Cup.
At the end of the season, Jahanbakhsh was selected by fans as NEC's player of the season.
On 12 May 2015 Jahanbakhsh was voted as the Eerste Divisie's best player for the 2014–15 season, with twelve goals and eighteen assists in the league.
On 3 August 2015, Jahanbakhsh signed a five–year contract with Dutch club AZ Alkmaar.
He was given number nine as his jersey number, and made his Eredivisie debut for AZ on 12 September 2015 in a 3–1 win over De Graafschap.
Jahanbakhsh made his UEFA Europa League debut in a 2–1 group stage win over Athletic Bilbao on 1 October 2015.
Jahanbakhsh recorded his first assist for AZ on 21 November 2015 in a 3–1 victory against Heerenveen.
2016
Jahanbakhsh scored his first goal for AZ on 30 January 2016 in a match against his former club NEC.
He scored his second goal of the season and also recorded his fourth assist on 13 February 2016 in a 6–3 victory over Heracles Almelo.
2017
In the 2017–18 Eredivisie season, Jahanbakhsh scored 21 league goals, making him the first Asian player to become top scorer in a major European league.
