Karim Ansarifard

Karim Adil Ansarifard (born 3 April 1990) is an Iranian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Greek Super League club Aris and the Iran national team.

His playing style and ability have drawn comparisons to Ali Daei (the coach who scouted him) and he has been named Daei's "successor".

World Soccer selected Ansarifard as one of the best young talents in the world alongside Javier Hernández and Jack Wilshere.

In the 2007 season Saipa the Iranian reigning champions encountered problems in scoring after the departure of Mohsen Khalili and retirement of then-coach Ali Daei.

After 12 weeks Ali Daei moved Ansarifard to the first team from the reserves and the young starlet answered the coach's faith with good games including the only goal against a strong Sepahan team.

Ansarifard scored 13 goals during the 2009–10 season.

After strong performances, Karim became fast one of the best players of Saipa and targeted by European clubs such as Borussia Dortmund and Celtic.

Later, Steaua București made a €200,000 bid for a half season loan.

In May 2011, it was suggested that Everton are interested in signing Ansarifard.

Despite major interest from European clubs, conscription problems made the prospect of Ansarifard moving to a foreign club unlikely.

Ansarifard renewed his contract with Saipa for another two years on 14 July 2011.

In the 2011–12 Iranian Pro League season, Ansarifard scored 21 goals and made 5 assists for Saipa, becoming the league's top scorer.

There was much speculation during the 2011–12 Iranian Pro League season that Ansarifard would be leaving Saipa.

In January 2012, FIFA.com selected him as one of the players to watch in 2012.

Goal.com also chose him as one of the hottest 100 young football players in the world.

Also in 2012, FIFA ranked him as the 48th best goalscorer in the world and second best in Asia.

During one of Saipa's training camps in Ardabil, Karim's home city, he was taken on a training trial by then-coach Ali Daei and was accepted into the club's youth academy and reserves.

On 17 June 2012 he signed a three-years contract with Persepolis.

He was given the number 9 shirt.

He scored his first goal in a pre-season match against Aluminium.

He made his debut for Persepolis in an official match against Sanat Naft and scored his first goal for Persepolis against Gahar Zagros.

He scored his first Hat-trick as a Persepolis player (and second in his career) against Paykan.

He scored another hat-trick in the Round of 32 of Hazfi Cup at Malavan.

He also scored the Persepolis' first goal in the Hazfi Cup final.

His team would go on to lose on penalties.

At the start of the season, Ansarifard initially decided to stay at Persepolis despite bids from Sepahan, Tractor and two UAE Pro League sides.

However, he fell out with club head coach Ali Daei during pre-season.

He was out listed and was eventually transferred to Tractor on 14 July 2013.

After Persepolis listed him in the out of the squad, he decided to play another season in Iran and joined Tractor.

He signed a one-year contract with the option of a transfer to the European leagues in the case of bids.

He made his debut on 1 August 2013 in a 1–1 draw in Tabriz derby over Gostaresh Foolad.

He won Hazfi Cup title with Tractor and was named as the tournament's Most Valuable Player.

Ansarifard scored seventeen goals for Tabriz's reds during his spell at the team, fourteen goals was in the league, making him the season's top scorer for the second time in his professional career.

In July 2014 Ansarifard was released by Tractor and was allowed to sign with a European club.

On 29 August 2014, Ansarifard signed a two-year deal with Segunda División's CA Osasuna.

He made his league debut on 4 October 2014, coming on as a substitute for Roberto Torres in the 61st minute against Racing de Santander.

He made his first start on 18 October in a 3–2 win against CD Tenerife.

In the summer of 2015, Ansarifard signed with Panionios in the Superleague Greece.

He scored his first goal for the club in a 5–1 win over Panetolikos on 3 October 2015.

He scored the winning goal on 7 November 2015 in a match against Platanias.