Homayoun Behzadi

Homayoun Behzadi (Persian: همایون بهزادی‎; 20 June 1942 – 22 January 2016) was an Iranian footballer and coach. He usually played as a striker.

Homayoun Behzadi

Behzadi in 1974
Personal information
Date of birth	(1942-06-20)20 June 1942
Place of birth	Khorramabad, Iran
Date of death	22 January 2016(2016-01-22) (aged 73)
Place of death	Tehran, Iran
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
1954–1958	Shahin
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1958–1967	Shahin	168
1967–1968	Persepolis	19
1968–1969	→ Paykan	155
1969–1975	Persepolis	16
Total		375
International career
1962–1974	Iran	35	(11)
Managerial career
1974–1976	Persepolis (assistant)
1975	Persepolis (interim)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

He was born on 4 January 1942 in Khorramabad, Lorestan Province. Behzadi first broke into the Shahin side when he was only 16 years old. He played for Shahin until 1966, when due to financial problems Shahin FC dissolved. He is graduated in Persian language.

Playing career

Club career

In 1967, he changed to Persepolis. In spring 1968, he changed to Peykan. There he won the Tehran Championship in 1968 before changing to Persepolis in 1969. There he won the Iranian league in 1972 as well as in 1974.

International career

In 1966 he won the silver medal of the Asian Games in Thailand. He won the Asian Nations Cup with Iran in 1968 – when he scored 4 goals in 4 matches, also the equalizer in the final match, which led to 2–1 victory against Israel (and to become one of the tournament's top scorer). He also won the Asian Nations Cup with Iran in 1972.

Coaching career

Before his starting his coaching career, he trained Persepolis in the absence of manager Alan Rogers, when he was part of the team. After he retired in 1975, he became caretaker head coach of the club after resignation of Rogers. He starts a project in Persepolis that held in next years to decrease the age of the first team squad. His first match as the Persepolis match was a friendly against Malavan which won 3–1. His first official match was a loss to Rah Ahan. After that, Persepolis won and drew twice, then faced to the rivals, Taj (now Esteghlal) in Tehran derby. He lost the match 3–1, but after the match he claimed that Taj players drugs before the match. It was later rejected. He was banned for two months and was replaced with Buyuk Vatankhah. After he was sacked as Persepolis head coach, he was manager of Shahbaz B team for more than ten years.

Team	Nation	From	To	Record
G	W	D	L	Win %	GF	GA	GD
Persepolis		6 March 1975	9 May 1975	15	7	4	4	046.67	23	14	+7

After retirement

Homayoun Behzadi scoring a goal against Taj (Esteghlal) during the well-known Shishtayiha Match in Tehran derby

Membership in Persepolis Hall of Fame

He was named as one of the members of Persepolis F.C. Hall of Fame and the club thanked him for his great performance during his senior career at Persepolis. The club gave him a statue of his face and named him as one of the twelve great players of Persepolis in the 1970s.

Illness and death

He suffered a heart attack and was transferred to Tehran hospital in April 2013. After two days, he was transferred to Day hospital and his personal doctor announced that his general health is good. He was released on 12 May 2013.

On 22 January 2016, Behzadi died in his home at the age of 74.

Honours

Club

Shahin

• Tehran Football League
  • Winner (7): 1958–59, 1959–60, 1964–65, 1965–66
  • Runner-Up (6): 1961–62, 1962–63
• Tehran Hazfi Cup
  • Winner (1): 1962–63

Paykan

• Tehran Football League
  • Winner (1): 1969–70

Persepolis

• Iranian Football League
  • Winners (2): 1971–72 1973–74
  • Runners-Up (1): 1974–75

International

• AFC Asian Cup
  • Winner (2): 1968, 1972
• Asian Games
  • Runner-Up (1): 1966

Individual

• AFC Asian Cup Top goalscorer: 1968
• Persepolis Hall of Fame: 2013
• Asian Football Hall of Fame: 2014

External links

• Homayoun Behzadi at TeamMelli.com
• Interview with Homayoun Behzadi