Buyuk Vatankhah
Encyclopedia
Buyuk Vatankhah or Ezzatollah Vatankhah (born February 1, 1943 in Tabriz
, Iran
) is a retired Iranian football player and currently a scouter. He has played in Rah Ahan F.C., Taj
, Shahin F.C.
and Persepolis F.C.. After he retired in 1972, he became manager of Persepolis F.C. U20 team and then selected as first-team manager in 1976. He is the first Iranian manager that could win Iranian top division league. His younger brother, Reza
, was a team mate at Persepolis for many years.
Buyuk Vatankhah is part of the first generation of contemporary Iranian football players. According to interviews he has given to Iranian press, football was his passion from an early age, a sentiment which angered his traditional father who wanted his son to pursue more "mainstream" activities. In the early 1950s in Iran
, playing football beyond a certain age was very much stigmatised. He was only 17 when he first played for the Iranian national team
, and it was only then he told his family about his great passion. His career took off after he began to play for Shahin and then played for Paykan only to later return to Shahin and soon thereafter join the start-up Persepolis. He is one of the original Persepolisis. He continues to live in his beloved Tehran, although he has made many visits to Europe
and the Persian Gulf
States.
Tabriz
Tabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
) is a retired Iranian football player and currently a scouter. He has played in Rah Ahan F.C., Taj
Esteghlal
Esteghlal is an Arabic word means independence. the name held by many Iranian football clubs and Armenian football clubs. This includes:*Esteghlal F.C.— Iranian football club*Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C...
, Shahin F.C.
Shahin F.C.
Shahin Tehran Football Club was an Iranian football club based in Tehran, Iran that existed until the early 1990s. Shahin A.C. is located at Narmak, Golestan Street. They currently compete in the 2011–12 Iran Football's 3rd Division.-History:...
and Persepolis F.C.. After he retired in 1972, he became manager of Persepolis F.C. U20 team and then selected as first-team manager in 1976. He is the first Iranian manager that could win Iranian top division league. His younger brother, Reza
Reza Vatankhah
Reza Vatankhah Born February 8, 1947 in Tehran, Iran is a retired Iranian football player. He played for Persepolis F.C. as a left winger, and is now a manager. His elder brother Buyuk was also a member and captain of Persepolis F.C.....
, was a team mate at Persepolis for many years.
Buyuk Vatankhah is part of the first generation of contemporary Iranian football players. According to interviews he has given to Iranian press, football was his passion from an early age, a sentiment which angered his traditional father who wanted his son to pursue more "mainstream" activities. In the early 1950s in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
, playing football beyond a certain age was very much stigmatised. He was only 17 when he first played for the Iranian national team
Iran national football team
The national football team of Iran represents Iran in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran...
, and it was only then he told his family about his great passion. His career took off after he began to play for Shahin and then played for Paykan only to later return to Shahin and soon thereafter join the start-up Persepolis. He is one of the original Persepolisis. He continues to live in his beloved Tehran, although he has made many visits to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
and the Persian Gulf
Persian Gulf
The Persian Gulf, in Southwest Asia, is an extension of the Indian Ocean located between Iran and the Arabian Peninsula.The Persian Gulf was the focus of the 1980–1988 Iran-Iraq War, in which each side attacked the other's oil tankers...
States.