Title: Hashemian’s Defensive Gamble Pays Off as Unheralded Signing Reshapes Persepolis
In a surprising turn of events, a pre-season acquisition by Persian Gulf Pro League giants Persepolis has not only silenced critics but has created an unexpected and highly competitive dynamic within the team’s defensive line, presenting coach Vahid Hashemian with a welcome selection dilemma.
A Pressing Need and a Controversial Choice
The off-season for Persepolis was marked by a clear and urgent need: to secure a reliable central defender. With Gholizadeh departing, the team was left relying on the experienced, yet occasionally injury-prone, duo of Shoja Khalilzadeh and Danial Esmaeilifar. The congested fixture list demanded dependable depth.
A myriad of names, from Aref Aghasi to several foreign players, were linked with the club. Ultimately, the management, under the guidance of the coaching staff, secured the signing of Hossein Abarghouinejad—a move that raised eyebrows. Nearing 30, Abarghouinejad had only a single season of top-flight Iranian football experience with Kheybar Khorasan.
From Skepticism to Stalwart
The signing was met with significant skepticism. Critics questioned the player’s caliber for a club of Persepolis’s stature and even insinuated off-field influences in the transfer. The season began, and by the sixth week, Persepolis’s search for a central defender appeared to be over, but not in the way anyone had anticipated.
Injuries to the established stars played a part. Khalilzadeh was sidelined at the start of the campaign, and Esmaeilifar later faced a spell out. Into this void stepped Abarghouinejad. He seized his opportunity, forming a solid partnership first with Esmaeilifar and then, following an injury to the latter, with the returning Khalilzadeh.
A National Team Call-Up and a New Hierarchy
Abarghouinejad’s consistent and impressive performances did not go unnoticed. His form for Persepolis earned him a shock call-up to the Iranian national team, where he featured against Russia and is in contention to play against Tanzania. This development stands in stark contrast to the situation of his more celebrated teammates; Khalilzadeh was not called up, and Esmaeilifar has only recently returned from injury.
The narrative has been completely flipped. The player once deemed unworthy of the Persepolis shirt is now the undisputed first-choice in the heart of the defense.
A Welcome Headache for the Manager
Coach Vahid Hashemian now faces a unique and positive challenge. Instead of searching for a competent partner for his mainstays, he must decide which of his two seasoned international defenders—Khalilzadeh and Esmaeilifar, both with World Cup and Asian Cup experience for Iran—will earn the right to play alongside the in-form Hossein Abarghouinejad. A pre-season signing aimed at providing cover has instead sparked a fierce and healthy competition for starting roles, strengthening Persepolis’s defensive unit as a whole.
