PLDC - Parviz Ghelichkhani, one of the greatest figures in Iranian football history, passed away in a hospital near Paris after months of illness. He was 82 years old.
Born in 1945, Ghelichkhani remains the only player in Iran’s football history to win the AFC Asian Cup three consecutive times.
During his remarkable 17-year career, he played for several major clubs including Kian, Taj, PAS, Oghab, Daraei, Persepolis, and the San Jose Earthquakes. In addition to his Asian Cup triumphs, he helped Iran qualify for the Munich and Montreal Olympics, won domestic club titles, earned selection to the Asian All-Star Team, and was named Iran’s Footballer of the Year.
Ghelichkhani was widely admired not only for his technical ability, tactical intelligence, and leadership on the field, but also as a symbol of modern Iranian football during the 1960s and 1970s.
Ironically, his death coincided with the anniversary of the passing of another legendary Iranian goalkeeper, Nasser Hejazi.
One of the greatest regrets of Ghelichkhani’s career was missing out on the FIFA World Cup. However, his outstanding performance against Australia in the decisive 1974 World Cup qualification campaign remains one of the unforgettable moments in Iranian football history.
