Arash Borhani

Iranian footballer and coach

Arash Borhani ( آرش برهانی ; born 14 September 1983 in Kerman, Iran) is a retired Iranian football player and coach. He is the all time top goal scorer of Esteghlal and also the second all time top goal scorer in Iran's Premier Football League. He was the top goal scorer of 2008–09 Iran's Premier Football League. He was also a member of the Iran national football team. Borhani won a bronze medal in 2006 Asian Games with Iran national under 23 football team.

Having just moved to Pas in the Iran's Premier Football league, he helped the club to finish second in the 2002–03 season. He scored four goals in the season, which three of them was on a hat trick in the last match of the season. He continued with Pas for the next seasons and became a fixed starter. He was one of club's main players in 2005 AFC Champions League season.

Shortly before the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Borhani signed for the UAE Pro League, Al Nasr. On 21 January 2007 Borhani signed back with his former team Pas after being released by Al Nasr due to unforeseen circumstances. Since signing back with Pas, within a period of five months, he has scored only twice, which has put him through the most difficult time in his career.

Borhani had offers from Al Ain of the UAE, Mouscron of the Belgian League, Vitória Setúbal of the Portuguese Liga, Denizlispor of the Süper Lig and Mes Kerman and Esteghlal of Iran's Premier Football League, though it was not known which offer Borhani was likely to accept. However, on 17 July 2007 Borhani signed a contract with the IPL giants Esteghlal. On 27 October Borhani scored his first hat trick for Esteghlal in a 3–2 win over Paykan. Borhani again scored a hat trick plus two against Pegah Gilan in the Hazfi Cup ending up with five goals, the game's final score being 8–1 in favor of Esteghlal. He became the top scorer in 2008–09 season with 21 goals. The next season, he scored 11 goals but missed so many chances during the final matches of the season. On 14 January 2013, he became Esteghlal's all time top goal scorers after scoring against Mes Kerman, surprising Ali Jabbari. He was his team's top scorer at the 2012–13 season, which they won the Iran Pro League title. He extended his contract with the club for next two seasons on 1 July 2013. On 9 February 2014, Borhani scored his 100th goal for Esteghlal in a 2–0 win over Saipa. On 14 June 2014, Borhani signed a new contract with Esteghlal, keeping him until 2016.

While playing for Pas Tehran, he was called to the Iran U 23 team for the 2004 Athens Olympics qualifications, where he had some good performances, including scoring four goals in two games versus Uzbekistan. Despite the talent on the team, the Iran U 23 team did not qualify for the 2004 Summer Olympics. Around the same time he was called up to the Team Melli, where he scored some crucial goals, such as the tying goal versus Qatar in a 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification match. He was not a regular starter for the team, but he was among Iran's final squad for 2006 FIFA World Cup. In November 2006, he once again joined Iran U 23 team to participate at the 2006 Asian Games. In the quarter final match against China, Borhani held the ball short of the goal line and invited his teammates to approach after masterfully dribbling around the Chinese goalkeeper. He held that position for a few seconds before moving the ball over the line and then started running with joy towards the bench and celebrating with others. Later on he apologized for dishonoring the China U 23 team. He was called up to the national squad by Iranian coach Ali Daei to play in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC third round. He also played in 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification for Team Melli.