Hadi Norouzi, the captain of Tehran's Persepolis football team, passed away at the age of 30. Mr. Norouzi died of a heart attack at 4 AM on Thursday, October 1st. Following the news, hundreds of football fans gathered outside the Atieh Hospital in Tehran, crying alongside the team's coach, Branko Ivankovic. A group of veteran Iranian footballers also went to the late Norouzi's home to express their condolences. The funeral ceremony for Hadi Norouzi, who leaves behind two children, will be held at 8:30 AM on Friday at Azadi Stadium. The burial will take place in Babol County. Meanwhile, the Iranian national football team players in the UAE were deeply affected by the news. Carlos Queiroz told the players, "We lost a friend, brother, and good teammate. Stand in respect for Hadi and pray for his forgiveness with a minute of silence. We humbly ask God to grant mercy and forgiveness to this kind father and beautiful boy." Persepolis players left the hospital and went to the club's office, where they were reportedly mourning and crying in an indescribable atmosphere on the first floor of the club. A flood of condolence messages from clubs and players is being issued. Branko, who lost his team captain, said: "This is a tragedy. A horrific event that words cannot describe. Hadi was committed, kind-hearted, and one of my best students. I have never experienced a shock like this in my life." Hadi Norouzi joined Persepolis in 2006. Three years later, in the Tehran derby where Esteghlal was leading with a goal from Farhad Majidi, he managed to score the equalizer. He experienced two championship titles in the Iranian Football Hazfi Cup with this team. His performance was so remarkable that he was called up to the national team by Afshin Ghotbi and made his international debut in a friendly match against Bosnia and Herzegovina. When Carlos Queiroz became the head coach of Iran, he played in the starting lineup in all three of his first official games. Iran's qualification for the 2014 World Cup began with two home-and-away matches against the Maldives, in which Norouzi played in both matches. In the current Premier League season, which has only seen seven weeks so far, he scored in the first week against Padideh Mashhad, resulting in a draw between the two teams. His powerful long-range shot was one of the most beautiful goals of the current season of the Iranian Premier League.
30-Year-Old Captain of Persepolis Team Dies from Heart Attack
Hadi Norouzi, the 30-year-old captain of the Persepolis football team, died from a heart attack, prompting widespread mourning among fans and fellow players. His funeral will take place at Azadi Stadium, and he is remembered for his contributions to Iranian football. This tragic event highlights the impact of sports figures on national sentiment in Iran.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
Hadi Norouzi, the captain of Tehran's Persepolis football team, died from a heart attack at the age of 30, leading to widespread mourning among fans and fellow players. His funeral is set to take place at Azadi Stadium, highlighting his significance in Iranian football.
- Norouzi joined Persepolis in 2006 and was a key player in the team's successes.
- He was also a member of the Iranian national team and participated in World Cup qualifying matches.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Football is a major sport in Iran, with players often seen as national heroes. Norouzi's contributions to the sport and his role as captain made him a significant figure in Iranian culture.
🏷️ Entities Mentioned
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