Iran men's national volleyball team

The Iran Men's National Volleyball Team is the official national men's volleyball team of Iran. It is governed by the Islamic Republic of Iran Volleyball Federation (I.R.I.V.F.) and takes part in international volleyball competitions.

Iran
Nickname(s)سرو قامتان (lit. the Cypress-statures)
AssociationIRIVF
ConfederationAVC
Head coachIran Behrouz Ataei
FIVB ranking10 (as of 1 January 2023)
Uniforms
Home
Away
Third
Summer Olympics
Appearances2 (First in 2016)
Best result5th (2016)
World Championship
Appearances7 (First in 1970)
Best result6th (2014)
World Cup
Appearances4 (First in 1991)
Best result8th (2015, 2019)
Asian Championship
Appearances20 (First in 1979)
Best resultGold (2011, 2013, 2019, 2021)
iranvolleyball.com

Medal record
Event 1st 2nd 3rd
World Grand Champions Cup 0 0 1
Asian Championship 4 2 1
Asian Games 2 3 1
Asian Cup 3 2 0
Other official competitions 5 3 0
Total 14 10 3
World Grand Champions Cup
Bronze medal – third place2017 JapanTeam
Asian Championship
Gold medal – first place2011 TehranTeam
Gold medal – first place2013 DubaiTeam
Gold medal – first place2019 TehranTeam
Gold medal – first place2021 Chiba-FunabashiTeam
Silver medal – second place2009 ManilaTeam
Silver medal – second place2015 TehranTeam
Bronze medal – third place2003 TianjinTeam
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place2014 IncheonTeam
Gold medal – first place2018 Jakarta-PalembangTeam
Silver medal – second place1958 TokyoTeam
Silver medal – second place2002 BusanTeam
Silver medal – second place2010 GuangzhouTeam
Bronze medal – third place1966 BangkokTeam
Asian Cup
Gold medal – first place2008 Nakhon RatchasimaTeam
Gold medal – first place2010 UrmiaTeam
Gold medal – first place2016 Nakhon PathomTeam
Silver medal – second place2012 Vinh YenTeam
Silver medal – second place2018 TaipeiTeam
Islamic Solidarity Games
Gold medal – first place2005 MeccaTeam
Gold medal – first place2013 PalembangTeam
Gold medal – first place2017 BakuTeam
Gold medal – first place2021 KonyaTeam
West Asian Games
Silver medal – second place2005 DohaTeam
Central Asian Championship
Gold medal – first place2010 KolkataTeam
Silver medal – second place2007 IslamabadTeam
Silver medal – second place2022 LahoreTeam

As of 11 September 2022, Team Melli is considered as the second team in Asia, as it ranks 10th in the FIVB World Rankings.[1]

The national team won the Asian Volleyball Championship four times: in 2011 Tehran, 2013 Dubai, 2019 Tehran and 2021 Chiba & Funabashi

In its first appearance in the competition since joining the 2013 World League, Iran has been a dominant force in Group 1 of the competition, posing a challenge to any opponent. Defeating Italy and Cuba in these games, Iran introduced itself as a formidable contender.

In 2014 World League campaign, Iran's national team reached fourth place in Group 1 after a straight-set defeat to their Italian hosts in the bronze medal match. In these games, Iran had already defeated Brazil, Italy and Poland.

Iran has also competed in the World Championship four times, with their best result obtained in 2014 Poland where they ended up in 6th place. In those games Iran qualified from the first and second rounds with, respectively, four and five wins; their only defeat was against France.

Iran defeated Japan to win the gold medal at the Asian Games Korea in 2014. Consecutively, in the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia, Iran cruised past Japan and South Korea to win the gold medal.

Iran made it to the Olympic Games for the first time in their history in 2016 as the top-ranked Asian squad at the World Olympic Qualification Tournament in Japan. Iran finished in 5th place in the competition.

History

The history of Iran's national volleyball team dates back to around 1920 when Mir Mehdi Varzandeh brought volleyball regulations to Iran. During World War II, Allied forces occupied Iran, and Iranians participated in sports, including volleyball, with soldiers. At that time a friendly match was arranged between the Iranian and Russian Army teams. In 1958, for the first time, national men's team of Pakistan was invited to Tehran for some friendly matches with the national team, club teams and the Army team. Iran's national team first attended an international competition at the 1958 Asian Games, where they won the silver medal.[2]

Tournament records
Further information: Iran men's national volleyball team results
Iran national volleyball team in Rio de Janeiro against Egypt , 2016 Summer Olympics

Notes: Gold, silver, bronze backgrounds indicate 1st, 2nd and 3rd finishes, respectively. Bold text indicates best finish in tournament.

Olympic Games
Main article: Volleyball at the Summer Olympics
Year Rank Pld W L SW SL
Japan 1964Did not enter
or
Did not qualify
Mexico 1968
West Germany 1972
Canada 1976
Soviet Union 1980
United States 1984
South Korea 1988
Spain 1992
United States 1996
Australia 2000
Greece 2004
China 2008
United Kingdom 2012
Brazil 20165th place624812
Japan 20209th place523911
France 2024Future events
United States 2028
Australia 2032
Total2/1511471723

World Championship
Main article: FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship
Year Rank Pld W L SW SL
Czechoslovakia 1949Did not enter
Soviet Union 1952
France 1956
Brazil 1960
Soviet Union 1962
Czechoslovakia 1966
Bulgaria 197021st place11471624
Mexico 1974Did not enter
Italy 1978
Argentina 1982Did not qualify
France 1986Did not enter
Brazil 1990Did not qualify
Greece 1994
Japan 199819th place30309
Argentina 2002Did not enter
Japan 200621st place505215
Italy 201019th place31257
Poland 20146th place12752621
Italy Bulgaria 201813th place8441416
Poland Slovenia 202213th place42279
Total7/2046182870101

World Cup
Main article: FIVB Volleyball Men's World Cup
Year Rank Pld W L SW SL
Poland 1965Did not enter
East Germany 1969
Japan 1977
Japan 1981
Japan 1985
Japan 1989Did not qualify
Japan 199111th place817523
Japan 1995Did not qualify
Japan 1999
Japan 2003
Japan 2007
Japan 20119th place11561625
Japan 20158th place11471624
Japan 20198th place11471925
Japan 2023Did not enter
Total4/154114275697

World Grand Champions Cup
Main article: FIVB Volleyball World Grand Champions Cup
Year Rank Pld W L SW SL
Japan 1993Did not qualify
Japan 1997
Japan 2001
Japan 2005
Japan 20095th place514814
Japan 20134th place5321010
Japan 20173rd place5411210
Japan 2021Not held due to COVID-19 pandemic
Total3/715873034

World League
Main article: FIVB Volleyball World League
Year Rank Pld W L SW SL
Japan 1990Did not enter
Italy 1991
Italy 1992
Brazil 1993
Italy 1994
Brazil 1995
Netherlands 1996
Russia 1997
Italy 1998
Argentina 1999
Netherlands 2000
Poland 2001
Brazil 2002
Spain 2003
Italy 2004
Serbia and Montenegro 2005
Russia 2006
Poland 2007
Brazil 2008
Serbia 2009
Argentina 2010Did not qualify
Poland 2011
Bulgaria 2012
Argentina 20139th place10552021
Italy 20144th place16792832
Brazil 20157th place12662521
Poland 20168th place9451522
Brazil 201711th place9361123
Total5/2856253199119

Nations League
Main article: FIVB Volleyball Men's Nations League
Year Rank Pld W L SW SL
France 201810th place15782930
United States 20195th place171254121
Italy 2020Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic
Italy 202112th place155102532
Italy 20227th place13762422
Poland 2023Qualified
Total5/5603129119105

Asian Championship
Main article: Asian Men's Volleyball Championship
Year Rank Pld W L SW SL
Australia 1975Did not enter
Bahrain 19796th place6331210
Japan 1983Did not enter
Kuwait 198710th place523710
South Korea 19898th place8351115
Australia 19917th place7341114
Thailand 19935th place7431210
South Korea 19954th place7431211
Qatar 19976th place523811
Iran 19995th place6421310
South Korea 20015th place6421410
China 20033rd place7521612
Thailand 20056th place5321210
Indonesia 20075th place9541718
Philippines 2009Runners-up8712210
Iran 2011Champions880242
United Arab Emirates 2013Champions770211
Iran 2015Runners-up862209
Indonesia 20175th place8622010
Iran 2019Champions871224
Japan 2021Champions770211
Iran 2023Qualified
Total20/221329042295178
  • Note: Iran played their B team in 2015 and U23 team in 2017.

Asian Games
Main article: Volleyball at the Asian Games
Year Rank Pld W L SW SL
Japan 1958Runners-up43196
Indonesia 1962Did not enter
Thailand 19663rd place8531614
Thailand 19705th place7341114
Iran 19744th place52379
Thailand 1978Did not enter
India 1982
South Korea 1986
China 1990
Japan 19945th place9541616
Thailand 1998Did not enter
South Korea 2002Runners-up6421210
Qatar 20066th place31267
China 2010Runners-up981254
South Korea 2014Champions880242
Indonesia 2018Champions550150
China 2022Qualified
Japan 2026Future event
Qatar 2030
Saudi Arabia 2034
Total10/1664442014182

Asian Cup
Main article: Asian Men's Volleyball Cup
Year Rank Pld W L SW SL
Thailand 2008Champions651168
Iran 2010Champions660186
Vietnam 2012Runners-up651167
Kazakhstan 20144th place642149
Thailand 2016Champions660185
Taiwan 2018Runners-up541145
Myanmar 2020Cancelled due to COVID-19 pandemic in Asia
Thailand 20225th place532118
Total7/74033710748
  • Note: Iran played their B team from 2012 to 2018 and U21 team in 2022.

Islamic Solidarity Games
Main article: Islamic Solidarity Games
Year Rank Pld W L SW SL
Saudi Arabia 2005Champions880243
Iran 2010Cancelled
Indonesia 2013Champions660182
Azerbaijan 2017Champions660183
Turkey 2021Champions541144
Cameroon 2025Future events
Total4/4252417412

Note: Iran played their B team in 2013 & 2021 and U21 team in 2017.

West Asian Games
Main article: West Asian Games
Year Rank Pld W L SW SL
Qatar 2005Runners-up541144
Total1/1541144

Central Asian Championship
Year Rank Pld W L SW SL
Sri Lanka 2006Did not enter
Pakistan 2007Runners-up651174
India 2010Champions440121
2015–2019Did not enter
Pakistan 2022Runners-up532106
Total3/9151233911

Note: Iran played a club team in 2007, B team in 2010 and U19 team in 2022.

Results and fixtures
Main article: Iran men's national volleyball team results

Forthcoming matches
DateLocationCompetitionOpponentResult
2023
6 Jun  Japan 2023 Nations League  Japan
8 Jun  Japan 2023 Nations League  Poland
10 Jun  Japan 2023 Nations League  China
11 Jun  Japan 2023 Nations League  Slovenia
20 Jun  Netherlands 2023 Nations League  Germany
21 Jun  Netherlands 2023 Nations League  Italy
23 Jun  Netherlands 2023 Nations League  United States
24 Jun  Netherlands 2023 Nations League  Netherlands
4 Jul  United States 2023 Nations League  France
7 Jul  United States 2022 Nations League  Bulgaria
8 Jul  United States 2023 Nations League  Argentina
9 Jul  United States 2023 Nations League  Cuba
TBD  Iran 2023 Asian championship TBA
TBD  Iran 2023 Asian championship TBA
TBD  Brazil 2023 Olympic Qualification Tournaments TBA
TBD  Brazil 2023 Olympic Qualification Tournaments TBA
TBD  Brazil 2023 Olympic Qualification Tournaments TBA
TBD  Brazil 2023 Olympic Qualification Tournaments TBA
TBD  Brazil 2023 Olympic Qualification Tournaments TBA
TBD  Brazil 2023 Olympic Qualification Tournaments TBA
TBD  Brazil 2023 Olympic Qualification Tournaments TBA

    Team

    Current squad

    Representing Iran at the 2022 FIVB Volleyball Men's World Championship.[3]

    No. Name Date of birth Height Weight Spike Block 2022 club
    1Mahdi Jelveh21 May 20012.01 m (6 ft 7 in)85 kg (187 lb)360 cm (140 in)345 cm (136 in)
    2Milad Ebadipour (C)17 October 19931.96 m (6 ft 5 in)88 kg (194 lb)358 cm (141 in)340 cm (130 in)Italy Allianz Milano
    5Amir Hossein Toukhteh9 April 20012.03 m (6 ft 8 in)79 kg (174 lb)373 cm (147 in)354 cm (139 in)Iran Haraz Amol
    7Shahrooz Homayonfarmanesh18 December 19891.92 m (6 ft 4 in)85 kg (187 lb)325 cm (128 in)320 cm (130 in)
    8Mohammad Reza Hazratpour31 March 19991.80 m (5 ft 11 in)87 kg (192 lb)300 cm (120 in)290 cm (110 in)
    8Mohammad Reza Moazzen20 September 19911.75 m (5 ft 9 in)75 kg (165 lb)292 cm (115 in)281 cm (111 in)
    11Saber Kazemi24 December 19982.03 m (6 ft 8 in)95 kg (209 lb)360 cm (140 in)347 cm (137 in)Qatar Al Arabi
    12Amir Hossein Esfandiar24 January 19992.06 m (6 ft 9 in)95 kg (209 lb)355 cm (140 in)348 cm (137 in)Russia Ural Ufa
    14Mohammadjavad Manavinezhad27 November 19951.98 m (6 ft 6 in)94 kg (207 lb)340 cm (130 in)320 cm (130 in)France Stade Poitevin
    15Aliasghar Mojarad30 October 19972.03 m (6 ft 8 in)90 kg (200 lb)330 cm (130 in)310 cm (120 in)
    17Amin Esmaeilnejad17 December 19962.02 m (6 ft 8 in)93 kg (205 lb)365 cm (144 in)344 cm (135 in)Iran Pas Gorgan
    18Mohammad Taher Vadi10 October 19891.94 m (6 ft 4 in)72 kg (159 lb)329 cm (130 in)315 cm (124 in)Iran Paykan Tehran
    24Javad Karimi1 March 19982.01 m (6 ft 7 in)104 kg (229 lb)330 cm (130 in)310 cm (120 in)Poland Warta Zawiercie
    49Morteza Sharifi27 May 19991.93 m (6 ft 4 in)83 kg (183 lb)340 cm (130 in)320 cm (130 in)TurkeyGalatasaray S.K.

    Head coaches

    Note: The following list may not be complete.

    Iran volleyball team members June 2015

    A Team
    NameFromTonotes
    Pakistan Sardar Nasrollahkhan[4] 1958 1958 Asian Games Runners-up
    Iran Fereydoon Sharifzadeh 1958 1963
    Iran Hossein Jabbarzadegan 1964 1966 1966 Asian Games 3rd place
    Czechoslovakia Miloslav Ejem 1970 1972
    Japan Tadaee Korada 1974 1974 Asian Games 4th place
    South Korea Park Sung 1979
    Iran Yadollah Kargarpisheh 1979 1981
    Iran Farough Fakhredini 1987
    Iran Masoud Salehieh 1987 1989
    Iran Hossein Ali Mehranpour 1989 1991
    Iran Mohammad Heidarkhan 1991
    Latvia Ivans Bugajenkovs 1991 1993 Acted as head coach from 1991 to 1993
    and as the general technical manager of all age groups from 1991 to 2007.
    Japan Fumihiko Matsumoto 1994
    Iran Masoud Salehieh 1995 1995 Asian Championship 4th place
    Iran Mehdi Saberpour 1997
    Japan Fumihiko Matsumoto 1998
    Iran Mostafa Karkhaneh 1999 2001
    Iran Hossein Ali Mehranpour 2001
    South Korea Park Ki-won 2002 2005 2002 Asian Games Runners-up
    2003 Asian Championship 3rd place
    Serbia Milorad Kijac 2006
    Serbia Zoran Gajić 2007 2008
    Iran Hossein Maadani 2008 2010 2008 Asian Cup Champions
    2009 Asian Championship Runners-up
    2010 Asian Cup Champions
    2010 Asian Games Runners-up
    Argentina Julio Velasco 2011 2014 2011 Asian Championship Champions
    2013 Asian Championship Champions
    2013 World Grand Champions Cup 4th place
    Serbia Slobodan Kovač 2014 2015 2014 World League 4th place
    2014 World Championship 6th place
    2014 Asian Games Champions
    Argentina Raúl Lozano 2016 2016 Olympic Games 5th place
    Montenegro Igor Kolaković 2017 2020 2017 World Grand Champions Cup 3rd place
    2018 Asian Games Champions
    2019 Nations League 5th place
    2019 Asian Championship Champions
    2020 Olympic Games Qualification
    Russia Vladimir Alekno 2020 2021 2020 Olympic Games 9th place
    Iran Behrouz Ataei 2021 present 2021 Asian Championship Champions

    Coaching staff
    Position Staff
    Head Coach & U21 Coach Iran Behrouz Ataei[5] bg= |p=Assistant CoachIran Alireza Tolookian]] Poland Paweł Woicki
    Analyzer Iran Hossein Khouriani
    Fitness Trainer Poland Janas Wojciech
    Doctor Iran Reza Gholipour
    U23 Coach Vacant
    U19 Coach Iran Mohammad Vakili
    Team Manager Iran Akbar Mohammadi

    Last updated: 10 August 2022
    Source:

    B Team
    NameFrom–Tonotes
    Iran Peyman Akbari 2010 2010 Central Asian Zone Championship Champions
    Iran Mohammad Vakili 2012 2012 Asian Cup Runners-up
    Iran Hossein Maadani 2013 2013 Islamic Solidarity Games Champions
    Iran Peyman Akbari 2014–2015 2014 Asian Cup 4th place
    2015 Asian Championship Runners-up
    Iran Nasser Shahnazi[6] 2016 2016 Asian Cup Champions
    Argentina Juan Manuel Cichello 2017
    Iran Behrouz Ataei 2018 2018 Asian Cup Runners-up
    Iran Azim Jazideh 2022 2021 Islamic Solidarity Games Champions

    Stadium
    Azadi indoor stadium with Iranian fans
    Rezazadeh Stadium in 2019 FIVB Volleyball Men's Nations League

    The team's home arena are Azadi Indoor Stadium, Azadi Volleyball Hall, Rezazadeh Stadium and Ghadir Stadium.

    Kit providers

    The table below shows the history of kit providers for the Iran national volleyball team.

    Period Kit provider
    2000–2008 Asics
    Mikasa
    Fuerza
    Mizuno
    Ideal
    2008– Merooj

    Sponsorship

    Primary sponsors include: main sponsors like MCI and Tourism Bank, Refah Stores other sponsors: Roamer.

    References
    1. "FIVB Senior World Ranking - Men". FIVB website. FIVB. Retrieved 26 July 2022.
    2. "Brief History of Iran Men's Volleyball". I.R Iran VolleyBall Foundation. Archived from the original on 20 October 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2021.
    3. Daily Bulletin Slovenia
    4. "خارجی‌های والیبال؛ از سردار تا ولاسکو". Archived from the original on 27 August 2016. Retrieved 8 August 2015.
    5. "OFFICIAL: Raul Lozano takes over Iran!". 16 November 2015.
    6. "کسب سهمیه المپیک والیبال قطعی است".
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