The Malavan Courier
Squad14 Dec 2026
Farzad Taiebipour stands alone
8 saves, and a scoreline the ten men in front of him had no right to. Goalkeepers only get noticed on the bad days; this was one of the other ones.
Squad14 Dec 2026
Hossein Sadeghi in a row with a teammate
It was not about football and everybody who saw it knows that. Two men who have to play together on Saturday said things at Malavan this week that will take longer than a week to unsay.
Match12 Dec 2026
Malavan come up short against Persepolis
Persepolis left with the points after a 0‑2 defeat that will take some explaining on the terraces.
Market14 Dec 2026
Malavan promote Saeid Rezaeian from within
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Saeid Rezaeian has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Market14 Dec 2026
Malavan promote Pejman Karimi from within
The academy exists for exactly this morning. Pejman Karimi has come through every age group the club runs and has now been handed a senior number, and the people who coached him at twelve will be the proudest in the building.
Player ratings14 Dec 2026
Behnam Barzay beats them one at a time
Successful dribbles: 18. There was always a defender in front of him and there was never a defender in front of him for long.
The dugout14 Dec 2026
The manager’s verdict
“That is on me. I pick the team and I picked wrong.” Managers say that when they mean it and when they need to be seen to, and after 0‑2 Saeid Hajsafi left the room before anybody could ask which.
The dugout14 Dec 2026
No hiding place for Issa Alekasir
“I pick players who do the work. All of it.” No name was spoken; every camera still turned to Issa Alekasir, and the manager let it.
The dugout14 Dec 2026
Amir Reza Afsordeh gets picked when it counts
Every manager keeps a short list in his head of the men he wants on the pitch when the stakes rise, and it is never published. The team sheets for the big afternoons say Amir Reza Afsordeh is on it.
In brief
- The dugout Mohammad Alinejad knocks on the manager’s door
- Squad Farjad Fayaz wants out of the dugout
- Squad Ghaem Eslamikhah speaks, and the room listens