Peyman Hosseini, the star Iranian goalkeeper, is our ambassador of the day. Find out more about him!
Peyman Hosseini is one of a kind. Born and raised in Nowshahr, Iran, on the 16th of February 1984, he is the goalkeeper of the Iran Beach Soccer National Team. Although he is a professional beach soccer player since 2011, he had time to undertake two master’s degrees (one in Biology one in Physical Education) and is the owner of a fitness center. Furthermore, he will become father for the first time in 2 months’ time. “It is my biggest motivation at the moment” Hosseini says.
The Iranian had an early start as a professional athlete, but, despite what many may think, it was not in 11-a-side football but Karate. It was only at the age of 16 that he decided to focus on football and reached the A League in his country playing for the Shamooshak Nowshahr team.
In 2011, he was taking part at a national camp in his city when the coach of the National Beach Soccer Team at the time, Mr. Farshad Falahatzadeh, scouted him. And he has been part of the Iranian Beach Soccer National Team ever since. “I will be forever grateful to the coach, Mr. Abbas Hashempour and Mr. Marco Octavio, who invited me to take part in the National team and have put so much effort to make it happen”.
After so many individual and collective awards, it is clear that they made no mistake when choosing Peyman. The Iranian National Team has conquered many beach soccer honours since Hosseini is under the stick. “I never imagined being crowned Asian Champions and reaching a 3rd position in a FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup”.
You might wonder how does a 172cm high goalkeeper manage to become one of the best? “Obviously being tall helps to be a better goalkeeper. But being focused, knowing how to make the perfect jump and developing quick reflexes are the factors that will make you the best goalkeeper”.
But why did he choose beach soccer over football? “In my opinion, beach soccer is more difficult for a goalkeeper than regular football, you receive many more shots during a match and I like the challenge it represents. The more demanding, the more rewarding it is to me. That’s why I love beach soccer”.
We do not exaggerate if we say beach soccer moves thousands of fans in Iran and that’s, in part, thanks to this BSWW Ambassador. For instance, if you walk in the streets of Nowshahr or Teheran, you can find billboards with Hosseini’s pictures. “I’m thankful that Iran is known as one of the best beach soccer national teams, and grateful to represent my country. People in Iran respect me and I have a place in their hearts. That’s the best reward to all the hard work, hours of trainings and being far from my people and country”.
Hosseini is considered one of the greatest goalkeepers of the current beach soccer panorama. And it’s not that we say so. He was elected adidas Golden Glove at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup 2017 in the Bahamas as well as voted the Best Goalkeeper of the year at the 2017 Beach Soccer Stars. “Being named the best goalkeeper of a World Cup was a dream come true, but being chosen as BSWW Ambassador in the last 3 years made me proud of what I’ve become and gave me more energy and motivation to accomplish the future goals. I will do my best to develop beach soccer in Iran”.
