Which team did the player Javad Nekounam belong to between Aug 1998 and Sep 1999?
Javad Nekounam Javad Nekounam ( ; born 7 September 1980 ) is an Iranian retired footballer who played as a central midfielder , and is the current manager of Foolad FC . He spent most of his professional career with Pas and Spains Osasuna , appearing in 197 official games and scoring 31 goals over his two spells with the latter club and also being team captain . He also competed in the United Arab Emirates , Kuwait and Qatar , in 18 seasons as a senior . Nicknamed Neku , and widely regarded as one of Asias greatest footballers , Nekounam represented the Iran national team a record of 151 times , playing several major tournaments including two World Cups and four Asian Cups . Playing career . Club . Early years . Nekounam was born in Rey . Having played for Pas Tehran F.C . for several years , appearing in the AFC Champions League with the team , he signed a five-month contract with Al-Wahda F.C . in the United Arab Emirates for US$1 million , in 2005 . In January 2006 , Nekounam joined Al Sharjah SC , although some European clubs such as 1 . FC Kaiserslautern and Tottenham Hotspur had previously shown interest in him . Osasuna . After his performance at the 2006 World Cup Nekounam was linked to the likes of Hertha BSC of the Bundesliga and Ligue 1s Olympique Lyonnais , but he eventually joined CA Osasuna on a two-year contract , with an option to a third year and a €5 million minimum release-fee clause – he thus became the first Iranian player to be signed by a Spanish club . On 22 February 2007 , he scored in the 120th minute of the match against FC Girondins de Bordeaux in the knockout stages of the UEFA Cup to help to a 1–0 home win and aggregate score , and after a particularly successful first season began to attract interest from other European sides , notably Scotlands Rangers who had a £1 million pound offer rejected . On 14 August 2007 , Nekounam suffered an anterior cruciate ligament rupture in his right knee and , after undergoing a successful surgery in Augsburg , Germany , was sidelined for eight months . His number 24 was given to new signing Jaroslav Plašil , as he recovered from his injury . Nekounam agreed to a three-year extension on 24 November 2007 as his contract that was set to end on 30 June 2008 , with a €5 million buyout clause for the first two seasons and €2.5 million for the last . In February of the following year he made his first training appearance since the injury – incidentally , a week later , Xavier Margairaz suffered a similar injury , missing an estimate period that could amount to one year – and on 27 April he made his return against Valencia CF , coming on as a substitute for Francisco Puñal in the 70th minute of a 0–3 away loss . On 31 August 2008 , Nekounam scored Osasunas first goal of the season , from the penalty spot in a 1–1 home draw against Villarreal CF . In November/December he also netted , but the Navarrese failed to win at Málaga CF ( 2–4 ) and with Real Valladolid ( 3–3 ) , also opening the score in the 3–1 away defeat to Real Madrid on 18 January 2009 . On 22 March 2009 , Nekounam scored a last-minute goal for a 1–0 home victory over RCD Espanyol , and finished the season as the teams second scorer behind Walter Pandiani , scoring eight times in the league ( a career-best in Spain ) . In summer 2009 he received offers from both Espanyol and Villarreal , with the latter in particular being ready to pay the release clause in his contract ; however , the player repeatedly insisted to be happy at the club , waiting until he hears some better deals . Nekounam was again a regular starter for Osasuna in the 2010–11 campaign , but also spent one month at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup with his national team . On 20 February 2011 , in the second game upon his return from Qatar , he scored twice in a 4–0 home defeat of Espanyol , and eventually finished with six goals from 26 appearances in another escape from relegation . On 21 May 2011 , Nekounam renewed his contract with Osasuna for another two seasons , with the option of an annual renewal of his link . In July of the following year , amidst interest from Iranian powerhouse Esteghlal F.C . and unnamed Turkish and Qatari clubs , it was reported that he would only remain with at the El Sadar Stadium if he accepted a salary reduction – he was the highest-paid player . Esteghlal . On 21 July 2012 , aged almost 32 , Nekounam returned to his country and signed a two-year deal with Esteghlal for a record fee of US$1,500,000 , which made him the most expensive player in the Iran Pro League history . He scored his first goal for his new club in a 2–3 loss to Foolad F.C . on 28 November , through a penalty . On 5 May 2013 , against the same opponent , he also found the net , helping his team secure their 28th league title and winning his second national championship . Al-Kuwait . On 14 January 2014 , Nekounam agreed to a four-month contract at Kuwait SC . He scored his first goal for the club on 2 February , netting the only in an AFC Champions League qualifier against Al Shorta SC . Nekounam scored three goals in the 2014 edition of the AFC Cup , and also won the seasons Kuwait Emir Cup . Return to Osasuna . On 4 August 2014 , Nekounam returned to Osasuna by signing a two-year deal . He scored in his first game upon his return , a 1–3 Segunda División loss against Deportivo Alavés on 6 September . On 2 November he added another , helping to a 3–2 home victory over Real Betis . Saipa . Nekounam returned to Iran and its Persian Gulf Pro League on 6 July 2015 , joining Saipa F.C . for one year . He scored his first competitive goal for his new team on 6 August , the second in a 2–0 win at Rah Ahan Yazdan FC . Al-Arabi . On 21 January 2016 , Nekounam moved to Qatari club Al-Arabi SC on a four-month contract with an option to extend for a further year . In his first match , at home against Qatar SC , he assisted countryman Ashkan Dejagah in an eventual 1–1 draw . Nekounam left on 30 June 2016 , and the 35-year-old announced his retirement two weeks later . International . Nekounam received his first call-up to Iran in May 2000 . He became a starter for the national side during the 2002 FIFA World Cup qualifiers and , already a key midfield element , played two of the national teams matches during the 2006 World Cup in Germany , being suspended for the final group game against Angola after his second yellow card against Portugal . Additionally , Nekounam helped Iran win the 2002 Asian Games and the 2004 West Asian Football Federation Championship , and also represented the country in the 2004 , 2007 and 2011 AFC Asian Cups . He was Team Mellis leading goalscorer in its successful 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign and , on 1 June 2014 , he was selected by Carlos Queiroz for the finals in Brazil , where he captained the nation in an eventual group-stage exit . Nekounam also made the 2015 Asian Cup squad , on 30 December 2014 . In March 2015 , he hinted that a friendly against Sweden on the 31st – five days earlier , against Chile , he had become his countrys most capped player after surpassing Ali Daei– might be his last international , but later went back on that statement only to confirm it the following day and subsequently send an emotional open letter to fans ; he scored 39 goals for his country , and shortly after retiring was named Queirozs assistant . Coaching career . Midway through the 2017–18 season , Nekounam became the manager of F.C . Nassaji Mazandaran . His team won 23 points from his nine games in charge , and were promoted to the Persian Gulf Pro League after a 24-year absence . Honours . Player . Club . - Iran Pro League : 2003–04 Esteghlal - Iran Pro League : 2012–13 Al-Kuwait - Kuwait Emir Cup : 2013–14 International . Iran - AFC – OFC Challenge Cup : 2003 - West Asian Football Federation Championship : 2004 ; third place 2002 - Asian Cup third place : 2004 Individual . - Iran football award winners : Player of the Year - AFC Champions League Dream Team : 2013 - Asian Footballer of the Year nominee : 2013