page_title: Karim Ansarifard
section_title: Persepolis
hierarchical_section_title: Karim Ansarifard / Club career / Persepolis
caption_attribution_description: English: Karim Ansarifaard, Persepolis-Malavan match, 2012-13 Iran Pro League
context_page_description: Karim Ansarifard is an Iranian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Greek club AEK Athens and the Iranian national team. His playing style and ability have drawn comparisons to Ali Daei and he has been named Daei's "successor".
  World Soccer selected Ansarifard as one of the best young talents in the world alongside Javier Hernández and Jack Wilshere. In January 2012, FIFA.com selected him as one of the players to watch in 2012. Goal.com also chose him as one of the hottest 100 young football players in the world. Also in 2012, FIFA ranked him as the 48th best goalscorer in the world and second best in Asia.
context_section_description: There was much speculation during the 2011–12 Iranian Pro League season that Ansarifard would be leaving Saipa. On 17 June 2012 he signed a three-years contract with Persepolis. He was given the number 9 shirt. He scored his first goal in a pre-season match against Aluminium. He made his debut for Persepolis in an official match against Sanat Naft and scored his first goal for Persepolis against Gahar Zagros. He scored his first Hat-trick as a Persepolis player (and second in his career) against Paykan. He scored another hat-trick in the Round of 32 of Hazfi Cup at Malavan. He also scored the Persepolis' first goal in the Hazfi Cup final. His team would go on to lose on penalties. At the start of the season, Ansarifard initially decided to stay at Persepolis despite bids from Sepahan, Tractor and two UAE Pro League sides. However, he fell out with club head coach Ali Daei during pre-season. He was out listed and was eventually transferred to Tractor on 14 July 2013.
caption: Ansarifard playing for Persepolis against Malavan in 2013
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