• Date of Birth: November 8, 1978
• Place of Birth: Shahryar
• Height: 178 cm
• Weight: 73 Kg
• Club: FC Bayern (Germany)
• National Team Shirt: #8
• Position: Striker & Midfield
• First Coach: Pourheydari
• Marital Status: Married
• Previous clubs: Fatth, Persepolis, Al Ahli
• Tournaments: Asian games Thailand, Dunhill Cup, Asian Cup 2000, Asian Cup 2004

 Ali Karimi has become the hottest property in Iranian and west Asian football in the last two years. His rise has been remarkable given that before joining the current champions at the start of the 1998-99 season, Karimi was at Second Division Fath, where training was conducted on the streets with a plastic ball. 

Karimi’s mesmerising runs, driving style and outstanding skill have already alerted the likes of Italy's Perugia and Atletico Madrid of Spain to the potential of the 22-year-old Pirouzi striker. He was quick to find success with Pirouzi, winning the domestic Double in 1999 and the championship again in 2000. International honours came even more rapidly, as he helped Iran to win the 1998 Asian Games, most notably by scoring in the final. 

A move to Europe is more than likely. A projected transfer to Perugia was aborted in September last year after the Italians baulked at the œ1.4million asking price, despite having been impressed with Karimi following a trial. 

Now Atletico are poised to step in after officials saw him lead Pirouzi into the semi-finals of this year's Asian Club Championship. Karimi is well aware that Iranian players - apart from the likes of Ali Daei and Mehdi Mahdavikia - have struggled to settle in Europe and are soon returning home. 

The youngster is adamant this won't happen to him and is more than happy to try his luck with Atletico, despite the fact that they are currently in Spain's Second Division.The youngster is adamant this won't happen to him and is more than happy to try his luck with Atletico, despite the fact that they are currently in Spain's Second Division.'It's a dream for every player to play in a League like Spain's,' says Karimi, 'and I will do my best to go there. But I don't want to go there just to get a contract; I want to go and play.'