The 32-year-old midfielder who capped 112 times for his country is the only Iranian player who returns to Bundesliga after some years of hiatus. Earlier striker Vahid Hashemian had left VFL Bochum and unlike previous years, Iran did not have any footballer to play for a German club.
The interesting fact is that Karimi's play for his former UAE Club Al- Ahli in a friendly match against AC Milan led to his new contract. The soccer fans in Iran thought Karimi would join Tehran popular club, Perspolis, but once again he surprised anyone and opened a new chapter for himself. From now on Iranian fans will follow Schalke 04 matches with more enthusiasm.
Karimi recruited the Germans from Tehran-based Steel Azin FC with a five months contract which lasts by the end of this season. His more known new co-players include the German national goalkeeper, Manuel Neuer who is the captain of Schalke 04 as well as former Real Madrid captain Raúl González, Christoph Metzelder, Klaas-Jan Huntelaar and Jefferson Farfan.
Felix Magath has regarded Karimi as an influential player for his team: "I'm happy that such an experienced player has recruited us. We have some problems to get the ball from midfield to attack at the moment. Karimi could really help us with that," he told German football magazine Kicker.
Magath went on to say: "Like veteran Greek Angelos Charisteas, Karimi will play as Striker."
Karimi previously enjoyed a spell in the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich from 2005 until 2007. He never really managed to secure regular first team football at the Bavarians. He made only 33 appearances and scored just three times but obviously did enough to impress then Bayern coach Magath.
In 2010, after Iran had not been qualified for playing in 2010 World Cup, in a letter Karimi officially announced his resignation from national soccer team. However he was invited again by former Iranian coach Afshin Qotbi, but due to some differences he left the national team once more.
The 2004 Asian Player of the Year had previously banned from the national team in 2007 after he made criticisms against the Iranian Football Federation (IFF) headed by Ali Kafashian.
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