1. Club Career
Ali Karimi has embarked on a comprehensive professional football journey, starting his career in Iran with Sepahan and subsequently playing for various clubs in Croatia, Iran, and Qatar before settling in Turkey with Kayserispor.
1.1. Sepahan
Ali Karimi joined Sepahan in the summer of 2012, transitioning from the Sepahan under-19 football team, where he had been a member from 2010 to 2012. He made his first league appearance in the 2013-14 season. Karimi achieved significant success with Sepahan, winning the Persian Gulf Pro League in the 2014-15 season and the Hazfi Cup in the 2012-13 season.
1.2. Dinamo Zagreb
On 1 July 2016, Karimi made a significant move to European football, joining Croatian champions Dinamo Zagreb on a five-year contract. The transfer fee was reported to be around 400.00 K USD. His signing marked him as the first Iranian player to compete in the Croatian Prva HNL. Karimi made his preseason debut on 2 July 2016, coming on as a second-half substitute in a match against Romanian club CS Pandurii Târgu Jiu. He made his league debut on 13 August 2016. During his time at Dinamo Zagreb, he also played for Dinamo Zagreb II.
1.2.1. Loan to Lokomotiva
In January 2017, Karimi was loaned to Lokomotiva, a feeder club for Dinamo Zagreb, for a six-month spell. This loan provided him with more playing opportunities, allowing him to demonstrate his skills in midfield. He started in six games for Lokomotiva, contributing to multiple goals and scoring his first goal in the Croatian league on 26 April 2017. This crucial goal secured a 1-0 league victory for NK Lokomotiva against Istra 1961.
1.3. Esteghlal
On 15 July 2018, Ali Karimi returned to Iran, joining Esteghlal by signing a one-year contract with the club. He was a key player for Esteghlal in the Persian Gulf Pro League.
1.4. Qatar SC
On 1 November 2020, Karimi moved to Qatar, joining Qatar SC on a one-year contract. He subsequently made appearances in the Qatar Stars League.
1.5. Al-Duhail
Following his stint with Qatar SC, Karimi moved to Al-Duhail on a short-term basis in 2021. During his time with Al-Duhail, he participated in the Qatar Stars League and various cup competitions.
1.6. Kayserispor
Ali Karimi joined Kayserispor as a free agent. He currently plays as a central midfielder for the Turkish club, competing in the Süper Lig. His active play for the club is prominently featured from the 2022-23 season onwards. His jersey number is 6.
2. International Career
Ali Karimi has represented Iran at both youth and senior international levels, participating in various tournaments and qualifiers.
2.1. Youth National Team
Karimi was called up to the Iran U-23 training camp by coach Nelo Vingada. This was in preparation for major tournaments such as Incheon 2014 Asian Games and the 2016 AFC U-22 Championship, which served as a qualification for the Summer Olympics. He was ultimately named to the final roster for the Incheon 2014 Asian Games. He also won the WAFF U23 Championship in 2015 with the Iran U-23 team.
2.2. Senior National Team
Karimi received his first call-up to the senior national team in March 2014, although he did not make an appearance at that time. His debut for the senior squad occurred on 10 November 2016 in a friendly match against Papua New Guinea. He was also called up for a 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifier against India in September 2015.
In May 2018, Karimi was named in Iran's preliminary squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup held in Russia. However, he was ultimately not included in the final 23-man squad due to an injury. He later secured his place in the final roster for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, selected by coach Carlos Queiroz.
3. Career Statistics
This section provides a detailed overview of Ali Karimi's professional appearances and goals in both club and international competitions.
3.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Sepahan | 2012-13 | Persian Gulf Pro League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2013-14 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 2 | ||
| 2014-15 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2015-16 | 28 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 3 | ||
| Total | 65 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80 | 5 | ||
| Dinamo Zagreb II | 2016-17 | Druga HNL | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| Dinamo Zagreb | 2016-17 | Prva HNL | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| Lokomotiva (loan) | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |||
| Sepahan | 2017-18 | Persian Gulf Pro League | 20 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 20 | 1 | |
| Esteghlal | 2018-19 | Persian Gulf Pro League | 26 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 3 |
| 2019-20 | 27 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 37 | 8 | ||
| Total | 53 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 70 | 11 | ||
| Qatar | 2020-21 | Qatar Stars League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Al-Duhail | 2020-21 | Qatar Stars League | 9 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 22 | 1 |
| Kayserispor | 2022-23 | Süper Lig | 21 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 25 | 2 |
| 2023-2024 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 3 | ||
| Total | 48 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 5 | ||
| Career total | 220 | 18 | 22 | 3 | 28 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 272 | 24 | ||
3.2. International Statistics
| Iran | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2016 | 1 | 0 |
| 2017 | 6 | 0 |
| 2018 | 3 | 0 |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 |
| 2022 | 3 | 0 |
| 2023 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 19 | 0 |
4. Honours
Ali Karimi has achieved several notable honours throughout his club and international youth career.
Sepahan
- Hazfi Cup: 2012-13
- Persian Gulf Pro League: 2014-15
Iran U23
- WAFF U23 Championship: 2015