Saeid Marouf

Career

National team Marouf's first national game was for Iran boys national volleyball team in 2001 and 4 years later, he joined the Iran men's national volleyball team. In 2007, Marouf became a constant member of men's national team but due to conflicts and disagreements, Marouf decided not to continue playing for men's national team in 2011 but he ultimately returned to team in 2012 and since former captain Alireza Nadi was not invited to the team by then-head coach Julio Velasco, Marouf became the team captain ever since. Marouf In the 2013 Asian Men's Volleyball Championship was selected as the Most valuable player. He was introduced as the Best setter in at 2014 FIVB World League above Bruno Rezende and Dragan Travica.

Clubs in Iran He started his career in his hometown volleyball club Urmia Moqavemat he has also played for Sanam Tehran, Shahrdari Urmia, Matin Varamin, Esteghlal Gonbad, Saipa Tehran, Damash Gilan, Kalleh Mazandaran. Marouf's first championship experience in Iranian Volleyball Super League was with Sanam Tehran and in 2011-2012 season he plays for Kalleh Mazandaran and he celebrates the Iranian Volleyball Super League championship with his team for the second time. He in 2014 Asian Men's Club Volleyball Championship tournament won the championship with Matin Varamin. in 2014 he signes a two-year contract with Shahrdari Urmia but halfway through the season he terminates the contract and subsequently joins the Zenit Kazan. Marouf in 2016 year join to Iran's most successful team Paykan Tehran.

Zenit Kazan After years of speculation regarding his presence at a European club, on 27 December 2014 Marouf signed a one-year contract with Russian Super League champions Zenit Kazan with an option for a one-year extension. The contract was worth over 1 million dollars which made Marouf one of the world's highest-paid volleyball players in 2014 .

On 25 January 2015, Marouf made his debut in the Russian Super League for Zenit Kazan in a 3–0 straight-sets win over Dynamo Krasnodar.

Beijing BAIC Motor Marouf after 2019 VNL transferred to Chinese Volleyball Super League for played in Beijing BAIC Motor.

Personal life Marouf was born in Urmia, West Azerbaijan, Iran in a family with a history of involvement in volleyball including his uncles Jahangir Seyyed Abbasi, Nobakht Seyyed Abbasi, Khoshbakht Seyyed Abbasi, and his former teammate Vahid Seyyed Abbasi.

In school, he participated in other sports, including Cross country running, Basketball and Handball.

Social activity Marouf, along with popular athletes such as Ali Daei, Hamid Sourian and Behdad Salimi, acted as a helper in the fight to eradicate poverty and hunger in the World Food Programme.

Honours

National team World Grand Champions Cup Bronze medal (1): 2017 Asian Championship Gold medal (2): 2013, 2019 Silver medal (1): 2009 Asian Games Gold medal (2): 2014, 2018 Silver medal (1): 2010 Asian Cup Gold medal (2): 2008, 2010 Asian U20 Championship Silver medal (1): 2004 U19 World Championship Bronze medal (1): 2003 Asian U18 Championship Silver medal (1): 2003

Club European Champions League Gold medal (1): 2015 (Zenit Kazan) Asian Championship Gold medal (3): 2008, 2022 (Paykan Tehran), 2014 (Matin Varamin) Russian Super League Champions (1): 2015 (Zenit Kazan) Iranian Super League Champions (3): 2005 (Sanam Tehran), 2012 (Kalleh Mazandaran), 2014 (Matin Varamin) Chinese Super League Champions (1): 2021 (Beijing BAIC Motor)

Individual Best setter: 2008 3rd World Olympic Qualification Tournament Most popular player: 2009 Asian Championship Best setter: 2010 Asian Cup Best setter: 2013 Asian Championship Most valuable player: 2013 Asian Championship Iran's Best Volleyball Player of the Year: 2014-15, 2016–17 (VLI) Best setter: 2016 1st World Olympic Qualification Tournament Best Asian Athlete of the Year: 2016 (Le Monde) Best Foreign Player: 2020–21 Chinese Super League