Ryan Tafazolli: The beast at the back

Standing at 6 foot 5, the strong and physical centre back, has been a rock at the back for Posh. He has been excellent this season, scoring a brilliant goal in the 2-0 win, and is just getting better and better. He has had adversity in his career, but the strength of his character is the reason for the player we play today, a very interesting person.

I feel that Ryan Tafazolli is on the brink of an international call up. He is eligible to play for either England or Iran at international level. He has been consistently performing in League 1, and may be knocking on the door of Iranian manager Carlos Queiroz. In an interview in 2016, Ryan Tafazolli announced that he would love to represent Iran.

Tafazolli also scores a lot of goals for a centre back, mostly down to his outstanding ariel ability, an expert of guiding the ball home with his head from corners. In his first season at the Posh, 2016-2017, he scored three league goals, and he scored 8 for Mansfield Town in League 2 prior to this.

A great moment in Ryan Tafazolli's Peterborough United career was his first goal for the club. He scored the first in a 3-0 win, against Posh's local rivals Northampton Town. His most recent goal was the first goal against Posh's other local rivals, MK Dons.

It has been a roller coaster so far for Ryan Tafazolli, it has not always been plane sailing, he has had to overcome adversity. He was part of the Southampton acamey, and was the captain of a very successful under 18's side and then also to captain the reserves at Southampton. He did then get loaned out to Salisbury City, but was sent off on his debut and played a few games before returning back to Southampton.

While back at Southampton, Tafazolli was not able to break into the first team and was released. He went on a trial with Eastleigh and Reading, but couldn't get into the side. After this set back, Ryan Tafazolli had a year out from football, before coming back with a veagence. He was signed for Mansfield Town, but did suffer another set back after having a hamstring injury for most of the season. A season later, he suffered a knee injury, but that was the turning point in his luck. He gained regular first team football and kept himself injury free. He became a very in demand player, as Dundee United of the Scottish Premier League wanted to sign him, but he remained at Mansfield Town. His excellent 24 appearence for Mansfield Town that season, earned him, fans' player of the season, Chairman and Directors' player of the season, and the Stags' Association player of the season.

It is testiment to Tafazolli's character that he overcame all of these things, to carry on and become the player he is today. It is proof of the corner that he turned when he achieved all of the awards that he did at the end of the 2013-2014 season for Mansfield Town.

Today he is a strong a physical defender and is getting better and better every single week. The 25 year old, has a lot of support from the posh fans, and rightly so. It is already a great story, Tafazolli's career so far, and should be called up to play for Iran, it will be icing on the cake.