Nekounam voted Osasuna's best player

Nekounam has been named the best player of the 2011 for the Spanish football club Osasuna. Fans picked the 30-year-old Iranian national through an online poll as Nekounam was voted Osasuna's best player of the 2011, taking 32% of the votes. He was followed by Francisco Punal with 21%, Javier Camunas with 11% and Enrique Kike Sola Clemente with only 9%. After his great performance at the 2006 World Cup, many soccer clubs in Europe showed enthusiasm to sign Nekounam. However, the Iranian football player decided to join the Spanish club, Osasuna, on a two-year contract, with an option to a third year. On August 14, 2007, Nekounam suffered a rupture in the anterior cruciate ligament of his right knee, and was sidelined for eight months. Osasuna pinned faith on Nekounam on November 24, 2007 and agreed to a three-year contract extension on the Iranian player's contract, which was set to expire on June 30, 2008. Nekounam could make his first training appearance since the injury in February 2008. He managed to make his long-awaited return on 27 April of that year after Osasuna midfielder Francisco Punal was taken off the pitch in a match against Valencia CF. Osasuna lost the match 0-3. Nekounam featured Osasuna in the next years. He renewed his existing contract with the Spanish football club for another two seasons on May 21, 2011, with the option of an annual renewal.