Iranian soccer player Hadi Norouzi has lost his life after suffering a heart attack, in what has been described as the second tragedy to strike the Islamic Republic’s soccer in nearly a month.

The 30-year-old forward, who used to captain the Tehran powerhouse Persepolis, had a cardiac arrest while asleep at his home in the Iranian capital, Tehran, early on Thursday. He was rushed to hospital, but died shortly afterwards.

Persepolis manager Mahmoud Khordbin also confirmed the news of Noruzi’s death.

Norouzi joined Tehran’s Reds in summer 2000 from Persepolis U19. He played four seasons for Persepolis U19 before concluding a contract with Pasargad and moving to the Pasargad Tehran football club.

Norouzi signed a deal with Persepolis U21 after doing his military service. He later left the Persepolis U21 team for Damah Iranian's Senior team to compete in the 1st Division of Iran's soccer.

He returned to Persepolis in 2008, and was mostly used as a substitute in the 2008–09 season. Norouzi was the top assistant of Persepolis in the 2010–11 season, and extended his contract with Persepolis for another two years in summer 2013, remaining in the team until 2015.

Norouzi returned to Persepolis before the start of the 2014–15 season after spending six months with the Naft Tehran soccer team. He was picked as the captain of Persepolis before the start of the 2015–16 season after his predecessor Mohammad Nouri left the club.

On September 2, veteran Iranian soccer and former Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan Soccer Club player Nasser Kadkhodaei passed away in his home city of Isfahan.