TEHRANTIMES - Former Iran national team captain Mehdi Mahdavikia, who has played in notable German clubs such as Hamburger SV and Eintracht Frankfurt, stated that he would like to coach a Bundesliga side in the future.

“I could coach a first division club in Iran immediately after finishing my playing career but I am realistic, not every good football player is also a good coach. I wanted to start the coaching career from the first steps so I accepted the offer to work with Hamburg youth level team,” Mahdavikia told DFB.

“There are a lot of very young players who dream of a professional career but that’s not easy at all. Talent alone is not enough, you have to work and train hard,” Mahdavikia added.

“I have organized a football academy in Iran called Kia Academy which finds U-11 to U-17 football talented players around the country and work with them. The goal is to transfer these young talented players to big football clubs in Iran and even to Europe.,”