DPA - Iran's national team captain Ali Daei
wants to quit international football after the World Cup 2006 in Germany,
the news agency ISNA reported on Sunday.
“I prefer to withdraw from the national team after the World Cup 2006 and
just concentrate on my club team (Saba Battery Teheran),” Daei said.
Until then however the 36-year-old hopes to increase his national team games
to over 150.
Iran need just one point from the remaining two qualifiers – at home against
Bahrain and away to Japan – to qualify for next year's Finals in Germany.
The former striker of Hertha BSC Berlin, Arminia Bielefeld and Bayern Munich
last year received the Iranian badge of merit in recognition of his
outstanding achievements in sports and his social engagement for children
and young adults.
Last November Daei became the first player worldwide to score 100 goals in
international football. A street in Teheran is to be named after Daei
following the end of his sports career.
