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AFP - Bull-chested Bundesliga winger Mehdi
Mahdavikia can lay strong claim to being Iran's greatest ever player if he
helps bring home the Asian Cup this year.
While the dynamic 29-year-old has never lacked personal accolades, he will
be desperate to finally to land a major trophy - and end Iran's 31-year wait
for a fourth regional title.
A direct and incisive runner with a lethal right foot, Mahdavikia was
instrumental in Iran's march to the 2004 semis and will cause the most
jitters among Team Melli's opponents.
The 2003 Asian Player of the Year will also want to make amends for Iran's
disappointing World Cup, where they earned just one point in three games.
Mahdavikia, who recently moved to Eintracht Frankfurt after a distinguished
eight-year spell at Hamburg, may get his chance with new coach Amir
Ghalenoei's revamped Iran.
With stalwarts Ali Daei and Yahya Golmohammadi retired, Mahdavikia will make
up the experienced core along with fellow Bundesliga men Ali Karimi and
Vahid Hashemian and Bolton's Andranik Teymourian.
Iran will look to Mahdavikia to provide the spark, as when he orchestrated
2004's dramatic 4-3 quarter-final win over South Korea.
Mahdavikia, known as 'der Teppich' (the carpet) at Hamburg for his magical
ability to glide past opponents Arabian Nights-style, had a hand in three of
the goals, adding to his legend among Iran's fans.
He had already achieved immortality at the 1998 World Cup by getting Iran's
second in the 2-1 victory over the United States, thus sealing the most
fabled result in the country's football history.
Mahdavikia, who started his career with Persepolis FC and was Asia's young
player of the year in 1997, was also twice player of the season at Hamburg
where he scored 29 goals in 223 Bundesliga appearances.
Known for his gentlemanly demeanour, the married father-of-one hit the
headlines last year when it was revealed he had a second wife - an offence
in Germany but not in Iran.
He has since called the move a "big mistake".
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