FIFA - The name Ali Daei rings
out proudly in Asian football circles, especially so in the former striker's
native Iran. With 109 goals to his name in just 148 appearances for Team
Melli (as Iran is nicknamed), he is far-and-away the top scorer in the
history of international football and is unlikely to be caught out any time
soon.
Now coach of Saipa FC, Daei who is regarded as the best Iranian player in
history and one of Asia's true greats is in Durban, South Africa as one of
the assistants for the Preliminary Draw for the FIFA World Cup South Africa
2010. The first Asian player ever to line up for German giants Bayern Munich
is hoping intently to bring a bit of luck to his beloved national team when
the ceremony rolls on Sunday.
"I will be hoping to bring good tidings to the national team at this draw,"
said the former Hertha BSC Berlin and Armenia Bielefeld goal-getter. "I am
wishing the team and all the fans all the success in the world and hoping
that the draw is good to them."
Having retired from international football following the FIFA World Cup in
Germany in 2006, he carried on playing club ball for a season before hanging
up his boots after en emotional farewell match in May of 2007. Befitting his
talismanic status, he was immediately named the Saipa's manager.
Still the icon of Iranian football, Daei, now 38, is humble when asked if
anyone can take his place and get the same kind of scoring output for the
national team. "There will be no next Ali Daei, but maybe there will be one
who is better. There are a lot of promising young strikers in the country
and I hope they can come good and help to reach South Africa.
