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FIFA - Few Asian stars have
reached as iconic a status among their fans as former France captain
Zinedine Zidane. But not so in the case of Karim Bagheri, who became a
living legend in Iran after steering his side to the 1998 FIFA World Cup
France™.
Bagheri's earlier international retirement was somewhat more low-key than
that of "Zizou", who hung up his boots in the wake of his glittering
performances at Germany 2006. Bagheri, by contrast, made an abrupt
retirement from the Iranian national team after their failed qualifying
campaign for Korea/Japan 2002.
But while the French legend has resisted the temptation to return to the
pitch, Bagheri, known as "Iran's Zidane", was persuaded to rejoin Ali Daei's
Team Melli for a recent FIFA World Cup qualifier against UAE. And there
could not have been a more fitting way for the 34-year-old to mark his
return that to score a crucial equalizer, in his first international game in
six years.
Old comradeship
Daei stunned even Iranian supporters when he announced Bagheri's call-up
prior to the UAE game. But long-term followers of Iranian football know all
too well that the decision would reignite a very fond memory. Daei and
Bagheri made their debuts for Team Melli on the same day, 6 June 1993, and
so began a fruitful eight-year international comradeship.
It didn't take too long for them to assume leading roles with Iran. While
Daei embarked on a long goal hunt which eventually made him one of the
world's all-time scoring greats, Bagheri ran the show in midfield, and
developed a knack for scoring crucial goals.
Their partnership culminated in Iran's remarkable qualification for France
1998, when both played key roles in the decisive match. Iran were on the
brink of elimination in the make-or-break playoff against Australia, two
goals down with only 20 minutes to play. But Bagheri rose to the occasion to
pull one back for Iran on 71 minutes, before Daei perfectly sent Khodadad
Azizi through for the equalizer that doomed Terry Venables' Socceroos to
elimination on away goals.
With their international experiences together still fresh in the memory, it
was only natural that Daei should turn to Bagheri when midfield maestro Ali
Karimi rejected his international call-up. "Karim is a great player, and we
will be able to rely on him against UAE," Daei said at the time.
Unanimous welcome
Bagheri's return sparked excitement among fans and players alike. Mehdi
Mahdavikia, the only member of the current team who had figured prominently
alongside Bagheri in qualifying for France 1998, led the welcome. "Karim has
a wealth of international experience, and it will be an honour for me to
return the captain's armband to him," said the Eintracht Frankfurt
midfielder.
Masoud Shojaei, who captained Iran through Asia's third qualifying round,
was another one to show his admiration. "I used to watch Bagheri playing on
television, and it's wonderful to be playing alongside him now."
Bagheri, for his part, lived up to expectations, as he nodded home Shojaei's
cross ten minutes from time to cancel out Abdulraheem Jumaa's early goal. In
the dying minutes, he came close to setting up a winner for Iran, when his
deft lob sent Gholamreza Rezaei clear, with only UAE keeper Majed Nasser to
beat. But the Saba Battery forward hesitated, and the chance went begging.
Never mind. The veteran had made his point, and Iran will face their
remaining qualifiers with the utmost confidence, in the knowledge that the
legend has returned...and looks as good as ever.
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