This universal football fact encapsulates Iranian coach Ali Daei’s sudden fall from grace.
In terms of speed, the Iranian legend’s surprise sacking late Sunday is matched only by the abruptness of his ascension as Team Melli boss in March 2008.
Daei’s soaring coaching graph hit an unexpected trough after the 2-1 defeat to Saudi Arabia on Black Saturday at home.
Further compounding matters, this was Iran’s first ever defeat to the Saudis in their own formidable backyard of the Azadi Stadium, an unforgivable crime in the eyes of the Team Melli diehards, more than 100,000 of whom had packed the terraces.
Iran could have put a foot in the 2010 FIFA World Cup Finals with a win in what is known as the ‘West Asian Derby’ had it not been for two late goals.
The Iran Football Federation thought it fit to issue an uncommon apology to placate the fans, saying, “We would like to thank all people and appreciate their full support for Team Melli. At the same time, we apologise for the indecent result of the Iran–Saudi match.”
The federation president Ali Kafashian added: “We thank and appreciate Daei for all his efforts. He introduced new young players to the squad and decreased the average age of the team.
“We gave our full commitment to Daei for the Saudi match and our cooperation officially ended today.”
If the 40-year-old Daei’s coaching record as the national team coach is scanned objectively, it appears that the all-time leading goal-scorer has been hard done by. In fact, he has a win percentage of more than 50.
Team Melli played 25 games under Daei’s baton and won 16 of these. Six matches ended in a draw and they lost just three. But more significantly this was the team’s first defeat in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, coming at a crucial juncture that has left the team on the ropes.
But Daei’s detractors, and there are so many in the Iranian media, have dissected the wins threadbare and come to the conclusion that a majority of them have been notched against lower ranked, weak teams. In fact, the critics claim that Iran recorded just one big win during Daei’s tenure, over DPR Korea, in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Daei brought solid charisma to the demanding national team job and rich, if somewhat, fledgeling credentials. He took over the responsibility of Saipa as player-coach, leading them from the middle of the table, to the coveted league title, and a place in the AFC Champions League.
He hung up his playing boots after scoring the title-winning goal for Saipa in the last match, turned his hands to full-time coaching in charge of Saipa and steered them to a place in the AFC Champions League knockout stage, before quitting to focus his attention on the Team Melli job.
A common gripe among his critics is that the 1999 Asian Player of the Year was given the stressful role of leading Team Melli a bit too early in his coaching career.
But, early or not - and Daei is maintaining a studied, dignified silence - there is little doubt that the former striker took the opportunity that came his way by the scruff of its neck.
This is Daei’s first setback in the cantankerous world of football coaching and few are betting against a comeback, as grand and dramatic, as the man himself.
(Shahin Rahmani contributed to this feature)