Iran coach Afshin Ghotbi invited Ali Karimi to the national team on Thursday while the Wizard of Tehran has not played for the team since June 2009.
“I had bid farewell to the national team to help the Iranian football officials build a new young team. On the other hand, being invited to the national team is a great honor for any player. Therefore, I am obliged to play for my people and my country,” Karimi stated in his personal website.
Iran is scheduled to play Thailand on March 3 in the 2011 Asian Cup qualifier in Tehran.
