Tasnim - Iran retired soccer legend Ali Daei said his father asked him not to play football since he wanted his son to continue his studies.

Ali Daei is the world's all-time leading goalscorer in men's international matches. He has played in Arminia Bielefeld, Bayern Munich, Hertha Berlin and Iran's Persepolis.

Daei played 149 times for the Iranian national football team (also known as Team Melli) and scored 109 goals.

Attending a TV program in Iran's northwestern city of Oroumiyeh, Daei said, “My father didn’t allow me to play football. He was asking me to continue my studies. My late father was pushing me to become an engineer.”

“But my late mother always supported me. I was always playing football with a plastic ball behind our house,” former Iran and Persepolis coach added.