Daei, Iran’s record goal-scorer, was famously axed after Team Melli were eliminated from the World Cup in 2006. But when the Iranian Football Federation [IFF] offered him the job, it was an honour the striker simply could not refuse.
“I love my reputation more than anything,” Daei told Iran’s ISNA news agency.
“You all know how I left the Team Melli and now I have returned this way. [The IFF] choosing me for the post of Team Melli coach was a surprise.”
With the appointment of Daei as Iran coach on Sunday, the IFF have finally put an end to a long-running saga over a new manager to take charge of the national side. Several foreign names and homegrown coaches were mentioned.
But, the IFF failed to settle on a particular candidate despite former Spain boss Javier Clemente and Iranian-American Afshin Qotbi being linked to the job.
Daei, though, appealed for the fans to overlook the confusion over Iran’s search for a new national football coach. Instead, he promised Iran will deliver an improved performance when they take on Kuwait in their next World Cup qualifier.
And, he plans to instill discipline to his squad in order to rescue Iran’s flagging fortunes. Daei also revealed he will be employing two foreign and two Iranian coaches to assist him.
No comments:
Post a Comment