It is time to retire Ali

Ali Daei used to be the most prolific goal scorer in Iranian football. In his twenties and early thirties he scored goals with a dizzying pace for both club and country. He was adored by all Iranian football fans and could do no wrong in their eyes. Then age caught up with him like it does with all the greats, only Daei refused to accept it and gracefully step aside and make room for younger players.

Daei is still playing. At thirty seven, he is notably slower and less effective, but he refuses to retire from international football. The strange thing is that national team coach Branko Ivankovic insists on picking him for the team and playing him every time the team takes the field for both friendly and competitive games.

Fans are so dismayed by all of this that they have started to jeer the once adored star every time he touches the ball and that is too bad because he has done so much for Iranian football.

As a one time fan of his, I hope he does the honorable thing and step down on his own.