Player Profile: Ali Daei

Ali Daei is simply the most influential player in Iran’s football history. Single handedly, he pulled Iranian football out of obscurity.

After the Iran-Iraq war that lasted eight years and devastated both countries, Iranian football was at its lowest. Then came this tall and lanky kid out of the North Western town of Ardabil.

He got his first cap in June 6, 1993 against Pakistan. Iran won 5:0, but Daei had to wait another 19 days for his first International goal. It came on June 25, 2006 and after that there was no stopping the kid.

He was adored by millions of Iranian fans for his commitment to their beloved Team Melli.

For years every one in Asia knew that when Team Melli was on the pitch the ball was going to go to Daei, so they double and tripled team him, they banged him around, they even maliciously fouled him, but he still scored.

As a matter of fact he is the most prolific scorer in the history of the game with 109 International goals in 145 games with a whooping 0.75 average per game.

His move to German Bundesliga’s Bayern Munich in 1998 opened the door for many promising Iranian players amongst them Mehdi Mahdavikia of Hamburg, Vahid Hashemian of Hannover 96, and Ali Karimi of Bayern Munich.

After Munich he moved to Herta Berlin where he became the first Iranian player to ever score in a UEFA Champions League match when he scored a double against Chelsea and then later against AC Milan.

After a stint in UAE he moved back Iran in 2003 and since then he has scored an impressive 36 goals in the Iranian Pro League.

His passion and desire for the game, the same attributes that made him the greatest player in Iranian football’s history, have been his downfall in the eyes of once adoring fans. At 37 Daei has clearly lost a step, but he refuses to retire from the international game. Many fans perceive this as a very selfish act on his part; one is that costing a number of younger players a chance to shine.

Whatever the case may be, if Daei proves his critics wrong and shows his scoring touch in Germany this June, all will be forgiven and the proud captain can then retire at the top.

To read more about Ali Daei click here.