His dazzling skills and off-field image made him the David Beckham of Iranian soccer during a glittering playing career.
But now Ali Daei has discovered that his golden boy status is no immunity from the sack after leading the national team to a humiliating home defeat in front of Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
Daei was fired as team coach after Iran lost a World Cup qualifier against Saudi Arabia at Tehran’s Azadi stadium on Saturday. The 2-1 defeat, watched by 100,000 spectators, left Iran facing an uphill task to make next year’s finals in South Africa.
PHOTO: AFP
Ahmadinejad, a keen soccer fan, had hoped a morale-boosting victory would bank him political capital in the run-up to June’s presidential poll, in which he is seeking re-election.
The desire to score a propaganda coup even prompted Ahmadinejad’s supporters to credit him when Iran took a 1-0 lead.
The goal was greeted with a mass mobile phone text message, reading: “The presence of Dr Ahmadinejad inspired Iran to score a goal. Allah-u Akbar.”
Yaari news, a Web site linked to the former reformist president, Mohammad Khatami, said that the text was sent by the president’s backers.
The euphoria evaporated when Saudi Arabia scored twice in the last 12 minutes, prompting fans to direct a hail of missiles and angry chants at Daei after the final whistle.
Before leaving, Ahmadinejad is reported to have told Mohammad Aliabadi, the head of Iran’s physical education organization, that an inquiry should be held into the result and performance.
Daei, who had been in his post for a year, later told reporters that he would not quit. But his fate was sealed after another mass text went out, reading: “Due to the importance of national public opinion to Dr Ahmadinejad, Ali Daei has been forced out.”
The sacking marks a low-point for 40-year-old Daei, whose career included 109 goals in 149 appearances for Iran and a spell betweeen 1998 and 1999 with Germany’s biggest club, Bayern Munich.
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