IFF Appoints Ali Daei as Iran's New Head Coach

FNA - Iran's Football Federation (IFF) Sunday appointed legendary striker and present head coach of Tehran's Saipa club, Ali Daei, as the new head coach for the country's national football team.

The appointment came out of the blue as latest reports coming from the IFF emphasized selection of Afshin Qotbi, the head coach of premier league leader Persepolis, as the best possible choice for leading Iran's squad in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers in Asia.

During the recent weeks, the IFF announced that its other choices included ex-national team coaches Amir Ghalenoei and Bijan Zolfaghar Nasab and the current national team caretaker, Mansour Ebrahim Zadeh.

Deputy IFF president Mehdi Taj told state television that Qotbi, trainer of Persepolis Tehran, has prevailed over four other local contenders for the post.

The 45-year-old Qotbi will head the national team in the first round of the World Cup qualification games against Kuwait, Syria and the United Arab Emirates, Taj said.

In case of success, the 45-year-old would also take the team into the second round and eventually to the games in South Africa, Taj added.

Iran, which had been the only national side in Asia without a head coach since last July, started its World Cup qualification games with a disappointing goalless draw against Syria last month. The second game will be against Kuwait this month.

The IFF had in the recent weeks tried to employ Portuguese Artur Jorge and Spanish Javier Clemente but both efforts failed, especially with Clemente who had even signed a contract but his main demand not to live in Iran permanently was eventually rejected by the Iranian side.