3/2/2008
John Duerden, goal.com

Iran have been mentioned as a national team equivalent to Newcastle United. The reasons are simple: passionate fans who want to see good football, memories of success becoming increasingly misty and administrators that are less than competent.

The comparison can be stretched, perhaps, to include the two striking legends in nations both Persian and Geordie. Alan Shearer shot himself into black-and-white hearts with scores of goals while Ali Daei can proudly point to the fact that he has scored more international goals than any other player.

It is generally accepted that Shearer will, sooner or later, take the reins of Newcastle. The arrangement between Daei and Iran was similar. It was always going to be a just matter of time before the former Bayern Munich player became coach of Iran especially as he enjoys support high up in the oh-so-complex world of Iranian football.

That became even likelier when he steered Saipa to the league title in his first season as coach. Domestic coaching success coupled with a prestigious international career is an attractive combination for an Iranian Football Federation (IFF) that has spent seven months scrabbling around for a replacement for Amir Ghaleneoi.

It happened at the weekend. Daei was given the job and given the task of steering the team along the road to South Africa. Daei wasn't the popular favourite as, according to polls carried out by Iranian television, Persepolis boss Afshin Ghotbi was the overwhelming choice of the 800,000 fans that voted.

Towards the end of his international career, Daei was a player who divided opinions among Iranian fans. He was 37 when Iran embarked upon their disastrous 2006 World Cup campaign and many felt that he had overstayed his welcome and had undue influence in the dressing room. That was the place where he, reportedly, was involved in disputes with the likes of Ali Karimi and Eman Mobali.

Such fall-outs have raised concerns that Daei may struggle to lead a team containing players that he doesn’t get on well with. It was heartening then to see that Karimi, a fellow Bayern alumni, quickly and publicly back Daei – though cynics may say that after his form of the past two years, Karimi is not in the position to be able to afford to antagonise the coach.

Whatever the reason, Karimi was right to do what he did. That’s the way it must be. Like any coaching appointment, it remains to be seen if Daei turns out to be successful. But after a stressful, messy and very public few weeks in which a number of names have been linked and then not, it is time for everyone to pull together. This is what Iranian football needs.

If certain players have a problem with Daei then it is their problem. If they get the call to represent their nation, any personal feelings have to be cast aside. Either that or they don’t play. It should be that simple.

Daei, for his part, needs to start with a clean slate and pick the players that deserve to be selected on the basis of form and ability. There are enough politics involved in Iranian football without the national team coach getting involved in some of his own.

There are sure to be a few twists and turns to come, it wouldn't be Iranian football otherwise but finally, Iran has a coach, finally, all the gossip can stop, finally the events of the past few months can be put to bed and finally, Iran can concentrate on football and qualifying for the 2010 World Cup.