German football's new hero

Expatica - The German football season is in full swing with Iranian-born Mehdi Mahdavikia becoming the man to watch. John Bagratuni profiles the player who has been compared to Britain's David Beckham or Real Madrid ace Luis Figo.
Naohiro Takahara may be the big-name player at SV Hamburg, but another Asian player at the club, Iran's Mehdi Mahdavikia, is stealing the spotlight from Japan's Footballer of the Year.

After all, coach Kurt Jara believes that Mahdavikia is as good as the world's most famous right-winger David Beckham or Real Madrid ace Luis Figo.

"He does not have to hide behind those players," Jara said recently in praise of the 25-year-old Mahdavikia.

"When he is fit he is one of the best right wingers in Europe. He is a key player in our team," said Jara.

The delighted fans agree and have even resorted to poetry, with an "Ode to Mehdi Mahdavikia" posted on a Hamburg fan website (www.hsv-ole-ole.de).

"He's playing at his peak-i-a; we're on a winning streak-i-a; we'll win again this week-i-a; with Mehdi Mahdavikia," the ode starts.

Hamburg did not win last weekend, but a 1-1 draw at VfB Stuttgart further enhanced their chances of making the UEFA Cup.

The diminutive Mahdavikia scored his first goal of the season in that game for the Northern Germans, who currently occupy sixth place in the Bundesliga.

However, it is not his scoring skills but rather his role in setting up scoring opportunities for his teammates which makes him so important. Mahdavikia has so far set up a Bundesliga-record 11 goals in the 16 games he has played.

"He is very important, his crosses are superb," said striker Bernardo Romeo.

The statements and statistics show that Mahdavikia has returned in strong fashion from a back injury which sidelined him from February 2002 until last August.

Mahdavikia was already a key figure in his debut season at Hamburg in 1999/2000 as the club finished an impressive third in the league to win a place in the European Champions League.

Now Hamburg eye a place in Europe again after two mediocre seasons, which appears a must if they want to keep their star.

"I would like to play against the best every year in Europe," said Mahdavikia.

The Iranian's contract expires in June 2004 and there are growing fears within the club that he may move elsewhere on a free transfer.

"I don't know what I will do. Money is not the most important issue. I want a good future outlook to develop as a player," Mahdavikia was quoted as saying on Tuesday by the Bild daily.

Mahdavikia's advisor Reza Fazeli has so far dismissed rumours that he will leave next year and said that they will first talk with Hamburg when the time is right.

But Mahdavikia reportedly has several offers from abroad, most notably from the English Premier League.

He was already linked with Tottenham in 1998 but eventually left Pirouzi Teheran for VfL Bochum on a loan deal in December of that year. He then moved on to Hamburg the following year when Bochum where relegated.

It was in 1998 at the World Cup when Mahdavikia gained worldwide fame for scoring the second goal in a 2-1 triumph for his country in the tension-filled match with the United States.

"That victory and my goal was just unbelievable," Mahdavikia once said.