Daei: 'Iran Will Go Close'

PA - Iran legend Ali Daei believes his former team-mates have the experience necessary to launch a serious challenge for the AFC Asian Cup.
Daei, now retired from international football, was a member of the Iran side which caused widespread shock and disappointment by failing to finish above Angola in their winless World Cup 2006 campaign.

But the former Asian Player of the Year - who earned more than 100 caps for Iran and scored a world record 109 international goals during his illustrious career - thinks the team will have benefited from their time spent in the competition last summer.

"It will be difficult but we have a good team, I think," he told PA Sport after appearing for a FIFA World XI during Hong Kong's Reunification Cup on Sunday.

"But it will be difficult because of Australia but also Japan, Saudi Arabia and South Korea will challenge. It will be hard.

"However, the team hasn't changed, we've just added some new players, but they are very experienced and that's good for them because it means they know what they're doing.

"Nine or 10 of the players in the starting team are the same as last year, they haven't changed but they have more experience and that will help them."

Daei ended his international career last year after the campaign in Germany but continued to play throughout the just-completed Iran Pro League season for Saipa.

It was to be a successful season for Daei, who worked as player coach with the Tehran-based club, steering them to the title with a final day win.

"It was great for me, in my first season as a coach to become a champion," he said.

"It's great for me but it's just the start of my work. I have big ideas and plans for the team and I want to put those into action."

Daei's immediate success has seen him linked with higher profile jobs in Iran, with Persepolis - who he played for early in his career - seen as one destination, while he has also been touted as a future national team coach.

But for now Daei is focusing on his job at Saipa and leading the club into next year's AFC Champions League.

"We want to play well in the Asian Champions League," said Daei, who was in the Bayern Munich squad that reached the final of the 1999 European Champions League and who represented Saba Battery in the 2005 ACL.

"There's still a big gap between Asian and European club football but it is closing and I think it's better this year than it was last year and I hope that will continue in Asia."

Despite his success and the lure of more illustrious positions, Daei remains committed to the Saipa cause.

"I didn't speak to anybody and I don't think about Persepolis," he said of the speculation in the Iranian press. "I have a contract with Saipa and I would like to stay with Saipa.

"As for the national team, I can't say now but in the future anything can happen. I've learned so many things that have helped me as a coach and I can use my experience and do a lot to improve Iranian football."