Schaefer to meet Iranian Football Federation head in Germany by Monday

IRNA – German coach Winfried Schaefer said he is due to hold talks with the head of the Iranian Football Federation (IFF) in Germany by Monday on a possible national team coaching deal.

"The meeting is aimed at getting better acquainted. It is important to get to know the president and see how he thinks," the 57-year-old ex-Bundesliga trainer told IRNA.

I hope to be able to visit Iran soon, he added.

Meanwhile, Iranian news reports quoted the head of the provisional committee IFF, Mohsen Safaei-Farahani as saying that there had been no contacts with Schaefer by the Iranian federation.

Safaeie-Farahani said no decision has yet been made to sign a contract with Schaefer.

He added it was likely that football agents contacted foreign coaches in the name of the IFF.

Safaei-Farahani stressed that foreign coaches should be aware as to who has been officially authorized to engage in negotiations with them.

The latest developments notwithstanding, Schaefer said he felt "greatly honored" to be even considered for the coaching post of the Iranian national team.

"It would be truly a great honor to coach Iran which is also a great football country. Iran has amazing footballers like for example Ali Daei."
The former Cameroon coach who led the African squad to the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea, stressed he would be "delighted", if a deal could be worked with the Iranian Football Federation.

Schaefer stressed that one of his first priorities as Iran's likely new coach would be to instill "winning spirit" on the team.

"The slogan of the Iranian national team players should be: We will win the game and not hopefully we won't lose. National team players need to feel a sense of patriotism when they play for Iran. It should be an honor and pride when they play for their country," the ex-Al Ahli trainer said.

"We need another type of player like Ali Daei," he added.

According to Schaefer, a major focus will be placed on physical fitness and motivating national team players like Vahid Hashemian who are only reserve players in their clubs.

"I want to create a new excitement in the Iranian national football squad, Schaefer vowed.

"I also want to rebuild the team with a mix of experienced as well as younger players," he added.

The former Borussia Moenchengladbach star player pointed out that while Iran did not perform well during the 2006 World Cup in Germany, the triple Asian Cup champs have the capability to move into knock-out phase of the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

"Iran is among the best football nations in Asia," Schaefer stressed.

Asked about the high failure rate of foreign football coaches in Iran over the past years, Schaefer referred to his three-year coaching tenure in Cameroon where he led the African squad to the 2002 Africa Cup crown and his two-year stint at Al-Ahli Dubai, wining the league title.

Schaefer began his professional career at Bundesliga club Karlsruher SC before taking over rivals VfB Stuttgart and ex-second division side Tennis Borussia Berlin .

The former midfielder played 403 Bundesliga matches for Moenchengladbach, Kickers Offenbach and Karlsruher SC, having scored a total of 46 goals.