TEHRAN -- Iran’s Football Federation (IFF) appointed Ali Daei as new national football team coach on Sunday.

After a lot of shilly-shallying, the decision by the IFF to appoint the legendary Iranian striker as the head coach of the national side came out of the blue.
Only a couple of days ago IFF Deputy President Mehdi Taj announced that Afshin Qotbi, the trainer of Tehran’s Persepolis club, was the first choice to manage the national team.
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, he would also take the team into the second round and eventually to the games in South Africa, Taj added.
“After examining Ali Daei’s plans, he was officially named as head coach of the national team,” ISNA quoted the IFF’s head Ali Kafashian as saying.
“Initial talks were held with Ali Daei over the past days and today we held a meeting with him where he submitted his plans to the federation,” he added.
“Tomorrow he starts his work as head coach and he has full authority. His chief plan is to take the team for the World Cup.”
Iran has been the only soccer side in Asia without a head coach and started its World Cup qualification campaign with a disappointing goalless draw against Syria last month.
Iran had previously qualified for the 1978 tournament in Argentina, the 1998 competition in France and the 2006 finals in Germany.
Earlier, the IFF had tried to hire Spanish Javier Clemente but failed; he had even signed a contract but the Spaniard’s main demand not to live in Iran permanently was eventually rejected by Iran’s Football Federation.
Iran will play its next world cup qualifier against Kuwait in this month.