Retire No 10 jersey in honour of Daei, says Ghalenoiee

AFC - Iran national team coach Amir Ghalenoiee believes the No 10 jersey, worn with distinction by former skipper Ali Daei over the years, should be retired in honour of the legendary striker’s contributions to Team Melli.

Speaking at a press conference, Ghalenoiee said: “Daei was one of my team mates in Team Melli and I have really not decided who deserves to wear that jersey (No 10). But if the (Iran) Football Federation regulations allow me I would like to retire it. His (Daei’s) was a legendary era in Iranian football.”

Saipa player-coach Daei, 38 and the first man to hit a century of international goals, is yet to announce his retirement from the international game but has not been considered by Ghalenoiee for the national team after a poor performance in last year’s FIFA World Cup.

When asked about Team Melli’s preparations for the July 7-29 AFC Asian Cup 2007™, Ghalenoiee said: “We are trying to arrange some friendly matches but nothing is confirmed as of yet.”

“We have a special plan for the AFC Asian Cup™ but this alone will not guarantee success. It is better to take the 2006 World Cup as an example. That is football.”

Ghalenoiee took pains to assure that he was trying to strike a balance between both the right and left flanks of Team Melli. “Mehdi Mahdavikia, Hossein Kaabi and Javad Kazemian have made the right flank very strong but now we need to counterbalance it by strengthening the left flank. Fereydoon Zandi, Nikbakht Vahedi, Sattar Zare and Mohsen Yousefi are the candidates I am banking on to do this.”

Iran have been drawn in Group C with co-hosts Malaysia, China and Uzbekistan.