Tag: Ali KArimi

12/01/2015

Sanctions choking Iran’s progress, says coach Queiroz

Melbourne (AFP) –

Iran coach Carlos Queiroz has voiced anger and frustration at how international sanctions are damaging his plans to build the team’s future.

“It’s been very difficult,” the former Portugal and Real Madrid manager said. “We suffer a lot to prepare friendly games and to move internationally to prepare the team and players. After the World Cup the situation is getting worse and worse.

“The players are victimised by the limitations of the sanctions.”

Sanctions imposed on Iran since its nuclear programme became public in 2002 have crippled its economy.

Queiroz complained that the knock-on effects were hampering his plans, and accused FIFA of not releasing up to $8 million in appearance money owed from last year’s World Cup in Brazil.

Queiroz’s side managed to play only two friendlies in the run-up to the Asian Cup, against South Korealast November and Iraq earlier this month.

“When we come to a competition like this, we have 80 million people dreaming about the team’s expectations, 80 million people supporting the team,” said the 61-year-old, who has brought a squad with several untested players to Australia. “But we can’t play because we don’t have the chance.

“Korea and Iraq did us a big favour, paying some of their expenses. When you come to this tournament (you see) it’s not about fair play. For those who always talk about fair play, there is no fair play.

“Fair play is to give opportunities to these kids to play international matches, to learn as all players deserve. It’s part of the FIFA spirit that politics should not interfere with the game.

“In order to change and really prepare the future of the Iranian national team, it’s time we got the all-clear from directors and the people that can help,” he added. “Iran cannot progress and it’s not fair for sport people, football players.”

Charged with rebuilding an Iran team put on the map by players such as Mehdi Mahdavikia and Ali Karimi, Queiroz’s frustration was palpable.

“Without support they cannot progress,” he shrugged. “At the end of the day when you don’t have resources to play games, it’s not fair for football, not fair for the young players of Iran.”

30/12/2014

Ali Karimi refusal to join Team Melli leaves many in shock!

Karimi’s snub to Team Melli and his last minute withdrawal without any formal announcement or prior coordination has hit the newspapers headlines in Tehran this morning. The details of the last minute drama before Team Melli departure to Australia are becoming clearer.

Ali Karimi has switched his mobile off 3 hours before departure and was not to be seen at his usual places. Before that, he did not turn up for the final practice session. It was a definite move by the assistant coach to hide and become untraceable. Questions to players and squad members asked by the media about his whereabouts were unanswered. Some players knew more than they claimed but Queiroz has banned any press statements or interviews before departure.

Queiroz himself was visibly disturbed and in a bad mood on arrival at the airport. His usually bubbly character and excitement at such events has completely abandoned him. Even his famous waves and smiles to the media were not there anymore. After reaching the airport departure terminal, he remained in the coach and did not disembark. He was shortly rejoined by Javad Nekounam. It would not be much of a brainer to guess that the topic of concern must have been Ali Karimi disappearance.

The only hint from the squad member of a disagreement or a dispute between Queiroz and Karimi came from one of the foreign assistant coaches who established that there was an argument between the two but he did not think it was of such a magnitude for Karimi’s to leave the squad.

Ali Kaffashian, clueless as always, was the last one to know about Karimi’s disappearing act and after being overwhelmed by inquiries from the press, he admitted that he has no clue at all and only heard about Karimi’s failure to turn up from the media! At least he is honest. He asked the media to be patient until he finds out the facts.

Editorials in the morning sport press of Tehran newspapers have reflected on the decision to add Karimi to the coaching staff, some editors questioning its overall value. Abrar Varzeshi questioned the motives of Queiroz in picking Karimi as his assistant, while Iran varzeshi’s scolded Karimi himself for accepting such a role.

Technically speaking, Karimi’s nonexistence in Team Melli squad will have zero effect on the team’s game plan, strategy and line up. His contribution or influence, if any, was far too limited to be considered a setback for the team chances in the Asian Cup. What is worrying though, is the emotional effect on the team and the tense atmosphere he created by leaving the team. Karimi has a knack of spoiling parties and has a track record of ruining it for others. His sudden knee jerk reactions have left him with a reputation of recklessness and selfishness. His objections are normally dramatic and controversial resulting in unsettling other people around him. In a nutshell, Ali Karimi is not an example of diplomacy or restraint when it comes to dealing with conflicts. His rebellious charterer is not really suited for a successful football coach.

It is this psychological effect that might be worrying Queiroz in Australia. Perhaps he has already realized that his selection of Karimi was ill-advised and was a bad move, in spite of his good intentions such as creation of a good atmosphere in Team Melli with the legend figure of Karimi. This is another battle he needs to fight on top of so many others in Team Melli camp.

One can only feel sympathy for the Portuguese and wonder if these firefighting exercises might take its toll on him, after all a person can take that much pressure. These are the type of concerns that could lose him his concentration, leading to a focus change from on the field matters to off field topics and perhaps some disgruntling. He already has a mountain to climb technically speaking with a patched up team that is ill-prepared for such a major tournament. Now he has an added task of hyping the team and morally strengthens them to make a fight of it.

29/12/2014

The thrill and the excitement of Team Melli Iran continue. Karimi AWOL!

Ali Karimi made on of his typical disappearing act and did not turn up for the flight to Dubai and onwards to Sydney, Australia

While all the squad was abroad the coach, there was no sign of Karimi who also did not turn up for the final practice session of the team before packing their bags for the flight. No one in the squad or federation had any information about his sudden unexplained absence. Ali Karimi is in the squad as an assistant coach to Carlos Queiroz , however , Karimi posted a fresh message in his Instagram page in Farsi saying that “If you cannot serve, then go away so as not to be considered a betrayal”

The closest explanation for this abandonment of duty by Karimi considering the posted message on social media is that Karimi has reached his low volatile point. The inclusion of Ali Karimi in Team Melli’s coaching staff was an idiotic idea by Carlos Queiroz from the start. Such appointment had nothing to do with technicality but much to do with publicity despite the Portuguese claim of trying to utilize Karimi’s experience ! Karimi, an impulsive person whose careers was littered with indiscipline and controversy in parallel to his wizardry on the field , had all sort of problem with authority and peers. Despite his value and undeniable skills, he was a player that many coaches found quite difficult to deal with. Without having any coaching experience nor qualification, he was given a coaching role that made him believe that he is truly special.

Karimi’s reaction to his appointment was quite typical of the person who thinks that because of his skills and popularity among the fans, he can pull strings, cut corners and demands special treatment different than others. In his statement after the appointment and in a tongue-in- check manner , he offered apologies to all other Iranian coaches who were qualified and much more experienced than him, in a tone that showed traces of his arrogance he is known to possess.

Somehow, Karimi must have thought that he really has what it takes to be a coach without going through the phases and courses that is demanded by the rest of the football world. He could have stepped on Queiroz’s authority in the camp and as such, that must have brought him in loggerhead with Queiroz, who does not take too kindly to interferences by assistant coaches in his work. Queiroz relegates the job of assistant coach to merely follow his orders, not to give advice or ideas to players over stepping his authority.

Karimi must have felt frustrated when Queiroz put him to place or asked him not to interfere, thus his words in Instagram talking about not being able to help or serve. Karimi’s ego and pride will never let him be a puppet for someone else to use for his fame or popularity.

Farewell ceremonies for Team Melli before departure

These are all speculations, but it is the closest thing to reality. Many insiders would have predicted this scenario between two strong-headed persons in Carlos Queiroz and Ali Karimi.

This is the story of the day. Don’t be surprised or shocked if everything turns out to be the extreme opposite and Karimi is on the next flight to Dubai, attending to his business interest in the UAE or if he fancied, continue to Sydney.

Team Melli will be arriving in Sydney on Tuesday evening to set up its final training camp. At the time of writing this report , there was no confirmation if Mehrdad Pooladi and Soroush Rafei are included in the squad, although the former is in Doha at the moment.

13/12/2014

5th consecutive Asian Cup for Nekounam and approaching record.

Team Melli Captain, Javad Nekounam is on the brink of breaking a record of total match played for Team Melli. The current record holder is Ali Daei with 149 match appearances, while the Osasuna Captain is lagging behind by 2 matches with 147.

The next competition that Nekounam can equal or overtake Daei record is the AFC Asian Cup 2015 in Australia. Barring any surprises or injuries, Nekounam is assured at least the 3 matches he requires to take the all time record of matches. This will also be a record breaking 5th consecutive AFC Asian Cup appearance for Nekounam who played in the 2000 edition of Asian cup in Lebanon. Javad Nekounam ( 34 years) made his debut for Team Melli against Syria on the 28th May 2000 at the age of 20 when he was a Pas Tehran player. Jalal Talebi was Team Melli coach who gave Nekounam his debut. For the next 14 years, the midfielder ‘s name was ever present in the list of Team Melli , with a character and performances which made it easy for the various Team Melli coaches to pick him.

Unlike many of his contemporaries , Nekounam kept a steady form , high level of discipline and avoided side issues and problems off the field. Despite being on the same age group of Ali Karimi , and Mehdi Mahdavikia, both household names in Iran and well-known beyond the national border , Nekounam managed to easily overtake both in number of matches played for Team Melli. while the Karimi was busy involving himself in all types of disputes and trouble making that kept him away from Team Melli on several occasions , Nekounam simply pressed on. Mahdavikia , on the other hand, suffered from the fact that he played in Germany which restricted his number of games especially the friendly matches.

In the list of top players who played 50 matches or more, the only player that seem likely to overtake both Daei and Nekounam , is Sepahan’s Ehsan Hajsafy. The young player is going from strength to strength with some wonderful performances. His consistency and discipline is exemplary and that should allow him . like Nekounam , to be on the selection list of Team Melli for many years to come.

TEAM MELLI

LIST OF TOP APPEARANCES

27/10/2014

The difference between Football laws of Spain & Iran.

While Iran’s Ali Karimi is appointed as the assistant coach of National Team without any training credentials , in Spain the legendary Zinedine Zidane is banned from coaching a reserve team because he does not hold the right qualification.

The former France international did not possess the necessary certificates to train the Blancos’ second-string side and, as a result, cannot return to the bench until 2015

Real Madrid reserve team boss Zinedine Zidane has been banned from the bench for three months over missing coaching qualifications.

There was a complaint made against Zidane’s position as Real Madrid Castilla head coach in August, a position he had taken during the summer after choosing to step aside as Carlo Ancelotti’s assistant with the club’s first team.

The former midfielder has a Uefa A Licence – equivalent to Level 2 qualifications in Spain – but needed Level 3 badges to hold the position to take charge of the Blancos’ second string.

Zidane’s deputy, Santiago Sanchez, has been handed the same ban as he used his qualifications to shield Zidane from being pulled up on his lack of coaching badges, which the Champions League winner now must obtain before early April to avoid further sanctions.

Obviously , Iran Football Federation does not believe in such unnecessary Spanish bureaucracy which mars the progress of football in the Iran !

17/10/2014

“In Iran, experience and reputation supersedes education and qualifications. “ Afazeli said.

Human Afazeli, who was the Technical Manager of the Omid Team that has miserably failed in Asian Games 2014 Incheon, said that one of the biggest hurdles in Iran, and not just in football, is that the society favors , trusts and accepts people with experience and reputation on those who are educated , qualified and professionals in their job.

“This type of mentality will remain a big hurdle against development and progress, since we are not utilizing the competence, scholarship and the qualification that is dearly required to successfully accomplish the tasks. Instead we chose to appoint people with experience and reputation without necessarily having the qualifications for the job. Such appointments lead to a lot of trial and error situations which we are experiencing right now in Iran’s football. There is no guarantee of success, quality & standards or even continuity”

As an example, Afazeli mentioned the appointment of Ali Karimi and Mehdi Mahdavikia to National teams’ managerial or coaching positions as proof of such concept that prevails in Iran. Afazeli said “utilizing and taking advantage of the popularity of those ex-Team Melli players would lead to many experts shying away from criticizing such appointments. No one dares to mention any reference to the suitability, qualification and competency of such appointments.”

Afazeli said that both Karimi and Mahdavikia have taken risks. “Without knowing if Ali Karimi is going to be a good coach or not , or even if he has any real intent or interest in coaching , he was dragged into Team Melli coaching team. This could bounce back in his face if the team fails, which is exactly the case with Mahdavikia”

The former assistant coach to Branko Ivankovic in Team Melli and expert match analyst added “The warning bells were there for a long time, but we failed to realize or act. “Group sports are disappearing and so are the spaces for practicing. Football being the main sport has lost quite a large of space and areas to practice and play in our cities. I think in a few years’ time, with the lack of foresight, we might face a real disaster in our football.”

Afazeli said that he put his thoughts forward to Ali Kaffashin in regards to Team Omid (Olympic Team ) failure , but the head of FFIRI had a completely different vision and mentality. Afazeli said that he realized that they are in two different planets which lead him to shake hands with Kaffashian in full respect and resign his position in the federation.

Human Afazeli was the Technical Manager of U-23 team and member of the FFIRI Technical committee. Ali Karimi has been appointed by Carlos Queiroz as assistant coach without any experience or qualification as a coach at any level. Mehdi Mahdavikia has been accompanying youth level teams in the capacity of advisor and mentor without being involved in technical details.

15/10/2014

Asian Icons: Ali Karimi

AFC Player of the Year 2004, Ali Karimi, who recently announced the end of his compelling playing career, kicks-off the first of the-afc.com’s ‘Asian Icons’ series as we build up to the AFC’s 60th Anniversary celebrations in November by profiling the individuals and incidents that have impacted on the Asian game over the years.

The charismatic Karimi will undoubtedly go down as one of Iran’s greatest footballers who, on his day, could dazzle Iranian and Asian football fans with his silky passing, unbelievable imagination and light feet as he orchestrated attacks for club and country.

Standing proudly alongside other Iranian football legends such as former team-mates Ali Daei, Mehdi Mahdavikia and Karim Bagheri, Karimi is third in the all time Team Melli scoring chart with 38 goals from 127 matches in an international career that was not without its tensions as major disagreements between strong personalities were not uncommon in Iranian football over the years.

Top scorer as Iran finished third at the 2004 AFC Asian Cup, Karimi has also helped Team Melli win the 1998 Asian Games gold, two WAFF Championships and a 2003 AFC/OFC Challenge Cup title in which he scored twice in a 3-0 win over New Zealand and was named MVP.

The Karaj-born attacking midfielder was even more successful at club level and after winning two league titles with Persepolis and two UAE Cups with Al Ahli, Karimi followed in the footsteps of compatriots Bagheri, Daei, and Mahdavikia and made the move to the German Bundesliga.

Karimi, nicknamed ‘the Asian Maradona’ by fans in Iran, won the 2005/06 league and cup double with Bayern Munich before winning his second DFB Cup winner’s medal with Schalke 04 following a brief spell back in Germany in 2011 following a stint in Qatar with Qatar Sports Club and Al Siliya and two seasons back in Iran with Steel Azin.

After his second stint in Germany Karimi returned to Persepolis for a third stint at the Tehran giants before calling time on an illustrious career that spanned almost two decades at his final club Tractorsazi Tabriz, where he had a final cameo appearance on Asian club football’s biggest stage, the AFC Champions League

07/10/2014

Nekounam to join Team Melli coaching staff

Ali Kaffashian has revealed that the current Team Melli Captain , Javad Nekounam has been earmarked to join the coaching staff of Team Melli right after the AFC Asian Cup 2015.

“Carlos Queiroz plans to introduce the recently retired players like Farhad Majidi and Ali Karimi to Team Melli coaching staff to enhance the capability of the squad (….)” Kaffashian said in a short statement yesterday.

“Of course Nekounam wants to continue playing football , but he will also be in the coaching team of team Melli”

There was no reaction from the player himself, who is currently playing for his old club Osasuna in the second division of the Spanish League.

26/09/2014

Ali Karimi is appointed as an assistant to Team Melli head coach.

The Ex-Tractorsazi player has announced his retirement from football last season and attempts a few days back by Hamid Derkhshan to bring him back to play for Persepolis at the age of 36 has failed.

The appointment of Ali Karimi , who is not a certified or professionally qualified coach nor attended an approved coaching course, has surprised many especially since the FFIRI was counting on having a strong presence of national coaches at the bench of Team Melli beside the foreigners that Queiroz depends on.

It is not clear what role Karimi will play in Team Melli as his presence cannot add any technical value to a team of coaches that Queiroz has at his disposal. The most probable scenario is that Queiroz and Kaffashian, using Karimi’s popularity, has planned this appointment as a formality to silence the growing critics of Queiroz who has been identified as a person who has little respect for domestic Iranian football.

Last time, FFIRI has forced Queiroz to appoint an Iranian domestic coach, resulted in the ex-Esteghlal coach Majid Saleh to be assigned. In what was a clear maneuver by the Portuguese coach to frustrate Salih , and a show defiance to FFIRI , Queiroz cynically got rid of him by ordering Salih to leave the bench during a friendly match in the Austrian camp and watch the match from the stands! Saleh in protest against such insult refused such intimidating act and preferred to tender his resignation rather than be abused by the coach who simply does not want him.

Appointment of Karimi is yet another of Iranian only football peculiarities the likes of which can only happen in the chaotic football administration. Ali Karimi, a person who always claimed high values and chivalry, must know that his appointment is nothing short of a farce and a facade. Realizing the availability of so many qualified and experienced Iranian coaches as candidates for Team Melli, Karimi stated the following “I apologize for all the Iranian coaches who thought that they will be selected for Team Melli”. Perhaps , that sums Karimi’s attitude and Iran’s football in general.

Although the contribution of Karimi in the technical affairs of terms is highly unlikely, let us hope that his presence on the bench can at least offer a moral support and helps to brings the AFC Asian Cup back to Iran after 40 years, a feat that Ali Karimi could not achieve in 3 attempts as a player.

28/07/2014

Asian football is all the poorer for the retirement of a genuine legend.

Asia loses a legend as Karimi retires

JOHN DUERDEN

espnfc.com

Ali Karimi has finally hung up his boots after a fine career.

Not many football players were mentioned by name in those diplomatic cables released to the world by WikiLeaks a few years ago but Ali Karimi was. Even Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad found the time to get involved in the career of the man they called ‘The Wizard Of Tehran” who finally pocketed his wand and hung up his boots earlier this week. Having threatened to quit before, this time it is for real and Asian football has lost a little of its sparkle as a result.

His 117 caps for Iran, Bundesliga success with Bayern Munich and three separate spells with his beloved Persepolis in Tehran don’t tell anything like the full story. Karimi is one, some say the best, of the most talented players Asia has ever produced.

Special barely begins to describe the quarterfinal of the 2004 Asian Cup against South Korea, almost exactly a decade ago. Jinan is one of the grittier Chinese cities but if you wanted beauty and magic, it was the place be on that sticky Saturday night as it hosted one of the greatest individual performances ever seen on the continent. Scoring a hat trick in a 4-3 win was always going to grab the headlines but there was something different about his performance that only a true great can claim. Iran coach Branko Ivankovic recalled later on how he realised early in the game that his star man was in special form; the instructions from the bench and the half-time team talk were basically to give it to Karimi.

Some of the Korean defenders were still shaking their heads an hour after it all finished and the tormentor is still talked about and respected in Seoul. Karimi was more than the difference between the two teams, he was the difference between witnessing an exciting game of knockout football in a major competition and something unforgettable. A few months later, he was named Asia’s player of 2004.

It was almost a perfect year with the only frustration that he was still playing for Al Ahli in a UAE league where he lingered too long. It was like Park Ji-sung starring in the 2002 World Cup and deciding to stay at Kyoto Purple Sanga for another season or two instead of heading to PSV Eindhoven, the latter stages of the Champions League and then Manchester United. In typical Karimi fashion however, when the move came, it was a big one as he left Dubai for Bayern Munich, just weeks before Park was pictured holding the famous red shirt at Old Trafford in July 2005.

Karimi’s first game against Bayer Leverkusen was watched by millions back home. It is hard to think of an Asian player who had managed such an impressive big league debut after a direct switch from east to west and the midfielder basked in the plaudits after helping his new club to a 5-2 win.

He continued to look solid over the next six months or so, before an ankle injury in arctic conditions against Hamburg in March 2006 ended his first campaign. He never really got going again, perhaps it was being injured a long way from home, perhaps it was the fall-out of that summer’s World Cup, perhaps it was issues behind the scenes at FC Hollywood, but the injury as good as ended his time with Bayern. It was made official in May 2007 and, soon after, he returned to the Middle East and Qatar. Apart from the briefest of spells with Schalke, his European career was over.

There will be regret that the wider world outside Asia didn’t get to see much of what he could do. 2006 should have been the time but the World Cup was a disaster for both player and country. Karimi was still not match fit after the Hamburg injury and was taken off on the hour of the opening game against Mexico. Shortly after, a 1-1 scoreline became a 3-1 defeat. Worse was to follow. He was one side of a major split in the dressing room opposite Ali Daei, a legend who was past his best by the time the tournament kicked off, and for Iranian football, the lack of unity off the pitch was more painful than results on it.

Controversy was never far away from Karimi — given the tag “Asian Maradona,” the nickname was accurate in more ways than one as he was not afraid to speak out about some of the issues in Iranian football, a trait that won him enemies as well as public affection. In 2008, the Iranian FA banned him from the national team after he publicly criticised the federation for incompetence. He was reinstated thanks to the efforts of President Ahmadinejad.

Ali Karimi: The deep-lying forward has played 112 times for Iran — Karimi was never one to hold his tongue.

Perhaps, however, Iran’s leader regretted the intervention the following year. In June 2009, Karimi headed to South Korea as part of a team needing to win to keep hopes of automatic qualification for the 2010 World Cup alive against a backdrop of major protests back home. The president had just won re-election but the opposition claimed their man, Mir Hossein Mousavi, as the real winner. The favoured colour of the challenger during the election was green, and six of the Team Melli XI took the pitch in Seoul sporting wristbands of the same colour. Whatever the official explanation soon given — namely that the gesture was a religious one — it was certainly interpreted by many as support for the opposition.

Many thought that was it for Karimi in terms of the international stage, especially when in 2010, his club Steel Azin banned him from playing after he was reportedly seen drinking water in a training session during Ramadan. The ban didn’t last long though and he was soon back playing for his country but, in truth, his best years were behind him.

Even so, he managed to play a sizable part in Iran’s successful qualification for the 2014 World Cup until the historic defeat to Lebanon midway through the final stage. Many fans campaigned for him to be summoned to Brazil but it was not to be, though coach Carlos Queiroz reserved some special words for the player when naming his final squad, who took the omission with the kind of grace he often showed on the playing field. In the end, it was hard to imagine the 35 year-old matching younger compatriots in their defensive discipline against Argentina but then, perhaps, it is easy to imagine him coming up with the goal that Iran deserved against the eventual runners-up too.

Karimi wasn’t perfect. He upset plenty and his performances didn’t always match his skill but that was part of his charm. He divided opinion as easily as he divided a defence with a deft backheel, but surely all can agree that Asian football is all the poorer for the retirement of a genuine legend.