ALI daei's biggest challenge

Romario may claim to have scored 1,000 career goals, but his international record is far inferior to that of Ali Daei.

In fact, Daei's haul of 109 international strikes is a world record, dwarfing the scoring feats of Pele, Ferenc Puskas, Diego Maradona and Eusebio.

The retired Romario, who netted 55 times in competitive internationals for Brazil, included unofficial – and youth – matches in his four-figure tally, but Daei's 109 goals came in 149 appearances for Iran, albeit including numerous strikes against the lesser nations in the global game.

Daei, the Asian Player of the Year in 1999, was the talisman as Team Melli qualified for the World Cup finals in 1998 and 2006 and blazed a trail for other Asian players to follow in Europe.

But now he has been assigned his toughest task – guiding an expectant nation to South Africa in 2010 as the Iran manager.

The transition from star striker to manager requires a different type of leadership, but, so far, Daei has proved he is more than capable.

He led Saipa to the Iran Pro League in his first season as a coach, scoring the second goal in the title-clinching victory before announcing his retirement. Last month, after their final round robin match against Al Wasl, Daei-coached Saipa made it to the AFC Champions League quarter-finals.

While Romario will be content to bask in the sun on the Copacabana beach after hanging up his boots, Daei has an altogether different target.

The 39-year-old, not prepared to dwell on a prolific career, which featured spells at Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin, has turned his focus to a long and fruitful future as a manager.

"It is not the end point of my career," he said. "I have bigger targets to achieve. Winning the title in my first coaching experience was great, but it is far from enough."

Daei was named Iran boss in March, an appointment which could curtail his involvement with Saipa – he has been combining both roles – after the group stages of the Asian Champions League.

It was a surprise choice by the Iranian Football Federation, who had embarked on a long and ultimately unsuccessful courtship of Spaniard Javier Clemente.

Daei, who is an imposing figure standing at 6ft 3ins, has a combustible character and was a disruptive figure on Team Melli at the World Cup in Germany two years ago, where he was reported to have fallen out with Vahid Hashemian, Mehdi Mahdavikia and Ali Karimi – three players who will be key if Iran are to qualify for 2010.

But his knowledge of the local game and his experience of the Bundesliga and European football, which included a run to the Uefa Champions League final in 1999 – although he was an unused substitute in the defeat to Manchester United – will be of vital importance.

Iran are trailing the UAE in Group Five of the Asian qualifying section for the World Cup, with two draws from their opening two fixtures against Syria and Kuwait.

Four coming matches this month will determine if Iran can progress to the next round, with next week's double header against the UAE followed by matches against Syria and Kuwait.

But Daei's relationship with IFF president Ali Kafashian has already been tested after just one match in charge – the 2-2 draw in Kuwait – and he has threatened to walk away from his position with the national side.

Daei is still to sign a contract with the IFF, who are hoping he will leave Saipa to concentrate solely on the national team.

He also hoped for warm-up fixtures prior to the qualifier with Kuwait, but the request was denied.

The events led to an angry outburst.

"If Ali Kafashian does not have the time to meet with me to discuss the issues regarding friendly matches and my contract with the federation, then neither do I," Daei said.

"If this continues, then we'll have a problem, and they should consider replacing me with someone whom they like. I do not wish to waste my time and risk my reputation."

But Daei has been assured that the IFF, an organisation notorious for being behind the times, will change their attitude.

"Ali Kafashian has promised to speed up and finalise my contract negotiations," he said.

The IFF also downplayed the episode.

Deputy-in-Chief Mehdi Taj said: "Daei has been busy with Saipa and Team Melli during this time and the fact a contract has not been signed is not a sensitive issue."

Daei will hope the IFF remove the obstacles which have hindered his reign so far, allowing him to impart his wisdom on his players.

He attributed his goalscoring exploits to instinct, but insists there is no substitute for hard work. "Only mothers can give birth to goalscorers," he said. "You need to be born a goalscorer. "It is something about instinct, but you have to improve yourself with training. And I am no exception."

Although it is too early to tell if Daei is a natural manager, if he can inspire his players to adopt his undoubted patriotism and fierce work ethic, Iran will lead the Asian charge once again.

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