Iran sack Daei after Saudi defeat
Monday, 30 March 2009
TEHRAN, Mar 29 (AFP): Iran Sunday sacked its national football team coach Ali Daei following its defeat against Saudi Arabia in a 2010 World Cup qualifier, the state news agency IRNA reported Sunday.
"Ali Daei was sacked from coaching the national team in response to people's demands for his negligence in fulfilling his duty and the team's poor results in World Cup qualifiers," IRNA said, quoting an unnamed source.
The announcement of Daei's dismissal who is the world record-holder scorer in international matches, came after his lacklustre performances as coach for the 2010 World Cup Asia's qualifiers.
Iran, seeking a fourth appearance in the finals, are fourth in Group B with six points from five games managing only a win and three consecutive draws.
Daei's dismissal became imminent after the national team's 2-1 defeat in a home game against Saudi Arabia in front of almost 100,000 enthusiastic fans Saturday.
"Ali Daei was sacked from coaching the national team in response to people's demands for his negligence in fulfilling his duty and the team's poor results in World Cup qualifiers," IRNA said, quoting an unnamed source.
The announcement of Daei's dismissal who is the world record-holder scorer in international matches, came after his lacklustre performances as coach for the 2010 World Cup Asia's qualifiers.
Iran, seeking a fourth appearance in the finals, are fourth in Group B with six points from five games managing only a win and three consecutive draws.
Daei's dismissal became imminent after the national team's 2-1 defeat in a home game against Saudi Arabia in front of almost 100,000 enthusiastic fans Saturday.