Ali Daei

Ali Daei
Daei in 2019
Personal information
Full name Ali Daei[1]
Date of birth (1969-03-21) 21 March 1969 (age 55)
Place of birth Ardabil, Imperial State of Iran
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in) [2]
Position(s) Centre forward
Youth career
1983–1987 Esteghlal Ardabil
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2007 Islamic Azad University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1987–1989 Esteghlal Ardabil
1989–1990 Taxirani
1990–1994 Bank Tejarat 75 (49)
1994–1996 Persepolis 38 (23)
1996–1997 Al Sadd 16 (10)
1997–1998 Arminia Bielefeld 25 (7)
1998–1999 Bayern Munich 23 (6)
1999–2002 Hertha BSC 59 (6)
2002–2003 Al Shabab 21 (11)
2003–2004 Persepolis 28 (16)
2004–2006 Saba Battery 51 (23)
2006–2007 Saipa 26 (10)
Total 362 (161)
International career
1993–2006 Iran[a] 148 (108)
2002 Iran Olympic (Wild Card) 3 (3)
Managerial career
2006–2008 Saipa
2007 Iran Students
2008–2009 Iran
2009 Islamic Azad University
2009–2011 Persepolis
2011–2013 Rah Ahan
2013–2014 Persepolis
2015–2016 Saba Qom
2016–2017 Naft Tehran
2017–2019 Saipa
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Iran (as player)
AFC Asian Cup
Third place 1996 United Arab Emirates
Third place 2004 China
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 1998 Bangkok Team
Gold medal – first place 2002 Busan Team
AFC–OFC Challenge Cup
Winner 2003 Iran
WAFF Championship
Winner 2004 Iran
Representing  Iran (as manager)
WAFF Championship
Winner 2008 Iran
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Ali Daei (Persian: pronounced [ʔæliː dɑːjiː]; born 21 March 1969) is an Iranian football manager and former professional footballer. A striker, he was the captain of the Iranian national team between 2000 and 2006. He played in the German Bundesliga for Arminia Bielefeld, Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin. He is regarded as one of the greatest Iranian footballers of all time as well as one of the greatest footballers from Asia.[4]

A tall forward, Daei was a prolific goal-scorer, who was known for his heading accuracy and ability in the air.[5] He was the world's top international goal-scorer with 108 goals[6] until his record was broken by Cristiano Ronaldo in 2021. During his playing career, Daei was appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 2001.[7] Following his retirement, Daei served as a member of the FIFA Football Committee between 2007 and 2013.[8][9] In 2014, he was inducted into the Asian Football Hall of Fame.[10]

  1. ^ "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Iran" (PDF). FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 6 November 2022. Retrieved 6 November 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ Mamrud, Roberto. "Ali Daei - Century of International Appearances". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 3 February 2023.
  4. ^ "The all-time greatest Asian footballers - ranked". 90min.com. 3 March 2021. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
  5. ^ "The giants of the game". FIFA.com. 23 January 2009. Archived from the original on 9 May 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2020.
  6. ^ "Ali Daei in Guinness World Records 2014 as best goalscorer". IRNA. Archived from the original on 22 March 2023. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  7. ^ "UNICEF appoints Daei GMCJ goodwill harbinger", IRNA, 1 September 2001, archived from the original on 27 July 2018, retrieved 29 June 2018 – via Payvand News
  8. ^ "FIFA Football Committee". fifa.com. Archived from the original on 25 June 2011. Retrieved 30 July 2007.
  9. ^ حذف نام علی دایی از کمیته فوتبال فیفا (in Persian). fararu.com. Archived from the original on 11 April 2013. Retrieved 17 June 2013.
  10. ^ "Kewell, Hong, Daei among AFC's first Hall of Fame inductees". Reuters. 21 November 2014. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 14 December 2020.


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