By Michael Church

Less than a year ago, Iranian football was being dragged through the mud as the nation crashed out of the Asian Cup at the quarter-final stage.

A golden-goal loss at the hands of Korea sparked finger pointing galore inside Jalal Talebi's squad as the coach quit and players and officials berated one another in the media.

Iran had gone to Lebanon with high hopes of victory and their first Asian Cup win since the glory days of the 1970s, when Ali Parvin et al dominated the continent's game. That their challenge should end in such acrimonious fashion only served to highlight that there were serious problems at the core of the Iranian game.

One of the men at the centre of the controversy was SV Hamburg's Mehdi Mahdavikia. The talented midfielder had made his debut for Iran at the same tournament four years earlier in the United Arab Emirates and came to individual prominence a year later as Iran qualified for their first World Cup finals in 20 years.

At the tender age of 24 years old, Mahdavikia is already considered one of the team's veterans. Yet even he, committed and loyal to the cause, was voicing his discontent saying playing for the national team had become an experience that was less than enjoyable.

"We went to Lebanon to win the Asian Cup but after the incident against Korea all of the gossip came out about the team," he says. "Our media and newspapers built it all up. There was a lot of truth in what was said but there were a lot of lies as well and the media made a big deal out of it.

"But the conditions within the camp were intolerable. I didn't like the atmosphere at the time."

Sweeping changes were made. Talebi quit and several of the big name players, veterans of World and Asian Cup campaigns, retired or were consigned to the sidelines as Iran begin the regeneration process, with the likes of Ali Karimi and Hamed Kavianpour, stars of Iran's youthful WAFF Championship winning side, coming to the fore.

"Now the atmosphere is perfect and I'm happy," says Mahdavikia. "At this moment I'm enjoying playing for the national team."

Since starring in France three years ago, Mahdavikia's career has taken off. After an aborted move to English side Tottenham Hotspur, the former Pirouzi man joined Germany's VFL Bochum in early 1999, only for the club to be relegated just a matter of months later.

SV Hamburg, who had courted Mahdavikia for months prior to his transfer to Bochum stepped in to rescue one of Asian football's brightest hopes from second division football and within a year Mahdavikia was playing in the Champions League against the likes of Juventus and Deportivo La Coruna.

"I've had two good years in the Bundesliga and in the first year I was very successful," he says. "We played in the Champions League and that was a great experience and the knowledge I gained from playing against the best clubs in Europe was fantastic.

"Life is good at Hamburg. I have extended my contract by another three years. While I'm with the national team it means I'm going to miss a few matches and I have to say I'm disappointed with that."

Mahdavikia's form with Hamburg in his first season was so impressive it prompted a rumoured bid for his services by 1999 Champions League winners Manchester United. The English champions denied any interest at the time but Mahdavikia says Alex Ferguson was keen to sign him.

"I was playing well at the time for Hamburg in the Champions League and when we went to the Asian Cup I heard the story about Manchester United as well. It came out in Germany, in Kicker magazine.

"It was true but my club was completely against selling me and they didn't allow me to go and negotiate anything with United. At the time, I was not aware of any negotiations between the clubs."

Now, though, Mahdavikia's mind is focused on Iran's attempt to qualify for a second consecutive World Cup. New coach Miroslav Blazevic has quelled the infighting, broken up the factions that so fragmented the Asian Cup squad and introduced a new tactical system the players are warming to even if the results - especially against Thailand last weekend - have been anything but impressive.

"For several years we have been playing 3-5-2 but in this new system we are bringing two players back from forward positions when we defend," said Mahdavikia. "They come back and help the midfield and I believe that this is the best system we have had.

"The coach is strong in his decisions. He has a good knowledge of Iranian football, even before he came to be our coach. He is familiar with the players' attitude and he can understand us. He has control of the team and he is very friendly with the players.

"The team is getting younger and better. I hope and believe we can be successful. Before it was very important for us to play in the World Cup because we hadn't been there for 20 years. Now we're looking for more than that. Now we are thinking about reaching the second stage of the World Cup because we have a younger squad."