Tag: Mehdi Mahdavikia

Mehdi Mahdavikia appointed as Youth teams Manager

Ex-Team Melli Captain and recently retired Perspolis player , Mehdi Mahdavikia has been appointed as the Manager for Youth level Teams. Mahdavikia who has accompanied the U-17 team in the FIFA U-17 World Cup in UAE , has worked extensively with  Ali Doustimehr and was instrumental in arranging the camp in Germany before r the tournament .Mahdavikia

Mahdavikia’s appointment was announced by Mehdi Nabi , the Secretary General of the FFIRI.

Mahdavikia will start his work immiditely and his first assignment is to arrange a training camp for Iran’s U-22 team which will be participating in the inaugural AFC  Asian U 22 championship which will be held in Muscat Oman.i

Sepp Blatter arrives in Tehran

 

FIFA president Sepp Blatter arrived in Tehran this Wednesday morning to attend the second International Congress on Science and Football. He was received by  Ali Kaffashian, head of Iran Football Federation, and some dignitaries, including Ali Daei, Mehdi Mahdavikia and Current Team Melli Captain Javad Nekounam.

Blatter is scheduled to meet the Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and the country’s sports and youth ministry.

Asian Football Confederation (AFC) President Sheikh Salman bin Ebrahim Al Khalifa will also arrive in Tehran  later today to attend the conference.

Earlier , Sepp blatter commented about his visit to Iran by saying “The people of Iran are very happy to reach the World Cup,” said Blatter. “It will give a lot of emotions to this country. I will be honoured to meet President Rouhani and speak with him about the future of football in Iran.”

Blatter whose executive jet landed at Imam Khomeini airport early in the morning at 4:45 , will have a busy schedule while in Tehran. In a brief statement in the airport, President of the football governing body said “I am glad that I have finally made this trip which is well over due. We have initially talked about it 2 years and finally I am here. ” Blatter engaged in conversation with Daei asking him about the status of readiness of Team Melli for the World Cup.

Mahdavikia greets Blatter
Mahdavikia greets Blatter

Heshmat Mohajerani “Mahdavikia should work along with Queiroz”

Dubai

 Iran’s legendary football coach Heshmat Mohajerani praised the Iranian U-17 team and said this team should easily win its two remaining matches after their sterling display against Argentina, the current champions of South America. Mohajerani singled out Ali Doustimehr for rave commendation calling him a dedicated coach who has tremendous ability to work with youngsters and inspires them to do their best. “Doustimehr, time again showed us his quality and capabilities. He is a dedicated coach who has the interest of the boys at heart and works tirelessly with them to achieve a high standard of performance and create a team spirit and camaraderie in these youngsters.  They are able to deliver largely to the inspirational and technical powers of Ali Doustimehr. He is an asset for Iran.”

Mohajerani was speaking to reporters in Dubai during his visit to the Team Melli U-17 training camp where the U-17 are participating in the FIFA U-17 World Cup 2013 . The veteran coach who is a resident of Dubai told the press “I hardly attend the senior team’s matches, but for the youngsters, I would not miss the opportunity to watch them live. It is a delight when you see these young ones play to such a level of football”. Mohajerani also praised the role that Mahdavikia is playing with the team. “Mehdi was a tremendous player; he is also a gentleman that has a lot to offer for Iran’s football if he elects to go into coaching. I have a lot of confidence in the potentials of Mahdavikia. His excellent character for a starter is a big advantage that is in short supply in Iran’s football. In fact I strongly suggest from now that Mahdavikia should work along with Queiroz as step in his career progression.”

Mehdi Mahdavikia is currently accompanying Team Melli U-17 in an advisory role. He has been praised by Doustimehr for the work he carried out for the team, including his exceptional effort to organize the Germany camp where the team had valuable matches with strong German clubs youth teams. Mahdavikia’s contacts in Germany and the respect that he is awarded there, enable Team Melli U-17 to set up the camp.

Commenting further on the potentials of Mahdavikia , the former Team Melli coach who took Iran to the 1978 World Cup , believes  apart from Mahdavikia calm character and the respect that he has for player and people around him, his long experience in Germany working under professional environment, will ensure that new ideas and mentality in introduced in Iran`s football.