( dpa ) - Iran's football chief Sunday named former striker Ali Daei as coach of the national football team in a surprise move just two days after Afshin Qotbi had been announced for the post.
Iranian Football Federation (FFI) president Ali Kafashian has appointed Daei, 38, who played for Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin, rather than Afshin Qotbi, ISNA news agency reported.
On Friday, state television had reported Iranian-American Qotbi would be new head coach. Deputy FFI president Mehdi Taj said the coach of Persepolis Tehran had prevailed over four other contenders.
In its search for a coach, the FFI had already signed a contract with former Spain coach Javier Clemente. But he was eventually discarded after he rejected a demand to permanently in Iran.