joonevar

While at Persepolis, it seemed as if you had fulfilled everything you hoped to achieve in football, is that true?

Honestly, I had hit the ceiling in Iranian football. We won the league with Persepolis, and we were very unlucky to fall to the third place in the Asian champions league. In addition, I was a starter in Team Melli. In the World Cup in France, I was able to score against the United States. I had almost reached all my goals in Iranian football, and therefore, it had become too small of a field for me. At the time, I had great offers from Germany and England, but the call to serve in military had blocked me to join the European football. All of it had effected me to lose my hopes to progress any further in my football career. I could see my bigger dreams slowly slipping away. My sudden, visible downfall at that moment was due to these issues. I suffered a lot during those 6-7 months. But with God’s help, the problems were solved, and I went to Europe and joined Bochum.

Many people attribute the Iranian superstar's downfall at that time to marriage and…

I’ve always tried to plan ahead in my life. I had matured a lot in our big family, and I was around family environment almost every night. If I had gone to Europe alone, I would have not made it. That’s what some people thought that I married too early. But marriage and living with my wife have made these 5 or 6 years, being away from Iran, bearable.

How do you pass the loneliness in the Hamburg camp?

Books are my best companions in the Hamburg camps. In the beginnings, I mostly read books to learn the German language. Now I read whatever people recommend me, and I especially love reading historical novels.

One scene that has been hacked into Iranian fans’ memories is when Roy Prager kissed your foot in a Hamburg match.

I did not expect such a reaction at all. I tried cleaning up the action immediately. I would always pass the ball to a player with a better position, even if I had a 70 or 80 percent chance of scoring myself. I don’t believe that a forward should be selfish. That same night after the game with Hertha Berlin, Mr. Doosti, my dear coach whom I owe so much to, called me and said, “this pass that you made was worth 5 or 6 goals by itself”. But I didn’t want the German player to act as such at all. Prager knew himself that if he was in my shoes, he would have probably not passed the ball.

Did Prager talk to you after the game?

No, no words were exchanged between us. Actually, after that incident we became each other's competition. That is because he was moved from the left side to the right side. And he was benched as I was the starter in that position. I never wanted to talk about that scene. For me, it was a disturbing memory.

What was the German media’s reaction to his action?

They took the picture and made it bigger. And they even showed a set of pictures from him slowly bending, and then kissing my shoes. They printed everything, and seeing it was very disturbing to me.

Why?

Because it is not in my nature to show off. This kind of situation really does not fit well with me.

I will ask my question in another way: There are many football players who would do anything to get their picture in front page. How is it that there is someone who would have a different opinion on this subject?

Everything is in relation to one’s place of upbringing and one’s culture and family. How can I say this? I don’t like to show off because I have certain morals and standards which don’t allow me to give value to those issues.

How come you haven't got the captain’s armband after 6 years at Hamburg?

In Germany, the requirements are different. They don’t give you the armband for number of games played, or due to older age. For example, despite the presence of 38 year old Stephen Reuter at Dortmund, they still give the armband to a youth by the name of Thomas Rusichski. I don’t really care about the armband.

I guess the captain’s armband does not have all that much meaning when you’re in the team. Even in the Olympic team few years ago, with your presence, it was Rasoul Khatibi who was selected as the team's captain.

No, I’m not upset at all. I don’t think that piece of cloth has anything special other than a heavier responsibility.

As one of our most successful legionnaires, what advice do you have for those Iranian players who want to play in Europe?

Like I explained before, if Iranian football becomes too small of a playing field, then they must leave. The first important thing is to select a suitable team, so that they have a chance to play. Then they must become accustomed to playing at a professional level. And also, they must know that every day brings a new battle and that they must be ready for it. After being prepared for all of this, then they can go to Europe.

I know that your knowledge of football is very high. Would you one day want to become a football commentator?

No, I don’t think so. I want to spread my experiences from Europe with young players in Iran, players who are hungry to learn. After playing so many years, I want to transfer my experiences to the next generation of players so that I can play small role in Iran's progress in football. This is my ultimate goal after saying goodbye to playing professional football.

And coaching…?

A football player can never completely separate himself from this sport. If I tell you that I will say goodbye to football someday, I am lying. This sport has become a part of me. I want to help Iranian football at its foundation. In the future, I want to be able to teach the game to 12-13 year olds, and help them learn from that very young age. This is the least that Mehdi Mahdavikia can do for his country.

What makes you think this way?

I’m saying this from the bottom of my heart. I have taken advantage of the opportunity that Iranian football has offered me, and as a result, I have reached my current state. And therefore, it is my duty to create opportunities for others to follow my steps.


We should not overlook the role of Mohammad Mayelikohan in helping you progress in your football career, especially at the national team level.

I agree. Not only me, but also the entire national team. I remember at the time of the drawings for the Asian Cup 1996, we were seeded as a third rated team. But with our games played under Mr. Mayelikohan's coaching, we were able to show our capabilities, and take a huge step forward for Iranian football. And in my case, I was a 19 years old forward invited to the national team. With confidence, Mr. Mayelikohan decided to change my position to the right wing. And thank God, I was able to meet his expectations. Mr. Mayelikohan has had an undeniable role in my football career, and I am thankful for that. He decided to give me the starting job in presence of experienced players such as Javad Zarincheh. I will never forget that.

In your opinion, will Ali Karimi be successful in Germany with a team like Bayern Munich?

Ali is a player who has very special talents. He played for 3 or 4 years in the UAE, and this issue may affect his game when he starts playing. But, the dangerous type of fouls that Emirate league's referees completely ignore, receive a red card in Germany, and maybe even a suspension. This should help Karimi as he was always a victim of such fouls there. UAE league is a low level league compared to Bundesliga. But I have no doubt that if he is able to maintain a level of fitness that Germany demands, he can become Bayern’s best player. Be sure that even one good game in Bayern Munich is worth several years of brilliance in lower-level teams. I hope Ali settles down in German, and is able to present himself well. And with that, everyone can enjoy his dribbling and technical work in the Bundesliga.

With the victory against Bahrain, we reached the World Cup and this can be a very notable point in your football career, isn't it?

This is going to be my second experience playing in the world cup. One of my biggest wishes was for Iran to qualify for this World Cup 2006 in Germany, and we achieved that. I have been playing in Bundesliga for 6 years and I have become completely familiar with the stadiums, and the football environment in Germany. I had really hoped that I could someday play in German stadiums with Iran's national team jersey, and thank God, I have attained this dream with our qualification. I hope that we are able to show the true capability of Iranian football in the World Cup.

Two more off-topic questions: The first is about the recent incident in Azadi stadium where 7 spectators, like 7 candles, melted away on the fifth of Farvardin in the game against Japan. With taking 11 rings of flowers and paying respect to the framed pictures of 7 people in the friendly game against Azerbaijan, is everything over? How do you view this incident?

I was deeply upset. All of it goes back to incorrect planning. We still haven’t learned to put numbers on the seats in Azadi and have everyone sit on their own seat. A European spectator enters the stadium 10 minutes before the game, and gets to his seat without any trouble, whereas in Iran, people come to the stadium 6 or 7 hours before the game and wait for so long before the kick off. Then, they watch the game while being restless and uncomfortable for waiting so long. It is obvious that the spectator cannot cheer for his team as he or she could and should. If numbering the seats and making people comfortable is too much to ask, then at least they must allow the people to leave the stadium comfortably. I will never forget the bitter memory of those 7 spectators who were in love with our football.

And the last question: honestly, don't you feel bad for Javad Kazemian?

Javad is like my brother Hadi to me. A football player who has followed my path exactly. Starting from Bank Melli, he also went to Persepolis, and in the future I am sure he will join a powerful European club. Javad is a good and emotional guy and I love the guy. But in football, he has always had the problem of two good players playing the same position for the same team. Javad does get some playing time in national team once in a while, and I’m sure he will soon get more chances to display his talents. He has high potentials, and in the future, he will undoubtedly achieve more.