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Iran’s Bagheri to retire after Brazil friendly
ABU DHABI — Iran’s midfielder Karim Bagheri, who made one League appearance in the English Premiership, will pull the curtains down on his international career after the friendly against Brazil in Abu Dhabi on Thursday.
The 36-year-old, who became the first Iranian to play in the Premiership for Charlton Athletic back in 2000-01 season, will hang up his boots against the five-time World champions, according to reports.
This would be his second retirement from international duty after he had hung up his boots after the 2002 World Cup qualifiers. He was called up after the 2006 World Cup but refused. He made a comeback in 2008 in a friendly against Qatar. He also captained Iran in the 2010 World Cup qualifier against the UAE in 2008. The international friendly against Brazil will be played at the Zayed Sports City.
Bagheri, known for his set pieces, has been capped 86 times and scored 50 goals. Bagheri made his debut during the 1994 World Cup qualifiers against Pakistan in 1993. He played in the 1998 World Cup.
Bagheri is known for scripting a famous comeback in the 1998 World Cup qualifier against Australia in 1997. Iran were heading towards a 0-2 defeat but Bagheri scored the first goal which inspired them to draw the game 2-2.
He has also played in the 1998 Asian Games, which Iran won. Bagheri currently plays for Persepolis FC in the Iranian League.
Bagheri started his career in his hometown club Traktorsazi of Tabriz in 1992. After two seasons, he joined Keshavarz of Tehran. He joined Tehran-based Persepolis in 1996 before hooking up with Arminia Bielefeld in Germany in 1997.
Bagheri has also played one game for the English Premier League team Charlton Athletic in 2000. He played for Qatari club Al Sadd and returned to Persepolis in 2002 where he has been playing ever since.
Meanwhile, the Iran Football Federation said that Brazil would bring all their stars for the friendly. The ‘A Selecao’ are the only National team to have played in every World Cup.
Iran are preparing for the Asian Cup to be held in Qatar in January. Iran have been grouped with Iraq, DPR Korea and the UAE.
Iran only previous friendly game against a world champion side was against Germany in 2004. The match was held in Tehran.
Iran finished runners-up to Kuwait in the just concluded West Asian Football Federation Championship.
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