Quotes from Ali Daei

I sincerely hope that Cristiano Ronaldo will reach my goal record for the national team.

Playing in Europe has been very good for our players in making progress and if more come here then I think it will help Iranian football.

I think football gave Iranians a reason to once again think about their country.

I have good memories of DPR Korea because I played there twice and won both the games.

We have qualified for the 2010 World Cup qualification final round with young players and we will be able to advance in the competitions with the same players.

Our people love soccer more than they do in Brazil.

Those heroes and soldiers who sacrifice themselves for the nation always have their coffins covered with the national flag. Us players are like those soldiers - we wear the national flag when we play.

Each player has to dedicate himself to serve his motherland.

I am very honored to be named Asian Player of the Year.

Ali Karimi is a nice guy and deserves to return to the national team.

I knew that Karimi would not come to the national team but invited him to show that I have no problem with anybody.

We don't have the unity that other races like Turkish, Russian and Yugoslavs have. If Iranians become more united, not only will we succeed in football but in our personal lives too.

Sepahan of Isfahan and Steel Azin offered me to take charge of their teams. I didn't want to come back to football at that time.

Iran are very strong because we have many good players playing top-class football in Spain, Germany and England.