Persepolis-Hamburg SV match will be Mahdavikia’s swan song

Tehran Times – TEHRAN, Former Persepolis captain Mehdi Mahdavikia will play his farewell match at Tehran’s Azadi Stadium against Germany’s Hamburg SV in June.

Earlier, Persepolis had announced that Mahdavikia will play five minutes of symbolic play before the Hazfi Cup final against Sepahan as his farewell ceremony. But some Persepolis legends said that it would not be a decent farewell match for a great player like Mahdavikia.

Five minutes of symbolic play before the final of the Hazfi Cup is not acceptable for Mahdavikia’s stature, Persepolis CEO Hossein Fadamaleki said.

“Mahdavikia is a great, valuable player, and we should appreciate him. He really deserves a great farewell ceremony,” he added.

Mahdavikia, who will turn 36 in July, has decided to bring an end to his 18-year football career.

He joined Persepolis in 1995 and after three years moved to Bochum.

His stellar career came with Hamburger SV, where the winger played 208 times and scored 26 goals. The nickname of Mahdavikia was “the Carpet” and “the Rocket” in the German team.

Mahdavikia was selected as member of the Hamburger SV Team of the Century in October 2012 and attended the Hamburger SV 125th anniversary gala at O2 World in Hamburg, Germany.

He joined Persepolis once again in 2012 and scored three goals in 26 matches for the Iranian giant.

Mahdavikia has also made 111 appearances for the Iran football team and scored 13 goals in the team but decided to hang up his boots in 2009.

He has played in Eintracht Frankfurt and Iran’s Steel Azin and Damash as well.