Ali Daei was born on March 21, 1969, in Ardabil, a historical city in northwestern. Growing up in a modest Azerbaijani family, he learned the values of discipline and hard work early in life. Football was a passion from childhood, and he often played in local fields before joining youth teams. His intelligence in school was also evident, which later led him to pursue a university degree, something rare for professional players at the time. Daei’s football journey took off when he joined Taxirani and then Bank Tejarat, where his goal-scoring ability made him one of the most feared strikers in the league.
His big breakthrough came with Persepolis (1994–1996), most popular club. Here he became a national star, dazzling fans with his aerial dominance and lethal finishing. A short stint in Qatar with Al Sadd helped him adapt to playing abroad, preparing him for an even greater move—Europe. Ali Daei is celebrated as the first to play in the Bundesliga. His European adventure began with Arminia Bielefeld (1997), where he quickly showed his strength and technique.
