ARMENIAN TO PLAY IN GERMANY FOR IRAN’S SOCCER SQUAD

Armenpress
May 19 2006

YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS: Iran football boss Branko Ivankovic has
picked up ethnic Armenian Andranik Teymourian as the only Christian
player of his 23-man squad for this summer’s World Cu in Germany.

The Armenian language newspaper ‘Alik,’ published in Tehran< said
in a series of recent games of Iran’s national squad Teymourian has
displayed himself as an excellent player. Ivankovic described him as
‘new and exceptional phenomenon in the Iranian football.”

Teymourian began his soccer carrier at 17 playing first for Ararat
Armenian team of Tehran, then he moved to Abumoslem FC.

The Iranians have been drawn in Group D to face Mexico, Portugal and
Angola. Ivankovic’s squad features also veteran striker Ali Daei, who
will be playing in his second World Cup after appearing in France eight
years ago, while there are also five Europe-based players selected,
including Bayern Munich’s former Asian Player of the Year Ali Karimi