Dubai: Former Iran and Persepolis coach Ali Daei has reportedly turned down an offer to coach the Philippines national football team, according to the Iranian Students News Agency (ISNA) Wednesday.
The latest revelation suggests incumbent Azkals' coach Michael Weiss may not have long left at the helm as team-backer Dan Palami seemingly sniffs around for his replacement — regardless of an historic upcoming second round World Cup qualifying clash with Kuwait.
With four Azkals players already rocked by news of a seemingly false rape scandal this week, news that coach Weiss' future now hangs in the balance, further disrupts the team's preparation for their historic do-or-die encounter with the Gulf Cup winners.
Players Neil Etheridge, Anton Del Rosario, Simon Greatwich and Jason Sabio were all accused by an ousted Philippines national team consultant named Paul Weiler earlier this week of raping a Filipina in Manila.
The allegations have been widely regarded as a rumour in the Filipino press due to Weiler's questionable credibility and perceived bitterness at his services recently being suspended by Palami.
However Weiler has defended himself against the critics and vows to report the alleged incident to German police and football authorities because he claims coach Weiss failed to act upon supposed information.
Ali Daei, the 1999 Asian Footballer of the Year and the world's all-time leading goalscorer in international matches — with 109 goals from 149 appearances — walked away from Persepolis after their Hazfi Cup triumph over Malavan in mid June.
Hamid Estili has already replaced him after he turned down a contract extension.
Leading the Philippines would have been his second national team stint in coaching after taking Iran on their weakest World Cup qualifying campaign in Team Melli's history in 2009 with only one win from five, Afshin Ghotbi couldn't salvage what Daei had started, in Iran's last three qualifiers.
German national Weiss is a much smaller name compared to Daei with the Philippines being his first head coach role since assistant and youth roles in Japan, China and Rwanda.
