Mehdi Taj’s Tribute to Dariush Mostafavi
President of Iran’s Football Federation (FFIRI), Mehdi Taj, mourns the passing of football icon Dariush Mostafavi, reflecting on four decades of friendship and collaboration.
In a heartfelt editorial, Mehdi Taj wrote:
“Writing about the loss of a friend and companion of 40 years is no easy task. Dariush Mostafavi was a sincere confidant whose sharp insights and heartfelt advice guided us through many challenges.”
Taj described Mostafavi as a man of unmatched leadership and integrity, whose absence leaves an irreplaceable void in Iranian football. He recalled their long-standing camaraderie, emphasizing that:
“Never once did our bond weaken or our shared vision falter. Dariush was a man of rare caliber—both in management and in life.”
He concluded with a poetic line from Persian literature:
“Even stone weeps on the day of farewell to friends.”
(کز سنگ ناله خیزد، روز وداع یاران)
Legacy of Dariush Mostafavi
- Former President of the Iranian Football Federation
- Played for both Taj (now Esteghlal) and Persepolis
- Represented Iran at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics
- Led Iran’s national team to the 1998 FIFA World Cup
- Served as general manager of Persepolis in 2008
- Passed away on August 1, 2025, at age 81, after battling pancreatic cancer
