Tehran Times - Former Team Melli and Sepahan football team defender Hadi Aghili decided to hang up his boots on Friday.
The 36-year-old defender, who has been out of action for a while, wrote an open letter to Sepahan fans.
“It’s time to make the toughest decision of my career because I have so many good memories with Sepahan. I want to thank my coaches and my fans and all people who helped me during the last years,” Aghili wrote.
Hadi Aghili started his career in Persepolis youth academy in 2000 and then was transferred to Saipa in the following year.
The central defender joined Sepahan in 2004 and played 254 games for the Isfahan based club in two stints and scored 23 goals.
Aghili was invited to Iran national football team in October 2006 and made his debut for Team Melli in a match against Iraq. In July 2007 Aghili was selected again to join the Iranian squad at the 2007 Asian Cup.
He has been a member of the Iran for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches and the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying matches. Aghili served as the captain of Team Melli during the West Asian Football Federation Championship 2008 and won the Cup. He also played in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup qualification for Team Melli. The defender was one of the main players of Team Melli in West Asian Football Federation Championship 2010 and 2011 Asian Cup.