in a win over Japan in Tehran in March 2005. He played all three of Iran's games in the 2006 World Cup. He started in the line-up in all the games at 2007 Asian Cup, under Amir Ghalenoi, butdeclined to play for the Iran national team in the first round of 2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying. Hashemian was later invited for the second round of World Cup Qualifying playing in Iran's 1–1 tie versus Saudi Arabia. He announced that he would retire from the national team and he wished to coach Team Melli when he retires from football. Coaching career Hashemian gained his UEFA B Licence in 2008 while playing in Bundesliga, before completing his A Licence in 2012. Hashemian was named as one of the 24 coaches handpicked by the DFB to take part in its 10-month course, Fußballlehrer, in 2014. He also took a three-weeks internship under Pep Guardiola at Bayern Munich, as part of the program, and obtained the german certificate equivalent to UEFA Pro Licence. Oberliga Hamburg (2012–13) Hashemian then started his coaching career in Oberliga Hamburg, where he worked for the next 14 months. Accepting a job offer by Thomas Bliemeister, then-coach of SV Halstenbek-Rellingen who took position as the club's technical director, he was appointed as the coach on 26 October 2012. In July 2013 he signed with Niendorfer TSV, but left the team in the mid-season in order to pursue his professional training. Hamburger SV (2017–18) In early 2017, Hashemian signed a contract with Hamburger SV and was assigned as an individual trainer at the club's youth academy for six months. During the 2017–18 season, he was assistant to the club's U17 coach, Pit Reimers. Replacing Steffen Weiß, the club officially appointed him as the coach of its reserve team in April 2018, because his Fußballlehrer license prevented a lawsuit against the club by demoted players Walace and Mërgim Mavraj, while the former coach did not have any. A few days later, Achim Feifel took over the team and Hashemian was returned to his old job. By the end of season, Weiß remained to coach the reserve team again for the next season and Hashemian rejected an offer to extend his contract as a youth academy trainer He left HSV in May 2018, when the contract expired. Outside football Personal life In July 2012, his wife Bita gave birth to a daughter named