TEHRANTIMES - Saba football club has announced the appointment of Samad Marfavi as the new coach 24 days ahead of the start of the Iran Professional League 2016-17 season.

This is the fourth time Marfavi accepts Saba job. After managing Esteghlal and Mes Kerman, Marfavi joined Saba to replace Yahya Golmohammadi in 2012-13 season and he led Saba to ninth place.

In 2013-14 season he came back to replace Mohammad Mayelikohan and led Saba to ninth place again.

In 2014-15 season he managed Saba until the winter break but left his role due to a financial disagreement with the club officials.

Marfavi’s fourth spell at the club has come at the time while most of the team’s key players has gone and there is so much little time left until the start of the season.

“I know Saba well as I’ve been here in three occasions but we have a difficult job ahead. There is very little time until the end of the transfer period while we have just 24 days left until the league’s kick off. I got used to tough situation and I enjoy that. I hope we could make a good start to the league and have a good season,” Marfavi told Mehr news agency.

Saket Elhami will be Marfavi’s assistant at Saba.