Tehrantimes - Esteghlal legend Mansour Pourheydari will be immortalized with his own statue, the Iranian club announced.

Pourheydari, who is battling with diabetes, is a member of board of the directors of Esteghlal at the moment.

He began his football career at the age of 17 in Daraei but was transferred to Taj (now Esteghlal) in 1965 and played as a right defender for 10 years and won the Asian Championship in 1970.

Pourheydari also played for Iran national football team and made three caps for Team Melli. He announced his retirement in 1977.

He began his managerial career in 1980 as assistant coach to Abbas Razavi and Asghar Sharafi.

He was promoted as the club's head coach in 1983 after the resignation of Sharafi.

Pourheydari led Esteghlal to its second Asian trophy in 1991.

The coach has also coached Fajr Sepasi and Sanat Naft in Iranian football league.

Pourheydari became head coach of Iran national football team in 1998 and inspired the team to win the Asian Games in Bangkok.