Tehrantimes - Antonio Jose da Conceicao Oliveira, known as Toni, is a candidate to take charge of Iranian football team Machine Sazi.

Rasoul Khatibi quit his role as head coach of the rock-bottom team on Friday after suffering an away defeat against Persepolis.

Under tutelage of Khatibi, Machine Sazi secured promotion to the Iran Professional League (IPL) last season.

Machines Sazi has won just one match in IPL after 12 weeks, suffered eight defeats, and drawn three times.

Farhad Kazemi, who stepped down as Siahjamegan coach, and Yahya Golmohammadi, who was sacked as head coach of Zob Ahan, are among the candidates.

The 70-year-old Portuguese coach served three stints as coach of Tractor Sazi of Tabriz.

Toni inspired Tractor Sazi to Hazfi Cup title in 2013-14.

Toni earned 32 caps for Portugal, his debut coming on 12 October 1969 in a 0–1 away loss against Romania for the 1970 FIFA World Cup qualifiers.

His last match occurred eight years later, in a 0–2 friendly defeat in France.

Toni was part of the country's squad at the 1972 Brazil Independence Cup.