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FIFAWORLDCUP - Iran coach
Branko Ivankovic looked set to step down after his team drew 1-1 with
Angola on Wednesday in their last match at the FIFA World Cup™, although
he did not completely rule out renewing his contract.
"After five years I think it is time to leave, to try to find new
challenges and to go somewhere (else)," Ivankovic told reporters.
"But never say never. As a coach... you always have to have the baggage
ready to move somewhere. The suitcases should always be ready."
Ivankovic, who has been Iran coach for four years, had already said he
would probably not renew his contract, due to run out shortly after the
finals.
He has also said he would prefer a job with a club side to another
national team job.
Ivankovic, known as 'the Professor' was once the darling of Iran's fans
and football federation after leading them to victory at the 2002 AFC
Asian Games, but criticism of his tactics has increased during their
unsuccessful FIFA World Cup campaign.
They lost their other two Group D games to Portugal and Mexico and have
not won a FIFA World Cup match since their first finals victory, when
they beat the United States 2-1 in their second match of the 1998
campaign. They failed to qualify in 2002.
Dismissing talk of a split with Bayern Munich midfielder Ali Karimi, who
is known as the 'Wizard of Tehran', Ivankovic told Reuters that Karimi
was left out on Wednesday due to injury.
"He did not want to play because he was not ready... He did not have a
good practice before the match," Ivankovic said by telephone. "I can
understand him because he has had a long-term injury."
Ivankovic hinted before the match that he might not play Karimi and
mentioned disciplinary reasons since the player had kicked some team
bags near the dugout in frustration at being substituted against
Portugal.
However, Karimi told reporters after the Angola match that he did not
play because of an ankle injury he picked up at Bayern earlier this
year. |
