Interview: Vahid Hashemian

Thanks to www.lastkick.com who arranged the interview for Kaveh Mahjoob.

Goal– Let’s start with the basics. When you first came to Europe, how much of a shock was it to play in Germany?

Vahid – The European class of football is very different than ours (Iran’s).When I first came to Germany (1999), our football was still at an amateur stage and was on the way to becoming semi-professional.

Interestingly, back then, it was not just the difference of football quality that shocked me. The cultural shock was as big. Our ways of lives, social relationships and cultures are very different from each other. Facing with and absorbing these differences, I then had the football shock.

Here, I am an employee of my club. Football is my job and way of life. We practice, play, practice, play and practice more. We work on fundamentals all the time. Learning the language is essential in becoming a part of the team. Friendships are different. I can’t identify a success formula and say go and learn it and implement. It takes time and dedication to survive and adopt with this new way of life.

Goal – It is not easy for an Iranian to succeed in Europe. Is it?

Vahid – Look, we have to understand that it is not easy to play in Europe. How many players do we have today that are playing as starters in Europe? A handful? How many clubs are after Asian players? Not that many.

The barriers of success for Iranian players in Europe are high. We have to work hard, make friends with our teammates on and off the field. Then, learning the language becomes essential.

Goal – Please get more specific on these barriers to success.

Vahid – In Iran we always claim that we must work with our youth to strengthen our football. This is more a slogan than a reality.

These days, there are many football academies in Tehran. Most of the trainers/teachers themselves are young and inexperienced. Those who teach the youngsters need to have high degree of experience and depth of knowledge to be effective. Working with the teenagers is more difficult than the adults. They need to be taught the fundamentals like how to stop the ball, basic techniques and tactical moves and plays.

Our football educational system is incomplete and as a result not as effective. Our strengths are working and running hard with enthusiasm. We are creative. Yet, rarely in clubs and the national team do we witness a goal scored on beautiful tactical, previously practiced and planned plays.

We don’t work on group plays. Football is about stopping, moving and passing the ball as well as placing yourself in a position to be effective for your team. When you get the ball, you need the vision to see your teammates and pass it in the shortest possible time.

How many quality practice fields do we have (in Iran)? How many quality stadiums do we have? Even if we have a good coach who wants to teach team tactics, he won’t succeed. How about the eating habits and nutrition programs? Our youth need to eat right and have the right diet. Are you surprised that we don’t last 90 minutes on the pitch?

Goal – You stated the problems. What recipe do you prescribe as the solution?

Vahid – We should not be upset that we are behind the Europeans. We need the right program to get closer to Europe. We need strong managers who are educated in the field of sports. It is not good enough to be a strong manager without the sports education and it is not enough to have been a good player if you have not been educated in the field of management.

Then, the managers have to hire strong managers to fill the positions under themselves. Running a football club is like running a company. You bring qualified individuals in all aspects to run your company. Do the same in the club. Many criticized Branko and blamed him for our national team’s failures in the world cup. Branko couldn’t change our football system by himself. National football is born from our domestic football system and capabilities. How a coach could teach a 27 year-old player team and group tactics?

Goal – You mentioned Branko. Then let’s get deeper on this topic. Did we set the wrong expectations for our national team ahead of the world cup?

Vahid – In Asia, we are among the top football nations. We have had success in the club and national team levels but these successes don’t guarantee success at the world stage. Germany has won the world cup three times. We have qualified for the world cup three times. There you have it. That is the difference.

Goal – So in your opinion, what should have been the appropriate expectations and how did Branko perform?

Vahid – Branko led Iran to the Asian Games Championship (2002 U23), third place finish at the Asian Cup (2004) and qualified Iran for the world cup (2006). The next coach will have to do as much or more to be considered as a success.

Branko also committed mistakes and had shortcomings. His substitutions were not always appropriate. At times he used players on the pitch that he should not have. He should be considered as partly responsible for the World Cup results.

Yet, all the players were also responsible. We need to be realistic. What you saw in Germany showed our abilities. I don’t think about the past. I work in Germany. I don’t visit the past. We need to move on.

What happened in Iran following the World Cup was also normal. After one month of excitement, people got tired. Then we didn’t get a good result against Syria (a tie). The match against Korea (1 – 1 tie) and victory against Syria (2 – 0 in Syria) has changed the mood for better.

Goal – You mentioned the game against Korea. Live that moment with us and describe that minute of the game when you scored the equalizer.

Vahid – The game was almost over. We knew it was the last play. There was not even enough time to pass the ball. Mehdi (Mahdavikia) brought the ball and I was hoping for him to cross it behind the defense. He did. The keeper was outside the box. All he or the defender had to do was to kick the ball out. They mixed up. I got the ball and knew that I had to act fast and professional. I sent the ball over them.

Think about it. If that ball had not gone in, everyone would have blamed me for not taking a strong shot.

Goal – How important was scoring that goal for your current season?

Vahid – This year, in most pre-season matches I scored goals. Against Korea, I was in a very good physical and emotional shape. As a striker, every goal you score provides emotional lift. I was very pleased that we didn’t lose to Korea in Korea. That was the reason I was happiest.

Goal – If you had a son who wanted to play professional football, what would be your reaction?

Vahid – Playing professional football is a very difficult job. You play in cold, in heat and with injuries. You spend long time away from the family. You have very little private time as your club schedules most of your time.

Then you have to face the constant criticisms. Playing football also has a lot of benefits. If I had a son who was interested, I would make sure he had the ability and interest to play professionally. One without the other would not work.

Kaveh Mahjoob

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