Afshin Ghotbi Takes Over Persepolis Of Iran

Ghotbi signed a one year contract with Persepolis and is expected to travel to Iran next week. Twenty eight years after leaving Iran as a young teenager, Ghtobi is returning to his homeland as the head coach of the Reds.  

This interview originally appeared at www.footballmedia.net

Since your name was mentioned in connection with Persepolis, your name is in all of the sports papers.

It is flattering, but it is all part of the job.  

What are your top three reasons to consider working at Persepolis?

I love new challenges!!! Working in Iranian football, the passion and history around the club and in Iranian football, and the quality of the players are a few of the reasons.  

The current Perspolis team has been put together by Hamid Estili and other assistant coaches. The club has not been that active in signing players and has lost some key players. Doesn’t it concern you that you are walking into a condition that the players were not your picks but you would be judged based on their performance?

Those are the conditions, and I have to make the most of the situation. At the end of the day, I will be responsible as the head coach.  

Some believe that if you don’t get good results in the first five matches, you will be fired from the club. How does it feel to be prejudged so much before even signing a contract?

The expectations are high at the top level, and I thrive on the pressure associated with it. I welcome the challenge and will do my best to reach the objectives on winning the championship with Persepolis.  

It was reported that Nosrati was signed by Persepolis per your recommendation. Is that true or false?

I prefer not to make comments on individual players at this moment.   

Will we see you very shortly in Iran as the new head coach of Persepolis?

We are in the final stage of our discussions and negotiations. Once concluded, I hope to be in Tehran shortly.

Let’s talk about Iran’s match against Korea. The game ended in a very dramatic fashion. As the Korea’s coach you looked very pleased and showed emotions. How did you feel as an Iranian?

Like all Iranians, I have special feelings for my country, Iranian people and the national team. As an international coach, I have an obligation and duty to my team and players. So, it is difficult scenario that can only be managed by approaching the game professionally.   

I don’t remember if any Iranian coach has ever had to work with his team against Team Melli. How does one feel when placed in such situation?

Words can never describe my feelings. More coaches around the world are faced with the same scenario, and it is time for Iranian coaches to show their qualities around the globe. I hope my efforts and work will make it easier for more Iranian coaches to work outside of Iran in international football.    

The Korean team had as much difficulty scoring as the Iranian side. What do you think are the problems of each side and how do they compare with each other?

As long as I have worked in Korea, we have always struggled in the final third of the pitch. We lacked innovation, precision, and feeling around the goal in the Asian Cup. Iran scored a pair of goals in each match of the group stage, and they only failed to score against Korea.   

How did you find the quality of the Asian Cup tournament?

There is more parity amongst the teams. The teams are defensively more compact and organized. The teams attack with more sophistication and variation. Finally, the goalkeepers have improved a great deal. 

How was the overall organization of the tournament?

The tournament was poorly organized on many levels compared to standards of top international tournament. Holding the tournament in four countries added to the complication of staging the tournament placing more burden on the players and the coaches.

Kaveh Mahjoob