Meet the American who could lead Iran

Guardian - After an impressive start in charge of Tehran's biggest club, American citizen Afshin Ghotbi may soon be invited to manage his native country.

It didn't make international news headlines in August when an American citizen was greeted by thousands of people at Tehran airport and carried out of the terminal on the shoulders of locals but that's what happened to Afshin Ghotbi.

The 43 year-old had been unsure about what sort of welcome he'd receive as he returned to his homeland for the first time in 30 years to become the manager of Tehran giants Persepolis. He needn't have worried. Hordes of fans, and his mother, who he hadn't seen since he left the country in 1977 to settle in California, were waiting with flags, tears and open arms. If Ghotbi had forgotten how much football meant to the people of Iran, he was quickly reminded.

With most of the news tightly controlled by the government, the Tehran press, which includes no less than 15 independent sport dailies, goes to town on the beautiful game and the return of Ghotbi was headline news.

Despite his relatively young age, the articulate Iranian-American has seen action at three World Cups. Though never a player, he began his coaching career at UCLA and from there earned a place on USA's coaching staff. He was on the American bench when his adopted country lost to Iran in Lyon in 1998. His talents were then spotted by Guus Hiddink and he headed to Korea in 2001 as part of the Dutchman's staff. After the glorious summer of 2002, Ghotbi returned to Seoul with Dick Advocaat for the 2006 tournament and Pim Verbeek for the Asian Cup a year later.

That was when he was asked to restore the glory days to Persepolis. Touted as 'the people's club' of Tehran, Persepolis is one of the best supported teams in Asia and, as you'd expect from a club whose nickname is Pirouzi (Victory), is a pressure-cooker for managers - as Arie Haan and Mustafa Denizli found out during recent short spells in charge. Three other managers have come and gone since the last of seven titles came in 2002.

Though he's had no transfer funds, Ghotbi has got off to a near-perfect start. Captained by former Charlton player Karim Bagheri, the team have amassed twenty-five points from their opening 11 games and sit on top of the table for the first time in five years. The fans are delighted - as is their new hero: "We've had between 65,000 and 90,000 fans at all our home games and all our away matches have been sold out," Ghotbi told Guardian Unlimited. "Persepolis is the people's team with a fantastic history and following all over the world." The high point so far was last week's clash with Esteghlal of Ahvaz, the second- best-supported team in the country. In front of a crowd of 70,000 (all men, women still being barred from attending matches), Persepolis were being held 2-2 and, despite having had a player sent off, Ghotbi threw on an attacker for a defender and was rewarded with a stunning last-minute winner.

Such boldness is one reason why Ghotbi is already being talked about as the next manager of an underachieving national team. Iran is home to some of the continent's most talented players but even stars such as Ali Karimi, Mehdi Mahdavikia, Vahid Hashemian, Andranik Teymourian and Javad Nekounam failed to collect more than a single point in Germany or progress past the quarter-finals of the 2007 Asian Cup. Currently, Iran don't have a manager - Amir Ghaleneoi's contract was not renewed after the Asian Cup and the decision to replace him won't be taken until mid-November, after the elections to find a new chief of the Iranian Football Federation election.

Ghotbi seems a perfect choice but in Iran, it is never that simple. In a nation where all but two top-flight clubs are financed by a state industry, football and politics are never far apart. Governmental interference is why Fifa temporarily suspended Iran from all international competitions last November. Earlier that month, Ghotbi was denied an entrance visa when Korea played an Asian Cup qualifier in Tehran. It was big news at the time but he is diplomatic about the incident now. "People born in Iran cannot enter and exit Iran without an Iranian passport, and I did not have one back in November."

He has a passport now and no regrets: "Much of the western media's views about Iran are inaccurate. Iranian people are very proud of their history and heritage, and would love to show the world their rich culture and beautiful country. Iran is full of life, passion and energy."

Persepolis is owned by the state-run Physical Education Organisation and headed by a high-ranking government official who was instrumental in Ghotbi's appointment - but not everyone has been enthused by the thought of an exile-turned-American citizen returning on a lucrative contract. If his results dip, a campaign against him won't be slow in coming. For the moment, however, the only criticism he's openly faced has, you suspect, been spawned by personal grievances: Persepolis record goalscorer Farhoud Pious has declared that Ghotbi doesn't understand the tradition and psychology of Iranian football - though that's probably a reference to the Persepolis decision not to give the job to an ex-player .. such as Pious; and Esteghal manager Nasser Hezaji has panned his methods as being "20 years out of date", but didn't explain why, in that case, Ghotbi's team are nine points ahead of his in the table.

Ghotbi, whose matchday suit-wearing habits are starting to spread to other managers in the league, shrugs off the criticism: "The old guard in football will always resist change. Bringing a new way of thinking in training, playing organisation, and managing a team in any part of the world will always attract critics. We are all products of our experiences, and I have had a much different background and football education then most Asian coaches. I brought confidence, organisation, and discipline to Persepolis. The goal is to bring trophies."

Even before he brings trophies, however, he may get a crack at the 2010 World Cup, for which qualification begins in February.