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GOAL – Is there no end to
Iran’s coaching problems? While Oman managed to hire and fire a national
team coach in the space of a few hours last week, Iran is still looking for
a new guy, almost six months after the end of the Asian Cup.
According to reports in Tehran, the list of foreigners who have refused to
take the job is a long one. Rudi Krol, Roy Hodgson, Javier Clemente, Peter
Reid and Pim Verbeek are just some of the names that refused the honour of
leading one of Asian powerhouses.
As well as saying 'no', Verbeek also had some advice for the Iranian
Football Federation (IFF). The Dutchman recommended that the IFF hire his
former assistant Afshin Ghotbi.
It was good advice.
With the road to the World Cup in 2010 winding its way across Asia before it
heads to South Africa, the Iranian-American represents the best of both
worlds for the IFF as he is both Iranian and foreign. After leaving Tehran
at the age of 13, Ghotbi, now 43, played the game in California before
building a reputation as one of the nation’s brightest coaching prospects.
That reputation earned him a spot on the coaching staff of the United States
at the 1998 World Cup an experience that included watching his native
country defeat his adopted one 2-1 in Lyon. Nine years later, Ghotbi was
again on the sidelines watching Iran as the assistant coach of South Korea.
This time he was victorious as Team Melli were eliminated at the
quarter-final stage of the Asian Cup. In the intervening period, Ghotbi
assisted Guus Hiddink at the 2002 World Cup and Dick Advocaat at the 2006
version.
During that time, one that also included work with Korean and Japanese
clubs, the young coach became familiar with the continent’s football scene.
That education continued in the Asian Games and during qualifying for the
2007 Asian Cup. Ghotbi’s reputation as a forward and flexible thinker meant
that he was often linked with various jobs around Asia.
The offer from Persepolis was
one that he couldn’t refuse and no wonder. Massive in Tehran, huge in Iran
and big in Asia, the Reds are more than a football club to its millions of
followers - not only in the football-mad Persian nation but also all around
the world.
Without a title since 2002, the club turned to Ghotbi as the man to restore
flagging fortunes.It is not a small task as Arie Haan, Rainer Zobel and,
most recently, Mustafa Denizli, found out. Pressures are big for the boss of
Persepolis. Not only is success demanded, but old players, such as Farhoud
Pious, are quick to snipe. Opposite numbers could also have been more
welcoming. Soon to be ex-Esteghal manager Nasser Hezaji labelled his methods
as being “20 years out of date”.
Ghotbi has let his team do the talking for him. Persepolis stormed to the
top of the table right from the start of the season and has stayed there
ever since.
Bold moves have thrilled the Azadi faithful. In front of 70,000 people in
October, Persepolis were being held 2-2 by Esteghlal of Ahvaz. Despite
having had a player sent off, Ghotbi threw on an attacker for a defender and
was rewarded with a stunning last-minute winner.
Appointing Ghotbi would, admittedly, be a similarly bold move by the IFF.
Half a season isn’t much time but it is much more than the 20 days remaining
before Iran take on Syria. Unlike most of the names mentioned, Afshin Ghotbi
has been to Syria, has been all around Asia and is showing that he can
handle the, often difficult, world of Iranian football.
Is Peter Reid really a better man to lead Iran?
John Duerden
Asia Editor
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