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MNA - Iranians got to know
Afshin Ghotbi for the first time as the U.S. Soccer Team’s technical staff
twenty years ago. At that time nobody expected to see him in Iran as the
coach of the most popular Persian team.
Ghotbi flew immediately to
Tehran after the end of the 2006 Asian Nations cup where he was Pim
Verbeek’s assistant for the South Korean team. He came back to his
motherland after about 30 years in August 2007 to steer Iran’s most
successful club, Persepolis. The American-Iranian promised the solicitous
fans that he will bring Persepolis’ title drought to an end in the upcoming
season.
In the beginning of the season Ghotbi, the 44 year-old who was greeted
everywhere as “Afshin the Emperor”, obliterated all of Persepolis’ rivals.
He was assisted by Hamid Estili, who scored the goal of the century when he
found the net against the United States in 1998 World Cup.
Ghotbi used to continuously encourage the Persepolis players to win the
title, however he was ridiculed by some Iranian experts. They ruled out his
optimism, saying Ghotbi was just enjoying his honeymoon with the team.
The disputes started by and by when Estili interviewed with some newspapers
and expressed his dissatisfaction with Ghotbi’s ways. Then some Persepolis
players joined in a vague enmity. Nonetheless, Persepolis’ officials denied
any speculation over the matter.
Ghotbi is understood to have also been unhappy with Persepolis’ staff but
not only did he not criticize his co-workers but he also praised them each
time.
Ghotbi needed to improve his communication skills with his compatriots. To
do this, firstly, he started making a stable foundation with the many bricks
which were thrown at him. He paid tribute to the Iranian teams and coaches,
contrary to them who were used to putting the blame on referees, rival’s
defending styles, awful fields, fans and so on, after losing a match.
Ghotbi knew how to keep things in perspective, and his dreams finally came
true in Iran’s football. He will always have a place in Iranian fan’s
hearts. Ghotbi taught his Iranian colleagues in order to be a loved one has
to be honest.
Today, Persepolis’ officials are making efforts to change Ghotbi's mind
about leaving, but it seems that these efforts are of no avail.
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