Sportalasia- After promising to renew his contract with the Iran Football Federation last week, Croatian coach Miroslav Blazevic has now opted to break that promise and take charge of Bosnia-Herzegovina.
Speaking to the Bosnian press on Friday, the Croatian coach who failed
to take Iran to the 2002World Cup Finals said the offer from Bosnia was
too good to be true, and he is prepared to walk away from the verbal
agreement he had with the Iranians.
"This is the best offer that I have had in my career," said Blazevic, "I
have never had an offer half this good.
"I have told my friends in Teheran that I will not renew my contract
with them. The conditions of the contracts were amazing and it would be
job of my life, but I told them that I had made a promise to the
executives of the Bosnian football federation and that I will keep my
promise."
Blazevic’s appointment is likely to result in stern opposition from
Bosnian coaches who have long been critical of his previous antics with
the Croatian national team. Blazevic was accused in the past of ‘stealing’
talented Bosnians and converting them into Croatians.
"Blazevic stole some of the best Bosnian players and used them for
Croatia. Players such as Sarajevo-born Mario Stanic and Bayer
Leverkusen's Boris Zivkovic," said former Sarajevo, Betis and Sochaux
coach Faruk Hadzibegic.
"The list is long and I couldn't believe it when I heard that he was in
line to take over the national team. It would be a slap in the face of
all Bosnian citizens. He was one of Bosnia-Herzegovina's biggest enemies
during the war.
"That kind of man could not lead our national team."
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Blazevic to walk away from Iranian promise
- Persianleague
- - Jan 13, 2002
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