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GOAl - Ali Karimi has come out in support of Iran national team coach Afshin Ghotbi.

Reports in Tehran suggest that the Iranian Football Federation (IFF) are searching for a big name foreign coach before the 2011 Asian Cup.

Ghotbi took control of Iran in April 2009 and steered the team through qualification for the continental tournament.

Karimi believes that another coaching change at the top will not help anything.

"Team Melli needs stability at the moment. It’s none of my business but I think the IFF officials should keep the current coaches in place for the upcoming competitions,” the former Bayern Munich star wrote on his personal website.

“We don’t have enough time for the 2011 Asian Cup and it is a fact that changing (coaches) is not a good solution.”

Ghotbi, who led Persepolis to the 2008 league title, is under contract to the end of the Asian Cup which takes place in Qatar in January.
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