Tasnim - Mohammad Khakpour has been named as new head coach of Iran U-23 football team.

The team has been without a coach since November after the country’s federation terminated the contract of Nelo Vingada.

Under tutelage of the Portuguese coach, the Iranian Olympic football team suffered an early exit from the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon, South Korea.

Iran is preparing itself to participate in the AFC U-23 Championship 2016, where the team has been drawn in Group C along with Saudi Arabia, Nepal, Palestine, and Afghanistan.

The AFC U-23 Championship 2016 will serve as the Olympic Games qualifiers in every alternate edition. The top three teams from the 2016 edition will represent Asia at the 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil.

Iran has not participated in the Olympics since 1976 Montreal.