TEHRANTIMES - Alireza Mansourian has taken a step closer to joining Esteghlal football club as a coach. Club’s president Bahram Afsharzadeh confirmed the negotiations with the former blue giants’ player.

“Mansourian is one of the candidates while we are in talk with three other coaches,” Afsharzadeh told reporters.

Mansourian had a brilliant season with Naft Tehran and led them to a third place finish in the Iran Pro League as well as a runner-up place in Hazfi Cup.

He also led debutant Naft to this season’s AFC Champions League quarter-final.

Mansourian, who played majority of his playing time for Esteghlal, bade farewell to professional football at the end of the 2007–08 season where Esteghlal became Hazfi Cup Champion.

He started his coaching career in 2009 where he was head coach of Pas for four months.

In August 2010, Afshin Ghotbi chose Mansourian as his assistant coach for the Iran national football team. After resignation of Ghotbi as head coach of national team, Mansourian was named as interim coach until the appointment of Carlos Queiroz. He also coached Iran in a 1–0 win against Russia.

On 28 April 2011, he became head coach of the Iranian national under-23 football team. On 2 January 2014, Mansourian resigned as head coach of Iran's under-23 side. He was replaced with Nelo Vingada.