An Iranian coach likely to replace Clemente

Clemente visited Iran in early February and agreed terms and conditions of his contract, he was also happy with training facilities and resources he expected at Azadi Sports Complex in Tehran, the sticking point to resolve was the length of time Clemente was allowed to live in Spain while employed as Iran's head coach.

Early indications suggested the matter would be resolved when Clemente returned to Spain to discuss his contractual obligations with his family and later signed and faxed his contract to the Iranian football federation (IRIFF). What happened next is less than certain, initial reports early this week suggested Clemente had quit his job as he did not wish to spend much time in Iran and would monitor Iranian players by watching Persian Gulf League matches on tape or using Iranian satellite channels, Clemente would go to Iran for Team Melli training camps and matches.

It is odd to say the least that the contract was signed and then terminated in this manner. Iran's Physical Education Organisation (PEO) headed by Iran's vice-president Mr Aliabadi insisted that Team Melli did not need a flying coach but needs one that would live in Iran, reports from Iran suggest that PEO added new conditions to Clemente reducing the time he would be allowed to live away from Iran, the new conditions were turned down by Clemente and subsequently IRIFF announced they were in search of a new head coach.

There is no doubt that a head coach ought to have sufficient face to face contact with league players and watch league matches closely across Iran, a foreign coach would need to familiarise himself with Iran's culture and mentality of Iranian players. Both Clemente and IRIFF would have been aware of this point before the contract was signed, all terms and conditions should have been included in the initial contract, the slight amendment by PEO to Clemente's contract suggests internal wrangling between PEO and IRIFF if not within the federation.

PEO head Mr Aliabadi has been less than helpful in hiring a foreign coach; numerous European coaches were mentioned but dropped one by one before Clemente was finally signed. With Iran playing Kuwait in their second world cup 2010 qualifier on March 26th it appears that an Iranian coach will have to be appointed as Team Melli head coach. Some of the names mentioned are Afshin Ghotbi, Ali Daei, Bijan Zolfagharnasab and the one that concerns many experts Amir Ghalenoei who so badly mismanaged Team Melli in the run-up and throughout Asian Cup 2007 finals.

Iran's world cup campaign looks in tatters, under the circumstances Afshin Ghotbi of Persepolis FC seems the best qualified candidate, Ghotbi has experience of three world cup finals under his belt as one of South Korea coaches in world cups 98, 2002 and 2006. I would also favour Bijan Zolfagharnasab (ZobAhan FC) and Mijid Jalali (Esteghlal Ahvaz FC). In the case of Daei he is simply not ready for Team Melli challenge, Daei should concentrate on the job in hand at Saipa FC especially with Saipa representing Iran in Asian Champions League this season where he could earn valuable coaching experience at International level. Rehiring Amir Ghalenoei would be a suicidal move taking into account the damage he inflicted on Team Melli in the year he was in charge.

By Afshin Dastafshan
adastafshan@persianmirror.com