{"id":1279,"date":"2020-04-27T06:32:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-26T21:02:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/?p=1279"},"modified":"2026-09-23T14:51:42","modified_gmt":"2026-09-23T05:21:42","slug":"iran-ff-left-in-the-dark-on-skocic-appointment","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.theasiangame.net\/ro\/iran-ff-left-in-the-dark-on-skocic-appointment\/","title":{"rendered":"Iran FF left in the dark on Sko\u010di\u0107 appointment"},"content":{"rendered":"

Portuguese manager, Carlos Queiroz, gone. Belgian Marc Wilmots, sacked within six months.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

With the Iran national team on the verge of early elimination from Group C of FIFA World Cup qualifying, Iranian sport officials were once again on the hunt for a replacement. Time could not be wasted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This time IFF officials were adamant on appointing an Iranian coach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“An Iranian National team coach would be more familiar with league players, and would have a better relationship with club coaches,” they insisted<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The nominees that were publicly announced by the Sport Ministry started off with Zinedine Zidane and J\u00fcrgen Klinsmann, but ended up with local coaches such as Ali Daei and Amir Ghalenoie in matter of days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So many jokes, trolls, and cartoons started lighting up social media, amusing up Iranian football fans. Iranian sports officials had made a fool of themselves with the handling of this appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran’s national team was no longer in a strong position; demoted from top spot in the FIFA\/AFC ranking, a position they had held for years under fan- favourite Carlos Queiroz, Team Melli was now ranked second in Asia after losing to Iraq in World Cup Qualifiers under the helm of Wilmots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Iran desperately needed a guardian angel to save them from early elimination. After all, Iranian fans had been spoiled with back-to-back qualifications, and doing so comfortably, with Carlos Queiroz. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Who could be this Iranian hero? There were many qualified and experienced Iranian coaches from the Golden Generation of Iran (2000\u2019s): Ali Daei, Alireza Mansourian, Mehdi Mahdavikia, Yahya Golmohammadi, Javad Nekounam, and even better UEFA-coaching certified Vahid Hashemian.

Yet, all were denied a chance to put their case forward by Iranian football officials and the list narrowed down to one; Sepahan coach, Amir Ghalenoei.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, he has many titles under his belt. But his record and controversial time as national team manager at the AFC Asian Cup 2007 would raise doubts. So did the record of his teams\u2019 under-performance in the AFC Champions League.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many started questioning the decision. Why not Ali Daei, or Hashemian, with European football knowledge? Media questions were rebuffed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Everyone was told the contract with Ghalenoei would be finalised any day, until a breaking news story changed everything.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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