In all of these years Ghalenoei has insisted that his sacking was unfair and pointed to the completely different reactions of media to Carlos Queiroz who got same result at 2015 Asian Cup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now he has returned to his beloved job as a more experienced manager but his detractors, just like 16 years ago, think his football philosophy nor his character are proper for the national team. But it\u2019s not the first time that Amir Ghalenoei will try to prove his enemies wrong.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Arguably the most controversial figure in Iranian football in the last two decades, Ghalenoei has always lived on the top of a volcano during his career but it might be his last chance to demonstrate which of his nicknames is more relevant: The General or The Boss of Mafia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When Ghalenoei hung up his boots after nine years at Esteghlal, he was a true legend of the club and his nickname, The General, showed his importance to the team. The diminutive and intelligent playmaker had played for Qatari club Al-Sadd in the mid-1980s and after returning to Iran, played only for Esteghlal. A bitter clash with Persepolis talisman Mojtaba Moharrami in the Tehran derby cemented his status as die hard blue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n