Iran’s Masoud Shojaei, left, is challenged by Saudi Arabia’s Mohammad Al Nakhli during their World Cup Asia group 2 qualifying soccer match at Azadi stadium, Tehran on Saturday March 28, 2009. AP Photo/Hasan Sarbakhshian
In recent months, I’ve been introducing on The Roar and The World Game the story of Afshin Ghotbi, the Iranian-American former coach of Persepolis and former World Cup assistant coach to Guus Hiddink, Steve Sampson and Pim Verbeek.
Ghotbi was a shoo-in for the Iran national men’s team coaching position vacated by Ali Daei but had the rug pulled out from under him – again, the second time in as many years – by the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation (IRIFF) for Saipa Battery manager Mayeli Kohan, despite being announced in the position a number of times on the preceding weekend in the Iranian media.
Kohan had negligible public support (three per cent in some polls against Ghotbi) and an average coaching record, but what he did have in his favour was the right connections – and connections count for everything in football, especially Iranian football, where the separation of powers between federation and state are non-existent.
FIFA, as well all know, has had a long and protracted tussle with the IRIFF over political interference in football.
Ghotbi, for his part, has been meeting agents in northern Europe and Scandinavia with a view to get a club gig there. He has also offered to help Kohan pro bono, especially with his intimate knowledge of Korean football (two of Iran’s next three opponents are North Korea and Korea Republic, games they must get a result in to have any hope of qualifying for South Africa 2010). There’s been no word yet if Kohan has taken him up on his generous offer – but don’t hold your breath.
Interestingly, some parts of the Iranian media have linked Ghotbi with a move to rejoin Hiddink, this time at Chelsea. But that seems fanciful given Hiddink himself has given no guarantees he will be staying at Stamford Bridge, despite the pleas of captain John Terry for him to stay on once the Premiership and European campaigns for this season are over.
But if he doesn’t go to Chelsea, he might just end up with Hiddink in Russia and go to the World Cup after all, where the old trio of Verbeek, Ghotbi and Hiddink (South Korea’s brains trust at Korea-Japan 2002) will be reunited.
Stranger things have happened. Don’t rule it out.
Again, and I wrote this for The Roar a couple of weeks back, it just underlines what a lost opportunity it was when we had Ghotbi in the country and he made all the right noises about wanting to work in the A-League but his overtures fell on deaf ears – apart from the ambitious and forward-thinking Tasmania United.
We live and learn.
As for Iran, which also spurned a golden opportunity to snaffle folk hero Ghotbi, it has its work cut out for it. It must get six of a possible nine points from its remaining Group B qualifiers and the trips to North and South Korea are away games. A tough ask.
No one in Iran is confident. The prevailing view of the fans and the independent football media is the IRIFF has blown it even before a ball has been kicked.
It’s not hard to disagree.
Joe FC
Guest
Well Jesse there's now a coaching vacancy in the A-League. Has Ghotbi got work at the moment?
Jesse Fink
Guest
Ben, it's true http://goal.com/en/news/1277/west-asia/2009/04/21/1221508/reports-mohammed-mayeli-kohan-resigns-as-iran-coach-after-just-tw
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
I'm starting to hear rumours that Mayeli Kohan has quit two weeks into the job. If true the Greek tradegy, or Shakespearean comedy depending upon your point of view, continues unabated.
Midfielder
Guest
Das Not bad mate your voice at times a little to soft ... you have a soft rock or gentle country voice ... I have attached a song sung in the 80's by J D Souther, who left the Eagles (you hear him on a number of Eagle tracks) BTW he went back to the Eagles but he has a similar style and voice ... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1po5MES23qo .. The song is called .." Your Only Lonely"... JD style and use of AHhhhh & OUOUOU is similar to yours...as I said his voice is also similar to yours ... maybe next Christmas or just after but well before University is back go to Tamworth busk a bit on the streets .. Actually after new year go to Byron for a couple of weeks and do some busking practice then head off to Tamworth . Hope you enjoy but took some time to remember the guys name and the song title ... but have a listen see what you think.. Jes ... very sorry .... but have a listen to Das's youtube and then JD as well see if you agree.. also posted a comment on your youtube.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
it appears that Mayeli Kohan is already finding himself in trouble with the IFF.... http://www.goal.com/en/news/1277/west-asia/2009/04/21/1220550/mayeli-kohan-already-in-hot-water-in-iran#comments
Slippery Jim
Guest
Gee Oh Yeah, you're snappy reply is only two days late, I had almost forgotten what we were talking about. Too busy posting your thoughts on 442 blogs were you?
The Bear
Guest
Oh, Slippery it's just so thrilling bantering with you. Yes, you have got me, Ohhhh what am I to do!!! Jeez, get a life.
Midfielder
Guest
Das Will listen latter today and get back latter today .. have lots of work to do.
Midfielder
Guest
SJ On the Nicky thing ... ei has been a disappointment according to himself. http://au.fourfourtwo.com/news/101048,carle-im-a-2-million-flop.aspx
dasilva
Roar Guru
Sorry Jesse for hijacking this blog for a moment Midfielder Thanks for telling me about Playlist.com and the various football radio station. I just listen to a bit of 442 radio and it's pretty good. I probably listen to TWG radio on the way home from placement this monday. Although I can see how useful playlist can be, I feel I have already a large playlist on my computer (90 gb) already but if there's a song I want to check out from a band I haven't heard for before I think that will be useful website to know. Did you post up your playlist on that website? I also uploaded another song I've written where I just finished recording my vocals today on youtube called "Looking back" and I would like you to have a listen to it and tell me what you think. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DxUd_McQfSk
Slippery Jim
Guest
Ah...the furry woodlands creature decides I have not shown enough contrition already on this thread and decides to leap out of cover and maul me as if I were some crazed German lady jumping the fence at the local zoo... This time, for once, you have hit the nail squarely on the head, my furry associate. This blog is all about entertainment, as, in fact the entire game of football, and all it's peripheral bits and pieces is. In fact all sport is essentially show business. What's more, I know you agree with me. I know for sure that you don't want to see dull boring defensive football, do you? You want attacking, skillful football played with great skill and derring-do, preferably with eye candy like Nick Carle twirling around on the pitch while you lean back in your plastic spring loaded seat and chow down on that half time pie and sauce, all the while writhing in voyeuristic tittilation. Like me, you surely don't kid yourself that you are reading these opinion pieces to be informed do you? It's interesting you mention juvenile content on 442 - personally I have never posted a single comment on their blogs due to agreeing with your alleged opinion - I'm sure you would never bother with it either, would you "the bear" - or should I call you "Oh Yeah"? As for your telling me to grow some balls, all I have to say to that is, I bet you love fishsticks, don't you ;)
Midfielder
Guest
Das sorry that link is .. http://marinators.net/forum/index.php?topic=3480.0
Midfielder
Guest
Das Good to hear from you ... Jes & others just bear (no relation to the poster) with me a little I will get to the topic... Das & others I have posted in the Mariner's fans forum a list of Australia radio shows broadcast on the net that may be of interest to you ..http://marinators.net/forum/index.php?topic=3480.0 Also Das have you used playlist you need to add the .com after but it an awesome site I have over 500 songs on it now and my youngest son who is an IT genius somehow copied my playlist on to media player so I don't even use up streaming limit at home.. Jes, (thanks for letting me chat to Das)and back to topic . SJ .. maybe not the coach himself but the politics of a major football competitor, remember 1997, .. well it's good to see someone actually giving us this info ... we need to play some ACL & Socceroo matches against these guys and the better we understand them as far as I am concerned.
The Bear
Guest
Slippery, grow some balls man... this blog is not all about you and your "entertainment".... really, very poor form. Stick to some juvenile content, say 44two or somethin'?
The Bear
Guest
My Iranian (read Persian) mates seem to hang their head when detailing Iranian Football. Thanks Jesse for the update. The HAL is not ready for a "middle eastern" coach. It's a cultural thing, but it's probably fair appraisal. I am all for it, and wish the man all the best.
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Brian, according to your approach we should all drink French wine, even if it is cats doings. You may not know, nor care, as to who Sheik Ahmad Fahd al-Sabah is however it would shake our collective comfortable Australian existence if he (currently OCA President) managed to work his way to some level of power in the AFC. Yet despite his ability to wreak havoc he is surprisingly neither from Europe nor Australia, he is Kuwaiti. Topics that challenge what we think we know are important and add vibrancy and texture to the broader debate as to the state of the game in Australia. It is the World Game and if we want to progress then we have to analyse that world, not just the bits that we like to talk about down at the pub. Ignorance isn't always bliss. Fair enough re: Nepal and Cambodia, though if a story did come up you could always not read it. As for the Iranian league being ranked below Australia's domestic competition.... so does Indonesia and Kuwait. In relation to Ghotbi I think that Dasilva and Pippinu have the better points. The question needs to be why we do or do not do things rather than accepting the world as it is.
dasilva
Roar Guru
Afshim Ghotbi had one season as a head coach. Yes he has won Iran Premier League with his only season as head coach but that doesn't necessarily mean he is a must have coach. Yes he was assistant under Hiddink. Then so was Graham Arnold. The only thing he has proven is that he is a better coach then Arnie by having some success at club level. Also the Iran League is rank below Australia in the AFC. So how is his achievement any more meritocratic then Ernie Merrick winning the A-league twice. I'm not saying we shouldn't get Ghotbi and perhaps he is one of those young coaches that could eventually become a great manager in the future. After all the club Persepolis were impressed in how professional he was at his job but his CV doesn't say he is a "must have" coach that an A-league club has to be mad to pass over. Really his CV is no better then Vítězslav Lavička.
Brian
Guest
Well said SJ. Why should we focus on country's below our standard. Why would an A League club choose an Iranian coach over an Australian one. I think true soccer followers know there is a lot of luck in football and so this guy's involvement with Hiidink does nothing to make me think he would succeed as a first team coach. In a similar and more high level situation think of the current Portguese manager - Queroz. He has worked years under Ferguson yet left to his own devices he has so far come mid-table with the Galacticos at Real Madrid and is currently struggling to take a Ronaldo led Portugal to the WC. Personally I am convinced I could do better. Back on topic and Aussie coaches should be encouraged (Graham Arnold aside) and certainly favoured ahead of an Iranian no-one has ever heard of. I'm sure we all live busy lives so stories not related to Australia or the cream of the crop (Europe) are a waste of most people's time. No disrespect to Nepal or Cambodia inteneded
Ben of Phnom Penh
Guest
Interesting Art, another IFF - FIFA bust up in the offing?
Art Sapphire
Guest
Good Post Ben - Team Melli's loss to the Saudis a few weeks ago was their first loss on home soil in a competitive game since the mullahs took over 30 years ago. This from the Guardian on Ali Daei's recent sacking. "The match was witnessed by Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, Iran's president, who is said to have been instrumental in ousting him. Ahmadinejad had hoped a victory would bring him political capital before the presidential poll in June. The desire to score a propaganda coup even prompted the president's fans to credit him when Iran took a 1-0 lead. But the euphoria evaporated in the last 12 minutes and Daei's fate was sealed as a mass mobile phone text to Ahmadinejad's supporters went out, reading: "Due to the importance of national public opinion to Dr Ahmadinejad, Ali Daei has been forced out." Who cares about the state of the Iranian economy, the mullahs know where there bread is buttered. Good grief, Jesse. I did not realise your posts had become humour free zones. Ouch! : )