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Asian Debate: Is This A New Dawn For Iran?
Asia Editor John Duerden discusses Iran's decision to appoint Afshin Ghotbi as national team coach.
Apr 22, 2009 9:49:23 PM
Sometimes
the right decision is staring at one in the face and this time at least, the
Iranian Football Federation (IFF) can’t be accused of dragging its feet.
For both Afshin Ghotbi and the under-fire governing body, his appointment to take control of Iran's national team makes sense and it is one in which both parties don’t have much to lose.
The IFF looked on stunned earlier this week as Mohammed Mayeli Kohan, appointed just two weeks ago to succeed Ali Daei, got himself into a row with Esteghlal and their coach Amir Ghaleneoi and handed in his resignation.
It may be a blessing in disguise. Ghotbi is popular in the media and among the fans. Every time a Team Melli coach struggled, talk turned to the 45 year-old Iranian-American.
Sooner or later, he had to be given a chance just so the IFF could be seen to give him a chance and just so his supporters could get what they wanted.
In much the same way as Alan Shearer at Newcastle, if Ghotbi succeeds and takes Iran to the 2010 World Cup, then everyone is happy. If he fails, the IFF will be able to close that particular chapter and will be able to forget all about the man who led Persepolis to the 2008 league title.
For the man himself, the situation is not ideal – he has just three games to save his nation’s football fate and earn himself a long-term deal.
But even this predicament has its advantages. Iran are struggling with six points from five games. If Ghotbi takes the team to South Africa, he will be a hero. If he fails, well, the damage was done long before he came on the scene.
Ever since he took the Persepolis job in August 2007, the well-travelled Ghotbi was constantly linked to the national team job -he was, after all, the closest Iran had to a local coach with international experience.
But it was only going to be in this kind of situation in which he got the job. On the previous two occasions, the IFF came close to appointing him but at the last minute looked elsewhere. The feeling was that if the job didn’t come his way this time – then it never would.
As an Iranian-American who is still viewed with suspicion by parts of the footballing establishment, the timing and the circumstances had to be right for him to get the nod.
This time they were. The 5-1 thrashing of Ghotbi’s former club Persepolis in the Asian Champions League the day after Mayeli Kohan resigned did not go unnoticed and also damaged any chance that Nelo Vingada may get the job.
After the IFF had their fingers burnt with the Saipa coach, going for another member of the old guard didn’t appeal.
That whole resignation saga summed up what is wrong in Iran. Big personalities with their own agenda focused on point-scoring and bringing others down rather than trying to do what is best for the beautiful game.
What the appointment of Ghotbi has already done is replace the air of negativity in Iranian football that has been hanging around in recent weeks like traffic fumes over Tehran.
Whatever happens with the new regime on the pitch, off it, it will be a professional set-up. As he proved when leading Persepolis to the title last season, in circumstances that were not always pleasant, Ghotbi conducts himself in a businesslike and courteous manner at all times.
As Saudi Arabia, and countless others, have found, a new coach can at times revitalize fortunes immediately and now there is at last some positive energy.
Not all have welcomed Ghotbi, but most have and the newspapers and fan forums are alive with messages of hope.
This may not last, of course. A defeat in North Korea on June 6 will end the Ghotbi era even before it has really begun.
But for the moment at least, Iranian football is actually looking forward to that game in Pyongyang instead of looking at the date with a faint sense of dread.
John Duerden
Asia Editor
john.duerden@goal.com
For both Afshin Ghotbi and the under-fire governing body, his appointment to take control of Iran's national team makes sense and it is one in which both parties don’t have much to lose.
The IFF looked on stunned earlier this week as Mohammed Mayeli Kohan, appointed just two weeks ago to succeed Ali Daei, got himself into a row with Esteghlal and their coach Amir Ghaleneoi and handed in his resignation.
It may be a blessing in disguise. Ghotbi is popular in the media and among the fans. Every time a Team Melli coach struggled, talk turned to the 45 year-old Iranian-American.
Sooner or later, he had to be given a chance just so the IFF could be seen to give him a chance and just so his supporters could get what they wanted.
In much the same way as Alan Shearer at Newcastle, if Ghotbi succeeds and takes Iran to the 2010 World Cup, then everyone is happy. If he fails, the IFF will be able to close that particular chapter and will be able to forget all about the man who led Persepolis to the 2008 league title.
For the man himself, the situation is not ideal – he has just three games to save his nation’s football fate and earn himself a long-term deal.
But even this predicament has its advantages. Iran are struggling with six points from five games. If Ghotbi takes the team to South Africa, he will be a hero. If he fails, well, the damage was done long before he came on the scene.
Ever since he took the Persepolis job in August 2007, the well-travelled Ghotbi was constantly linked to the national team job -he was, after all, the closest Iran had to a local coach with international experience.
But it was only going to be in this kind of situation in which he got the job. On the previous two occasions, the IFF came close to appointing him but at the last minute looked elsewhere. The feeling was that if the job didn’t come his way this time – then it never would.
As an Iranian-American who is still viewed with suspicion by parts of the footballing establishment, the timing and the circumstances had to be right for him to get the nod.
This time they were. The 5-1 thrashing of Ghotbi’s former club Persepolis in the Asian Champions League the day after Mayeli Kohan resigned did not go unnoticed and also damaged any chance that Nelo Vingada may get the job.
After the IFF had their fingers burnt with the Saipa coach, going for another member of the old guard didn’t appeal.
That whole resignation saga summed up what is wrong in Iran. Big personalities with their own agenda focused on point-scoring and bringing others down rather than trying to do what is best for the beautiful game.
What the appointment of Ghotbi has already done is replace the air of negativity in Iranian football that has been hanging around in recent weeks like traffic fumes over Tehran.
Whatever happens with the new regime on the pitch, off it, it will be a professional set-up. As he proved when leading Persepolis to the title last season, in circumstances that were not always pleasant, Ghotbi conducts himself in a businesslike and courteous manner at all times.
As Saudi Arabia, and countless others, have found, a new coach can at times revitalize fortunes immediately and now there is at last some positive energy.
Not all have welcomed Ghotbi, but most have and the newspapers and fan forums are alive with messages of hope.
This may not last, of course. A defeat in North Korea on June 6 will end the Ghotbi era even before it has really begun.
But for the moment at least, Iranian football is actually looking forward to that game in Pyongyang instead of looking at the date with a faint sense of dread.
John Duerden
Asia Editor
john.duerden@goal.com
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