Skocic’s Press conference began with a short statement.
“I want to talk about the future plans of the national team, the preparation and provide you with some details.”
* Open arms to all clubs
“Serving as the head coach of the Iranian national team is a great honor. I think this is the first time that a foreign coach has been appointed after being in the country for five years, and this makes the burden quite heavy on me. If I want to discuss the situation of the team, I must say first that in the World Cup qualifying games, maybe the team was not on the right track. I am here to strive for success with all my positive energy and knowledge and experience. I like to talk about my goals clearly and transparently. I would like to think that we want to get closer to our goals with each game and inject positive energy into the team to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar. “
“I shall listen to club coaches’ suggestions and they have any issues, I’m ready to hear them 24/7 ” Skocic said.
- Legionnaires evaluation
“One of the benefits of my appointment is that I am already familiar with Iranian football. I have been in club football for five years and understand the mentality of Iranian players and football systems. This is definitely a positive step forward in the team’s goals. While I am here at your service, I have already started my work for the team and finished the first stage. The first stage was the analysis of the national team matches in recent months. From watching the domestic players’ to checking out the league and other competitions, I have done a lot of work on that. We have extracted all the information, advantages and disadvantages of national team performances in previous games. Now it is time to start working on Legionnaires players playing at international clubs. We should be able to monitor their performance at later stages.”
* Good news or bad for players?
“From now on, I will send a message to all players that every player has an equal chance of being selected in Team Melli, and the selection is highly dependent on their form and level of preparation,
” Over the next five days, our plan is to focus on the Legionnaires. Given the scattering of the leagues that the Iranians are in, it is not possible for me to review all the games in this short period of time, but all efforts will be put into a meeting and checking on as many Legionnaires as we can. Those whom we can not meet, we shall have face to face discussions through video call and conferencing.
I’ll share with them my plans and talk to them about the matches. In the short term, given the games that the team has to play, do not expect a big change in the team lineup, however, you will see me inject ideas, my thoughts, and personality into the squad. We will stick to the style they have used to but gradually develop and select the ideal model and organize the team and then we will see a strong and capable national team.
* Player’s agents and lobbies
About ensuring that the agents and lobbyists around him do not interfere with the team selection while pursuing their own agendas? Skocic said “I didn’t expect this question. I worked in two universities and one academy. I won four Cups in Croatia and Slovenia. I led Saudi Arabia’s Al Nasr and Iran’s Foolad in the AFC Champions League but I only talked about what I had experienced in Iran in these five years. Iranian football players’ agents are quite bad news. Let me be clear. If the agents and representatives were to take me up north and down south of Iran with various clubs and eventually get me to the national team job, I must say they did a bad job. If I walk in a park, I won’t put my foot on a flower to make my path easier. I’m an honest person and I don’t get involved in these games. My football is based on passion, interest, experience, and awareness.
* Training Facilities
“It was a surprise when I inspected the training facilities of the national camp. I have to say that there are really good pieces of equipment which are at the highest international standards. It assures me that the hardware and the facilities will give us the tools needed to achieve our goals.”
*Azerbaijan League!
“Is he interested in the Iranian legionnaires in leagues like Azerbaijan?” Skocic response was “As I said, I deal with all Iranian players abroad professionally. It doesn’t matter which league they play in. They are certainly under our radar. Certainly, I have the courage to give everyone who deserves a call out a chance to wear Team Melli jersey.
* FFIRI financial distress
Asked about his views on the financial difficulties and cash flow problem in FFIRI, he said “I am fully aware of the current situation as a result of the sanctions. When I was with Sanat Naft. in my attempt to recruit foreign players, I negotiated with a number of them but most were hesitant to work in Iran due to the bad payment reputation.”
“My other challenge there, of course, was not receiving my wages and entitlements for four months. I didn’t want to get paid before the players got their money. Eventually they promised to pay me two days after the players were paid. It didn’t happen and the situation got worse because I had to stick to my contract and the players had to get their money and I was upset about it.”
* Black List! It is all rumors”
Skocic reaction to a question about some Team Melli players’ negative remarks on his selection, some criticized the choice and if there is a blacklist with these players’ names, The Croat said “ That’s an interesting question. Perhaps it should not have been asked. Rest assured, with my 51 years of age and vast experience I have to say I’m a coach who no one can buy. I’m honest and the blacklist you are talking about is all rumors. Players are invited based on merits. “:
* Leaving Sanat Naft post
“When I left Sanat Naft Abadan coaching job, Iran national team was not my destination”. Does this mean that he has only negotiated with the officials of the national team for 48 hours before the appointment? He said: “Maybe there was talk between the officials in Sanat Naft and the Federation, but my motivation for quitting Sanat Naft was not to join Team Melli.”
About whether appointment to Team Melli, was it due to a close relationship with one of the sports dignitaries ?”, “What I know is that the Football Federation selected me as head coach,” he said. Asked whether he had come to an agreement with Baharvand or someone else, Skocic said: “I definitely negotiated with Mr. Baharvand.” I think it’s very logical”
* A shy way of introducing the New Head Coach
Dragan Skocic’s introduction to the Iranian media and his first press conference took place in strange unfamiliar circumstances.
Unlike common practice, the Croat coach of Team Melli was not accompanied by any official of the Football Federation. In fact, apart from the interpreter, there was no official from FFIRI present in the conference hall at all. More importantly, the typical signing ceremony that is afforded to each of the Team Melli coaches and the celebration associated with such an event was conspicuously absent with Dragan Skocic. The fifth Croatian coach of the Iranian national football team, whose appointment has created much debate, most of it that seemed to be on the negative side, continually kept expressing his gratitude for the confidence afforded to him during his interview. In response to a question about the support of the federation, Skocic said: “What more support I need better than the appointment itself !”
Skocic who was not in the initial candidates’ list and was only included less than 48 hours before the actual appointment, unlike any previous head coaches was not provided a signing ceremony. That has raised even more concern and more doubt about the role of the FFIRI in his selection and even if he was in fact appointed by the football federation itself.
Both Carlos Queiroz and Marc Wilmots were introduced to the public and the media in dignified ceremonies attended by all the FFIRI dignitaries headed by presidents, In Queiroz’s case, Ali Kaffashian opted to hold the ceremony in the office of Ali Saeedloo (then head of the Physical Education Organization). The same process was repeated for Marc Wilmots as Queiroz’s successor. After months of traveling to European countries, Mehdi Taj was able to reach an agreement with the Belgian coach and arrange a introductory presentation with all the usual fanfare for him.
In both cases, there was no doubt that the Presidents took contentment and credit for signing the two foreign coaches and were well pleased by their achievements as both Kafashian and Mehdi Taj left no chance for anyone to question who was in charge and who was making decisions.
The board of directors of FFIRI, appointed Haidar Baharvand as interim President and it came at a critical time for Team Melli. Although federation officials have repeatedly mentioned that the successor to Wilmots will be a local coach, Dragan Skocic was suddenly selected at an unusual meeting at the home of a famous sports personality! The process of his election was met with a lot of criticism from experts and media. Yet, the events after his appointment further feed the speculations.
