Mehr News Agency , interviewed Khodadad Azizi in a series of interviews with past Team Melli World Cup players. Azizi who scored that famous equalizing goal in Melbourne in 1997 to shock the Australians, a goal that was enough to take Iran to the World Cup France in 1998.
The reporter asked Azizi that “in the past, you have been a supporter of Carlos Queiroz, but why have been quoted as saying that the Football Federation should not renew Queiroz’s contract ?” Confirming what he said about the contract , Azizi explained “ I do not need to praise Queiroz praise because his track record at Real Madrid and Manchester united speaks for itself as being a great coach. Also at a stage where no one thought that Team Melli can win the remaining three games to qualify for the World Cup, I was confident that this is quite likely to occur and believed in the team.”.
He continued ” I always thought that with Carlos Queiroz experience and background, he can change our football style , improve player’s productivity and performance and distance the team from depending in a lone star player. I also hoped that he will influence the team to adapt modern footballing style, playing crowds pleasing beautiful and attractive games, the type that we see on TV from European teams, but unfortunately not only we have seen nothing of that style and no new blood injected into our football , the style remained the same without any significant changes” .
“We have to remember that it is the third year of Carlos Queiroz reign in Team Melli , however our expectation for improvement of style and performance remains wanting and at large. We have seen a coach like Guus Hiddink has so much power and influence on his teams , like the way he changed the style of South Korea. That team in much less time than what Queiroz had , play the kind of football today that is one step above Asian football standard , but in our football, such improvement has not happened.”
“My take on the Queiroz era is that he has not made any significant change in the shape and style of Team Melli.”