The Iranian football federation parted company with Team Omid head coach, Zlatko Kranjcar.

After just over a year in charge of Iran’s U-23 team with the objective of qualifying for the Tokyo Summer Olympics in 2020 , Kranjcar barely made the final 16 of the AFC AFC U-23 Championships tournament. After hosting the qualifying group, Iran finished second behind Iraq on goal difference and had to wait for qualification as one of the 4 best second placed teams in the rest of the Asian qualifying groups. 3 teams from Asia will qualify for the Olympics next year.

Despite the total support by the federation, Kranjcar’s team failed to impress. The style and game plan of Omid team in the qualifying group lacked a lot of quality and was more often back to the basic and route 1 football.  The team lacked discipline and leadership on and off the field. In general , Kranjcar could not impress and the critics doubted if this team can make the Olympics in Tokyo.

The search is on for a replacement with Yahya Mohammadi being named as a favorite.

It is already 5 months since Team Melli parted company with Queiroz and there is no one in sight to take over as Head Coach of Team Melli. It is hoped that Omid Team does not suffer the same fate.

Recently, the FFIRI spoke person denied any quotes attributed to its Presiodent  Mehdi Taj in regards to the future Team m coach.

There is extra significance for the AFC U-23 Championships, which will take place from January 8 to 26, 2020 in Thailand, as the top three teams qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics in July, although should Japan emerge as one of them, the fourth-placed side will advance.