The Croatian Legacy.

Croatian football coach Dragan Skocic (51) has been named Iran’s new coach, the football association announced there.

Rijeka’s Dragan Skocic has replaced Belgian Marco Wilmots on the bench of Iran following two consecutive defeats in qualifying for the FIFA 2022 World Cup against Bahrain (0-1) and Iraq (1-2).

According to the Iranian state news agency IRNA, Skocic has agreed to sign with the Iranian Football Federation until the end of the second round of the FIFA 2022 World Cup qualifications, or by June this year.

Another Croat on Iran bench

Skocic followed in the footsteps of Tomislav Ivic , Stanko Poklepovic , Miroslav Blazevic and Branko Ivankovic , all of whom managed the Iranian football team quite successfully.

“It is certainly an honor to be in the company of other great Croatian coaches. Croats are highly respected in Iran, so I’m really happy that I got the opportunity to be the coach of Iran, a great football nation,” says Skočić in an interview with HRT’s Ivan Dorian Molnar .

Skočić has been working in Iran since 2013 and has led four clubs, Malavan, Foolad, Knooneh be Knooneh and Sanat Naft.

“With three of the four teams I led, I made the greatest successes in their history. I think this was one logical sequence. I came up with something very tangible, and that is the position of the Iranian national team coach,” he added, noting that this is actually his biggest career challenge.

Iran “hunts” Bahrain and Iraq

Iran is currently ranked third in Group C of the second qualifying round with six points from four appearances.

Iraq tops with 11 points from five duels, the second is Bahrain with nine points from five appearances as well, with Hong Kong with five points and Cambodia with one point, and both teams also played five matches each.

The winners of all eight groups and the four best runner-up teams will compete in the third qualifying round.

Anton ‘Toni’ Usnik
Mladen Zganjer

“There will be a battle, the key matches are with Bahrain and Iraq. Both games are played in Tehran in front of a full stadium that seats 100,000 people. We have a lot of looks, I hope we pass the group. The key matches will be against my friend Srecko Katanec (current Iraq coach.). It will be interesting,” Skocic adds, pointing out that expectations are high, that everyone wants Iran to qualify for the FIFA World Cup  2022, and especially after a great performance at the last edition in Russia, where they almost passed the group with Spain, Portugal, and Morocco.

Skocic’s assistants will be Mladen Zganjer, former U-21 national team coach and Toni Usnik, who worked at the Slovenian national team headquarters.

Mehdi Ghaedi , the Prince of Persia , a star in the making.

Mehdi Ghaedi, Esthghlal’s winger has been making the headlines for all the good reasons in the last few months.

Only 1.66 m tall, (or short as most will refer to his height) and barely 60 kgs in weight, Ghadei’s built is hardly the physique of a top-level footballer. Yet he has already demonstrated plenty of skills and scored enough goals to make him a star. He is even shorter than Messi who is 1.70 m.

The 21 years old Mehdi Ghaedi was born and raised in the port city of Bushehr on the Persian Gulf. After joining his local club IranJavan Bushehr as a kid. His talent was recognized early and was soon promoted to the full team in which he played in season 2016-17 scoring 10 goals in a total of 29 league games.

Esteghlal Tehran, forever a club with scouts spread all over the country looking for talents, was forewarned about this skillful tiny player that is drawing rings around defenders. He was immediately recruited at the age of 19 and made his debut as a substitute in 2017 against Foolad Khuzestan.

Less than 3 years with Esteghlal, the tiny Ghaedi is becoming a household name in Iranian football. This is the season that transformed the young man into a fearful player with dribbling skills, pace and crossing accuracy of the highest kind.

During the immaculate performance of Esteghlal in the AFC Champions League qualifier against Al Rayyan Club in Doha, Mehdi Ghaedi was the undisputed star. He even out jumped much taller defenders to score a fine heard on the far reach of the goalkeeper.

He has scored 9 goals this season and provided 6 assists in the league plus two goals in the AFC Champions League.

What Ghaedi lacks in physique he compensates in his outstanding dribbling which is in fact helped by his tiny frame. Mehdi Ghaedi is also a controversial player already with many accusing him to be a fall guy. Although he has been awarded yellow cards for easily falling on the ground during tackles, he has been unfairly treated by the Referees even when genuinely fouled upon. With such a tiny built, it seems to be difficult for referees to decide whether his fall to the ground is genuine or not.

He was involved in a fatal car accident a couple of years ago and was lucky to survive after a series of surgical operations.

Although transfermarkt.com , the website that evaluates the price of players, Far from a complete player, half a million Euro, Ghaedi is easily worth several folds value. Ghaedi is a rough diamond who and is destined to be a true star of Iranian football. The rough edges need to be handled by skilled managers and if this player manages his time on and off the field well enough, there is little doubt that he will end up in a European club challenging at the highest level.

Turkish clubs have already made serious inquiries about him, but Esteghlal will not be easily persuaded to let go of this talent at such an early age. The mistake they have done with releasing Majid Hosseini will not be repeated.

For the time being, Esteghlal fans are enjoying the performance of the Prince of Persia who is torturing defenders with his clever dribbles and body shimmy as seen yesterday when he passed 3 Persepolis players right on the touchline to cross for Motahari to score Esteghlal’s goal in the local Derby.

His next destination is Team Melli. Surely Dragan  Skocic has seen enough potential in Ghaedi to select him for the next squad.

Dragan Skočić appointed as Head Coach of Team Melli

The Croat coach Dragan Skočić has been appointed as the new head coach of Team Melli on Thursday.

The 51 years old Croatian has just resigned from his post as head coach of Persian Gulf League club Sanat Naft after a long dispute with the Abadani club for their failure to respect the contract and failure to provide proper support for the team.

A day after Dragan Skočić announced his departure from Sanat Naft Abadan, he was appointed as Team Melli head coach.

Skočić first arrived in Iran in 2013 where he coached Malavan Anzali where he could not have much success with the team. Next season he was recruited by Foolad Khuzestan where he remained for two seasons and managed to improve the results of the team but still could not win them any trophies. He left Iran in 2016.

In 2018 Skočić turned up again in Iran where he took over the coached of Azadegan league side Khooneh be Khooneh. A season later 2019 he was coaching  Sanat Naft Abadan in July before he resigned his post on 4th February 2020.

Zlatko Kranjcar with Dragan Skocic in a league match encounter
Zlatko Kranjcar (left) with Dragan Skocic (Right) in a league match encounter

During his long managerial career, in Croatia, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, Skočić managed only a single achievement with his home club Rijeka, winning the Croatian Cup for the 2005–06 season.

Team Melli is the first National Team coaching experience of Dragan Skočić

AFC Futsal Championship 2020 is postponed.

Kuala Lumpur: Following consultation with all relevant stakeholders, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has taken the decision to postpone the AFC Futsal Championship which was scheduled for Turkmenistan between February 26 and March 8, 2020.

This move was taken because of concerns about the current Coronavirus situation and in order to ensure the safety and well-being of all participating teams and stakeholders. The AFC will continue to monitor the impact of the virus and new competition dates will be announced when the situation stabilizes.

As the defending champions, the Iran futsal team was once again the top contender in this tournament. Some players think that this postponement is a blessing in disguise as the team is not yet fully prepared and needs more training camp to sort out tactical issues.

 

AFC Futsal Championship History

 

Rank Nation Team Gold Silver Bronze Total
1  Iran 12 1 2 15
2  Japan 3 6 2 11
3  Uzbekistan 0 4 4 8
4  Thailand 0 2 5 7
5  Kazakhstan 0 1 1 2
 South Korea 0 1 1 2
7  Kyrgyzstan 0 0 1 1
Totals (7 nations) 15 15 16 46

“Soltanifar “National Teams expenses are entirely from the Ministry of Sports”

The Minister of Youth and Sports says all the expenses of the national teams, especially football (Team Melli), have been paid by the Ministry of Sports. He also announced that the new Team Melli head coach will be appointed soon, falling short of admitting that the Ministry is the decision-maker in such an appointment while declining to give specifics.

Masoud SoltaniFar told reporters in Kazeroon during his long day trip to Fars province: “Iran’s sixth FIFA World Cup appearance should be the main agenda of the Football Federation.”

In response to a question about the financial backing of Team Melli, the Minister said: “supporting and financing the national teams in all the expenses of the national teams, especially football, have been with the Ministry of Sport and there should be no concern by the stakeholders since we back the team.”

” We have a special budget for the Olympics, the support of the Ministry for the National Olympic Committee is comprehensive,” Soltanifar said

The Minister declined to name any candidates and despite the fact that a spokesman for his Ministry suggested that the new coach will most probably be a foreign coach, Soltanifar refused to specific.  Branko Ivankovic who was the front-runner for the post of Team Melli coach has just been appointed as the Head Coach of Oman after the Iranian side failed to settle his claims and back pays with Persepolis.

Branko Ivankovic appointed as Oman Head Coach

Branko Ivankovic has been appointed as the head coach of Oman’s National football team today.

The Croatian who helped Persepolis win three trophies in his last endeavor in Iran was the main candidate and front runner to coach Team Melli as a replacement for the departed Wilmots. However, Ivankovic made it clear that he will not put pen to paper unless Persepolis settles his claims and honors the contract he had with them.

Failure to settle with Persepolis disheartened the Croatian and he opted not to continue working in Iran despite his wishes and special passion he has for Iran.

Ivankovic is one of the most successful foreign coaches of Team Melli. He managed to qualify with Iran to the FIFA 2006 World Cup, and win the Asian Games Gold Medals with the Omid Team.

Speaking after his confirmation as coach of the Oman national team, The Croatian said, “Yes I expect to have a nice time here and enjoy with the people because I have heard many good things about the Omani people.”

Ivankovic’s main focus is helping Oman to qualify for the  FIFA World Cup 2022

Sporting CP desperate for Mehdi Taremi.

The center forward of Team Melli, Mehdi Taremi is on the front pages of the sporting press of Portugal.

The Rio Ave forward who is having quite a successful first season on the Portuguese top league is wanted by Sporting Clube de Portugal or as commonly called, Sporting Lisbon.

The famous club has just sold one of its best players Bruno Fernades to Manchester United. With the Brazilian forward Luiz Phellype’s suffering serious injury, which keeps him out of the competition at least until the end of the current season, added to the transfer of Fernandes, the clock is ticking for the accelerated arrival of Mehdi Taremi’s at Jose Alvalade Stadium of Sporting CP.

The Iranian striker of Rio Ave has already been the subject of interest of many top clubs however the more serious discussion has been between Sporting and Rio Ave. The leaders of the two clubs have been talking for some time, and the injury of the Brazilian, as well as the biggest financial relief provided by the transfer of Bruno Fernandes to Manchester United, may accelerate the transfer of Taremi.

Dadkan attacks the football hierarchy and the government action.

The former head of the FFIRI, severely criticized the Ministry of Sports and the managers of Iranian clubs, in an unprecedented verbal salvo in the aftermath of AFC saga with the Iranian clubs hosting of home games.

Mohammad Dadkan said: “Our meeting with the AFC did not accomplish anything whatsoever for us, yet these people claim victory!! what victory when the AFC does not even give you an inch?”

 Dadkan one of the few remaining outspoken individuals who have criticized the football establishment for their incompetence and corruption many times pointed fingers at the managers of Iranian clubs and the Deputy Minister of Sports for their failure to protect Iranian football interests in their visit to Malaysia to meet AFC.

He told Radio Tehran in an interview on Friday: “The two biggest threats to any civilization are – lies and incompetent managers/leaders.  You see, in our society, we seem to be accustomed to lies & fabrications of facts rather than demanding the truth. We have become habitual to the official “don’t rock the boat” policy which is a sure way of destroying the nation”

He continued “Our executives came out and hyped the nation two days ago about national honor and prestige but today, we found out that AFC has stood by its ruling, yet these people (FFIRI & the Ministry of Sport) come and tell the Iranian fans we have won against AFC !!”

Dadkan flanked by Mahmoud Ahmadi Nejad on the right and Aldi Daei with Ali Karimi

“what do these officials think the people of this country are? Your meeting with the Secretary-General of the AFC has been nothing but a non-event. I myself am still a member of the AFC and am able to view the report of the meeting.”

The former head of the Iranian Football Federation emphasized:” They had a meeting with the Secretary-General of the AFC. What can the Secretary-General do for you? The Iranian delegation that traveled to Malaysia, do not even know the duties and authorities of the Secretary-General ?”

“Secretary-General can’t decide on the subject of hosting, it is not within his authority.  All he can do in this regard is to note down your requests and pass it to the top AFC officials and the competition committee. What have you won? Your games are moved outside of Iran and that decision stands. The Ministry of Sports also had its own victory claims too. What victory have you achieved?”

“The club managers meeting with the AFC has not made any difference for us” Dadkan added. “Allow decent and competent people to talk. The society would decay to corruption when those dishonest ones have the upper hand and it is on the rise, while its good people are silenced. Let the experts speak“

“The Asian Confederation has taken this decision, based on our own statements and information coming out of Iran.  You should be accountable for this NOT the AFC” he said.

In his criticism of the Minister of Sports who had previously pressurized the Football Federation to suspend the league for seven days claiming the situation was not safe to play football in our country and that the league games must be suspended., according to Dadkan.

“AFC officials hear about such statements and it alarms them when the source is government Minister. You declared insecurity in Iran for demanding the league suspension. You have to answer to the fans and clubs, not the AFC. Do not cover things in secrecy. Let all the people hear the words the Minister uttered on this subject. Who said that we are not safe and who demanded the postponement of Persepolis and Tractorsazi game.?” Dadkan added

“You said you’re not going to take part in the AFC Champions League but the fact is that you’re going.”

“If you are not going to participate in the champions league, Well, that’s fine but why are you bringing up national honors and dignity, if you are not able to protect it? “

The former head of the football federation also criticized the National Olympic Committee, saying: “When our champions and heroes are valued by outsiders and other nations and given asylum, all that our committee officials can say is ‘let them go away; they are just like the rest of them.’ Is that what our champion is worth to the Olympic Committee? They are national heroes that we revere and adore that we have lost, not an ordinary person.”

“Not only that, to cover their humiliation and incompetence they demand from others to speak out against those champions who seek asylum in other countries. I say this based on the documents I have seen. They are shaming our athlete’s class to say that these champion athletes were lying and have sold their homeland….”

“We had 2 major doping cases and more than 5 asylum seekers who left Iran this year. All that these sports officials can come up with is that these athletes are aliens and let them leave as if the country is yours only.  Everybody can go out of Iran and we will stay only?”

FFIRI denies any talks with Di Biasi

A spokesman for the Iranian Football Federation FFIRI denied the news about any communication and contract negotiations between his federation and the Italian coach Gianni Di Biasi!

During the last few days, there has been a lot of stories about the Iranian Football Federation’s negotiations with De Biasi. The source of the news was the Italian media including the normally reliable  Sky Italia. The sources even disclosed some details like FFIRI offering a 30 months contract taking the coach’s assignment all the way to the World Cup.

 However, a day after the news spread, Amir Mehdi Alavi, spokesman for the Football Federation, said: “This issue is officially denied. The Football Federation has not had any discussions with De Biasi and this coach is not an option for the Team Melli head coach job”.

What is the story behind Di Biasi ?

The saga of Iranian football managements ( or mismanagement, to be more accurate) continues unabated with the latest revelation that an Italian coach is being considered for Team Melli after the debacle of Marc Wilmots!

Notwithstanding the truth behind this story and lack of an official confirmation, it is prudent to analyze such possibility and dissect the pros and cons of appointing a foreign coach who does not have the slightest clue about Iranian football culture to head Team Melli at this critical juncture.

Who is Di Biasi?

Giovanni “Gianni” De Biasi is an Italian coach who started his career in 1990 and managed several clubs in Serie C, B, and A, the most famous of them was Torino. Di Biasi never seemed to stay with one club for more than two seasons. During his playing days, he played with Treviso, Inter Milan ( 10 matches only) Brescia, Palermo but never managed to make it at top grade.  The same can be said about his coaching career until the big break came when he was recruited by the Albanians to coach their national team.

It was with Albania that Di Biasi enjoyed his best days in coaching. In his 6 years with Albania, he succeeded in qualifying to the Euro Finals in 2016. He left in 2017 to coach Alaves in La Liga.

Clearly, Gianni Di Biasi is not in the elite category of world coaches however, his success with the Albanian national team was remarkable considering the status and standard of the tiny European nation.

DI Biasi and Iran.

While Marc Wilmots had a similar resume as Di Biasi, perhaps a little bit better for coaching a powerful team like Belgium, he struggled to succeed with Iran. In fact, his poor familiarity with his players’, poor reading of the game and sub-standard knowledge of the opposition, resulted in two major defeats for Team Melli against teams that should have been beaten.

That Marc Wilmots was not familiar with the Team Melli players was a direct result of the guy living and working remotely with minimal contact and communication with the team members. It is only natural that a coach cannot employ the capabilities of the players to the full if he does not understand those skills and abilities. There are other factors too, but nothing like the poor technical and tactical leadership of the game which resulted in these diabolical defeats and possible elimination at an early stage.

Di Biasi is in the same boat as Wilmots was before taking the job. A person who has no knowledge of football in Iran, perhaps unable to name more than two or three players and is totally alien to the Persian culture and football politics. To settle in Iran in the first place, is a challenge for this Italian, assuming he is not going to be a suitcase flying coach. It will take him time and we are talking months if not years to be comfortable enough to deliver the goods.

The establishment, environment and the politics of Iranian football is a steep learning curve for any outsider. Expecting a foreign coach to deliver in a short time is unreasonable and unfair on both sides.

Team Melli has just about two months for the next match in the World Cup qualifiers vs. Hong Kong in Azadi. Granted, it is not an intricate mission but it still needs preparation, the familiarity between the coach and the players and building the best team line-up. The real test is against Bahrain and Iraq at home, two matches that must be won for Team Melli to be in contention for a place in the next round.

The contract!

It is not clear what has changed since Wilmot’s dispute with FFIRI which turned sour mainly due to non-payment or delay of wages by FFIRI.  This will repeat with any other coach if it is not sorted out.  Will Di Biasi suffer the same as Wilmots, Branko Ivankovic, Calderon and Andrea Stramaccioni who all had disputes with their paymasters on payments of dues? It is highly unlikely that the FFIRI has suddenly created a magic wand to manage to circumnavigate the American sanctions to enable paying the wages of its foreign coaches, so what has changed in FFIRI policy to assure the respect of contractual obligations?

It is particularly this subject that can turn a good relationship into a fractured one. It is a big challenge and a bigger risk for the federation as they have already been burnt, although no one takes responsibility or accountability.

This administration of the FFIRI is far from a competent operative. Although the fans of Team Melli should not be normally bothered or concerned with the administrations or contract details, with FFIRI and as we have experienced previously, it is a major concern. A lot is dependent on how he FFIRI respects its contractual obligations. By track records, it is not too promising. If there is anything that this administration excels in is, making excuses, fabrication & twisting of fact and diverting blame.

Chances of success

Assuming all is well with the contract, It is not an absolute requirement for a top-level coach to handle Team Melli. It needs a strong person, knowledgable, dedicated and tactically astute. Di Biasi can tick a few boxes here. His lack of familiarity can be addressed as he can develop that depending on how happy the man is at his job.  Iran can be both a pleasant place to live and frustration at the same time. He can do the job as well as any although from the onset it looks a lot more complicated for a newbie foreign coach than having a domestic one at the helm.

The Ghalenoei’s, Daei’s or Golmohammdi’s have their advantages as Team Melli coaches but also we must not forget a certain stigma attached to them, after all, in Iran, a local coach has an automatic label of being biased! A foreign coach is revered even if he struggles. The fans seem to be more tolerant of foreign coaches but unforgiving to a local. It is the Iranian culture.