Tag: Afshin Peyrovani

Omid Namzi appointed as head coach of Zob Ahan.

Omid Namzi , the Iranian-American coach has been appointed as Zob Ahan football Club head coach replacing Amir Ghalenoei who crossed over to the other side of the city taking over the coaching of Sepahan.

The American born, Namazi played professionally in the American Soccer League, American Professional Soccer League, Major League Soccer, USISL and National Professional Soccer League where he was the 2001 Defender of the Year. As assistant coach of Team Melli, Namazi led the team to qualification to the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.

In December 2010, Namazi was named as an assistant coach to the Iran Pro League club Steel Azin F.C.. On April 28, 2011, he became assistant coach of the Iranian national team alongside Carlos Queiroz and goalkeeping coach Dan Gaspar.On June 18, 2013, Iran qualified for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, before qualifying for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup months later.

Namazi submitted his resignation on january 2014 citing family reasons. However, that version was taken with a pinch of salt by many observers

A week before that, Antonio Simoes also parted company with Team Melli due to personal reasons. Namazi was just one name in a long list of assistant coaches or administrators who have worked for Carlos Queiroz and left. Javad Nekounam, Ali Karimi , Dan Gasper , Afshin Peyrovani , Majid Salih , Antonio Simoes are just a few. Queiroz is known to demands complete adherence to his commands and more often than not , the assistants are there to just relay instructions rather than being partners in decesion making or tactical issues. Such role does not sit down well with many aspiring assistant coaches.

Namazi has signed a three-year deal with the Persian Gulf Pro League side which was recently eliminated from the AFC Champions League by fellow Iranian team, Esteghlal Tehran in a thrilling match series.

Afshin Peyrovani suspended for 5 years

The former Captain of Team Melli Afshin Peyrovani has been suspended from all football activities for a period of five years by the disciplinary committee of the Iranian Football Federation IRIFF

In September 2015, Peyrovani was appointed as football director of Team Melli. He was included in Carlos Queiroz staff for FIFA World Cup 2018 Qualifying rounds. After a few months, Peyrovani tendered his resignation from his post in Team Melli.

Peyrovani who is currently Persepolis’s Football Director was accused of  financial irregularities while he was acting as Team Melli Football Director. It is believed that he accepted kick backs from one of the Team Melli sponsors.

Peyrovani played in the 1998 World Cup ,as well as the team that finished third In the 1996 Asian Cup

Persepolis Club has immediately replaced Peyrovani as Team Director and replaced him with Hossein Khabiri for their trip to Abu Dhabi where Persepolis will face Aljazeera Club in the quarter finals of AFC Champions League.

Team Melli training starts without any Iranians !

The beginning of Team Melli Training was marred by the conspicuous absence of all Iranian personnel. No Iranian coaches or administrators was sighted in the first training session of Team Melli in Azadi Training camp ahead of the series of matches in the next few days.

Team Melli will be meeting Iraq in a friendly international on Friday before flying to Doha for the Thursday match against Qatar in the FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers and then flying back to Tehran to meet China in Azadi.

The absence of Afshin Peyrovani , the Team Manager, Markar Aghajanian , Javad Nekounam (assistant coaches) , Arin Ghassemi (interpreter) and Mohsen Motamedkia (Team PR specialist) raised much questions and enforced the rumors that the national contingent of Team Melli Cadre have boycotted Queiroz.!

The Portuguese coach has been resisting the inclusion of Iranians assistants in the Training cadre especially those who are hand-picked by others for the job rather himself. Two of his more famous assistants (victims) who left the job are Omid Namazi and Ali Karimi. The latter tenure with Queiroz did not last more than a few days.

Markar Aghajanian is the longest-serving cadre of Team Melli . A man who does his work very quietly and away from the spotlights. He hardly features in the media and prefers to work quietly and focus on his task. Aghajanian is the only Team Melli coach that consistently follows the Domestic Persian Gulf League while Carlos Quieroz hardly attends any league matches. Many of the new names in Team Melli squad are picked as result of Aghajanian’s recommendation and diligence.

Javad Nekounam, the ex-Captain and the record holder of Team Melli matches, who started his coaching career on the wrong note being slapped with FIFA suspension, is another surprise absentee. Queiroz’s own choice for assistant coach when the then President Ali Kaffashian insisted that the training staff must include an Iranian assistant coach, was picked without any coaching experience or formal training hence Nekounam was always exposed to failure. However, Nekounam was a strong supporter of Queiroz as a player and Captain of the team.

Afshin Peyrovani, who has no technical or coaching authority in the squad, and is only the administration manager is another strong Queiroz supporter. Peyrovani has been outspoken in the defense of Portuguese coach against wide-spread media criticism. Unlike Aghajanina, Peyrovani was always making a statement to one news agency to another in the project of defending Queiroz.  His absence is more puzzling than all the rest as he was always the Yes man and the loyal soldier to Carlos Queiroz!

The controversy and drama of  Carlos Queiroz with Team Melli continues to run unabated. Whether the absence of the Iranian contingent of Team Melli is a coincident, or an expression of protest or even a boycott , it will hardly matter to Queiroz who prefers an iron fist approach to his job and has no time for any views other than his. It is unlikely that the Iranians absent will have a negative short term effect or direct impact in the result of the coming matches.

 

 

Queiroz’s end of the road.

It seems like the end of the road between Carlos Queiroz and Team Melli is finally a reality after some bizarre rhetoric by the Portuguese coach against Alireza Asadi , FFIRI , Sajjadi and the Ministry of  sport of the Islamic Republic.

After meeting with Ali Kaffashian to decide Team Melli and his letter of resignation , the Portuguese coach talked to the press and opened fire on whom he perceives as adversaries

 The bulk of Queiroz’s contempt was directed at Alireza Asadi , whom the Portuguese considers as an enemy and accused him of being behind everything bad in Team Melli .

“I don’t know what a guy who does not know the difference between a football pitch and a potato field, is doing in the federation. All I know is that he has landed here via the parachute of the Ministry of Sport (…)” Queiroz said in reference to Asadi .

“They have won. They have done what thy wanted to do all the way and that is to discredit me and tarnished my reputation and that of Afshin Peyrovani.”

Queiroz did not munch his words  to the extent of criticizing his only solid support in the federation. Referring to Kaffashian, he blamed him for failing to stand against  Asadi and others  who wanted to harm him!  

These verbal attack and accusations are nothing new as they are  a repeat of what Queiroz has said in several occasions. However, combined with the submission of his earlier resignation , it is more likely that Queiroz will leave his job.

Among more genuine grievances, Queiroz complained about lack of resources and training facilities for Team Melli.  This was one of the reasons he has mentioned as a reason from his intention to leave.  

However , no decision has been taken at today’s meeting , another meeting is arranged for Wednesday.

It is highly unlikely that Queiroz will continue with Team Melli. Although the Portuguese has a track record for such maneuvers, he normally returned back without explaining the motives for his return.

 After the FIFA World Cup 2014 in Brazil , Queiroz publicly announced that he is not returning back to Iran.

Afshin Peyrovani resigns from his post

The former Team Melli Captain who was appointed as Team Melli Manager by the FFIRI on April 2015 , has submitted his resignation to Ali Kaffashian.

In a public announcement , Peyrovani has confirmed that his resignation was submitted on 13th February but has not received a response yet. Peyrovani claims that he was verbally told to stay by Kaffashian.

Afshin Peyrovani cited lack of resources as a major reason for his resignation, but also said that dignity and self-respect has made him decide that he is no more able to work with Team Melli.

Technically speaking , Peyrovani has no contract with FFIRI. It is not clear if he has received any payment for his work or was it voluntary basis. Peyrovani is a staunch supporter of Carlos Queiroz, however , his appointment was only approved by the Portuguese coach conditional to Peyrovani’s non-interference in technical matters. His job was purely administrative. 

Peyrovani accused the federation of not providing proper resources for Team Mell thus echoing what Queiroz is complaining about. He was also bitter about not being offered a proper employment contract since he started work on April last year.

Queiroz departs Iran on extended medical leave.

Team Melli’s Head Coach Carlos Queiroz departed Iran for an extended leave of absence in which the Portuguese coach intends to go for medical check up and recuperation, according to Ali Kaffashian, The President of FFIRI.

Queiroz , who was rumored to be seriously ill , gave no interviews nor did not provide any hint on nature of his illness on his departure from Iran.  The only reference about the medical condition of Queiroz came in form of a denial of rumors by Afshin Peyrovani , the sporting manager of Team Melli who denied that Queiroz has cancer.

Carlos Queiroz arrived with the Team Melli squad from the long trip from Guam jaded and somehow less lively than normal, however , that could have been due to the stress of the long journey rather than any serious illness.

Queiroz is not expected back in Iran for at least 50 days. Interestingly enough, during his absence the FFIRI election will be conducted in which Kaffashian , his staunch supporter, might very well not be the head of FFIRI by the time Queiroz is back.

We wish , Team Melli coach , the speediest of recovery and good health.

Guam away match venue will remain as is.

After much thought and deliberation by the FFIRI on the proposal by Guam FA to hold both the matches of FIFA World Cup 2018 qualifiers between Iran and Guam in Iran , Team Melli’s Manager Afshin Peyrovani said today that the away match will be held in Guam as originally scheduled.

Peyrovani, in a statement to the official football federation website , said that FIFA regulations prevented both matches bein played in the same venue !

Guam has submitted an official proposal to save cost and the gigantic travel mileage the like of which can never happen anywhere else in FIFA calendar. The tiny US protectorate is currently leading the group with maximum points from two matches won against Turkmenistan and India.

Guam National Football team

Nekounam appointed as Queiroz’s assistant.

After the conclusion of today’s executive committee meeting of the FFIRI, it was announced that Javad Nekounam has been appointed as the assistant coach of Team Melli and Carlos Queiroz’s right hand man. In the same meeting it was also decided that the vacant Team Melli Manager position will be awarded to Afshin Peyrovani.

Nekounam, Team Melli Captain and all time record holder of games played ,  has announced his retirement from Team Melli after the last game against Sweden.

 It was not clear if Carlos Queiroz approval or consent has been sought in these appointments.

Iranian assistant coaches’ dilemma.

Although technically speaking, these appointments are the function of the head of FFIRI, Queiroz has been influential in deciding who takes the jobs. The position of Iranian assistant coach has been a thorn in the federations back in which Queiroz has managed to deter all the 3 assistants who were appointed starting from Omid Namazi , then Majid Saleh and finally Ali Karimi. The latter did not last more than a few short months and jumped ship just before departing to Australia for the Asian Cup 2015.

Karim Bagheri was the lead nominee for the assistant coach position, however , the ex-Team Melli midfielder has preferred to join his old Club , Persepolis coaching team in an effort to develop his coaching career.

Unsatisfactory Team Managers!

 The Manager of Team Melli , which is a high profile position in the structure of Team Melli in which the coaching staff administratively report to, has also a source of Queiroz’s objections and discontent. The Portuguese head coach has openly accused them of lack of professionalism, inefficiency and dishonesty/corruption. His verbal assault has been unanswered by those who were accused and charges of corruption never investigated by Kaffashian.

In the bright side of things, the characteristics of both Nekounam and Peyrovani , both of whom are docile and submissive , may help towards enduring their stay in Team Melli and working with an over-demanding and aggressive Queiroz. Time will tell if these appointments, which seem to be a practice of trial and error in FFIRI, will be successful or not.