The Iranian football community is coming to terms with reality after what seemed to be, a shock by the sudden migration of the European based players to Arab Leagues.
From the English Premier league, perhaps one of the top leagues in the world along with the Spanish La Liga and German Bundesliga to the subdued low key leagues of Kuwait and Qatar , is a huge step backwards for Iran’s top two players Ashkan Dejagah and Reza Ghoochannejad.
It seems that some critics and fans are quite slow to realize the real impact of the unattractive & mundane football that Team Melli displayed in the World Cup, the result of which is clearly seen in the loss of top clubs interest in Iranian players.
Some critics point to Carlos Queiroz and consider that Dejagah & Ghoochannejad are the real and true victims of Queiroz tactics, Tasnim sport reporter , blames the poor strategy and the defense minded Team Melli for the loss of respect and relegation of Iranian football reputation to the abyss. “When a team spend its whole time to clear the balls and its mission is to defend and nothing but defend, talents such as Dejagah & Ghoochannejad up front are not given their fair share to display their ability” the report concluded.
Hossein Abdi and ex-Persepolis player, did not single out one factor but instead he blamed the poor standard of Iran’s football management , outdated infra-structure , lack of financial agility ,lack of business plan , low standard coaches and less than ambitious players for the poor showing of Team Melli. Abdi said “Since 1998 , Iran’s football standards have experienced a steady decline. We should not be surprised that we currently do not have any player in the top leagues of Europe. Our Team Melli did not show anything special against Nigeria, with Argentina, we were truly obsessed with defending and nothing else mattered, finally against Bosnia , the real standard of Iran was eventually exposed.”
Abdi commenting on the players’ move to Qatar and Kuwait , said that these are personal decisions by the players concerned where economics play a large part in it.
“What I know though is that such moves are detrimental to the total standard of Iran football. I don’t have much hope for Team Melli in the AFC Asian Cup 2015. The players standards and the team game plan have not shown us anything to raise our confidence and expectations. I am quite sceptic.”
Some reporters found a new and a different type of culprit. In the decline of Iranian footballer’s reputation and lack of interest b the Europeans , Reza Fazeli was identified as a major role player. The European based football agent has been instrumental in most of the famous Iranian footballer’s careers moves since the early nineties, including those of Dejagah & Ghoochannejad. Fazeli defended the moves as the best that he and his clients have found “If there is no demand from the top rate clubs, you have no other option but to seek the best alternative when available.”
Mohammad Khakpour , ex-Team Melli defender who is currently coaching in the USA warned that being emotional and demonstrative on judgment, will only hurt Iran’s football.
“We must face reality, else we will not progress. The real standard of Iran’s football is the one that we all saw at the World Cup. They were disappointing performances and lacked the ingredients of a modern football. Domestically, the league is offering nothing better either.”
Khakpour a squad member of the legendary World Cup 1998 team added” We are emotional people who swiftly made a mountain out of a mole after the World Cup raving about the solitary point we gained. Then the reality hits us and we start asking why no European clubs are interested in Iranian players? Well, with such poor showing in Brazil, no wonder the Europeans are looking elsewhere for talented players.”
Khakpour also blamed the high average age of Team Melli, one of the highest in the competition, as a factor for loss of interest by the Europeans. “These clubs will not invest in older players. No nation can successfully maintain players for long period of time in the national team; we have to keep producing quality players and constantly evolve. We must emphasize on quality not quantity. What we are doing now is employing a first class European coach who is not reflecting his high standard on the players nor team performance. For one reason or another, we re unable to get the best out of him (..)”
Khakpour, did not shy away from addressing the inept football federation whom he accused of lacking in high ambitions for Iran’s football. “The Football federation is disengaged from reality. Their aspirations and ambitions are questionable and focus on some useless data as the sign of their success. In reality though, the Football administration in Iran have been declining in standard proportional to the football played in the field”
With Mehrdad Pooladi , surprisingly picked as the best performing Iranian player in the World Cup, hopes of finding a European club fading, it looks like not a single Iranian player will be taking part in top European leagues this coming season.
Reza Ghoochannejad will be playing for Al Kuwait SC while Ashkan Dejagah will by in Qatrt playing for Al Arabi.