Javad Nekounam , the recently retired Team Melli Captain, expressed his gratitude towards Team Melli coach , Carlos Queiroz for offering him the job of assistant coach and said “He rather continue playing football”.

Nekounam who is signing for Saipa Alborz team , has recently moved back to Iran after a unsuccessful stint with Osasuna in the second division of the Spanish La Liga.  Nekounam had much praise for his present coach Majeed Jalali and considered him one of the best in the country and Saipa as a club that many Iranian players think of quite highly.

The appointment of Nekounam as assistant coach was announced a few months back without the player himself being properly consulted. Nekounam made no public comment on the appointment and never reported to Team Melli signalling his refusal to accept the job. This is the first time that the ex-Team Melli captain has spoken publicly about the appointment.

No assistant coach has survived working under Queiroz. Omid Namazi , then Majeed Salih and Ali Karimi have all been working with the Portuguese coach and did not last the distance. Karimi’s stint was the shortest. Nekounam must have taken a cue and despite his admiration and good working relationship with Queiroz , has turned down the job.