Tag: Omid Namazi

Omid Namazi urges cautious Iran FIFA World Cup approach

 

Omid Namazi believes defending in numbers will be essential for Iran to impress at the FIFA World Cup.

Namazi aided the Iranian’s qualification for the showpiece in the role of assistant coach before leaving to take up a position with the United States women’s national team.

However, he will no doubt be a keen observer as Carlos Queiroz’s men attempt to make an impact on the biggest stage.

“Iranian players are very skilful but they’re not all great defenders,” he said.

“Carlos is not stupid. Going to the World Cup as the 31st or 32nd team in terms of level, you’re probably going to have to defend a lot. He needs players who can defend.”

While Iran enter the tournament with few expectations, being drawn in one of the less challenging groups – they are alongside Bosnia-Herzegovina, Nigeria and Argentina – means the passion of their supporters could be rewarded.

Namazi added: “It’s a strange, strange world in Iran. Yes, the passion is there. The people live and die with soccer.

“Everyone ” everyone ” on the streets talks about soccer. But they haven’t been able to translate this passion into performance.”

Majeed Saleh

Majid Salih resigns his post as assistant coach in Team Melli

Majid Salih , the Iranian assistant coach of Carlos Queiroz has resigned his post after the arrival of the squad from the Austria training camp.

Salih , who was assistant to Amir Ghalenoei in Esteghlal,  was selected as the Iranian assistant coach of Team Melli. It is believed that his selection was on the insistence of the football federation who wanted an Iranian coach in the cadre of the coaching staff. To make the point , Kaffashian refused to authorize the recruitment of a foreign assistant to Querioz after the departure of Tony Simoez unless the Portuguese coach selects an Iranian to work beside him.

Majid Saleh who was nominated by the FFIRI accepted the job and began his task with the squad in South Africa and then Austria as part of the coaching staff of Team Melli.

Things did not look too well when Salih was spotted sitting in the stands with the crowds instead of the bench with the players during one of the 3 matches played in Austria. The speculation is that Queiroz did not give Salih much authority or attention as he was forced upon him.

Salih immediately tendered his resignation upon arrival in Tehran , but that resignation was not announced in public due to the efforts of Kaffashian to persuade the Esteghlal coach to withdraw his resignation. Salih steadfastly refused  and insisted that he is not going back to Team Melli in the prevailing situation.

Salih flatly refused to comment on his resignation despite several attempts from the media and news agencies.

After Omid Namazi , Majid Salih is the second Iranian coach who has left Team Melli under mysterious circumstances where the real reasons behind their resignations were not revealed.

. 

Omid Namazi Named Assistant Coach for the U.S. Women’s National Team

CHICAGO (March 26, 2014) – U.S. Women’s National Team head coach Tom Sermanni has named Omid Namazi as a full-time assistant coach to his staff.

“Omid brings significant experience in women’s and men’s soccer, at both club level and internationally,” said Sermanni. “He brings a fresh perspective but with a high degree of knowledge on the players and the women’s game. We’re on the same page philosophically on how we want the team to play and he’ll be a valuable asset to our program moving forward.”

Namazi, who holds a U.S. Soccer “A” coaching license, comes to the WNT from his position as an assistant coach for the Iran Men’s National Team.

Namazi served as an assistant coach for Iran from 2011-2014 and helped the team qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil by winning Group A in the Asian Qualifying Tournament ahead of the Korea Republic. Namazi was coaching in Iran as an assistant for Premier League club Steel Azin when he was tabbed to join the U.S. Women’s National Team staff.

Namazi has had an long coaching career in both men’s and women’s soccer, and was head coach of the San Diego Spirit of the Women’s United Soccer Association (WUSA) in 2003, leading the team to its first and only playoff berth, as well as the Chicago Red Stars in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS), taking over the team mid-season in early June of 2010 after the former head coach was let go.

“It’s a new challenge and an exciting one,” said Namazi. “It’s a great time for women’s soccer in the United States with the NWSL starting its second season, our Youth National Teams getting more and more support from U.S. Soccer and with the 2015 Women’s World Cup on the horizon. I’m sincerely enjoying working with some of the best players in the world and helping work to bring the team to an even higher level.”

After a successful college career at West Virginia, Namazi played 18 years of professional soccer for various indoor and outdoor clubs and was the MISL Defender of the Year for the Philadelphia KiXX in 2001. Namazi turned professional in 1988 with the Washington Diplomats of the American Soccer League.

Namazi, who has a bachelor’s degree in exercise philosophy from WVU, played for the U.S. National Futsal Team in 2002-2003, earning five caps while scoring two goals. He resides in Sewell, N.J. with his wife and two young sons.

[divider]

 

Former Iran assistant Namazi joins Sermanni’s staff

by Paul Kennedy, March 26th, 2014

Iranian-American Omid Namazi, who recently left Iran’s World Cup staff in part because he had not been paid in five months, has joined U.S. women’s national team head coach Tom Sermanni’s staff as a full-time assistant coach.

Namazi, who U.S. pro career included stints at 15 indoor and outdoor clubs, has coached two women’s pro teams: the San Diego Spirit of the Women’s United Soccer Association in 2003 and Chicago Red Stars in Women’s Professional Soccer (WPS) in 2010.

“It’s a new challenge and an exciting one,” said Namazi. “It’s a great time for women’s soccer in the United States with the NWSL starting its second season, our youth national teams getting more and more support from U.S. Soccer and with the 2015 Women’s World Cup on the horizon. I’m sincerely enjoying working with some of the best players in the world and helping work to bring the team to an even higher level.”

The Utah-born Namazi was coaching Steel Azin in Iran when he joined Carlos Queiroz’s coaching staff. Another American, Dan Gaspar, was also part of the staff that led Iran to the group title in Asian qualifying for the 2014 World Cup. Gaspar remains with the squad that has struggled to get funding because of the impact of international sanctions, but Namazi told the New York Times he had not been paid in five months.

Namazi’s one game in MLS came in 1996 for the MetroStars when Queiroz was their coach.

Sajjadi “We will have a grand farewell ceremony for Team Melli before flying to Brazil”

Nasrollah Sajjadi, under-secretary of the Ministry of Youth and Sport and head of Team Melli Support Committee spoke of a grand ceremony for Team Melli.

“After the European camp and just before departure to Brazil for the training camp and the World Cup tournament , we have arranged a grand ceremony for the players to show the support of the Iranian people for the team. We have also invited the President Hassan Rouhani to be the guest of honor. Of course, his attendance is dependent on his timetable.” Sajjadi said. “We ask all the fans of Team Melli to show their real support by attending the league matches . In this way , the players will feel the support of the nation.”

Sajjadi also said that “We do not anticipate any problem in supporting Team Melli programs financially as the ministry has allocated  enough funds while the football federation has found a good sponsor”, stressing that all the training camps that were planned earlier on , will go ahead.

On the issue of Team MElli assistant coaches, Sajjadi said that Queiroz has interviewed two candidates for the job , and rejected one of them. He is still not decided on the name of the coach who will be accompanying the team to Brazil. Sajjadi said “Carlos Queiroz did not anticipate that Namazi will abandon the team in such manner (..)”

It seems that the officials are focusing on Omid Namazi’s departure on every opportunity as act of indiscretion, while the sudden departure of Queiroz close friend and compatriot is barely cited.

 

“7 preparations games for Team Melli” Mohammad Nabi

The secretary general of FFIRI has mentioned that Team Melli will have 7 preparations game from now until the start of the World Cup.

Mehdi Mohammad Nabi , in a statement to ISNA said ” During our South African training camp , we will play against 4 club sides , while later on we will be facing Belarus , Montenegro , Trinidad & Tobago and Angola.”

In regard to the vacant position of assistant coach that was created by the sudden departure of Omid Namazi and the resignation of Simoez , Mohammad Nabi said “Kaffashian and myslef had a meeting with Queiroz in which the issue of assistant coach was discussed. He (Queiroz) is still looking at some candidates and shall inform us on his decision shortly. I believe he is looking at two assistant coaches from Brazil. There is no sign or any indication that he will select an Iranian assistant coach anytime soon”

When questioned about and Argentinian coach for Team Melli while Iran is facing Argentina in the World Cup , Mohammad Nabi said “he is only a physical Trainer (!!!)”.

Do we understand from Mohammad Nabi that a Physical Trainer is not an important or significant post in a football team coaching staff?