Tag: Saipa

Iran’s football Marco Polo

A former Team Melli player has recently joined the fourteenth football league clubs of his career. The 36-year-old Mohammad Ghazi Najafabadi is currently playing in Mes Rafsanjan and experiencing his fourteenth club. However, the record holder for transfer belongs to another Khuzestani player and former Team Melli midfielder Milad Zenidpour

The Khuzestani midfielder has donned the jerseys of eighteen teams, a record in Iran, and not too far from a world record. The former Team Melli player is now 34 years old and plays for Sarawak United in the Malaysian League. The label of “Marco Polo of Iranian football” is quite appropriate for this professional football. Even his ardent fans have trouble keeping track of which team he is playing for!

Zanidpour began his career in Khuzestan then joined  Saipa, Peykan, Rah Ahan, Steel Azin, Damash, Sepahan, Peykan, Malvan Anzali, Zobahan, Naft Masjed Soleyman, Erbil (Iraq), Armi United (Thailand), Gostarish Tabriz, Madura United (Indonesia), Yuki M and finally Sarawak United (Malaysia). He is currently a record holder.

Of course, a much-travelled player in g=his class will hardly ever have time to develop or become a better player. His changing of clubs has not always been smooth either as he was sacked by some like Peykan,

Interim coach is considered for Team Melli

Team Melli will most probably schedule 2 friendly games in April 2019. The opponents or location of the national team training camp has not been determined yet but strong preference is given to the China’s International 4 side round ribbon invitational tournament.

The football federation is hard pressed for time in choosing a new head coach, so it’s more than likely that an interim coach will sit on the bench until negotiations and appointment of a permanent new coach is finalized and concluded.

Javad Nekounam is one of the candidates as Iran’s interim coach, because he is available and due to his familiarity with the Team Melli players. Nekounam is however a risky choice if the permanent coach negotiation is extended and prolonged. He has showed a lack of discipline in his short career in coaching. When appointed as assistant to Carlos Queiroz, in his first match against Qatar, he nearly started a riot by his childish and provocative celebration in front of the Qatar bench when Iran scored late in the game. A conduct that earned him a suspension by FIFA and consequent to that, his time with Queiroz did not last long.

There are two other names that are being talked about as well as Nekounam. Ali Daei and Branko Ivankovic. Both of these coaches have club jobs to attend to and both are bound by contracts to their clubs. Unlike Javad Nekounam who is out of work and is believed to be the cheapest option, Daei and Ivankovic are a different challenge all together for the federation

Saipa and Persepolis coaches, will not be cheap in terms of contract. Both have aspirations for full time jobs rather than being a fill gap for someone else. In their own rights, they have the credentials and the competency while both have carried out the job of Team Melli head coach previously unlike Nekounam who has a short coaching career which is barely satisfactory.

And there is always the release by the clubs if they agree and what compensations will they be awarded.

Ali Daei, a patriot that he always is, might agree reluctantly to lead Team Melli on temporary 1 or 2 match basis until the FFIRI final decision on a permanent appointment. Some insiders, however, doubt that Daei will agree while Kaffashian-Taj axis is at the helm of FFIRI. Daei is still very bitter about the way he was treated after the loss to Saudi Arabia in 2009 and blames Kaffashian, the President of FFIRI at the time and his buddy Mehdi Taj for his unfair dismissal. Since both are retirees who draw benefits from government pension, as the law stands, they are not allowed to take a job and a pension at the same time. Kaffashian is said to have left FFIRI but Taj is still procrastinating. The chances of Daei agreeing on the fill gap post are much higher when those two bosses leave their posts in FFIRI.

Ivankovic is a more difficult case. He is not obliged by any means to help the federation. His resume speaks for itself and if the FFIRI is looking for a competent replacement for Queiroz, they are obliged to consider the Croat who has coached Team Melli on two separate occasions taking Iran to the 2006 World cup. A temporary assignment will not interest Ivankovic who is busy with Persepolis and intends to perform one step better in the AFC Champions League this time.

After Queiroz’s departure, most critics have agreed that the next coach should be as good or better than the Portuguese coach to take Iran forward to the next biggest challenge and the is the FIFA World Cup 2022.

Appointment of Daei or Ivankovic as Team Melli coach has its merits and advantages. However, the legacy that Queiroz has left needs strong character to improve upon his work. Daei is a typical Iranian coach who usually blames failures on other factors, at least publically. Iran needs a realistic modern thinking coach who can adapt to circumstances, which sometimes are poor.  A coach who is tactically agile and always has options up his sleeve. Blaming the earth and sky will not achieve much for Iran’s football. Facilities, administration and management have always been poor to sub-standard. Coaches and players need to live with it. The legend Daei needs an attitude adjustment to make it at international level. He has yet to show that change in that respect.

Ivankovic has his own shortfalls. He can be too nice of a man against footballers who can be very difficult to handle. Queiroz had no times for those players and simply got rid of them in Team Melli despite the public outcry and federation intervention. It is doubtful if Branko can repeat the same

Queiroz Iran vs Japan during their AFC Asian Cup UAE 2019 Semi-finals match

Ansarifard and Rezaeian on the brink of drop from Team Melli.

For Karim Ansarifard and Ramin Rezaeian , two key players of Team Melli, the time is fast running out for them to find suitable clubs and hence their selection for the AFC Asian Cup 2019 will be seriously under threat.

Ansarifard, was Team Melli’s lone goal scorer in the World Cup , albeit from a penalty spot, however, he is also a valuable player in Carlos Queiroz plans. His European experience has enhanced his abilities while he thrived in the Greek league with significant number of goals. The Olympiacos new coach, however, did not believe in Karim and did not utilize him much. Ansarifard’s contract was not renewed for the new season leaving the Team Melli forward out of contract as a free agent.

Out of the few offers that Ansarifard has received, the one from Nottingham forest of the English championship league was the most attractive. With all the efforts, this contract did not materialize as it is believed the Iranian could not secure a work permit to enable him to play in England.

So, up to now Karim remains without club and of course is not taking part in training and will significantly lose form because he is not competing at the highest level or even in a moderate football competition.

Ramin Rezaein has a similar story with his Belgian club K.V. Oostende  which has released him at the start of the season. Rezaeian is a free agent and so far he has not been able to secure a club. It is believed that several major clubs in Iran has turned down Rezaeian offer of a contract. The right back who can also operate in the defensive midfield role has  a prior with Persepolis and Turkish sides which perhaps alarmed the Iranian clubs on his behaviour.

Carlos Queiroz will have no serious issues replacing both the two players posts, however undoubtedly effective and valuable players for the team even being on the bench would be adding value to the squad. Coaches do not normally pick players who are out of practice, short of form or away from competitive match. Quieroz has been known to defy that rule.

For Ansarifard, former Saips and Persepolis player, the only path to English football and Nottingham forest, if the club is still interested, is the winter transfer window which opens in January.  It might be too late for him as far as the Asian Cup is concerned. As for Rezaeian, there is still no sign of any club that has shown interest in recruiting him. at least publicly.

Ivankovic doubts the possibility of cooperation between Queiroz and Domestic club coaches

Carlos Queiroz statements about the sub-standard of the Iranian domestic league players , has been creating all sort of ripples, debates and anger.

The most effected people have been the coaches of major clubs like Esteghlal, Persepolis, Saipa whose coaches reacted and questioned the motives of Team Melli coach and his undermining of their hard work at club levels. 

Branco Ivankovic , the Head Coach of Persepolis club, reacted yesterday and commented on the liaison and cooperation between Team Melli and Club coaches and hope of better communication for the benefit of Iran’s football. “if there was any hope of a meeting or interaction. I believe it does not exist anymore”  He said: “No, I do not think we will get this engagement and arrange such meetings. I’ve been here for three years now. During this time, only once, a representative from Team Melli coaching staff turned up to offer some help in our practice session. With such interest level, I do not think the work will reach the meeting and discussion stage!”

The Croat head coach of Persepolis also spoke about the domestic player and whether their standards & quality is so weak that they need to be more in the service of the national team? ” Certainly not, I think the opposite, “he said. “It has been proven in many games as well. I do not know how is this idea about domestic players have originated from initially , but I beg to differ.”

Branko commented on why Esteghlal and Saipa used with their Team Melli players in the league this round which was concluded, but Persepolis refused to utilize them for their match against Saipa Alborz which they lost 2-1. He emphasized ” I did not use the national team players because I did not know what situation and conditions are they coming from after their two matches. They were in the service of the national team for more than 10 days and I did not know what the situation would be. Mohammad Ansari is still in pain after the national team trips, and I did not want to risk this player.

Ansarifard Joins Olympiacos

Team Melli striker Karim Ansarifard has joined the Greek giants Olympiacos from Panionios on a three-and-a-half year contract and a reported fee of €400,000 on Friday.

The 26-year-old who made a name for himself in Greek Super league with Panionios after scoring 11 goals in 36 appearances in all competitions last season, had offers from AEK, PAOK FC, Feyenoord and Olympique de Marseille. This current season, Karim has scored 5 goals and provided 3 assists in 14 matches.


Olympiacos is currently leading the table in the Greek Super League with 37 points from 14 games under tutelage of Portuguese coach Paolo Bento who was appointed in August 2016.

Olympiacos has qualified for the round of 32 in UEFA Europa League and they will take Turkish side Osmanlispor in a two-leg clash.
Although it was initially reported that Ansarifard would remain at Panionios until the end of the 2016-17 season, the contract he eventually signed is effective from the January 2017 transfer window.


Karim started his professional career in 2007 with Saipa before moving to Iranian league giant Persepolis in 2012. After 2014 World Cup Ansarifard moved to Spanish Segunda division Osasuna where he was mostly used as a bench-warmer.
A move to Panionios in the summer of 2015 saved his career as his good performance caught the eye of big teams and finally Olympiacos signed him.

More new faces in Team Melli squad

Carlos Queiroz continued his quest to produce a new fresh looking team that can compete at the highest level with introduction of more new faces to Team Melli. Most of the senior players and old guards were left out for the final two matches which have very little effect on the outcome as Iran has already qualified.

Players being set aside including Teymorian , Shojaei, Dejagah , Haj Safy , Ansarifard,  Azmoun , Montazeri ,  Jahanbakhsh , Ghoochannejjad, Pouraliganji , Haghighi , Ghafoori , Ezatolahei and Mohammadi are all absent from the list. Queiroz will practically be fielding the B team against India and Oman.

With qualification to the next round already assured, the timing and selection of these players will be a major boost for the team. Queiroz is creating competition and wants to eliminate complacency and the feeling on invincibility that has been rife in Team Melli for decades. There are some excellent choices in the list reflecting the form of the players in the league.

 

Esteghlal

1. Omid Ebrahimi
2. Mohsin Karimi
3. Sajjad Shahbazzadeh

Esteghlal Khuzistan
4. Ali Ashoori

 Persepolis
5. Sousha Makani
6. Ahmad Noorollahi
7. Kamal Kamyabinia
8. Mahdi Taremi
9. Ramin Rezaeian
10 Farshad Ahmadzadeh
11. Mohammad Ansari

Rah Ahan
12. Mehrdad Mohamadi

Saipa
13. Mehdi Torabi

 Gostarish Foolad
14. Dariush Shojaeian

 Malavan Anzali
15. Ezatollah Pourghaz
16. Mohammad Hossein Kannani

Naft Tehran

17. Jalal Hosseini
18. Vahid Amiri
19. Ali Reza Biranvand

 

Karim Ansarifard signs for Greek club Panionios FC

Team Melli forward , Karim Ansarifard (25 years) signed a two-year contract with the Greek outfit Panionis FC.

Karim who last season experienced his worst ever season as a professional playing for Osasuna , was released by the Spanish second division club after he failed to score a single goal during the entire season. Playing alongside his Team Melli Captain Javad Nekounam was seen as a bonus for Ansarifard but his irregular selection, limited playing time , lack of confidence and his failure to gel with the other teams members resulted in a poor overall performance by the ex-Saipa and Persepolis & Tractorsazi striker.

Despite the woeful Season that Ansarifard suffered in Spain, he was adamant that he will continue to seek a European Club to continue his career. His confidence was high enough to make amends in another European country. The selection of Greece was more like immediate availability of a suitor for Ansarifard rather than choice

Greece, on the brink of bankruptcy as a country , does not seem to be the ideal place for the Iranian forward. During better days in the country, several Iranian professional footballer played in that country’s league including  Nima Nakisa and current Naft Tehran coach , Alireza Mansourian. A few others also ended up playing in the Greek League.

Karim Ansarifard is one of the few Iranian footballers who has played in every age group of the national teams. A talented striker with a lot of potential, when he was first discovered by Ali Daei, he lost his bearing between Leaving Saipa to Persepolis and ending up in Spain. He still has a plenty of time to recover and return to the top.

Panionis FC is a based in Nea Smyrni suburb of Athens. Panionios has spent nearly its entire history in the Greek First Division (now called ‘Superleague’).

The team had its own share of financial troubles since the nineties and changed ownership several times. Last season it finished in the 13th position and avoided relegation. The club home ground is Stadio Néas Smírnis in Athens with a capacity of 11,756

Majeed Saleh

Majid Saleh Joins Team Melli coaching staff.

Tehran

Esteghlal assistant coach Majid Saleh , has been added to Team Melli coaching staff.

Saleh (47 Years) began his coaching career with Saipa as an assistant to Bizan Zolfagharnasab in 2004. He was selected by AMir Ghalenoei to be his tight hand man when the current Esteghlal briefly coached Mes Kerman. and then back to Esteghlal. Saleh also worked with Mansour Ebrahimzadeh as an assistant in a spell with Zob Ahan.

Majid Saleh eventually was given the opportunity to be a head coach of his own right at his original club Saipa. in May 2011, however it turned out to be a bitter experience for the young coach as he was relieved from his duties on February 2012 Ghalenoei came calling again and Saleh was picked up again to be assistant coach for Esteghlal.

The appointment of Saleh came after much debate and disagreement between Queiroz and Kaffashian. The latter insisted that an Iranian coach must be included in the coaching staff of Team Melli for many reasons, while Queiroz was not that too keen of doing so. The Portuguese coach kept referring to Namazi’s departure from Team Melli as his justification for not picking an Iranian coach!. Kaffashian , under pressure from the rest of the Executive Committee of IRIFF , would not have any of that.

Eventually a deal was reached when Kaffashian agreed on Queiroz nominee to replace the departed Siomoez , on the condition of picking an Iranian assistant coach to work beside  him.

With Queiroz selecting Oceano , the deal was completed by getting Majid Saleh in the coaching team. Carlos Queiroz has never worked with Saleh before and it is not clear how much he knows about Amir Ghalenoei’s right hand man and whether the Esteghlal head coach had any influence or role in this selection. Queiroz has met with Ghalenoei a few weeks, but their discussions were undisclosed.
Despite his inability to secure a full coaching job in Iran apart from the first experience in Saipa,  Saleh has built up a reputation of being a smart tactician , well versed in the modern styles and tactics of the European football and an aficionado of the quick passing game . His influence on the style of play is evident in Esteghlal teams.

Majid Saleh will be accompanying the squad to the South Africa camp.