Tag: Sanat Naft Abadan

Skocic fined $80,000 for breach of contract with Sanat Naft.

The problems associated with Dragan Skocic’s presence in Team Melli are not over yet, and the Abadani Club, Sanat Naft are still insisting on their rights and accusing the Croat coach of deception and breach of contract.

Skocic, canceled his contract with Sanat Naft Club under the pretext of returning to his home country for personal reasons, but shortly afterward he agreed with the Iranian Football Federation FFIRI to lead the national team as head coach. Such move resulted in strong reactions and objection by Sanat Naft Abadan who accused the Croat of disguising them and being dishonest and hence complained about the coach to the federation.

After some time from Sanat Naft lodging the complaint with the FFIRI disciplinary committee, it seems that a verdict has been reached and it is ready to be notified to the concerned parties. The ruling forces the head coach of the Iranian national team to pay about $ 80,000 in compensation to Sanat Naft Abadan Club.

It remains to be seen how the football federation will react to this ruling.

Details of Skocic Press Conference

Skocic’s Press conference began with a short statement.

“I want to talk about the future plans of the national team, the preparation and provide you with some details.”

 * Open arms to all clubs

 “Serving as the head coach of the Iranian national team is a great honor. I think this is the first time that a foreign coach has been appointed after being in the country for five years, and this makes the burden quite heavy on me. If I want to discuss the situation of the team, I must say first that in the World Cup qualifying games, maybe the team was not on the right track. I am here to strive for success with all my positive energy and knowledge and experience. I like to talk about my goals clearly and transparently. I would like to think that we want to get closer to our goals with each game and inject positive energy into the team to qualify for the World Cup in Qatar. “

“I shall listen to club coaches’ suggestions and they have any issues, I’m ready to hear them 24/7 ” Skocic said.

  • Legionnaires evaluation

“One of the benefits of my appointment is that I am already familiar with Iranian football. I have been in club football for five years and understand the mentality of Iranian players and football systems. This is definitely a positive step forward in the team’s goals. While I am here at your service, I have already started my work for the team and finished the first stage. The first stage was the analysis of the national team matches in recent months. From watching the domestic players’ to checking out the league and other competitions, I have done a lot of work on that. We have extracted all the information, advantages and disadvantages of national team performances in previous games. Now it is time to start working on Legionnaires players playing at international clubs. We should be able to monitor their performance at later stages.”

* Good news or bad for players?

“From now on, I will send a message to all players that every player has an equal chance of being selected in Team Melli, and the selection is highly dependent on their form and level of preparation,

” Over the next five days, our plan is to focus on the Legionnaires. Given the scattering of the leagues that the Iranians are in, it is not possible for me to review all the games in this short period of time, but all efforts will be put into a meeting and checking on as many Legionnaires as we can. Those whom we can not meet, we shall have face to face discussions through video call and conferencing.

I’ll share with them my plans and talk to them about the matches. In the short term, given the games that the team has to play, do not expect a big change in the team lineup, however, you will see me inject ideas, my thoughts, and personality into the squad. We will stick to the style they have used to but gradually develop and select the ideal model and organize the team and then we will see a strong and capable national team.

* Player’s agents and lobbies

About ensuring that the agents and lobbyists around him do not interfere with the team selection while pursuing their own agendas? Skocic said “I didn’t expect this question. I worked in two universities and one academy. I won four Cups in Croatia and Slovenia. I led Saudi Arabia’s Al Nasr and Iran’s Foolad in the AFC Champions League but I only talked about what I had experienced in Iran in these five years. Iranian football players’ agents are quite bad news. Let me be clear. If the agents and representatives were to take me up north and down south of Iran with various clubs and eventually get me to the national team job, I must say they did a bad job. If I walk in a park, I won’t put my foot on a flower to make my path easier. I’m an honest person and I don’t get involved in these games. My football is based on passion, interest, experience, and awareness.

* Training Facilities

“It was a surprise when I inspected the training facilities of the national camp. I have to say that there are really good pieces of equipment which are at the highest international standards. It assures me that the hardware and the facilities will give us the tools needed to achieve our goals.”

*Azerbaijan League!

“Is he interested in the Iranian legionnaires in leagues like Azerbaijan?” Skocic response was “As I said, I deal with all Iranian players abroad professionally. It doesn’t matter which league they play in. They are certainly under our radar. Certainly, I have the courage to give everyone who deserves a call out a chance to wear Team Melli jersey.

* FFIRI financial distress

Asked about his views on the financial difficulties and cash flow problem in FFIRI, he said “I am fully aware of the current situation as a result of the sanctions. When I was with Sanat Naft. in my attempt to recruit foreign players, I negotiated with a number of them but most were hesitant to work in Iran due to the bad payment reputation.”

“My other challenge there, of course, was not receiving my wages and entitlements for four months. I didn’t want to get paid before the players got their money. Eventually they promised to pay me two days after the players were paid. It didn’t happen and the situation got worse because I had to stick to my contract and the players had to get their money and I was upset about it.”

* Black List! It is all rumors”

Skocic reaction to a question about some Team Melli players’ negative remarks on his selection, some criticized the choice and if there is a blacklist with these players’ names, The Croat said “ That’s an interesting question. Perhaps it should not have been asked. Rest assured, with my 51 years of age and vast experience I have to say I’m a coach who no one can buy.  I’m honest and the blacklist you are talking about is all rumors. Players are invited based on merits. “:

* Leaving Sanat Naft post

“When I left Sanat Naft Abadan coaching job, Iran national team was not my destination”. Does this mean that he has only negotiated with the officials of the national team for 48 hours before the appointment? He said: “Maybe there was talk between the officials in Sanat Naft and the  Federation, but my motivation for quitting Sanat Naft was not to join Team Melli.”

About whether appointment to Team Melli, was it due to a close relationship with one of the sports dignitaries ?”,  “What I know is that the Football Federation selected me as head coach,” he said. Asked whether he had come to an agreement with Baharvand or someone else, Skocic said: “I definitely negotiated with Mr. Baharvand.” I think it’s very logical”

* A shy way of introducing the New Head Coach

Dragan Skocic’s introduction to the Iranian media and his first press conference took place in strange unfamiliar circumstances.

Unlike common practice, the Croat coach of Team Melli was not accompanied by any official of the Football Federation. In fact, apart from the interpreter, there was no official from FFIRI present in the conference hall at all. More importantly, the typical signing ceremony that is afforded to each of the Team Melli coaches and the celebration associated with such an event was conspicuously absent with Dragan Skocic. The fifth Croatian coach of the Iranian national football team, whose appointment has created much debate, most of it that seemed to be on the negative side, continually kept expressing his gratitude for the confidence afforded to him during his interview. In response to a question about the support of the federation, Skocic said: “What more support I need better than the appointment itself !”

Skocic who was not in the initial candidates’ list and was only included less than 48 hours before the actual appointment, unlike any previous head coaches was not provided a signing ceremony. That has raised even more concern and more doubt about the role of the FFIRI in his selection and even if he was in fact appointed by the football federation itself.

Both Carlos Queiroz and Marc Wilmots were introduced to the public and the media in dignified ceremonies attended by all the FFIRI dignitaries headed by presidents, In Queiroz’s case, Ali Kaffashian opted to hold the ceremony in the office of Ali Saeedloo (then head of the Physical Education Organization). The same process was repeated for Marc Wilmots as Queiroz’s successor. After months of traveling to European countries, Mehdi Taj was able to reach an agreement with the Belgian coach and arrange a introductory presentation with all the usual fanfare for him.

In both cases, there was no doubt that the Presidents took contentment and credit for signing the two foreign coaches and were well pleased by their achievements as both Kafashian and Mehdi Taj left no chance for anyone to question who was in charge and who was making decisions.

The board of directors of FFIRI, appointed Haidar Baharvand as interim President and it came at a critical time for Team Melli. Although federation officials have repeatedly mentioned that the successor to Wilmots will be a local coach,  Dragan Skocic was suddenly selected at an unusual meeting at the home of a famous sports personality! The process of his election was met with a lot of criticism from experts and media. Yet, the events after his appointment further feed the speculations.

The Saga of Team Melli Head Coach.

The saga of Team Melli head coach is over by the eventual appointment of an outsider for the hot seat. The Croatian, Dragan Skocic with a thin CV way below the last coach who floundered badly, namely Marc Wilmots, was deemed to be the right man for taking Iran to the third consecutive FIFA World Cup appearance.

The whole saga was filled with politics, lobbying, drama, deceits, theatrics, and unfulfilled promises. While the FFIRI was unwilling to repeat the experience of Marc Wilmots in the sense that they had difficulty paying him and his crew on time and the fact that FFIRI is facing financial calamity with expenditures far exceeding revenues. With that in mind, FFIRI opted to go for the cheaper and easier option of appointing a local coach. That said, a foreign coach was never discounted.

The Candidates

From the corridors of FFIRI, there were 5 names on the list of Team Melli coaching candidates. Ali Daei, Amir Ghalenoei, Yahya Golmohammadi, Hossein Faraki and Alireza Mansourian. Two other candidates, Majid Jalali and Vahid Hashemian were also considered but soon relegated to lower ranks.

As always, Ali Daei was the top of the list. He was out of work and available immediately. However, Daei comes with a lot of heavy baggage. He is a strong character and outspoken. He does not tolerate incompetence and poor management and will speak his mind out loud no matter who is in charge or how strong he is. Simply, no one can fool around with Daei and for an entity such as FFIRI and the way it is being run, this is precarious. The hierarchy demands strict allegiance, loyalty, and conformity without too many questions. Simply, this administration could not handle Daei.

 Amir Ghalenoei was the obvious choice and the one with most technical points. His achievement in coaching in Iran is immaculate. The man is a winner, not by opinion or belief but by facts and figures. It made the best sense for him to lead Team Melli.  Nevertheless, Ghalenoei is massively occupied with a battle to win his 6th championship title and his club, with a strong lobby and influence in Tehran, was vehemently refusing to release him at this stage. Not only Ghalenoei is popular with the players and the fans and has a strong challenge for the league title, but he is also so quite determined to make a great run in the AFC League Champions which has so far eluded him.

Yahya Golmohammadi’s fate was known early as Persepolis managed to grab him early before the battle intensified.

The other two, Faraki and Mansourian were always considered outsiders despite both having previous coaching experience, while Hashemian was considered far too inexperienced and partially blamed for the defeats of Team Melli against Bahrain and Iraq. Jalali never had much clout or support in Seoul street.

As far as the Foreign candidate goes, the one and the only Branko Ivankovic was on the top. The ex-Team Melli coach was even considered for the job while Carlos Queiroz was in charge. Ivankovic is quite popular in Iran and accepted by both the fans and the authorities as a decent person and technically gifted leader. He would be the ideal candidate to lead Team Melli. However, the maltreatment of Persepolis management and their false promises to sort out their contractual obligation was the biggest factor for Ivankovic to turn down the offer despite him giving the Iranians the chance to display goodwill by sorting the pack pay of his Persepolis days.

Failure of Persepolis to pay his unpaid dues was the final straw, leaving the Croat no choice but to turn down the lucrative Tea Melli job.

The Italian Di Biasi popped out of nowhere in the news for a few days and despite the Iranian side denying any negotiation, the ex -Albania National team coach did not agree terms with the Iranian side.

Infantino presenting Soltanifar a FIFA pendant

The Battle between FFIRI and Ministry of Sports

While FFIRI, particularly its President was going through the process of Team Melli coach selection with those 5 local candidates in mind, the Ministry had its own plan. A Ministry official not so long ago stated that the future coach will be a foreigner while not totally dismissing a local coach appointment. This non-official point of view was not in itself of any significance, but its importance would be meaningful when the appointment was finalized.

A foreign coach was indeed appointed which signified who is taking the decision on Iranian football affairs. Major decisions relating to all activities of football are outside the control of the FFIRI, its President, the secretary-general, the Technical Committee or the Disciplinary committees. The FFIRI personnel are all pawns and do the routine trivial works were their decisions and outcomes have no effect on politics or major effect on public opinion.

The De Facto policymaker of Iran’s sports including football is Minister of Youth and Sports, Masoud Soltanifar, who has the final say in what is deemed important and issues vital rulings. If anyone, including the elected President of Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran FFIRI, opposes policies or rulings, he can be dealt with one way or another.

Dragan Skocic was an outsider and the easiest choice. The Croat would have seen this as a big career challenge and very much significant improvement in his CV while he was fed up with his employer Sanat Naft and ready to jump ship.

The grand Decision Maker.

It is no secret that the government has been and continues to control football affairs. They own the clubs, appoint the CEO, directors, provide financial support and make decisions. Although the football federation operates and conforms to the international law of football and the governing body FIFA, in Iran, such rules are easily bypassed by a clever set of unwritten rulings.

What is seemed to look like the election of President and board members of the Federation is nothing like what it seems. There are merely appointments dressed in a form of election. The candidates and nominees are all government-affiliated, ex-employees but more significantly have played a role in the Sepah, Basij or IRGC. Football knowledge, competence, ability, and managerial skills are hardly a priority for the regime.

It is no clear what motives the Minister of Sport had on preferring a foreign coach, however, the speculation is that it is perhaps based on general public sentiment who prefer a foreign coach as a result of a good run for Team Melli under Queiroz.

Why a foreign coach?

The problems Iranian football had with foreign coaches are well documented and known to all stakeholders. In summary, it is about 3 factors, the first and the most important is the inability of the clubs to transfer money through the international banking system, second is the lack of professional discipline by the clubs resulting in conflicts and contractual disagreements, and last is the communication difficulties including cultural awareness of the foreigners that put them in a disadvantage compared to a local.

None of those three factors can go away anytime soon in Iran so the reason(s) behind insisting on a foreign coach must be more on the political side rather than technical. Although the Ministry of Sports had its own motive to decide on a foreigner leading Team Melli, most probably based on non-football related factors, in hindsight this could be the right decision.

No one can deny the technical ability of Daei and Ghalenoei the two front-runners for the job. However, Iranian coaches have this social stigma attached to them that is very difficult to absorb at the international level. Always diverting blame, always pointing fingers at others after defeats and failures, always the antagonists and confrontational and finally, dogmatic and inflexible unwilling to change their ways and plans despite failures.

For the authority, they are also risky because they can easily raise public anti-establishment emotions after defeats by Team Melli. Eventually, they all blame the system, something that the regime fears the most and has lead to several uprising and riots.

The Losers and the Winners.

LOSERS

FFIRI : A Bystander executing the orders of the paymaster

Ali Daei: Unfairly and deviously ousted by a regime who is fearful of his influence on masses

Hossein Faraki: His recent lack of success hurt his reputation and stands quite badly

Alireza Mansourian: A coach who is burnt early by consecutive lack of success and not appreciating his limitation.

WINNERS

Dragan Skocic: A dream post for him. Never considered a top coach and lack of success did not indicate that he is anywhere near taking such a mammoth task. He can really endear himself to all and do his CV a lot of good if he manages to take Iran to the World Cup 2020

Sanat Naft: An immediate compensation the value of US$ 170,000 for releasing Dragan Skocic from his contract. Money which is much needed to pay expenses and perhaps buy one or two players to strengthen the squad.

Sepahan Esfahan: Not willing to part with their coach who is challenging for the league title yet they had enough clout to say NO to the Minister and keep their much-sought-after coach.

Amir Ghalenoei: Has been there and done that. Ghalenoei who coached Team Melli in 2007 and experienced the hardship of coaching at that level with so many high expectations, was never too enthusiastic about taking the job again. Despite his desire to be seen as patriotic, whenever he was asked by the media about the job, he denied any offers and did not indicate that he was willing to leave his club Sepahan which was on a good run under his leadership. He is also looking to change his luck this season in AFC Champions League as a strong challenge for him.

Dragan Skočić appointed as Head Coach of Team Melli

The Croat coach Dragan Skočić has been appointed as the new head coach of Team Melli on Thursday.

The 51 years old Croatian has just resigned from his post as head coach of Persian Gulf League club Sanat Naft after a long dispute with the Abadani club for their failure to respect the contract and failure to provide proper support for the team.

A day after Dragan Skočić announced his departure from Sanat Naft Abadan, he was appointed as Team Melli head coach.

Skočić first arrived in Iran in 2013 where he coached Malavan Anzali where he could not have much success with the team. Next season he was recruited by Foolad Khuzestan where he remained for two seasons and managed to improve the results of the team but still could not win them any trophies. He left Iran in 2016.

In 2018 Skočić turned up again in Iran where he took over the coached of Azadegan league side Khooneh be Khooneh. A season later 2019 he was coaching  Sanat Naft Abadan in July before he resigned his post on 4th February 2020.

Zlatko Kranjcar with Dragan Skocic in a league match encounter
Zlatko Kranjcar (left) with Dragan Skocic (Right) in a league match encounter

During his long managerial career, in Croatia, Saudi Arabia, and Iran, Skočić managed only a single achievement with his home club Rijeka, winning the Croatian Cup for the 2005–06 season.

Team Melli is the first National Team coaching experience of Dragan Skočić