Middle East News

Iran keeps Qotbi as coach despite missing World Cup

Jun 20, 2009, 11:46 GMT

Tehran - The Iranian Football Federation (FFI) on Saturday decided to keep Iranian-American Afshin Qotbi as head coach for the country's national football team despite failing to qualify for the 2010 World Cup, ISNA news agency reported. The FFI has asked Qotbi to present a four-year plan for the future development of the national football team. Qotbi was initially hired only for the last three World Cup qualifiers against the United Arab Emirates, North and South Korea. His team gained five points from the three games but eventually failed to qualify. Football observers consider Qotbi as the best option for the national team due his mixed Western and Persian mentality. Qotbi, 46, is an electrical engineering graduate from the United States, who has spent most of his working life as a football coach. He has strong coaching credentials, including a spell at Korean side Samsung and was a technical assistant to South Korea under Dutchman Guus Hiddink. After the Asian Cup 2007, he was hired by Persepolis Tehran and led the capital's team to its first championship in years. He severed his contract last year after differences with the club directors.

Middle East News

Iran keeps Qotbi as coach despite missing World Cup

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