Iran Confirm Javier Clemente as New Head Coach
TEHRAN-(IranSportsPress.com): Javier Clemente is the new coach of Iran national football team, after signing a three year contract on Thursday.
Ali Azim-Araghi
57 year old Clemente met up with Iran football officials in Spain on Thursday, and has signed an agreement which will see him coaching Iran until the end of 2011 Asian Cup competition. "A contract for three years was signed with Clemente this morning in Spain," state television quoted Mehdi Taj, deputy head of Iran's Football Federation.
Clemente will arrive in Tehran on Monday, when he will be officially unveiled in a news conference. He will then watch Iran's friendly game against Costa Rica on 30 January in Tehran, although he is expected to start his work after that game.
Clemente will bring a back room staff of two coaches with himself. These are expected to be fitness and goal keeping coaches. Mansour EbrahimZadeh, who has been the temporary head coach for the past month, will be Clemente’s assistant.
Iran has been looking for a coach since the conclusion of the Asian Cup in July, and Clemente’s appointment has been welcomed by most fans.
Clemente’s resume is filled with colourful clubs, including the likes of Atletico Madrid, Athletic Bilbao, RCD Espanyol, and Olympique Marseille. He was the manager of Spain between 1992 and 1998, and went 31 games unbeaten. Most recently he was in charge of Serbia national football team, but left his job after failing to reach Euro 2008.
Clemente's first task is to steer Iran to the next round of World Cup Qualifiers in Asia. Iran will start its campaign on 06 February in Tehran against Syria, followed by games against UAE and Kuwait in May.
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