Iranian coach Afshin Ghotbi bid farewell to Iranian football on Saturday - a week earlier than he would have liked - but possibly not forever.
Iran's 1-0 extra-time defeat in the Asian Cup quarter-finals against South Korea was his final match in charge of the national team of the country of his birth, as he will be moving to Shimizu S-Pulse in the J-League.
"I would have preferred to only start in Japan after the final on January 29, but it was not to be."
Afshin, who was born in Iran, but then moved to the US with his family and now holds both passports, took over the Iranian national side in 2009, having earlier taken Persepolis to the Iranian league championship.
"During my time in Iran there have been a lot of ups and downs and a lot of emotional moments. There has been a lot of love and a lot of hate.
"There have also been a lot of fantastic results. I think this team has had great results and I am also proud of the way we tried to do the job."
"More than the results, this team found a way that was more professional, more organized than other teams and the standard of the football we played is closer to modern football, than other teams."
He said that unlike previous Iranian national teams, his team had became a team. "This is something that was never seen in Iranian football, which previously always consisted of individuals shining.
"This team shined in this tournament and sometimes the best teams don't win the tournament."
Asked if he would consider returning to Iran, he said that he could not rule it out. "You can never say never in football and if the opportunity came, I would look at it and then take a decision."
The 46-year-old said that whilst he believed Iran had a great footballing future, it would not be easy. "Iran has a lot of issues to work out if it wants to compete at the highest level."
"The football officials have my views and experiences on paper. The potential of Iranian football is massive and we could compete with the best, but we don't have this status."
Looking back at the game against South Korea he said that he did not feel his side played as well as they could have in the first half, but had then improved.
"I think we took South Korea to the limits - I am very proud and I have positive feelings about the future of these players," he said.
Iran's 1-0 extra-time defeat in the Asian Cup quarter-finals against South Korea was his final match in charge of the national team of the country of his birth, as he will be moving to Shimizu S-Pulse in the J-League.
"I would have preferred to only start in Japan after the final on January 29, but it was not to be."
Afshin, who was born in Iran, but then moved to the US with his family and now holds both passports, took over the Iranian national side in 2009, having earlier taken Persepolis to the Iranian league championship.
"During my time in Iran there have been a lot of ups and downs and a lot of emotional moments. There has been a lot of love and a lot of hate.
"There have also been a lot of fantastic results. I think this team has had great results and I am also proud of the way we tried to do the job."
"More than the results, this team found a way that was more professional, more organized than other teams and the standard of the football we played is closer to modern football, than other teams."
He said that unlike previous Iranian national teams, his team had became a team. "This is something that was never seen in Iranian football, which previously always consisted of individuals shining.
"This team shined in this tournament and sometimes the best teams don't win the tournament."
Asked if he would consider returning to Iran, he said that he could not rule it out. "You can never say never in football and if the opportunity came, I would look at it and then take a decision."
The 46-year-old said that whilst he believed Iran had a great footballing future, it would not be easy. "Iran has a lot of issues to work out if it wants to compete at the highest level."
"The football officials have my views and experiences on paper. The potential of Iranian football is massive and we could compete with the best, but we don't have this status."
Looking back at the game against South Korea he said that he did not feel his side played as well as they could have in the first half, but had then improved.
"I think we took South Korea to the limits - I am very proud and I have positive feelings about the future of these players," he said.
Aucun commentaire:
Enregistrer un commentaire