branko Archives - Iran News Daily

Nominees to Coach Iran Include Branko

reporter 1222 — Tue, 17 Dec 2019 06:29:06 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran (FFIRI) President Mehdi Taj said that Branko Ivankovic is one of the nominees to coach and take charge of the Iran team.

Marc Wilmots left his role in early December as coach of the Iran national team, just seven months after replacing Carlos Queiroz at the helm of the three-time Asian champion.

Under the stewardship of the Belgian coach, Iran sits third behind Iraq and Bahrain in Group C of the Qatar 2022 World Cup Asian qualifiers.

“We’re negotiating with Branko Ivankovic but we are also negotiating with the other nominees to coach Iran at the same time. We are in no hurry to appoint the new head coach since Team Melli will resume its matches from late March,” Taj said.

Branko Ivankovic in his history has an excellent track record as a coach in Iran since he helped Iran U-23 football team win the 2002 Asian Games.

He also led Team Melli to third place in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup in China and also booked a place in the 2006 FIFA World Cup with Team Melli.

The 65-year-old Croat also won three consecutive titles in Iran Professional League with Persepolis.

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Coach Branko Ivankovic Says No Intention to JoinTeam Melli

reporter 1222 — Thu, 21 Nov 2019 09:13:29 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Former Iran and Persepolis coach Branko Ivankovic says he has no intention of coaching Iran national football team.

Ivankovic led Persepolis to the Iranian domestic treble last season but left after they failed to pay him his salary.

The 65-year-old coach won the gold medal in the 2002 Asian Games and led Team Melli to third place in the 2004 AFC Asian Cup.

The Croat coached Iran at the 2006 FIFA World Cup, where the Persian failed to qualify for the next stage after losing to Mexico and Portugal. Team Melli drew with Angola.

“At the moment, I have a lot of offers from Egypt, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Japan and China but have not accepted them so far. In Al Ahli, I was fired after three matches, something I had never experienced before. I think I worked well because the Saudi Arabian team needed some changes in dressing room but this is football and I accept it,” Ivankovic said.

Asked him why he left Persepolis at the end of the last season, coach Branko Ivankovic said, “I had four fascinating years in Iran and I miss the country. However, I was forced to leave Persepolis because they didn’t pay our salaries for about one year. At that time, Al Ahli gave me a good offer and I accepted it,” he added.

Persepolis have lost three matches in the last 10 matches but Branko Ivankovic says they are favorites to win the title for the fourth time in a row.

“I think Gabriel Calderon needs time in Persepolis because he is a great coach. Persepolis fans love their team and support their players and coaches. In my opinion, Persepolis and Sepahan are vying for the title in the current season,” Ivankovic stated.

Ivankovic believes that Team Melli had a chance of qualifying for the next stage at the 2018 World Cup.

“I think (Carlos) Queiroz preferred to defend in Russia. Iran could play an attacking football against Portugal and Span. After beating Morocco, Team Melli should take risks,” Ivankovic added.

Is there any chance to return to Team Melli if he receives an offer?

“I would prefer to work at a club. I am not going work as a national team head coach,” Ivankovic concluded.

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Ivankovic, Schafer attend AFC Elite Club Coaches’ Forum

reporter 1222 — Thu, 06 Sep 2018 08:10:06 +0000

Persepolis and Esteghlal coaches Branko Ivankovic and Winfried Schafer attended the AFC’s Third Elite Club Coaches Forum.

High-profile club coaches from across Asia gathered in Shanghai for the forum, the-afc.com wrote.

Two-time UEFA Champions League winner Paulo Sousa, now coach of Chinese Super League club Tianjin Quanjian, who face Japan’s Kashima Antlers in the East Zone, was among the attendees.

Also joining the Forum was Choi Kang-hee, manager of another quarter-finalist Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors FC of Korea Republic and AFC Coach of the Year 2016 as well as Branko Ivankovic, the highly-experienced Croatian coach of Persepolis FC, from the West Zone who are involved in a tight game against Al Duhail of Qatar.

Winfried Schafer, the coach of Islamic Republic of Iran’s other quarter- finalists Esteghlal, who are facing Qatar’s Al Sadd, completed the four attending AFC Champions League representatives.

They were joined by coaches from Australia, Japan and China PR including Shanghai SIPG coach Vitor Pereira and Shanghai Shenhua’s Wu Jingui.

Other Chinese Super League representatives were Chris Coleman, who led Wales to the semi-finals of Euro 2016 and now coaches Hebei China Fortune and Li Xiaopeng of Shandong Luneng Taishan.

AFC Technical Director, Andy Roxburgh, who will lead the two-day event, said: “These Forums are so valuable because it allows the sharing of views and experience from across Asia.

“For the second year in succession we have coaches from the West and East Zones of the AFC’s flagship Champions League and it showed last year that some of the challenges they face are extremely similar.

“This Forum is now established as one of the most important for exchanging ideas and opinions in Asian club football. The beauty is that the coaches themselves direct the agenda and direction of discussion.

“This year we will have the opportunity to consider many elements of the game and also the chance to look in detail at tactical and logistical innovations from the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia and how it impacts a club coach.”

From the original gathering in 2016 only Kevin Muscat, coach of Melbourne Victory, has been a constant. He said: “Every year we learn of the pressures on individual coaches and how they deal with those pressures. Coaching can often be an isolating job so sharing experiences in this Forum is vital.’

Also in attendance, for the first time, are a group of elite coaches from the Chinese FA including several former national team coaches such as former Manchester City, Crystal Palace and China PR defender Sun Jihai.

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Al Taawoun eye Persepolis coach Branko Ivankovic

reporter 1222 — Mon, 23 Apr 2018 13:40:29 +0000

TEHRAN – Saudi Arabian football club Al Taawoun are interested in hiring Persepolis current coach Branko Ivankovic.

According to Arriyadiyah.com, Al Taawoun are reluctant to renew Jose Gomez’s contract following disagreement on the Portuguese coach’s assistants.

Al Taawoun finished in seventh place in Saudi Arabia Professional League, 22 points adrift of leaders Al Hilal.

In January, Ivankovic has extended his contract with the Iranian giants until 2021.

The Croat has led Persepolis to Iran Professional League back-to-back titles and advanced to 2017 AFC Champions League semis.

Persepolis also are favorite to win ACL title in current season after advancing to Round of 16 as the group winners.

Ivankovic has already worked at Saudi Arabian football club Ettifaq in 2011-12.

The 64-year-old coach has also been linked with a move to Uzbekistan football team.

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Persepolis aim to reach ACL final: Branko Ivankovic

reporter 1222 — Mon, 12 Mar 2018 14:15:42 +0000

TEHRAN – Persepolis coach Branko Ivankovic says they are aiming to reach the AFC Champions League final match for the first time.

The Iranian giants qualified for the ACL semi-final last year but failed to book a place in the final match after being defeated by Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal.

The Croat says Persepolis want to go one step forward to reach the competition’s final this season.

The Iranian giants, who sit top of the Group C with six points, defeated Al Wasl of the UAE 2-0 last week and will meet the team at the Zabeel Stadium in Dubai on Tuesday.

“Al Wasl are a strong team and we know it will be difficult match. In my opinion all participating teams in ACL are strong teams. However, we are determined to defeat our opponents,” Ivankovic said in the pre-match news conference.

“We’ve played so many matches in the past days but it could not prevent us from reaching our goal. Persepolis are a well-prepared team than we were last year,” former Iran national team coach stated.

“We’re proud of us for advancing to the semi-final last year but Persepolis are going to book a place in the final match this time,” Ivankovic concluded.

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Tehran derby the Asian biggest derby: Branko Ivankovic

reporter 1222 — Tue, 27 Feb 2018 12:16:58 +0000

TEHRAN – Branko Ivankovic says the football match between Iranian giants Persepolis and Esteghlal is the biggest derby in Asia.

Iran Professional League (IPL) leaders Persepolis will face Esteghlal on Thursday and a win against the arch-rivals will steer them to the title for the second successive year.

The Croat says it can be considered as the biggest derby in Asia and even most enthusiastic game in the world.

“We are very happy for the match against Esteghlal and are proud of playing in Tehran derby. Esteghlal have advanced to the Hazfi Cup final and they moved up to the third place and and it explains they are a better team compared to the start of the season,” Ivankovic said.

“Persepolis’s players will do their best against Esteghlal and we are well-prepared for the match. I think it’s the biggest derby in Asia and also is the world’s most enthusiastic match,” the former Iran coach added.

FIFA President Gianni Infantino has been invited to Tehran to attend the match at the Azadi Stadium.

“I’m very happy that FIFA President is going to watch the match in the stadium and it shows how important the match is. I hope that we will have a good performance in front of the President,” Ivankovic concluded.

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First match the toughest: Branko Ivankovic

reporter 1222 — Mon, 12 Feb 2018 15:45:59 +0000

TEHRAN – Persepolis coach Branko Ivankovic says the first match in a tournament can be the most difficult match.

Persepolis football team will host Uzbekistan’s Nasaf Qarshi in Group C of the 2018 AFC Champions League in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium on Tuesday.

The Iranian giants’ outstanding form led them to achieve their best AFC Champions League performance ever in reaching the semi-final last year.

Persepolis also are on the verge of retaining their title in the Iranian league.

“Playing in the AFC Champions League is a great honor for me and I am very happy we play in front of our fans at home this year. I expect our fans to be our 12th man on Tuesday,” Ivankovic said in the pre-match news conference.

“Experience has proved to me that the first match always is the hardest match. We respect Nasaf and know that the Uzbek team have won four matches out of their five matches,” the Croat added.

“Nasf are a well-organized team and are among the country’s top four but we are also ready to meet them.

“For us is very important to begin the campaign with a win but we’re not taking anything for granted. We qualified for the ACL semis last year and it’s normal we are going to repeat our success in the current season,” Ivankovic stated.

“We’ve analyzed Nasaf in the previous days and I also know they’ve analyzed us but we believe in what we do and I am sure our players prove their potential,” the Persepolis coach concluded.

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Persepolis Coach Ivankovic Can’t Wait for Derby Clash with Esteghlal

reporter 1222 — Thu, 26 Oct 2017 07:54:29 +0000

TEHRAN – Persepolis coach Branko Ivankovic says that he is counting down the minutes until the Tehran derby and cannot wait for that.

Persepolis football team is scheduled to face Esteghlal on Thursday at the 80,000-seat Azadi Stadium in Tehran.

“First of all, I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to the family of Ebrahim Ashtiani. Ashtiani’s death is a big blow to Persepolis club,” Ivankovic said.

“We will play in derby just for victory. We just think about winning and goal number is not important for us,” the Croat said.

“Tehran derby is a special game for both teams. And beating the arch-rival is much more important than winning the league title for the fans. I have to say I cannot wait for the match,” Ivankovic stated.

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Persepolis Optimistic about Great Comeback, Ivankovic Says

reporter 1222 — Tue, 17 Oct 2017 12:46:25 +0000

TEHRAN – Persepolis coach Branko Ivankovic says that they are optimistic about booking a place in the AFC Champions League final match.

Ivankovic believes his Persepolis side can become the first Iranian side to lift ACL trophy if it overcomes a four-goal deficit against Al Hilal in the second leg of the semi-final on Tuesday.

“We may have lost 4-0 in the first leg, but we are here to win. It is a new day and a new game, so we don’t want to look back,” the Croat told the-afc.

“Naturally, this is a difficult situation, but there are many examples of teams that have come from behind.”

Ivankovic, who spent a season in Saudi Arabia with Ettifaq, knows Al Hilal well and he is full of respect for his opponents.

“Al Hilal is one of the best teams in Asia, but so are we. We are proud of being in the AFC Champions League semi-final. If we qualify to the final, I am certain we will be Asian champion; a team that can turn around a 0-4 score is champion material,” Ivankovic said.

“We are focused and optimistic about the game. We will focus on the available players who will fight to get a result,” he concluded.

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Persepolis will win ACL title if we beat Al Hilal

reporter 1222 — Wed, 20 Sep 2017 05:32:44 +0000

TEHRAN – Persepolis football coach Branko Ivankovic says that they will lift the 2017 AFC Champions League title if they defeat Al Hilal.

The Iranian giants will face Saudi Arabia’s Al Hilal in Abu Dhabi, the UAE on September 26 in the first leg of the ACL semi-final and meet the team on October 17 in Muscat in the second leg.

Persepolis suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Paykan in Iran Professional League on Sunday.

“To play in domestic league after the AFC Champions League’s competition is always difficult. I had already said in the pre-match news conference the match with Paykan would be dangerous for us,” Branko said.

“Al Hilal are a strong team and I had previously said they would qualify for the semis. We also are proud of being in this stage and we are going to enjoy our matches,” the Croat added.

Persepolis captain Jalal Hosseini missed the matches against Al Ahli in ACL quarters due to his suspension and injury, respectively.

“Hosseini will not play against Sepahan on Wednesday but I hope that he will be fit for the match against Al Hilal,” Branko concluded.

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