Farhad Majidi Archives - Iran News Daily

Majidi, Nekounam Nominated for Esteghlal Coach: Reports

reporter 1222 — Sun, 04 Oct 2020 05:34:00 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Farhad Majidi and Foolad Khuzestan head coach Javad Nekounam are top two contenders to take charge at the Persian Gulf Pro League side Esteghlal, sources said on Saturday.

Of the 16 Iranian league teams, Esteghlal is the only side yet to know its head coach for next season.

The ongoing saga of the Tehran-based Blues’ managerial role entered a new phase last Wednesday after CEO Ahmad Sa’adatmand was removed from his job by the club’s board of directors.

Hours before his dismissal, Sa’adatmand had announced that Esteghlal had reached an agreement with former Werder Bremen and Hertha Berlin manager Alexander Nouri over the team’s vacant job.

Sports newspaper Iran Varzeshi on Saturday wrote that Nekounam – a former midfielder of the Blues – is the top candidate to replace caretaker manager Majid Namjoo Motlaq, who steered his team to a last-16 finish at the AFC Champions League in Qatar.

According to the paper, Esteghlal will have to activate the manager’s release clause – reportedly some $85,000 – before signing the 39-year-old Iranian.

Nekounam stole the headlines after leading Foolad to the third spot in the Iranian league last season, securing a place for the southern Iranian club in the next edition of the Asian elite club competition.

However, Foolad CEO Saeid Azari ruled out any rumors regarding Nekounam’s departure on Saturday, insisting that the ex-Iran skipper will stay with Foolad until the end of next league campaign.

Majidi, meanwhile, is tipped to resume his job, according to Mehr News Agency.

He stepped down from his role in September following a 3-2 defeat against Tractor in the Hazfi Cup final.

He was heavily critical of Sa’adatmand at the time, slamming his decision to travel to Italy to negotiate a contract with Majidi’s Italian predecessor Andrea Stramaccioni on the eve of the Hazfi Cup semifinal tie against archrival Persepolis in late August – which the Blues won in the shootouts.

Majidi had a decent record during his seven-month spell at Esteghlal, which finished as runner-up in the league.

The post Majidi, Nekounam Nominated for Esteghlal Coach: Reports appeared first on Iran News Daily.

Esteghlal Ousts Daneshgar

reporter 1222 — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 12:09:53 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Esteghlal football team head coach Farhad Majidi showed the exit door to the team’s defender Mohammad Daneshgar.

The 26-year-old player joined Esteghlal from Saipa in 2018 but has had some problems with the club’s officials since joining the team.

On Saturday night, he angered Esteghlal coach Majidi after criticizing the club’s officials on his Instagram account

Daneshgar was removed from the team due to disciplinary problems.

The post Esteghlal Ousts Daneshgar appeared first on Iran News Daily.

Farhad Majidi appointed Esteghlal coach

reporter 1222 — Mon, 29 Apr 2019 12:55:09 +0000

Majidi, 42, will lead the Iranian Blues in the remaining third matches in Iran Professional League (IPL) and two matches in the 2019 AFC Champions League group stage against Qatar’s Al Duhail and Al Ain of the UAE.

Majidi started his coaching career as assistant in Esteghlal in early January.

He replaced German coach Winfried Schaefer in Esteghlal.

Esteghlal have little chance of winning the IPL title after suffering a defeat against Padideh in Mashhad Saturday night, which left them in the third place, six points behind leaders Persepolis.

The Tehran based football team also have a difficult task to book a place in the ACL knock out stage, as they sit bottom of the table of Group C with just four points from four matches.

Al Hilal have nine points at the top while Al Duhail sit second with seven points.

The post Farhad Majidi appointed Esteghlal coach appeared first on Iran News Daily.