ivankovic Archives - Iran News Daily

Sepahan To Hire Ivankovic as Coach

reporter 1222 — Wed, 12 Aug 2020 12:16:05 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Sepahan football club wants to hire Branko Ivankovic as its coach, as Amir Ghalenoei’s replacement, the Iranian club’s spokesman said.

Ghalenoei stepped down as coach of Sepahan Monday night after his team failed to book a place in Iran’s Hazfi Cup semifinals.

The decision means Sepahan will need to act quickly to find a replacement, not only for its two remaining Iran Professional League matches but for the AFC Champions League resumption.

Ghalenoei walks away from Sepahan as a five-time league champion, winning a total of three titles as Esteghlal boss and a further two across two stints with Sepahan.

He also led Iran at the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, where they were eliminated on penalties by the Korea Republic in the quarter-finals.

Sepahan finished second in the 2018-19 Iran Pro League campaign, but a poor run of recent results has seen the club drop to fifth place with two matches remaining this season.

The club has won just once in its past eight matches, suffering defeats in the last three outings.

“We have negotiated with 10 coaches for the empty seat and Ivankovic is also among them,” Ali Pezeshk said.

Ivankovic, now at the helm of Oman national football team, inspired Persepolis to seven titles in Iran football.

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Ivankovic Denies Link with Sepahan

reporter 1222 — Tue, 05 May 2020 10:32:12 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Former Persepolis coach Branko Ivankovic has responded to speculation linking him with a move to another Iranian football club, Sepahan.

Under the management of Ivankovic, Persepolis won seven cups in Iran football.

Now, media reports suggest that Sepahan is going to hire the Croatian coach.

“I am the head coach of the Oman national football team at the moment and committed to my contract. I am thinking of good days with Oman,” Ivankovic said.

Sepahan has reportedly negotiated with Moharram Navidkia as well.

The Isfahan-based football team is not satisfied with Amir Ghalenoei’s performance.

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AFC Player of the Year can be Beiranvand

reporter 1222 — Tue, 03 Dec 2019 06:29:54 +0000

TEHRAN (Iran News) – Ex-Persepolis coach Branko Ivankovic believes that Alireza Beiranvand deserved to win the 2019 AFC Player of the Year award.

Qatar’s rising star Akram Hassan Afif won the accolade at the 2019 AFC Annual Awards held in Hong Kong on Monday.

However, Ivankovic says that Beiranvand has been the best Asian player in the current year, AFC Player of the Year can be the other.

“First, I would like to congratulate him for being among the top three players. He showed that he has had good performance in football and achieved success,” the Croat said.

“I think Beiranvand had to win the award because he played well in Persepolis and Iran national football team,” Ivankovic added.

Ivankovic has been nominated to replace Marc Wilmots as Iran’s national football team head coach.

Earlier, Pateadores Club coach Shayan Jahangiri believed that Iran goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand has the potential to play in the big European clubs.

“I was at the stadium when Alireza Beiranvand saved Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty in Russia. It was the best moment in my career. I think he has the potential to play in big European teams,” Jahangiri said.

“Our country has so many talented players and is comparable to Brazil but there are some problems in finding the talents, however, we see positive movements in the recent years,” he added.

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Ivankovic, a true dedicated coach to football

reporter 1222 — Sun, 07 Oct 2018 06:30:58 +0000

Persepolis took a massive step towards the 2018 AFC Champions League final after defeating Al Sadd of Qatar 1-0 in the first leg of the semifinals. It came as no surprise to us, however, as Branko Ivankovic has built his team the right way.

Ivankovic, known as Professor in Iran, knows his players very well. In the past three years, he has selected his players according to plans.

Persepolis were handed the two-transfer-window ban due to breaking transfer rules. BUT Persepolis are favorites to win Iran Professional League for a third successive time and the Reds are on the verge of advancing to the AFC Champions League final.

Ivankovic has dedicated himself to football. He has put his heart and his vast years of experience to keep his teams in the highest standard.

He had previously helped Iran win 2002 Asian Games in Busan, South Korea, headed Team Melli to a third-placed position in 2004 AFC Asian Cup in China, and last but not least, led Iran national football team to the 2006 World Cup Finals in Germany.

Persepolis, as the most popular football team in Iran are facing financial problems and Branko and the coaching staff have not been paid for up to five months, but thankfully the team’s performance has not been affected a bit by the turbulence.

Ivankovic had been also engaged in an argument with Iran national football team coach Carlos Queiroz for holding training camp during the domestic league over the past year, though Ivankovic has not given an inch in the dispute.

Ivankovic can be a role model for the Iranian coaches for keeping it going regardless of the circumstances.

Success is a relative term, and Ivankovic can be a loser in a tougher league, but what is certain is that he is a good instructor and a man committed to football.

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Ivankovic wants to evolve Iran’s style of football

reporter 1222 — Thu, 23 Nov 2017 09:26:27 +0000

Persepolis football coach Brank Ivankovic says he is going to transfer his knowledge to Iran football.

“I came to Iran to change your style of play and improve your game. Iranian teams were playing English style of football and it’s normal because the sport had been brought to the country by Englishmen. I want to change your traditional game into the modern football, that’s why I am here,” Ivankovic said in an interview with Mehr news agency.

“At the moment, I am Persepolis coach and I am very satisfied with the results we’ve achieved during the previous years. I am happy to be at the Iran’s most popular team. In 2006, I led Team Melli at the World Cup but I was under pressure at that moment, however I do not want to go back to the past,” he added.

Persepolis have been banned from signing players for the next two transfer windows after their striker Mehdi Taremi breached his contract with Turkey’s football club Caykur Rizespor.

Taremi is also staying out of fields for four-month after FIFA found him guilty.

The Iranian giants also have so many financial problems but Branko believes there is no excuse not to challenge for Iran Professional League title.

“The number of the football clubs are suffering from financial difficulties and I believe that it’s normal. For example AC Milan face financial issues but they play in the Italian league. Iranian clubs Sepahan and Foolad have no financial problems but they face some other big challenges,” he added.

Ivankovic was a nominee to take charge of Croatia football team but Zlatko Dalic replaced Ante Cacic in the European team.

“I was a candidate for the post but it’s not a new story. I wish all the best for Croatia in the World Cup. Iran have also a great future in the World Cup because Team Melli have been prepared very well,” the 63-year-old coach concluded.

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