Afshin Ghotbi News

April 17, 2008 - Almost a year ago I logged the words below. My intention at that time was to follow Afshin Ghotbi’s adventures in Iran in this very box, but obviousely I did not keep up with my original idea that on hindsight would have been really cool.

Now there are 7 games left in the Iranian Professional League. Perspolis, thanks to a 6 point reduction imposed by FIFA sits on the third spot behind Saba Battery and Sepahan of Isfahan. The coaching staff is infighting, the players are rebelling, and the board is faltering. Afshin, the only voice of reason, perhaps next to the Iranian national team veteran, and now Perspolis captain, Karim Bagheri, is trying to rally the troops for one last push in the hope of passing Saba and catching Sepahan.

The task at hand is not impossible. Only seven points separates Perspolis from the leaders, and they have a head-to-head match coming up soon. But can a fragmented clubhouse unite for a month and half and win the championship? We shall see.

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August 8, 2007 - Poor Afshin Ghotbi! His team has won its first two games and shares the spot on the top of IPL table with a couple of other teams, yet he and his team are already being criticized for not playing an “attractive” style of football!!!

Hello! Guys! This is not Real Madrid or Barcelona we are talking about! The freaking Perspolis has been in the state of bankruptcy or in and out of it consistently for the last few years. They have not managed to hold on to a coach for more than one year in the same period, and have not done jack in Asia, so cut it out with “Attractive Football” and lets win some games!

Afshin had an interview with goal.com a few days ago. He was asked how he heard about the Perspolis job, and he said that a friend of his who is a reporter and agent contacted him about it first.

One of the major news agencies (if you can call it that) translated it to Persian and quoted him as saying that a’’ the “Iranian reporters are wheeler and dealers!!”

Afshin had to issue a statement denying this. The above mentioned news agency then printed what they called a “correction” and somewhat make right what they had done wrong. I hope he lasts the entire season. It would be good for the club, country, and him.