Tehran Times - Marco Octávio Simoes Barbosa (or simply Marco Octavio) resumes his coaching career in Iran national beach soccer team.
Marco Octavio returned for a fourth stint in charge of Team Melli in August 2017 but traveled to his homeland Brazil ahead of Persian Beach Soccer Cup in April due to personal problems.
“I am waiting for my visa to travel to Iran. I miss so much my players and also Iranian people. I am very motivated to start our preparation for the next World Cup,” the Brazilian coach said in an exclusive interview with Tehran Times.
Marco Octavio also wished Iran national football team all the best.
“I want to congratulate my friend Carlos Queiroz for advancing to the 2018 FIFA World Cup as the first Asian team. Team Melli have been drawn in a tough group along with Spain, Portugal and Morocco but I believe in capacity of Iranian players and I think they will overcome the difficulties,” he said.
Octavio first took charge of Iran in 2007, before returning for further spells in 2010 and 2012, with the coach having taken Iran to two FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup quarter-final in 2013 and 2015.
Octavio replaces Mohammad Hossein Mirshamsi as Iran boss after he ensured a third-place finish at this year's FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup in The Bahamas.
Team Melli have to prepare for the 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup.
The 2019 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup will be the tenth edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup, the premier international beach soccer championship contested by men's national teams of the member associations of FIFA.
Previous editions before 2005 were not governed by FIFA and were held under the title Beach Soccer World Championships.
Overall this will be the 20th edition of the World Cup since its establishment in 1995. This will be the fifth tournament to take place under the biennial basis; the World Cup now takes place once every two years, after taking place annually between 1995 and 2009.