GOAL - Earlier this week, former Team Melli coach, Mansour Pourheidari was hired as the manager of Team Melli.

In his new role, Pourheydari will partner with Head Coach Afshin Ghotbi in preparing the team for their three crucial upcoming matches against Korea DPR, UAE, and Korea Republic in that order.  

The two men met on Thursday, only one day after Pourheidari’s official appointment, to discuss Ghotbi’s plans. Also attending the meeting was Morteza Mohasses, Ghotbi’s Technical Adviser.   

Pourheydari is an experienced football man. He managed Team Melli from 1998 through 2000 and won the Asian Games’ title in 1998.

In January of 1999 he was picked as the Asian Coach of the Month. He has coached Esteghlal of Tehran and been on the club’s board of directors.  

Pourheidari has proven to be one who likes to carefully choose his words, and unlike many of his peers in Iran prefers to stay out of unnecessary and controversial topics.

The two men could prove to be exactly what Team Melli needs in the final stretch of its qualifying campaign if they hit it off personally and form a successful partnership.
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