Foreign coaches face an uphill battle in Iranian football

TEHRAN – Paco Jemez's departure from the Tractor football team highlights the ongoing problems of foreign coaches in Iran's top football league, the Persian Gulf Pro League (PGPL).

Under Jemez's leadership, Tractor narrowly missed out on their first Iranian championship title. A crushing 4-1 defeat to Zob Ahan last week left them 10 points behind leaders Esteghlal, a result that proved costly for the Spanish coach.

According to media reports, Jemez requested to leave the Tabriz-based club and his request was approved. The 54-year-old has been in office since December 2022, but was unable to deliver any titles during his term.

Sepahan, another major Iranian team with a foreign coach, the Portuguese José Morais, also fell short of expectations. Despite Sepahan being favorites for the title and spending big on big name players, their championship hopes have been dashed due to their recent poor form and the fact that they only picked up two points in their last few games.

Marinos Ouzounidis, Gol Gohar Sirjan's Greek coach, also failed to live up to expectations, leaving the team in mid-table, far from the top four finishes fans had expected.

The 2023–24 PGPL season saw further departures of foreign coaches, with Spanish coaches Juan Ignacio Martínez and Lucas Alcaraz leaving Foolad and Nassaji respectively before the end of the season, unable to achieve desired results.

*Why do foreign coaches have problems in Iran?

Several factors contribute to the difficulties faced by foreign coaches in Iran. One of them is a lack of familiarity with the culture and conditions of Iranian football. The foreign coaches need time to adapt, which can affect their performance.

Another factor is management instability. Iranian clubs often experience leadership changes, leading to instability and thwarting long-term plans.

The pressure from the fans also plays a role. Iranian fans are enthusiastic about their teams and demand immediate success. The foreign coaches are under intense scrutiny and quickly become scapegoats when results falter.

“Iranian football is a world of its own,” said former Iranian national coach Carlos Queiroz. “The foreign coaches have to adapt to these special circumstances in order to be successful.”

Until these challenges are adequately addressed, foreign coaches in Iran are likely to continue to face an uphill battle.