A Belgian website claims that there was a disagreement between Marc Welmots and the Iranian Football Federation FFIRI, and the negotiations have hit a brick wall without reaching an accord.

The Belgian coach has traveled to Iran last week and closely inspected the training facilities of the Iranian national teams. The Iranian Football Federation offered him a contract lasting until 2022, after the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, but Welmots returned back home to Belgium without signing the contract.

Notwithstanding the preconditions provided by the Iranian Football Federation and the proposed € 1.3 million pay check, there is still a big challenge to finalize Welmots’ contract as the head coach of the Iranian national team, a challenge that may indeed prevent Welmots’ appointment.  The FFIRI has a clause in the contract that requires him to reside in Iran and be available almost permanently in the country in order to closely observe the league competition, a subject that has been challenged by the Belgian coach.

It is claimed that that the Belgian coach thought that he would travel to Iran only for Team Melli matches  and that he would remain in Tehran during that period, but now faced with the demand of the Football Federation, this has led to disagreement between the two sides. Mehdi Taj, head of the Iranian Football Association, is currently in Belgium for concluding the contract.

If the news is true, Welmots is one of many European coaches that believe in remote control coaching, or “suitcase coaches” as commonly called. They stay at home , enjoy their time while being paid handsomely, and travel a few days before a match hoping for miracles!

Indeed a bizarre concept created long time back by one Javier Clements, a Spanish coach who was offered the Job of Team Melli coach but he insisted that he can deliver much better from home in Spain!