The former head coach of the Omid team believes that the appointment of Zlatko Krancjar’s was irrational and not based on proper selection mechanism. The federation has chosen him without due diligence.

Ebrahim Ghasempour, in an interview with Isna, criticized the performance of the federation in concluding the contract of Zlatko Krancjar as head coach of Omid team after just over a year in charge saying:”I personally did not agree with Krancjar’s choice, as he coached Sepahan and despite the immense support , the facilities and resources provided to him, his delivery was less than optimal. It did not work well in Sepahan for either sides”.

“On the other hand, he did not have a much experience coaching young or lower age group players in any team. In general, this choice was not rational and not based on collective thinking. This selection was made in consistence with the past selections of the federation, which found itself under time pressure and lack of available choices, hence it was concluded without proper and sufficient due diligence.”

Referring to the debilitated performance of the Football Federation, the Iranian football expert continued: “The Football Federation not only does not pay attention to these issues, but also to other matters. If we look back at the past, the choices for coaching posts in age group national teams were based on recommendations by influential people without much study and performance analysis. In the past few years, none of these choices have been principled. The same was true for Krancjar. Additionally, after the departure of Queiroz, the Team Melli will suffer the same fate and will face this problem.”

Commenting on the fact that the federation was suffering from lack of financial resources and currency exchange rates, although they do not explicitly admit to that issue, and it seems that lack of currency resources has delayed the selection of the national team head coach, Ghasimpour said: “We all know we do not have money. We are not very honest on many issues in this country. The Ministry of Sports and the Football Federation and other organizations do not have the hard currency. They always want to do something beyond their means to hush the people and think they are at control , which will make the situation even worse. By raising the people’s expectation and then failing to deliver, it is much worse than admitting the short-comes”.

“They just lie, lies after lies and make thing appear beautiful and dandy.”

He spoke about speculations of Yahya Golmohammadi and/or Javad Nekounam coaching the Omid National Team in place of Kranjcar. “The two were great players of the national team. Technically and ethically respectable. Nekounam was one of my player in the past during my time at Pas club. However, they have very little coaching experience in the League.”

“Playing at the highest level, does not mean that you will automatically qualify to be a successful coach.  If that was the case that every successful player would turn out to be a great coach, then Maradona would have been the greatest coach. There is a great divide between a good coach and a good player.”

Ghasempour stressed: “There is , however, a good aspect to appointment of such young coaches who were former Team Melli players for age group and junior categories as understudy to an experience coach especially if such players were featured and morally approved, however they must be sure they are supported properly. The sad fact, that I’m sure of, is that this support and back up normally does not materialize and these young coaches are victimized for poor results. The support fades very rapidly when the results are not satisfactory.”

The former head coach of the Omid team who as a player played in the 1978 FIFA World Cup noted “In the past, they (FFIRI) appointed coaches who were not even players. They were chosen intermediaries because the Minister or the City Council member or someone influential was backing this person.”