The former head coach of Iran’s national football team, who emphasizes creating unity and empathy within Team Melli, says that a player who speaks against the coach should be removed from the roster.
In an interview with ISNA, Homayoun Shahrokhi commented on the retention of Dragan Skocic at the helm of Team Melli, and the necessary measures required for the success of the Team in the World Cup: “the reality is that we can succeed with some luck. If the team consists of bands, if they do not accept the coach, if the management is not strong and coherent, there will not be much hope for the national team. Even if we go to the World Cup under these conditions, we may finish fifth in our group!.
Shahrokhi continued: “With this management and lack of trust in the coach and the recent differences between the players, the situation is not promising. A number of players turn to gangs when they get old. They gather some young players around themselves and incite them naive people o join a rebellion. If the manager is a strong character and a disciplinarian person, he will stifle the root elements and will not allow a bad apple to ruin the team.”
“If the president of the leadership of the federation is powerful, the players should not dare to speak against the coach. The player’s role in hid team is that of a soldier for his homeland and his country’s football.”
The former Team Melli head coach, who also worked with the team as a Manager stated that “it is possible to change the club team, but in the national team one must obey, respect, and accept the head coach. At the club level, If the system and playing conditions are not up to a player’s liking, he should go and change his team. I have direct experience with such events. A famous or even a modest player who interferes in the coach’s work should not be on the team for even a second. I won’t name names, but everyone knows who I kicked out.”
Emphasizing individual discipline, Shahrokhi said: “If a player is not disciplined, we will have problems in teamwork. Then you will be in trouble in society. There are people in our country whose sole joy is Team Melli. They sacrifice and suffer while some worship these players. These people deserve the respect for the players who should be exemplary
Referring to Skocic’s status, Sharoukhi said: ” Skocic is an honorable and respectable coach. Now, if he is a good-natured person, it should not be mistaken for weakness to the extent that some players gang up against him and behind his back. Do they want someone like Queiroz who will have no hesitation to grab a nonsense player from his ears and kicks him out? Ganging up has no place in Team Melli. No matter how good a player is, if there is a loose tooth, that loose tooth should be thrown out.”
Shahrokhi emphasized: “People in Iran are passionate about football, wrestling, and volleyball. As someone who followed volleyball games in recent years. I enjoyed the performances of this team in the last few games. They (the volleyball Team) have grit, unity and the determination to succeed. It is a marvelous feeling for the fans and enjoyable to see them perform. Currently, considering the special and economic problems, sports make people happy.” He continued: “If the players are diligent and we don’t see two teams within one Team Melli, we can show good football. Otherwise, we will be in trouble. Maybe we can say that we are united, but this should happen in reality. I felt sorry when I saw them talking against the coach. it wa Goodness has a limit. If everything was solid on the first day, this would not have happened. Shahrokhi said: “A few months ago, the coach left a player, we all said, why did he do this?” If X goes, there must be I. Hasan Brod, must be Hossein. We should not be happy with the players. I don’t know why they say that we have the best national team in recent years.