American in frame for Iran post

FIFA - Five Iranians, including an Iranian-American, are in the frame to coach the embattled national football side and fill a months-long vacuum at the top of one of Asia's top teams, reports said on Sunday. Iran had been on the verge of agreeing terms with Spaniard Javier Clemente, but the deal fell through amid a wrangle over his living conditions, leaving the football authorities to search for a homegrown coach.

Iran's football federation chief Ali Kafashian said that with qualifiers for the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa™ already underway, pressure of time meant that employing a domestic coach was the only answer. "We will appoint an Iranian coach who has work experience and the outlined criteria," Kafashian said, predicting that the announcement could be made as soon as Monday.

According to reports on Iranian news agencies and its sports press the candidates include Afshin Qotbi, an Iranian-American who returned to his native country last year to coach top Tehran side Persepolis, who are currently the runaway leaders of the Iranian league. Qotbi has strong coaching credentials and was technical assistant to Korea Republic under Dutch wizard Guus Hiddink.

The Fars news agency, quoting an informed source, reported Sunday that Kafashian had agreed that Qotbi should become the new coach. However, there was no official confirmation.

Ali Daei, Amir Qalenouie, Bijan Zolfagharnasab and Mohammad Mayelikohan are also reportedly in the frame.