Iran denies Materazzi coaching rumors

PTV - The Iranian Football Federation (IFF) has denied holding talks with the Italian Giuseppe Materazzi on coaching the national team.

"I think Materazzi is trying to attract publicity by making such remarks," said IFF spokesman Mehdi Taj.

The former coach of Lazio and Portugal's Sporting Lisbon claimed on Tuesday that he had been approached by Iran to take the reins of the country's national team.

Following Javier Clemente's refusal to live in Iran while coaching the national team, the IFF announced it was considering the possibility of hiring a homegrown coach.

Sports pundits believe Persepolis coach Afshin Qotbi is the IFF's most likely choice for leading the country's national team.