‘He is the best choice’: Golmohammadi unfazed by Ivankovic return rumors
Yahya Golmohammadi shrugged off rumors of the Persepolis head coach being replaced by Branko Ivankovic in the near future, describing the Croatian as “the best choice for the club.”
Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to Qatari champion Al Duhail at the Azadi Stadium, which led to the group stage exit for the Reds in the AFC Champions League, piled the pressure on Golmohammadi, with sections of the crowd being vocal in their chants against the manager and club chairman Alireza Darvish after the final whistle.
Recent reports in the Iranian media have suggested that Ivankovic is being considered for a dramatic return to the Persian Gulf Pro League champion’s bench, once his contract with the Oman Football Association comes to an end following the conclusion of the AFC Asian Cup in February.
An ex-manager of Iran national team in the early 2000s, Ivankovic has been widely regarded as the linchpin of the Tehran Reds’ dominance over the Iranian top flight in recent years, which has seen the club lift six league trophies in the previous seven seasons.
Ivankovic steered Persepolis to three league titles and a Hazfi Cup triumph, as well as a runner-up finish in the AFC Champions League, before parting ways with the Reds in 2019.
Asked about the rumors during a press conference before today’s league game against Havadar, Golmohammadi said: “Some people bring up his name to upset me, but I don’t have a problem with his return to the club. Even if he were on his way to Tehran tonight, I would make way for him right away. He is the best choice for the club.”
“He has been a master to me and Persepolis owes most of its achievements in recent years to him,” added Golmohammadi, who played under the Croatian at the 2006 World Cup.
The Iranian coach has enjoyed his own fair share of success since taking over at Persepolis in January 2020, winning triple league trophies – including last season’s domestic double – while leading his team to the final showpiece of the Asian elite clubs competition in his first campaign, only to suffer a 2-1 defeat against Ulsan Hyundai.
However, Golmohammadi is enduring a worst spell on the Reds bench as the setback against Al Duhail extended the club’s winless streak to six matches across all competitions.
Some pundits and former Persepolis players argue that the manager’s ongoing rift with the chairman has done little to help the Reds campaign, though Golmohammadi believes the poor run is down to injuries for key players.
Iranian international center-back Morteza Pouraliganji and midfielder Yassin Salmani will likely be out for the rest of season with the anterior cruciate ligament injuries, while Vahid Amiri has been struggling with a hamstring problem.
“Untimely injuries have cost us dearly. Morteza and Yassin were essential players in the backline and up front. Vahid has also been out for a long time, with Omid A’alishah, [Mahdi] Torabi, and [Milad] Sarlak also missing a number of games on different occasions. Their absence has surely had a negative impact on our performances,” said Golmohammadi.
Persepolis will be chasing a first victory since October 2 when taking on Havadar today, with an eye on Thursday’s clash with archrival Esteghlal in what already looks to be a season-defining derby for Golmohammadi and his men.