Nosrati named Tractor manager for the rest of season
Former Iranian international center-back Mohammad Nosrati was appointed as the caretaker manager of the Persian Gulf Pro League club Tractor for the rest of the Iranian top-flight season.
An assistant to former head coach Paco Jemez, Nosrati takes over of the west-northern Iranian side’s bench after the Spanish tactician parted ways with the club in the aftermath of a 4-1 league defeat at home against Zob Ahan – a third successive game without a win for Tractor following home draws against Sepahan (0-0) and Iralco (1-1).
Tractor is third in the Iranian league table with 40 points – 10 adrift of leader Esteghlal and nine behind Persepolis with seven games to spare.
Nosrati’s first game in charge comes away to bottom club Nassaji Mazandaran on Friday before a highly-anticipated home fixture against Esteghlal next Wednesday.
An ex-coach of LaLiga clubs Las Palmas and Rayo Vallecano, Jemez joined Tractor midway through last season and led the club a fourth-place finish in the table.
Despite a busy transfer window in the summer, his team had a disappointing start to the campaign, suffering three defeats in a row – including a 3-1 home setback against Emirati side Sharjah in the AFC Champions League playoffs – and an inconsistent run in the league, which saw the team register seven losses and four draws in 23 outings, coupled with a poor record against fellow top-flight giants Persepolis, Esteghlal, and Sepahan eventually cost him his job.
During the Spaniard’s 15-month stint in Iran, Tractor managed only two wins in nine meetings with the trio while leaving the pitch empty-handed on six occasions.
Tractor has also endured a below-par run against the other top-eight sides in the league this season, winning only two while losing seven in 11 head-to-heads.