Pitso Mosimane terminates contract with Esteghlal FC
Pitso Mosimane has officially terminated his contract with Iranian club Esteghlal FC due to an unresolved dispute over unpaid salaries.
The three-time CAF Champions League-winning coach has walked away from his job in the Persian Gulf Pro League after the club failed to pay the entire South African technical team’s salaries. He had brought Kyle Solomon, Musi Matlaba, Kabelo Rangoaga, and Maahier Davids to his technical team.
This followed the lapse of a 15-day window in which Esteghlal were given to settle the outstanding debts, in accordance with FIFA laws.
Mosimane’s management team MT Sports on Wednesday morning confirmed the developments and shared a statement relating to the parting of ways between the parties.
“Esteemed coach Pitso Mosimane has officially parted ways with Iranian topflight side Esteghlal FC, with immediate effect, due to unresolved issues regarding unpaid salaries owed to him and his technical team,” read the statement.
“Despite numerous opportunities provided by MT Sports Marketing & Management, Coach Pitso’s management team, to resolve the matter — starting with initial discussions with the former CEO of the club last year, followed by a formal default notice delivered on 1 January 2025 — Esteghlal FC failed to address the issue.
“In good faith, Coach Pitso and the Technical Team extended a 15-day deadline as per the FIFA rules, to allow the new CEO and Board time to familiarize themselves with the situation and remedy the outstanding payments. However, the club did not resolve within the deadlines they set for themselves. Coach Pitso Mosimane and his technical team are still owed more than two months’ salaries.”
Allegedly, the South African coach had given the club a 24-hour notice on Monday to pay any unpaid salaries or face contract termination.
Reports have it that the club officials were working hard to ensure Mosimane was paid in time to avoid his departure. They managed to settle the debt hours after the coach terminated his contract due to some difficulties in wiring the money to a bank account in Dubai, the United Arab Emirates.
This is the second club with which Mosimane is involved in a payment dispute, after Saudi Arabian outfit Al Ahli were also penalized by the world football governing body after they terminated his contract following their promotion to the Pro League in 2023.
Mosimane signed with the Persian Gulf Pro League team based in Tehran in October 2024.
The team had started the season badly, and his experience was needed to save them from going down.
In the last 11 games across all competitions, the Capital Blues had suffered a single defeat and won three under Mosimane.
Esteghlal FC currently sits 11th on the Persian Gulf Pro League log standings and is slowly losing hope of becoming a contender for the AFC Champions League.