Iranian coach Mansourian relishing strong start in Iraqi top flight
Iranian head coach Alireza Mansourian has enjoyed an impressive start to life with Al Talaba in the Iraq Stars League.
A 3-0 away victory over bottom club Al Qasim on Sunday marked Al Talaba’s second win in three matches since the 54-year-old took charge in late November.
Iraqi international center-back Masies Artien headed Al Talaba into the lead 10 minutes into the match at Baghdad’s Al Madina Stadium, before Ecuadorian midfielder Darío Pazmiño doubled the advantage from the penalty spot six minutes after the restart.
Al Talaba was reduced to 10 men in the 56th minute when Zaid Ismail was sent off, but Hussein Amer Ojaimi put the scoreline beyond doubt just two minutes later by heading home Habib Oueslati’s corner.
Mansourian’s side finished the match with nine men after Karrar Saad was dismissed in the 73rd minute, only three minutes after coming on as a substitute.
The win lifted Al Talaba, which had managed just three victories in seven matches before Mansourian’s appointment, to seventh place in the league standings with 17 points – seven behind leaders Erbil SC.
Mansourian marked his Iraqi league debut in style on December 26, guiding his side to a memorable 1-0 home win over Al Shorta, ending Al Talaba’s four-year wait for victory in one of Baghdad’s most anticipated derbies.
That result was followed by a goalless draw against Mosul SC at home five days later.
“Al Talaba is one of the four most popular clubs in Iraq, alongside Al Shorta, Al Zawraa and Air Force Club. Accepting the managerial role here was the best decision I’ve ever made in my career,” the former Esteghlal coach said ahead of Sunday’s match.
“We are like one family and are working hard to bring our supporters back to the stands through positive results,” added Mansourian, whose previous role ended midway through the 2023/24 Persian Gulf Pro League season following a run of poor results with Foolad Khuzestan.