Golmohammadi departs as Foolad head coach
Yahya Golmohammadi has left his role as head coach of Foolad Khuzestan “by mutual agreement,” the Persian Gulf Pro League club announced on Saturday.
The decision followed Foolad’s goalless draw at home against fifth‑placed Chadormalou on Friday, as the Iranian top flight resumed after the mid‑season break. The result left Foolad 11th in the 16‑team table with 17 points from 16 matches – only three wins so far – and four points above the relegation zone.
The move surprised many Iranian football fans, coming after a busy transfer window in which Foolad signed Esteghlal full‑back Ramin Rezaeian on loan, Persepolis winger Farshad Ahmadzadeh, and Brazilian striker Matheus Costa from Mes Rafsanjan.
A three‑time domestic league champion as Persepolis manager, Golmohammadi took over at Foolad at the start of last season after the club had narrowly avoided relegation on the final day of the 2023/24 campaign. He led them to an impressive fourth‑place finish.
Hamid Motahari, a number two to Golmohammadi on Foolad bench, is expected to take charge as the caretaker manager for the remainder of the season, starting with a visit to Malavan on Thursday.
Sepahan stumbles against Malavan
Meanwhile, league leader Sepahan was held to a frustrating goalless draw by Malavan at the Naqsh‑e Jahan Stadium in Isfahan on Saturday.
The visitors played most of the second half with 10 men after Malavan midfielder Gholamreza Sabet‑Imani was shown a straight red card for a heavy challenge on Sepahan striker Kaveh Rezaei five minutes after halftime.
Mohammad Daneshgar thought he had given Sepahan the lead in the 66th minute, but his goal was disallowed by VAR after Milad Zakipour was judged to have handled the ball in the buildup.
Sepahan stays top with 31 points, three clear of second‑placed Persepolis ahead of the Tehran Reds’ visit to Fajr Sepasi on Sunday.
In other matches, bottom‑side Mes Rafsanjan staged a dramatic comeback to beat Khaybar 2-1. After falling behind to Mohsen Sefid‑Ghoqaei’s 56th‑minute opener, Mes struck twice in four minutes late in the game through Alireza Afkham and Farnam Arab to secure only its second win of the season.
Paykan made a strong start to the second half of the campaign, defeating Zob Ahan 2-0 at home thanks to late goals from Hojjat Ahmadi and Farid Amiri. The win lifts Paykan to 10th with 18 points, while Zob Ahan remains in 14th on 14.