Sa Pinto to stay on as Esteghlal coach despite ACL Two exit: Report
Portuguese head coach Ricardo Sa Pinto is set to remain in charge of Esteghlal despite the club’s elimination from the AFC Champions League Two round of 16, according to the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA).
The Tehran-based side conceded two late goals in a 3-2 defeat to Jordanian champion Al Hussein in Amman on Tuesday, crashing out 4-2 on aggregate in the first knockout round of Asia’s second-tier club competition.
The loss fueled intense speculation in Iranian media over Sa Pinto’s future, with former Esteghlal coaches Javad Nekounam and Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh among the names linked to a potential return. Questions had mounted amid inconsistent domestic and continental campaigns.
However, IRNA reported Friday that the club’s board has opted for continuity, particularly with fixtures coming in quick succession, after talks with Iranian candidates reportedly reached a deadlock in recent days.
Sa Pinto began his second spell in charge last summer. During his previous stint in the 2022/23 season, he guided Esteghlal to a third-place league finish and the final of the Hazfi Cup, where the Blues fell 2-1 to archrival Persepolis.
Esteghlal currently sits third in the Persian Gulf Pro League standings with 35 points from 20 matches – one point behind leader Golgohar Sirjan, which has played a game more, and level with Tractor in second.
The Capital Blues travel to face bottom-placed Mes Rafsanjan on Sunday, a match that will also mark a reunion with former coach Mojtaba Jabbari, who led the club to domestic cup success last season.
Esteghlal remains in contention for a second successive Hazfi Cup title and is set to meet Khaybar Khorramabad in the quarterfinals.