New Iran U23 coach Golmohammadi eager to end Olympic drought
Iran’s new U23 head coach Yahya Golmohammadi says he is determined to end the country’s decades-long absence from the Olympic Games, but insists his top priority is to “develop a new generation of young talents for Iranian football.”
Golmohammadi, 56, left his position at Iraqi top-flight side Duhok SC to succeed Hossein Abdi, who stepped down after his team suffered a group-stage exit at the Aichi-Nagoya 2026 Asian Games in Japan in October.
The former Iranian international centre-back, who took charge of Duhok in June, guided the club to two wins and six draws in 10 matches in the new Iraq Stars League season.
Speaking at a press conference after signing a three-year contract on Sunday, Golmohammadi said accepting the Iranian Football Federation’s offer had been an easy decision for him.
“My biggest motivation is to be able to help the young footballers in my country. I embraced this offer wholeheartedly, without the slightest hesitation.
“I am thrilled to be here, but I also fully understand the significance of this position and the responsibility that comes with it. That is why I am proud to have taken on this responsibility,” said Golmohammadi, who will be tasked with securing Iran’s first Olympic qualification in football since 1976.
His team will compete at the 2028 AFC U23 Asian Cup in Japan, where the two finalists will secure qualification for the Los Angeles Olympics later that year.
“Our primary goal is to qualify for the Olympics, but I believe the bigger objective is to develop a new generation of young talents for Iranian football. Achieving this requires effective cooperation and coordination between clubs, coaches, the U23 team, the senior national team, the National Olympic Committee, and the Ministry of Sports and Youth.
“Everyone must work together to shape the future of our football. This is our foremost priority, and I am confident that with hard work and the implementation of sound structural plans, we can achieve it.
“Our country is blessed with an abundance of exceptional talent. Many of these young and promising players have yet to be discovered or given the opportunity to showcase their abilities. This is a great opportunity for us to provide them with a platform to make themselves known.
“I hope that we, as football coaches, along with everyone who has a say in decision-making in this field, can contribute to identifying and discovering talent and work together to build the future of Iranian football,” Golmohammadi added.
Golmohammadi enjoyed the most successful spell of his coaching career at Persepolis, guiding the Tehran Reds to three Persian Gulf Pro League titles and a domestic cup trophy, as well as the AFC Champions League final, during his four-year tenure.
He parted ways with the capital club midway through the 2023-24 season following a falling-out with the club hierarchy.
He subsequently took charge of Foolad Khuzestan ahead of the 2024-25 campaign and guided the southern Iranian side to an impressive fourth-place finish. However, a poor run of results led to his departure by mutual consent midway through the following season.