First let's be realistic. IFF has to be willing to keep him. But if we do even reasonably well in Russia not only will Taj and Soltanifar be under great pressure to re-sign him, but they'll also know keeping CQ guarantees international success which in turn makes them look good too. But even if IFF tries to keep him, having shown what he can do with Iran since the last world cup, Carlos will have his share of lucrative offers once his contract is up next year. If other countries had doubts about his abilities they're erased after watching his team in the qualifiers. He turned Iran from a team whose defense used to be its Achilles Heel into a team that can't give up a goal in an away game with a man down if it tried! In Asia alone just about every Arab team will be offering him millions hoping he can recreate for them what he did with Iran.
But here's the other side of the coin. Carlos will be 65 when his contract is up next year. If he takes up a new assignment he'll have to start all over again and spend time getting to know another country's talent and football culture. Doing what he did with Iran takes time. It took at least 3 years to mold Team Melli into what he had in mind. In Iran he may not have a professional system to work with, but he has one of the things every coach dreams of: a generation of talented players that UNDERSTAND his system and RESPECT him immensely. This is gold for any coach.
Below is a lineup of what our current team (with a few youngsters added) would look like in 2022. This is assuming no new talents emerge till then which of course won't be case. Just think how many of us had even heard of Pouraliganji, Cheshmi, Taremi, Milad, Ghoddos…back in 2014. The numbers next to their names are what their age will be in 2022. The bulk of this team will be just entering their prime by Qatar's world cup, and they'll have spent years playing alongside each other by then.
In terms of crowds, that cup will be for Iran what the last world cup was for Argentina. The close location makes every match effectively a home game.
CQ will have a team of talented players...in their prime...that can implement his system blindfolded...with home team advantage in every match!
This team melli is CQ's baby. He built it from scratch and fought tooth and nail against jealous losers and incompetent managers to get it to where it is. I doubt he'll want to hand his masterpiece to another coach before his star players have even hit their prime. He can sign a big contract with a new country, or, stay and win the Asian Cup, qualify for a third successive WC, then SHOCK the world in 2022 and retire as an all time great.
I hope he goes with the latter option.
But here's the other side of the coin. Carlos will be 65 when his contract is up next year. If he takes up a new assignment he'll have to start all over again and spend time getting to know another country's talent and football culture. Doing what he did with Iran takes time. It took at least 3 years to mold Team Melli into what he had in mind. In Iran he may not have a professional system to work with, but he has one of the things every coach dreams of: a generation of talented players that UNDERSTAND his system and RESPECT him immensely. This is gold for any coach.
Below is a lineup of what our current team (with a few youngsters added) would look like in 2022. This is assuming no new talents emerge till then which of course won't be case. Just think how many of us had even heard of Pouraliganji, Cheshmi, Taremi, Milad, Ghoddos…back in 2014. The numbers next to their names are what their age will be in 2022. The bulk of this team will be just entering their prime by Qatar's world cup, and they'll have spent years playing alongside each other by then.
In terms of crowds, that cup will be for Iran what the last world cup was for Argentina. The close location makes every match effectively a home game.
CQ will have a team of talented players...in their prime...that can implement his system blindfolded...with home team advantage in every match!
This team melli is CQ's baby. He built it from scratch and fought tooth and nail against jealous losers and incompetent managers to get it to where it is. I doubt he'll want to hand his masterpiece to another coach before his star players have even hit their prime. He can sign a big contract with a new country, or, stay and win the Asian Cup, qualify for a third successive WC, then SHOCK the world in 2022 and retire as an all time great.
I hope he goes with the latter option.
Comment