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An incredible change of Croatian expert: 'I was replaced by a new president, some players and - my successor!'
Written by: Goran Čičin-Mašansker Published: October 23, 2022 07:01
Dragan Skočić took over the national team of Iran in February 2020, in 18 games he achieved 15 wins, a draw and two losses. He was first in the qualifying group with South Korea, the United Arab Emirates, Iraq, Syria and Lebanon, and secured an appearance at the World Cup in Qatar.
However, the Croatian expert will not lead Iran at the tournament in Qatar, instead the Portuguese Carlos Queiroz was returned to the selection position. After a month and a half, Skočić decided to announce the details of his sudden job loss in an interview with Sportske novosti.
How do you feel a month and a half after leaving the position of coach of the Iranian national team?
- I feel good, I am slowly returning to normal after the obvious injustice that was done to me and my staff. They took away the World Cup from us, but they can't take away the fact that we achieved the fastest qualification ever for the WC in Asia, with the most victories and points won. From the 33rd place in the FIFA ranking, we raised Iran to the 22nd place and left them as the first national team in Asia. Even when we know that we didn't start from scratch, but from a point deficit, it's harder for us to understand and accept all this, but life goes on - said Dragan Skočić.
How were you informed that you are no longer a selector?
- After Mehdi Taj was elected president of the Football Association of Iran, they told me that they no longer count on me. The president, who had previously worked with Carlos Queiroz, announced that if he wins the elections, he will hire the same coach again. It is normal there, that when the new president comes, they sweep away the selector who he did not bring, so that in the event of a possible success of the national team, there is no situation where the president cannot be credited.
Queiroz previously led Iran, from 2011 to 2019, and Mehdi Taj led the Iranian Football Association at that time as well...
- It is interesting that this is the same president who resigned before my arrival, and who, among other things, was under great pressure from the public for signing a multi-million dollar contract with the Belgian Marc Wilmots. During his reign, the national team was already one foot outside the WC. We returned Iran to where it realistically belongs, and Taj was returned and rewarded with a trip to the WC, I might even add that he returned as a hero. Who can understand that logic...
Do you resent Taja for firing you?
- Professionally, I can't blame him for anything, because he used his powers. He didn't promise me anything, but if I were in his place, I would have kept the coach who saved me from the stigma of elimination already at the first step of qualifying for the World Cup.
And how do you comment on Queiroz?
- In our life or our profession, we meet people almost every day who have achieved impressive careers in their field of activity. When we talk about coaches, they coached the biggest clubs or led national teams at the WC. But among them we can single out only a few to which we can add the prefix 'big'. Those who are "big" do not reach the goal by all possible means. They do not negotiate with a team that has a coach, nor do they advertise in the media by posting messages to players coached by another colleague.
Ready for anything
Did you already notice that something like this was coming your way, or was the shift a surprise to you too?
- It was a surprise to me, considering the results achieved. It all went against common sense. But, during my entire mandate, I was "replaced" on many occasions by various interest groups without any reason, so I was ready for anything. At first they ignored me, because everyone thought we would be eliminated in the first qualifiers, which were played in Bahrain. We had no right to drop a point there, we were written off by everyone. We won in a row, reversed the dynamics, and continued in the same style in the next qualifiers. We were undefeated, and they started criticizing me, which I understood as personal progress, because after the ignoring phase, criticizing is something like reaching the next level. After we qualified, I started to literally get in the way, the attacks came from all sides. They finally realized that I'm good, but also that I don't let myself be led.
Meetings with politicians
However, it turned out that you had too strong opponents in your "own ranks". Did you manage to figure out who was doing everything behind your back?
- Behind my dismissal stands the newly elected president, some players inclined towards him, who supported him during the election out of their own interest, and the coach who succeeded me on the bench. He was in communication with these same players and people from the alliance for a long time.
So the players also had an active role in the whole story?
- The passive reactions of the decision makers towards the players allowed them to enter into something that is not their competence. The Alliance's consultation with the players on decisions irrelevant to their jobs gave them more and more importance and encouraged them to interfere more and more. It was completely disappointing to learn that in the end the players began to "overlap" the Federation and meet with high-ranking politicians, especially the minister of sports, who was in contact with Queiroz through one of the previous people from the administration.
What were the reactions of the national team members after your dismissal, did any of them contact you?
- A few of them publicly supported me, and most of them were afraid that this would compromise their trip to SP, so they sent messages personally. These few who had their favorite coach and who judged me based on their preferences and interests, they did not declare themselves publicly. They said that they were soldiers of the national team and that they did not want to get involved, and they were really involved.
This is the first time you are talking about this topic to the media, why didn't you announce it right away?
- For the last month, Iran has been in a situation that has deeply worried and saddened me, as someone who has spent a long time in that country. I did not announce my departure in the media out of respect for all my friends and all those who were going through uncertain and difficult days at that moment.
After all, you're probably pretty disappointed that you won't be seeing the World Cup as a coach?
- For all of us who are in football, the World Cup is the pinnacle of our career, including for me. I have given my all in these almost three years and it is normal that I am disappointed. However, there are human values for me that are much more important than SP. The concept of success has a somewhat deeper meaning for me. I am proud of the way I went through the qualifications. From the first day to the last, I faced many obstacles and difficulties, and I managed to remain myself, I kept my integrity and dignity until the very end. I knew how to handle the pressure around me. I was immune to a considerable number of fabricated stories and petty hoaxes by pseudo-football experts and analysts from the media and from social networks. In addition, we brought a sum of money with which they could cover expensive mistakes from the past and use it for the development of football in the country in the future.
Recreational role
What can Iran do in Qatar in the company of England, USA and Wales?
- Iran has the quality to pass the group, provided that they do not accept a reactive role again at the big competition, which does not benefit them considering their attacking potential. Everything that is not passing the group should be considered a failure of the first Asian national team - said Dragan Skočić.
LOOKING AT THE WORLD CUP I will support Croatia and Spain
Who do you see as the favorite for the world title?
- Brazil, the Netherlands, Belgium and France. And personally, along with Croatia, I will cheer for Spain to win the title, their football has always been the closest to me.
Croatia defends silver from Russia. What prospects do you give the Vatren and how does our national team look to you at the moment?
- I believe that ours can go far, it is important that everyone is healthy when it is most needed. I like the young people who are coming, they bring new energy. The positive experience from Russia is also important, it brings with it a certain mentality that can be decisive for this great competition. Going to the Final Four of the League of Nations is also a confirmation that we can, and that we are on the right path - believes Skočić. (gcm)
HNL We sell good players to buy bad ones
How much do you follow HNL, how do you comment on the current season?
- I follow the league as much as I can. An absurd paradox is happening in our domestic football; we sell good players to buy bad ones. It is difficult to maintain the quality of the league that way. Dinamo's standard quality level is higher than the others. Hajduk can hardly match them in this championship. Osijek is in a good dynamic. Varaždin and Slaven Belupo positively surprised me. The biggest disappointment is certainly my Rijeka, which this year failed in its intention to revalue the players it brought in, and it succeeded in previous seasons, and Gorica, which compared to last season is in an obvious decline. (gcm)
CAREER Of course I would go back to Iran, wonderful people live there
You have accumulated rich coaching experience in the Middle East. Would you go back there again or maybe it's time for a European destination?
- Somehow, it is most logical for me to continue my career in Asia, I have been on that market for years, although the European destination is my constant target. I already had some offers, but I didn't want to rush. I need some rest and certainly patience to find a team with which I can repeat the success.
Would you return to Iran one day?
- Of course. Just because I had a negative experience with certain people does not mean that all Iranians are bad. I have always tried to break prejudices and myths about Iran as a negative country, as suggestively offered by the Western media, scaring the Iranian world.
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