Ghotbi to retire after 2011 AFC Asian Cup [VIDEO]

MNA – TEHRAN, Iran football coach Afshin Ghotbi will not extend his contract with the Team Melli, which runs out after the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

Iranian football officials had also announced recently that they are reluctant to extend Ghotbi’s contract.

Iran coach lately announced that he will leave the national team after the Asian Cup.

Ghotbi wrote: “In the past few weeks, we’ve seen some old discussions about my position in Iran national team which can hurt our condition’s equilibrium. It’s while we are approaching the 2011 AFC Asian Cup and we need to focus on the tournament.

“Hopefully, all Iranian people, media and sport officials support the team with 60 days remaining to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup except our training camp in the UAE. It’s secret of victory and all of us must try to exhilarate the Iranians. As you see, we changed our style in the past year to adjust with modern football.

“I’ve verbally told the Iranian football officials that I would rather leave the team. I hope that another coach will replace me in the deserved team,” Ghotbi added.

Iran has been drawn along with defending champion Iraq, DPR Korea and the UAE in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar, which begins in January.