“I was ready to coach Esteghlal” – Igor Stimac

Tehran Times – TEHRAN, Former Croatia football coach Igor Stimac says that he was ready to take charge of Iran’s Esteghlal but the Iranian sports officials didn’t accept his offer despite interest from the club.

Esteghlal negotiated with Stimac on Friday and he was almost appointed as new head coach of the team but Parviz Mazloumi was named the coach at last.

“I was invited to Iran by Esteghlal club and reached a financial agreement with them for myself and my assistant Prof. Luka Radman but then I was told that Iran’s Ministry of Youth and Sports did not accepted to pay the contract I did reach,” Stimac told Tehran Times in an exclusive interview.

“I have to say that I was received well and was happy to take over such a club with so many passionate supporters,” he added.

“I was ready to make good results with Esteghlal as football coach. Many Croatian coaches who have worked in Iran are my teachers, namely Stanko Poklepovic, Ciro Blazevic and Tomislav Ivic. And nearly all of them were very successful in Iran.

“Also, Zlatko Kranjcar, Branko Ivankovic- great man who assisted Blazevic in our national team for many years- my fellow citizen Luka Bonacic and Vinko Begovic are all my friends.

“I was ready to come to Iran to bring glory back to Esteghlal. I did not have a chance to coach Esteghlal but I have witnessed how passionate your fans are.

“Anyway, I bought a small book to learn Farsi so I don’t waste my time while waiting another call from there,” the former Croatia defended added,” he added.