An opportunity too good to pass up – Dan Gaspar
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Big Apple Soccer – TEHRAN, Dan Gaspar admits he did not think twice when he was offered an opportunity to coach with the National Team in Iran, even if the United States isn’t exactly the best of friends with the Middle Eastern country.
Gaspar arrived in Tehran on Wednesday night.
The relationship between U.S. and Iran can be described as hostile, at best, strained. Did Gaspar feel safe as an American who will live in Iran?
“Yes. Absolutely,” he said. “My focus is for sporting reasons only. My blood is Portuguese. I am Portuguese-American who as a result of being a professional football coach makes me a citizen of the world. I have been fortunate to work on four continents. My profession requires me to be adaptable as well as be flexible.”
Gaspar said that plans to live in Iran as his friends and family will visit him periodically.
His good friend and long-time colleague, Carlos Queiroz asked Gaspar to come aboard as the goalkeeping coach and assistant coach of the Iran National Team. Gaspar said his contract runs through 2014.
“It was an exceptional offer,” Gaspar said by email. “Both professionally as well as financially. I am looking forward to this new journey and challenge in my professional football life.”
Gaspar’s relationship with Queiroz goes back two decades when he was his goalkeeping coach on several occasions. He worked with Queiroz with the Portuguese National Team during its 1994 World Cup qualifying run, the MetroStars in 1996, Sporting Lisbon in Portugal, Grampus Eight in Japan, the South African National Team and tthe Portuguese side again at the 2010 World Cup.
“For me to accept this football project and once again to have the opportunity to work with coach Queiroz did not take much persuasion,” he said. “This project will expose me to the world of football.”
His goals are simple — help lead Iran to the 2014 World Cup. Iran has reached the competition three times — 1978, 1998 and 2006.
Gaspar wouldn’t say what his challenges were. “It’s premature to make judgments,” he said.
“We know that Iran has talented players as well as a country whose people are very passionate about football,” he said. “In this phase of our process we are on a fact finding mission. Observing players, evaluating the national team structure and learning as much as we can by gathering all the data possible.
“Once we have assembled this information, we will begin to make decisions to create a plan that will impact our goal of qualifying for the 2014 Brazil World Cup. Under the leadership of Carlos Queiroz I am confident we will prepare Iran to successfully compete.”
Asked if he thought Iran could qualify for Brazil, Gaspar replied, “Iran has qualified for several World Cups and is currently ranked seventh in Asia. We believe in the Iran Football Federation’s commitment and resources to invest and improve. We also feel that Iran has a pool of talented players to achieve our mission. We are confident we can help them increase their chances for success.”
Gaspar, the owner and operator of Star Goalkeeper Academy and the Connecticut Soccer School, admitted it was a difficult decision to leave his position as men’s soccer coach at his alma mater, the University of Hartford. But his latest challenge was too great.
“Saying good bye to people who believe in me. From administrators, staff, friends as well as was my players was very difficult,” he said. “I never imagined stepping down from Hartford. It was not part of my plans. However, I was given an opportunity that I could not say no. I have no regrets working at Hartford and no regrets in accepting this new adventure.”
