Afshin Ghotbi

Infobox Football biography
playername = Afshin Ghotbi


fullname = Afshin Ghotbi
height =
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1964|2|8|df=yes
cityofbirth = Shiraz
countryofbirth = Iran
currentclub =
contractend =
position = Coach
manageryears = 1997–1998
2000–2002
2002–2004
2004–2005
2004–2007
2007–
managerclubs = U.S. women's national team (Technical Staff / Chief Scout)
Korea Republic national team (Analyst)
Suwon Samsung Bluewings (Assistant Coach)
Los Angeles Galaxy (Assistant Coach)
Korea Republic national team (Assistant Coach)
Persepolis

Afshin Ghotbi (PerB|افشین قطبی, born February 8, 1964 in Shiraz, Iran) is an Iranian football coach.

Early life

Afshin Ghotbi is the son of a teacher in Iran cite web| title =Aftab| publisher ="Aftab"| url =http://www.aftab.ir/articles/sport/football/c6c1195473273_afshin_ghotbi_p1.php|language=Persian] (See below) with whom he left Iran at the age of 13 and moved to southern California, where he has been a resident for more than two decades. He got his B.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from UCLA where he was a member of the men's soccer team.

Career

Early years

Prior to coaching in the professional ranks, for years he was one of the elite youth coaches in the talent-rich, highly competitive Southern California youth scene, responsible for the development of players such as Peter Vagenas and John O'Brien.

In Korea

A former assistant coach for the US national team and Los Angeles Galaxy, he worked for Korea national football team under Dutchman Guus Hiddink from December 2000 till July 2002 as a technical analyst and under Dick Advocaat from October 2005 until July 2006. He was also an assistant coach for Korea national football team under Dutch head coach Pim Verbeek from July 2006 till July 2007.

Return to Iran

In 2007 he was Head-Coach of Persepolis F.C., an Iran Pro League club, in compliance with the new contract he signed in August 2007. In February 2008 his name was on the shortlist for coaching the Iranian national team, however the job went to Ali Daei.He ultimately led Persepolis to Iranian Pro league championship in May 2008. Ghotbi left Persepolis in June 2008 and returned to the United States due to family concerns.

However, it was reported that Persepolis F.C. were holding talks with Ghotbi again just four weeks after his departure. [http://www.iranproleague.net/news/Morenews.cfm?News=4087]

Ashin Ghotbi was re-appointed as the new Persepolis head coach on 3rd July 2008, after agreeing to sign a two year deal following meeting Persepolis officials in Dubai. [http://www.iransportspress.com/news/45/ARTICLE/6046/2008-07-03.html]

Coaching career statistics

Last updated : 25 May 2008

Honours

*Iran's Premier Football League Winner: 1
**2007/08 with Persepolis

Individual

*Football Iran News & Events
**Manager of the year (2007/08), Persepolis

*Iran Football Federation Award
**Manager of the year (2007/08), Persepolis

Controversy

At the time of his arrival in Iran, some media outlets reported that Afshin is the son of former National Iranian Radio and Television director Reza Ghotbi, the cousin of Farah Pahlavi.cite web| title =آنها اين تازه‌وارد را نمي‌خواهند| publisher =Etemaad| date =2007-06-14| url =http://www.magiran.com/npview.asp?ID=1437648| accessdate =2007-12-28|language=Persian] [ [http://norooznews.ir/note&article/note/2780.php :: يادداشت و مقاله :: پايگاه اطلاع رساني نوروز :: برکات حاکمیت یکدست :: ] ] [ [http://www.kargadan.net/article.aspx?id=17 کرگدن :: تافته جدابافته ] ] The rumor was widely circulated on the net and in the Iranian discussion forums because of its political sensitivity in Iran. However, that account was challenged by other Iranian newspapers by showing that in Ghotbi's birth certificate, his father's name is Mohammad, not Reza cite web| title =پشت‌ پرده‌ حضور سيد افشين‌ قطبى‌ در پرسپوليس‌ اين‌ قطبى‌ آن‌ قطبى‌ نيست| publisher ="Khabar Varzeshi"| url =http://khabars.net/Detail.aspx?cid=120868&catid=468&iid=2391|language=Persian] . Ghotbi himself has mentioned that his father was a teacher in Iran and that they left Iran in 1977 .

References