Confusion in Iran over new national coach

Tehran: Iran have appointed Iranian-American Afshin Qotbi as their new national coach, the semi-official Fars news agency quoted the deputy head of Iran's Football Federation (FFI) as saying on Sunday.

Mehdi Taj said the 45-year-old was chosen over four other Iranian candidates for the position.

"Qotbi will coach the national team in the first round of the World Cup qualification games against Kuwait, Syria and the United Arab Emirates," Fars quoted Taj as saying.

However, student news agency ISNA quoted FFI head Ali Kafashian as saying Iran's world-record goalscorer Ali Daei had been picked.

He denied a report by the rival Fars news agency, published earlier in the day, which quoted Mehdi Taj as saying Qotbi had been appointed.

Unsuccessful

Iran, without a head coach since July, have been seeking to pick an Iranian after attempts to secure Javier Clemente fell through because the Spaniard refused to live in the Islamic state and the deal fell through at the last minute when Iran decided they were not willing to let him commute.

An attempt to woo Portuguese coach Artur Jorge was also unsuccessful.

Iran made a disappointing start to their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign when they were held to a 0-0 draw by Syria. The second game will be against Kuwait in March.