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MEF -
Iranian Football Federation has made an official approach to sign Antonio
Oliveira as the next head coach of the Iranian National Football Team.
Talking exclusively to Iran Sports Press, Pejman Nozad, the lead
negotiator on behalf of the Iranian Football Federation revealed that
talks between the two camps are in its final stages and that the
52-year-old Oliveira will be travelling next week to the Iranian capital
of Tehran to put pen to paper.
Financial conditions have not yet been finalized but both sides expect to
complete it upon his arrival in Tehran.
Nozad revealed in his conversation with Iran Sports Press that many
coaches were considered, “two months ago when Iran’s Football
Federation asked me to conduct some research and find the ideal candidate
for coaching Iran’s National team I came up with a few names. Taking
into consideration the job description I came up with a list of world
class coaches including the likes of Phillipe Troussier, Wanderley
Luxemburgo, Henri Michele, Alfred Bassile and Antonio Oliveira. After
discussing the details of our goals and the character of the person we
needed for a long term and complete plan, the football federation of Iran
concluded that Antonio Oliveira would be the ideal man. He is an
outstanding coach with great expertise. I am confident; providing he has
the right infrastructure he can guide Iran to great success.”
Born July 10, 1952 in Penafiel, Portugal, Antonio Oliveria played as a
midfield player with Football Club (FC) Porto for 14 years. Throughout his
career he also played for his hometown club Penafiel, Sporting Lisbon and
Betis. His attacking style of play was especially evident when he played
for the Portuguese National Team, touting an impressive goal-per-game
ratio.
After finishing his playing career, Oliveira began a colourful career as a
coach, and placed him at the helm of the Portuguese national team twice,
the Portuguese U-21 Team once and 8 different Portuguese clubs since 1980.
Oliveira started with his hometown club, Penafiel and then moved to
Sporting Lisbon, where he won his first trophy as a player-manager. Three
years later, he was appointed the U-21 team coach.
In 1994 Oliveira was appointed the head coach of the Portuguese National
Team and led his side to the 1996 European Championships in England. After
losing 1-0 to the eventual finalists, Czech Republic, in the quarterfinal
stage of the European Championships, Oliveira resigned his post and
returned home to become FC Porto’s coach. He soon put the disappointment
of Euro-96 behind him by winning two successive league titles in the 1997
and 1998 seasons, with his team displaying free-flowing attack football.
Due to the unexpected resignation of Humberto Coelho, Oliveira once again
took the helm of the Portuguese National team for the second time.
Humberto Coelho resigned despite taking Portugal to the semi-finals of the
European Championships in 2000.
Antonio Oliveira enjoyed far more success as the national team head coach
the second time around.
He became the national hero as he led Portugal to its first World Cup
since 1986, finishing above Republic of Ireland and knocking out Holland
in the process.
Despite being one of the most fancied teams before the start of the 2002
World Cup in Korea and Japan, Portugal made a shock exit very early on.
Defeats against United States and South Korea, and lacklustre performances
by Portuguese stars such as the 2001 World Player of the Year, Luis Figo,
resulted in Oliveira’s dismissal from his post on June 25, 2002.
Coaching Time Line
Penafiel Portugal Club July 1980 - June 1983
Vitoria Guimaraes Portugal Club July 1987 - June 1988
Portugal U21 Portugal Nat. Team July 1989 - June 1991
Gil Vicente Portugal Club July 1991 - June 1992
Sporting Clube Braga Portugal Club July 1992 - June 1994
Portugal Portugal Nat. Team July 1994 - July 1996
Porto Portugal Club August 1996 - June 1998
Betis Sevilla Spain Club August 1998 - September 1998
Portugal Portugal Nat. Team August 2000 - June 2002 |
