Clemente says he does not need to live in Iran full time

Reuters- paniard Javier Clemente says he does not need to live full-time in Iran in order to be the country's coach.

Iranian state television said on Wednesday the 57-year-old had agreed by telephone to the football federation's demand that he live there, although he had already rejected the post earlier this month because of the same condition.

"It's turning into a saga," Clemente told sports daily Marca on Thursday.

"I continue to think the same way that I did at the start and I don't know if I am going to sign or not. They want to quantify everything: specifying the number of months' holiday, and this isn't necessary from my point of view.

"I have told them I will live in Tehran the number of days necessary to train the national team and to pick up everything I need to know about Iranian football."

The Iranian Football Federation has been persistent in its pursuit of the former Spain and Serbia coach after Iran made a disappointing start to their 2010 World Cup qualifying campaign with a 0-0 home draw against Syria.

Their next qualifier is away to Kuwait on March 26.