Ivankovic hints at departure

FIFAWORLDCUP - Iran coach Branko Ivankovic looked set to step down after his team drew 1-1 with Angola on Wednesday in their last match at the FIFA World Cup™, although he did not completely rule out renewing his contract.
"After five years I think it is time to leave, to try to find new challenges and to go somewhere (else)," Ivankovic told reporters.

"But never say never. As a coach... you always have to have the baggage ready to move somewhere. The suitcases should always be ready."

Ivankovic, who has been Iran coach for four years, had already said he would probably not renew his contract, due to run out shortly after the finals.

He has also said he would prefer a job with a club side to another national team job.

Ivankovic, known as 'the Professor' was once the darling of Iran's fans and football federation after leading them to victory at the 2002 AFC Asian Games, but criticism of his tactics has increased during their unsuccessful FIFA World Cup campaign.

They lost their other two Group D games to Portugal and Mexico and have not won a FIFA World Cup match since their first finals victory, when they beat the United States 2-1 in their second match of the 1998 campaign. They failed to qualify in 2002.

Dismissing talk of a split with Bayern Munich midfielder Ali Karimi, who is known as the 'Wizard of Tehran', Ivankovic told Reuters that Karimi was left out on Wednesday due to injury.

"He did not want to play because he was not ready... He did not have a good practice before the match," Ivankovic said by telephone. "I can understand him because he has had a long-term injury."

Ivankovic hinted before the match that he might not play Karimi and mentioned disciplinary reasons since the player had kicked some team bags near the dugout in frustration at being substituted against Portugal.

However, Karimi told reporters after the Angola match that he did not play because of an ankle injury he picked up at Bayern earlier this year.