IFF names Qal'e-Noei as Iran national football trainer

IRNA - Iran's Football Federation (IFF) here on Monday appointed the capital-based Esteqlal manager as the national team head coach.

Qal'e-Noei was installed by the IFF caretaker head Kioumars Hashemi, who in his directive stressed the immediate preparedness of the national side for the preliminary round of the coming Asian Nations Cup.

Iran is scheduled to play a two-legged clash against Syria and South Korea in the Asian event on August 16 and September 2 and 6.

Former national and Esteqlal midfielder is a replacement for Croat trainer Branko Ivankovic, who led Iran in the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany from June 9 to July 9.