Title: Stability Over Sudden Change: Former Esteghlal Star Backs Managers Sapinto and Hashemian
In the heated world of Iranian football, where managerial tenures can be notoriously short, a voice of reason has called for patience and strategic stability. Atila Hejazi, a former star of the Esteghlal football club, has publicly advocated for giving the current head coaches of Tehran’s major clubs the time and opportunity to succeed.
A Plea for Patience
Weighing in on the early-season performance of his former club, Hejazi acknowledged that Esteghlal’s results in the first six weeks of the Persian Gulf Pro League have fallen short of expectations. “Naturally, Esteghlal has not had a positive performance in terms of points, and there are some technical problems within the team,” he stated. However, he was quick to contextualize the situation, noting that “other title contenders are not far ahead of Esteghlal either.”
Hejazi dismissed the common cliché used to excuse poor early form. “I do not accept the phrase that the league has just started and the players are not coordinated yet. We must accept that expectations for Esteghlal are always high.”
The Foreign Player Conundrum
A significant part of the critique was directed at the club’s foreign signings. Hejazi argued that when a club invests heavily in a player, a swift and impactful return is expected. “When you pay a foreign player two million dollars, it is expected that player will show himself quickly and coordinate with the team. Unfortunately, Esteghlal’s foreign players have not performed well.”
He singled out Yaser Asani as the sole consistent performer among the foreign contingent, while expressing disappointment with the contributions of others like Moussa Gnenepo, Dakonam Nazon, and Monir Al-Haddadi.
The Case for Managerial Stability
The core of Hejazi’s argument was a firm stance against premature managerial changes. He expressed his satisfaction that Esteghlal had retained their manager, Ricardo Sá Pinto, arguing that a coaching change at this juncture would be counterproductive.
“Changing the coach cannot change anything,” Hejazi asserted, referencing the club’s turbulent past season. “I believe Sá Pinto should be given a chance at least until the end of the first half of the season.”
He extended this philosophy to Esteghlal’s arch-rivals, Persepolis, and their coach, Vahid Hashemian. “I have the same opinion regarding Vahid Hashemian, the head coach of Persepolis.”
A Gentleman and a Professional
Hejazi passionately defended Hashemian’s credentials and character. “Hashemian is a gentleman and a dignified coach. He spent years in German football and has a brilliant record at both the club and national team levels. He also completed his coaching training in Germany. What is the problem with giving him time?”
Challenging the entitlement of the fanbases, he asked, “Must Esteghlal and Persepolis win the championship every single year? Is it good for a respectable coach like Hashemian to be removed too soon?”
In a final plea for a more mature approach to football management, Hejazi concluded, “We have easily burned through several Iranian coaches in Esteghlal and Persepolis in recent years. It is better to give our young coaches a real opportunity.” His comments highlight a critical political debate within Iranian football: the tension between immediate results and the long-term benefits of stability and trust in leadership.