IRNA - Tractor Sazi of Tabriz,
capital of East Azarbaijan Province, fired Romanian coach Vasile Ioan Godja
and
signed Ebrahim Qassempour as the new manager Tuesday.
Talking to IRNA, the first-division club managing director said Godja was
dismissed due to unfulfillment of his obligations.
Khosro Abdollahzadeh added the Tractor Sazi fans hope the newly-installed
Khuzestani head coach can help the squad restore its prestige and position.
The ranking official termed Qassempour`s records as an important factor for
picking former national player as the trainer in the midseason.
Qassempour played for Iran in 1978 World Cup in Argentina. "I believe
Qassempour knows well how to promote the team," said Abdollahzadeh.
During his coaching career, Qassempour was the manager of Tehran`s Pas,
San`at Naft of Abadan, and the Shiraz-based Barq.
Under Qassempour, Tractor plays Naft.
The two sides tied nil-nil in the first leg and a win in the second meet can
raise the Tabrizi side`s spirits.
Tractor Sazi stood ninth on 20 points in midseason.
Coached by Godja, the popular Turk team which ranked third in the club
competitions in 1992 has been in hot water and failed to retain the title
since then.
Scores of managers including Mohammad-Hossein Ziaei, Mahmoud Yavari, Reza
Vatankhah, Firouz Karimi, Hamid Alidousti, Ahad Sheikh-Lari, and Vasile Ioan
Godja were hired but did not make success. |