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17 unusual facts about Afshin Ghotbi


Alireza Mohammad

After signing with Persepolis, he became a starter right away under head coach Afshin Ghotbi and during the same season when Afshin Peyrovani and Nelo Vingada took over as the managers of the club, he was still a starter both in the league and the AFC Champions League.

Afshin Ghotbi had shown how much he believed in Mohammad and when Ghotbi became the coach of the national team, he called up Mohammad for his first international cap which was made in a friendly against China on June 1, 2009 when he came on as a substitute at half time for Ehsan Hajsafi.

Bahador Abdi

He started his international career under head coach Afshin Ghotbi in November 2010 against Nigeria.

Ebrahim Mirzapour

After about two years he was invited to Team Melli again on May 2008 under Ali Daei and played for Team Melli in West Asian Football Federation Championship 2008 after about 2 years and won this cup but he got injured in the match against Qatar.He featured in West Asian Football Federation Championship 2010 and was part of the squad in 2011 Asian Cup under Afshin Ghotbi.

Farshid Talebi

In June 2009, Talebi was invited under Afshin Ghotbi for three matches in 2010 World Cup qualifying, but did not play in any of them.

Hadi Norouzi

He started his International Career under Afshin Ghotbi in August 2009 against Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Hanif Omranzadeh

He was called up by Afshin Ghotbi for the final 3 matches in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification but did not play any match.He made his debust in 7 September 2010 against Korea Republic.

Hossein Badamaki

During the 2007/08 season Badamaki was still one of the starters but his problems with head coach Afshin Ghotbi made him miss some matches but at the end of the season he was put back in the starting line-up and helped Persepolis win the league after 6 years.

Jacques Elong Elong

Afshin Ghotbi, then manager of the club, also confirmed that none of his players are for sale.

Mohammad Gholami

He made his debut against China in September 2010 under Afshin Ghotbi and scored his first international goal.

Mojtaba Zarei

He started his international career in August 2009 under Afshin Ghotbi against Bahrain.

Pejman Nouri

After Afshin Ghotbi was appointed as the head coach for the national team, Nouri was called up again and became a regular starter during the last three matches of the qualification for the 2010 FIFA World Cup which once again proved how much Ghotbi believes in Nouri.

After Ghotbi resigned as Persepolis's coach, former player and veteran Afshin Peyrovani took over but he did not believe in Nouri as much as Ghotbi did.

Rahman Rezaei

However, in mid-July, Afshin Ghotbi was re-appointed manager of Persepolis and cut the talks with Rezaei, stating that the club were not looking for a centre-back player at that moment in time.

Saeid Azizian

After retiring he returned to Persepolis as a goalkeeping coach when Afshin Ghotbi became the team's head coach.

Sepehr Heidari

He shows some good performances but has not got a spot in the first eleven.He was invited to Team Melli by Afshin Ghotbi in January 2010 and played against Mali.

The 2007/08 season was his first season at Persepolis and head coach Afshin Ghotbi believed in him so much that Heidari played in all matches except one for which he received a suspension.