UPDATE 1- Artur Jorge to be Named as the Next Coach of Iran

"Artur Jorge has been chosen as the new head of the Iranian national football team. His assistant will be Mansour Ebrahimzadeh", said a source close to the Transitory Committee of Iranian Football Federation. 

Jorge was initially linked with the job two weeks ago, but concerns over his health meant that the appointment had to be delayed until certain assurances could be obtained. Jorge arrived in Tehran on Thursday, and is currently holding negotiations with Iran football bosses, and if negotiations go as planned, he will put pen to paper in the next 24 hours. 

Iran has been searching for a successor to Amir Ghalenoei since he failed at the quarter final stage of the Asian Cup in July 2007. However, disagreements within the Transitory Committee has meant that the search for the new coach has taken much longer than it was originally anticipated.

Born on 13 February 1945, Jorge scored 72 goals for Benfica in 98 appearances. He also represented Portugal in 16 national matches, scoring once. Jorge’s first major managerial appointment came in 1984, when he took over F.C. Porto. He won three National Champion titles (1984/85, 1985/86, 1989/90) and two Cups of Portugal (1988, 1991). He also won the European Champions Cup with Porto.

Also known as “King Artur”, he went on to coach Paris Saint-Germain, in 1991/92, a club which he won the National Championship with in 1993/94. Jorge also coached Portugal national team in two different spells in early 90s and late 90s, before failing to reach the World Cup with Cameroon in 2006.

Jorge is expected to be in charge of Iran's first of five friendly matches, which are scheduled for the next month, on 5 January against Hansa Rostock. Iran will play its first World Cup Qualifying game on 6 February against Syria.