Editorial: IPL 2007-2008 Management Review

It will probably be too repetitive to review Perspolis' performance this season from day one with Afshin Ghotbi. But remarkably the Iranian-American Assistant coach, a stranger to Iranian football, managed to deliver on his promise of IPL Championship from the first day of taking charge of the wounded Perspolis. Teamwork, teamwork, teamwork, that was his message all season long to his team and coaching staff he didn't even pick himself. Sweating over disciplinary issues by players, and constant conflicts created by assistant coaches throughout the season have only made Ghotbi's accomplished mission even more remarkable. Not to mention, the 6 points deduction by FIFA on the guilt of Perspolis' failure to pay wages to a number of former players, which one can only blame former and current Perspolis Management for it. The budget-drought Perspolis can barely survive without state loans, let alone paying the overdue wages before it's too late.

Talking about mismanagement, Esteghlal's mismanagement by Fatolahzadeh was the best and saddening example of mismanagement, directly leading to the team's heavy failures. Ali Fatolahzadeh who is one of the most successful Esteghlal managing directors with Esteghlal's IPL Championship and best Asian honours on his resume, vowed a glorious promise when he took over the club: "A 3 year plan for Esteghlal which will bring championship to the blues".

The truth of the matter is "long term plan" would have been more beneficial to Esteghlal team than empty promises of trophies which looked illusional following a weak start to the season. However, the management delivered the opposite of what it had promised. Not only Esteghlal had slimmest chance of IPL championship this season, but sadly there was no planning involved from the beginning to hope for one in near future either. Or maybe there was a plan, but the immediate sackings and appointments ruined any planning that could be involved.

Whether Hejazi's appointment was the right choice from beginning, or whether Karimi was indeed a better coach than Hejazi, are all small pixels of a bigger picture we should observe. If Hejazi is chosen and trusted to guide the blues, then how can 3 months be enough for him to implement even part of the 3-year plan? And if Firuz Karimi, with all the hype and controversy surrounding his illegal negotiations with Esteghlal and early departure from Esteghlal Ahwaz, was indeed considered thoroughly enough to manage Esteghlal squad and results better, then how could his job be in jeopardy after just 6 months while getting more points for Esteghlal than his successor? While at the helm of Esteghlal, Firuz Karimi earned 29 points for Esteghlal (or 24 points in 13 weeks to have fair comparison), compared to Hejazi's 14 points in 12 weeks, all these considering a squad Firuz Karimi did not even pick. That is just to mention, if he would be given more time and choice of squad selection, Firuz Karimi could succeed in Esteghlal just like he succeeded in Abumoslem and Esteghlal Ahwaz.

In a recent interview, Fatollahzadeh insisted "If Esteghlal was a private club and the managing director was in charge of all the planning and changes taking place at the club, the managing director could appoint a coach with a 3 years contract, as opposed to one year. " He added: "When the managing director himself has given only a one year contract, how can one expect a guaranteed long term plan for the club?"

This is the sad story of a state-owned popular football club, sacrificing yet other coaches and stability at the club, all to end IPL season with a record low 13th spot finish for one of strongest IPL title contenders in the past. At the end, all the blames will be pointed at Karimi, Hejazi, and Fatolahzadeh whom were always in spotlight, while PEO-appointed Esteghlal boardroom members and Aliabadi, are too smart to be spotted.

However, it wasn't all doom and gloom in 2007/08 season. Here are some highlights and something to be optimistic about for the future:

Another display of management brilliance by Sepahan team officials; Arguably the only professionally managed team in IPL for years, achieving their long term goal of Asian Glory by reaching Asian Club Championship final last season, Sepahan started off the new season with even higher ambitions; to bring ACL crown to Esfahan this season. However, they were hit with an early blow when Luka Bonacic, Sepahan's highly rated tactician, took UAE league's Al Nasr's lucrative offer and left Sepahan in January break. But Sepahan officials are too experienced to not let such volatilities dismantle their long term plans; Sepahan officials immediately finalized an 18-month deal with former Iraq National team coach. It was no surprise then that Sepahan continued their league title challenge and where only denied by Perspolis' 96th minute winner.

However, one interesting fact that perfectly distinguishes Sepahan from all other managed clubs in IPL, is not only the examples mentioned above, but that Sepahan is the only Iranian club that has the best organization in place to avoid surprises and problems in Asian club games' overseas trips; Sepahan managers actually travel to respective overseas Asian club games' host cities a week ahead, book hotel rooms for all team officials and players, confirm visas issued for all club officials and players at those cities' airports, and return to Esfahan with all the confirmed documents ahead of their trip to Persian Gulf countries to avoid any surprises at the airport. This is what professionalism and management are about. While other participant IPL teams always complain about lack of hospitality and problems in their overseas trips, Sepahan management have well solved this problem in interest of Sepahan team and their success. I wished the same sense of accountability and professionalism would be displayed by other IPL teams for once.

Other honourable mentions are Zob Ahan's outstanding success in IPL this season, thanks to their well-thought appointment of the incredible Dr. Zolfagharnasab. Zob Ahan team which was down at 17th spot in IPL standing by November, with only one win, appointed Iranian mastermind Dr. Zolfagharnasab as of Week 14 and he single-handedly promoted relegation-threatened Zob Ahan to 6th spot finish in IPL standing with 9 wins and only 3 losses ever since.

Not to mention Pas' superb season under Vinco Begovic, preserving the unbeaten record of 13 matches, more than any other IPL team for 77 days, as well as finishing 5th while recording the best defense of the league in 2007-2008 season. Pas' success throughout the season however should not undermine Abumoslem and Saba's impressive seasons despite the volatile coaching issues which were contained well by their club managers respectively.

And that sums up our IPL Season 2007-2008 review, only to point out the importance of club management in a team's success or failure throughout the season.

Let's hope for the end of state-management of popular Perspolis and Esteghlal clubs, and await other IPL teams' management progress to pursue Sepahan club management model's glorious destination.