Former Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane's start to life at Irani club Esteghlal will experience a slight delay as 'Jingles' will only settle into training this week. Esteghlal play Al Nassr in the AFC Champions League on Tuesday evening at the Azadi Stadium.
Who are Esteghlal?
Esteghlal Football Club is one of the most prominent and successful football clubs in Iran, based in Tehran, the capital of Iran. Founded in 1945, the club has a rich history and a passionate fan base.
Esteghlal is known for its blue colors and has won numerous domestic and international titles, including multiple Iran Pro League championships and the AFC Champions League (formerly the Asian Club Championship).
Local rivalry
The club has a fierce rivalry with Persepolis FC, known as the Tehran Derby, which is one of the most significant football matches in Iran given the close competition between the two. Of late, however, Mosimane’s side are on the backfoot as Persepolis have won eight of the last 10 league races.
Esteghlal, meanwhile, have produced many talented players who have gone on to represent Iran at various international levels. The club’s home games are played at the Azadi Stadium, one of the largest stadiums in the world with a capacity of 78,116.
Persepolis have won seven more Pro League crowns than Mosimane’s side. Mosimane’s new team have claimed the Irani championship on nine occasions and finished has bridesmaid 11 times.
Recent form
Mosimane’s predecessors – coach Javad Nekounam and caretaker Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeha – who began and ended the season respectively – collectively managed to win just eight points in the league from seven games, leaving them on position 11.
This is a spot far from the desired Champions League group stage qualifiers if they finish second, or gain direct promotion by winning the league.
Last season Esteghlal finished as runners up to Persepolis, who have claimed the last two championships and are already going neck-to-neck with Sepahan for league honours.
Last five results
20 Sept 2024: Esteghlal 2 – 2 Nassaji Mazandaran
25 Sept 2024: Esteghlal 0 – 1 Persepolis
30 Sept 2024 Al-Sadd 2 – 0 Esteghlal
05 Oct 2024: Havadar SC 1 – 2 Esteghlal
18 Oct 2024: Esteghlal 0 – 3 Zob Ahan
Clash with All Nassr
After two stints in Saudi Arabia, Mosimane was in line to get another opportunity to face a side from the Saudi Pro League in the maiden match post his unveiling as Esteghlal gear up for what is expected to be a tough challenge against Nassr is the AFC Champions League.
However, Mosimane’s involvement will only be from an observing point of view as he will only hold his first official training on October 23.
Nassr, captained by five-time Uefa Champions League winner Cristiano Ronaldo, are in the Western region of the two groups splitting Asia in the tournament. Mosimane’s side are fifth in the 12-team log after playing two rounds. The last time Mosimane faced Nassr, his then Abha Club was demolished 8-0 and that reads as ‘Jingles’ his biggest ever defeat as a head coach.
🗒️ @TheRealPitso will not be coaching Famous Royal Blues in the coming game, as his official beginning of training camp will be on Wednesday, the day after Esteghlal's important game against @AlNassrFC_EN. pic.twitter.com/jlqZaW7DHH
— Esteghlal (@EsteghlalFC_En) October 20, 2024
