Mansour Pourheidari

Mansour Pourheidari (, 26 January 1946 – 4 November 2016) was an Iranian football player, coach and manager.

He started his football career at Daraei, before joining Taj (currently known as Esteghlal) in 1965. He played ten years for Taj; between 1965 and 1975. Pourheidari returned to Daraei in 1975 to play his final career's two years at the club. He also played for Iran albeit earning three caps only. After retiring from playing football, Pourheidari started his coaching career, becoming assistant manager of Esteghlal. He was promoted to the first team manager in 1983. He was the head coach of the club for nine years overall, managing them in 309 games. He is also the only Iranian who has won AFC Champions League as both player and coach. He was the head coach of Iran national team in 1998 Asian Games where they won the first place and gold medal. He was technical manager and a member of the board of directors of Esteghlal at the time of his death in 2016.

Playing career Pourheidari began his football career at the age of 17 in Daraei but was transferred to Taj (now Esteghlal) in 1965 and played as a right defender for ten years and won the Asian Championship in 1970. He also played for the Iran national team and had three caps. He retired in 1977 from football.

Managerial career Pourheidari began his managerial career in 1980 as assistant coach to Abbas Razavi and Asghar Sharafi. He was promoted as the club's head coach in 1983 after the resignation of Sharafi. After three years, he was resigned and becomes head coach of UAE Pro-League side, Al-Ahli and led the team until 1989. He was re-appointed as Esteghlal manager in 1989 and won the league in the following season. He also led Esteghlal to their second Asian trophy in 1991. He was left the team in the next year but was returned again as head coach in 1995 and led the team for one season. After that, he becomes head coach of Fajr Sepasi for two seasons but was unable to earn any trophy. He became head coach of Iran national team in 1998 and led it until 2000. Pourheidari was also a member of the board of directors of Esteghlal for decades. He was team manager of Esteghlal from 2010 to 2012 and from 2012, he was technical manager of the club.

Personal life He was married to Farideh Shojaee, former Iran Football Federation vice president.

He died on 4 November 2016 of cancer.

Coaching statistics

TeamFromToRecordGWDLWin %GFGA+/-Iran September 1998 February 2000191063 52.6% 3720 +17Total 19 10 6 3 52.6% 37 20 +17

Honours

Player

Iranian Football League: 1970–71, 1974–75 Asian Club Championship: 1970

Manager Esteghlal Iranian Football League: 1989–90, 2000–01 Hazfi Cup: 1996, 2000 Asian Club Championship: 1991

Iran Asian Games: 1998

Individual January 1999 Asian Coach of the Month