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Yahya Golmohammadi

Yahya Golmohammadi (Persian: یحیی گلمحمدی, born 19 March 1971) is an Iranian former footballer and coach who currently coaches Persian Gulf Pro League club Foolad. He is one of only eleven Iranians to score in a World Cup and he is the oldest player to score on his first World Cup start, doing so for Iran in 2006 against Mexico.[3] His position was usually the central defender. He was a member of Iranian national football team and played most of his career in Persepolis. He previously managed some big clubs in Iran, including: Persepolis, Naft Tehran, Zob Ahan, Tractor Sazi and Padideh.

Yahya Golmohammadi
Golmohammadi as Persepolis manager in 2021
Personal information
Full name Yahya Golmohammadi[1]
Date of birth (1971-03-19) 19 March 1971 (age 53)
Place of birth Minabad, Iran
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)[2]
Position(s) Center back
Team information
Current team
 Foolad (manager)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1990 Tractor Sazi
1991–1995 Poora
1995–1999 Persepolis
1999–2002 Foolad
2002–2005 Persepolis 63 (2)
2005–2008 Saba Battery 63 (7)
International career
2002 Iran U-23 9 (1)
1993–2006 Iran 74 (5)
Managerial career
2008 Saba
2008–2010 Tarbiat Yazd
2010–2011 Nassaji
2011–2012 Rah Ahan (assistant)
2012 Saba
2012 Persepolis (assistant)
2012–2013 Persepolis
2013–2014 Naft Tehran
2014–2016 Zob Ahan
2017 Oxin Alborz
2017–2018 Tractor Sazi
2018–2020 Padideh
2020–2024 Persepolis
2024– Foolad
Medal record
Representing  Iran
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2002 Busan Team Competition
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

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He was born on 19 March 1971 in Minabad, Ardabil Province, where he was recognized for his footballing talent as a youngster.[4]

Playing career

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Club

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Yahya Golmohammadi played most of his professional career for Persepolis. He made his debut as a football player in 1989 with Tractor Sazi. Two years later, he signed with Poora. He played in Poora for four years and later signed with Persepolis in 1995 and began his work with Stanko Poklepović and won the league in his first season. In 1999, he moved to Ahvaz based club Foolad, but returned to Persepolis after only three seasons. In 2005, Yahya left Persepolis for a lucrative contract with Saba Battery, many critics were skeptical about his success in this newly formed team, but Saba Battery, with the help of Golmohammadi and Iranian national teammate Ali Daei, surprised everyone by winning the Hazfi Cup, and also did extremely well in the Asian Champions League, beating more experienced and seasoned campaigners.[5] He played for Saba until 2008 when he announced his retirement as a football player.

International

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Golmohammadi was a reliable defender with a cool approach to the game and slide tackles that became his hallmark. He has been immensely popular with Iranian fans after he scored the last minute winner in a 2002 World Cup qualifying game against Republic of Ireland, coming deep to head the ball home though Iran lost the game in aggregate and failed to qualify for the Korea/Japan World Cup.[6] His emotions after the game were a dramatic scene that very few die-hard fans will forget.[7]

On 11 June 2006, Golmohammadi scored the equaliser in a 3–1 loss to Mexico in the opening round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup. His tackle against Luís Figo in the next game against Portugal cost Iran a penalty. Golmohammadi was injured in the same game and was not available for Iran's final World Cup game versus Angola. He retired from international football immediately after World Cup 2006. He has 74 caps for the senior team and scored five times during his international duty.[8]

He was also a member of Iran national under-23 football team in 2002 Asian Games which Iran won the football tournament under Branko Ivanković.[9]

Coaching career

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Saba

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After the resignation of Mohammad Hossein Ziaei as the head coach of Saba Battery, Golmohammadi was named as his successor to lead the team for the ensuing fixtures. Golmohammadi led Saba in the remaining ten matches and led them to a third-place finish behind Persepolis and Sepahan which is the best result for Saba in Iran Pro League in the club's history. There were many rumors that Golmohammadi would continue to lead Saba for the following season but he refused to extend his contract. Firouz Karimi succeeded him as head coach of Saba in June 2008.

Tarbiat Yazd

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In July 2008, Golmohammadi took over the Azadegan League side Tarbiat Yazd. His team started the 2008–09 season with three consecutive wins but at the end of the season, Tarbiat finished at 5th place of Group B and were not promoted to the Iran Pro League. He continued his work with Tarbiat Yazd the following season and led the team to a third-place finish but were shy one point of qualifying for a promotion play-off. At the end of the season, he resigned as head coach of Tarbiat Yazd in order to become head coach of another Azadegan league side, Nassaji Mazandaran.

Nassaji Mazandaran

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He became head coach of his native town team, Nassaji Mazandaran in July 2010. He was also unable to promote Nassaji to the Iran Pro League as they finished at 4th place in the 2010–11 season. He was sacked by the club in September 2011.

Rah Ahan

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After Ali Daei became head coach of Rah Ahan, he was chosen by his former teammate as first team coach. Yahya worked with Daei for one season as his assistant along with Željko Mijač but separated from the Rah Ahan coaching staff at the end of the season in order to take over the reins of Saba Qom for the second time.

Return to Saba

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After Abdollah Veisi left the team for Paykan, Golmohammadi was named as head coach of Saba for a second time and returned to the club where he began his coaching career after four years. Golmohammadi signed a one-year contract with the club. His first match was a 4–0 win over Paykan which placed Saba at the top of the league. They stayed at the top the following week as well. They also defeated Persepolis 2–0 at the Azadi Stadium. The day after, Saba defeated Gahar Zagros 1–0. However, Golmohammadi was transferred to a hospital due to heart complications. He resigned on 24 September 2012 as head coach of Saba Qom due to health problems. His team was in 7th place before his departure.

 
Golmohammadi as Persepolis manager in a match against Malavan, 29 April 2013

Persepolis

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On 25 September 2012, Persepolis officials announced that Golmohammadi would become the assistant coach of Manuel José instead of Mohsen Ashouri. He officially began his work on 26 September. On 7 December 2012, Golmohammadi was promoted to the first team as the caretaker manager after Jose was banned from training camp by club president Mohammad Rouyanian. Three days later, he was confirmed as the club's head coach and signed a contract with the club until the end of the season.[10] He appointed Vinko Begović and Karim Bagheri as his new assistant managers at Persepolis.

His first game in charge of Persepolis came in a Hazfi Cup match against Malavan which his team won 6–0 with a hat-trick from Karim Ansarifard, two goals from Hadi Norouzi and a final goal from Gholamreza Rezaei.[11] His side won their other three matches in Hazfi Cup to qualified to the final, when they lose in penalties to Sepahan. His first game for Persepolis in Iran Pro League was ended 2–2 against Sanat Naft with two early goals from Ali Karimi and Mohammad Nouri. With a 2–0 victory against Fajr Sepasi, Golmohammadi presiding over his first league win as manager of Persepolis. He then led Persepolis to an eleventh undefeated streak until a 1–0 loss to Rah Ahan on 10 March 2013. When he became head coach, Persepolis was in 12th place and he moved to sixth place in Iran Pro League table. Persepolis finished the season in the seventh place. He was offered by club officials a two years extension which was close to sign but after Hazfi Cup final, he refused to sign and his managerial rule at Persepolis was finished on 11 May 2013.

Naft Tehran

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On 20 May 2013, Yahya signed a one-year contract with Naft Tehran, replacing Mansour Ebrahimzadeh. His side began the season with a 1–0 away win against Fajr Sepasi. Naft Tehran finished the 2013–14 Iran Pro League in 3rd place, qualified to the AFC Champions League play-offs that marked the club's best position in its history. Golmohammadi left Naft Tehran to Zob Ahan by mutual consent on 10 May 2014, after only one season in charge of the team.

Zob Ahan

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Golmohammadi before Isfahan derby (2016).

On 10 May 2014, Zob Ahan announced on their official website that Yahya Golmohammadi signed a two-year deal with the Isfahani outfit.[12] Despite a disappointing start, Zob Ahan began their successful run from the January 2015. They finished the league in the 4th place, securing AFC Champions League spot. They also won Hazfi Cup after defeating Naft Tehran in the final. The title was the first major trophy that Golmohammadi won since he started his managerial career. Zob Ahan also won the title in next year for the second season in row, by defeating Esteghlal in the final. He also managed to win the first addition of Iranian Super cup since its relaunch (the competition was abandoned in 2005 up until 2016).

On 24 September 2016, Golmohammadi parted away with Zob Ahan after a poor start of the season, which placed Zob Ahan in the 14th position.[13]

Return to Persepolis

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On 13 January 2020, Golmohammadi was named Persepolis F.C. head coach, replacing Argentine Gabriel Calderón. This was Golmohammadi's second stint with Persepolis F.C.. At that moment he took charge of a team who were leading the Persian Gulf Pro League by 3 points.[14][15] “This is a huge honor.” Golmohammadi said in his first interviews as Persepolis new coach.[16] After managing this team for 4 years and achieving a lot of honours in Persepolis F.C., On 1st January 2024 after the match against Mes Rafsanjan F.C., he announced his resignation as his role.

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 3 June 2010
Club performance League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Iran League Hazfi Cup Asia Total
1999–00 Foolad Azadegan League - -
2000–01 - -
2001–02 Iran Pro League 23 6 2 0 - - 25 6
2002–03 Persepolis 16 3 2 0 3 2 21 5
2003–04 19 0 1 0 - - 20 0
2004–05 23 0 1 0 - - 24 0
2005–06 Saba 23 3 3 0 6 1 32 4
2006–07 18 4 5 1 - - 23 5
2007–08 22 0 1 0 - - 23 0
Career total 144 16 13 1 9 3 166 20

International goals

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Scores and results list Iran's goal tally first.
# Date City Opponent Final score Result Competition
1 8 August 2001 Tehran, Iran   Oman 5–2 Win LG Cup
2 15 November 2001 Tehran, Iran   Republic of Ireland 1–0 Win 2002 FIFA World Cup qualification
3 26 September 2003 Amman, Jordan   Jordan 2–3 Loss 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification
4 19 November 2003 Beirut, Lebanon   Lebanon 3–0 Win 2004 AFC Asian Cup qualification
5 11 June 2006 Nuremberg, Germany   Mexico 1–3 Loss 2006 FIFA World Cup

Managerial record

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As of match played 1 January 2024
Team From To Record
G W D L Win % GF GA GD
Saba 28 March 2008 7 June 2008 10 3 4 3 030.00 14 11 +3
Tarbiat Yazd 4 July 2008 2 July 2010 52 21 19 12 040.38 61 42 +19
Nassaji 3 July 2010 1 September 2011 26 11 9 6 042.31 34 17 +17
Saba 20 June 2012 24 September 2012 9 4 2 3 044.44 12 8 +4
Persepolis 10 December 2012 31 May 2013 22 10 10 2 045.45 35 18 +17
Naft Tehran 1 June 2013 1 June 2014 32 16 9 7 050.00 42 24 +18
Zob Ahan 1 June 2014 24 September 2016 85 42 27 16 049.41 137 76 +61
Tractor Sazi 24 May 2017 16 January 2018 18 7 5 6 038.89 26 20 +6
Padideh 1 June 2018 13 January 2020 51 27 12 12 052.94 53 33 +20
Persepolis 13 January 2020 7 January 2024 177 107 49 21 060.45 248 102 +146
Total 462 238 138 86 50.12 662 351 +311

Honours

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Golmohammadi celebrating Hazfi Cup title in 2015

Player

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Persepolis
Saba
Iran U23

Manager

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Zob Ahan
Persepolis

Individual

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  • Iranian Manager of the Season (1): 2014–15
  • Navad Manager of the Month (1): August 2018

References

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  1. ^ "2006 FIFA World Cup Germany: List of Players: Iran" (PDF). FIFA. 21 March 2014. p. 14. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 June 2019.
  2. ^ "Yahya Golmohammadi". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 13 July 2018.
  3. ^ VAR: Cristiano Ronaldo misses penalty but Portugal progress at World Cup BBC. Retrieved 23 April 2021
  4. ^ Biography: Yahya Gole Mohammadi (1349-) Hamshahri. Retrieved 23 April 2021
  5. ^ Biography: Yahya Golmohammadi
  6. ^ "Yahya Golmohmmadi". Retrieved 13 June 2006.
  7. ^ "WHERE DID IT ALL GO WRONG?". Teammelli.com. Retrieved 7 July 2006.
  8. ^ Yahya Golmohammadi at TeamMelli.com
  9. ^ RSSSF archive of Yahya Golmohammadi's international appearances
  10. ^ Yahya Golmohammadi promoted as the first team manager of Persepolis
  11. ^ Match report: Persepolis 6 – Malavan 0
  12. ^ Official: Golmohammadi takes Zob Ahan job
  13. ^ پایان همکاری گل‌محمدی و ذوب آهن
  14. ^ "Yahya Golmohammadi named Persepolis head coach". AFC Champions League.
  15. ^ "Yahya Golmohammadi named Persepolis coach". Tehran Times. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  16. ^ "Yahya Golmohammadi happy to return to Persepolis". Tehran Times. 14 January 2020. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by Iran Pro League Winning Manager
2019–20, 2020–21 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Iran Pro League Winning Manager
2022–23 		Succeeded by
TBD
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