| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Heshmatollah Mohajerani | ||
| Date of birth | 11 December 1938 | ||
| Place of birth | Mashhad, Iran | ||
| Playing position | Midfielder | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 1958-1964 | Esteghlal | ||
| Teams managed | |||
| 1971–1974 | Iran U-23 | ||
| 1972–1975 | Iran U-20 | ||
| 1974–1975 | Iran (assistant) | ||
| 1975–1978 | Iran | ||
| 1979–1980 | Al-Shaab | ||
| 1980–1984 | UAE Olympic and Youth | ||
| 1980–1984 | United Arab Emirates | ||
| 1984–1986 | Al-Wahda | ||
| 1992–1994 | Oman | ||
| 1998–1999 | Al-Ahli Doha | ||
| 2003–2005 | United Arab Emirates U-19 | ||
| 2003–2005 | United Arab Emirates U-23 | ||
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Heshmat Mohajerani (Persian: حشمت مهاجرانى, born 11 December 1938 in Mashhad) is an Iranian football coach, manager, and former player. He is perhaps the most successful Iranian coach of the Iranian national team. Mohajerani and his brothers formed F.C. Aboomoslem in Mashhad. He is the current Football Academy President of Esteghlal.[1]
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In his senior years, Mohajerani joined Taj and played for this famous club until his early retirement at the age of 27 years.
Mohajerani flew to Japan to participate in a three-month coaching course, under the auspices of Sir Stanley Rous, President of FIFA, and the management of the famous German coach Dettmar Cramer.
It took a while before Mohajerani was given a coaching job. When he finally did get appointed as a team coach, two years after completing the coaching course, he first heard the news through newspapers.
In 1971, he started his coaching career as the Iran U-23 National Team Coach. During his years as coach, he gave numerous opportunities to youths from cities other than the capital and many of those youths, including Nazari, Barzegari, Ghasempour and Pezeshkar found their way into the Team Melli.
Under his coaching and management, Iran won the Asian Youth Championship for 4 consecutive years, while before his time the Youth Team had never won the Asian Championship. This achievement is a record that no other coach has been able to match. After this brilliant record with the youth team, Mohajerani was appointed as assistant coach to Irishman Frank O'Farrell.
Mohajerani's first major achievement was winning the 1976 Asian Cup when his team beat Kuwait 1–0 in the final at Azadi Stadium.
Shortly, it was qualification for the Montreal Olympic games and for the first time in Iran's history, the team qualified for the next round. The pinnacle of Mohajerani's achievement, however, was the first ever success of Iran national football team to the World Cup finals in Argentina in 1978.
Under his astute coaching, Iran managed to draw against Scotland, while performing gallantly against eventual runners-up Holland.
In one of the most intriguing encounters and sign of the deep trust in youth, Mohajerani challenged the Kuwaiti Team under the management of Carlos Alberto and Mario Zagalo, on their home turf in the last match of the World Cup preliminary game. Although Iran has already qualified, it was a matter of honor to keep the unbeaten record of the team. Mohajerani fielded a youth team against the full strength Kuwait and still managed to beat them 2–1 in a historic match.
After 1979 Islamic Revoloution in Iran, Mohajerani moved to the United Arab Emirates and pursued his coaching with of Al-Shaab in Sharjah.
Mohajerani's greatest attributes were his tough character and motivational skills. He was a great believer in youth and never shied away from giving opportunities to young players to excel. He discovered many players who became stars under his guidance or later on in their careers.
| Preceded by Frank O'Farrell |
Iran national football team Manager 1976–1978 |
Succeeded by Hassan Habibi |
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