4 Months Before The Qatar World Cup, Iran Kicked Dragan Skocic From The Coach's Chair

JAKARTA - Dragan Skocic was dismissed from the post of head coach of Iran just four months before the World Cup finals in Qatar, Iran's state news agency IRNA reported.

It said the Iranian football federation had decided to sack the 53-year-old, adding that "there are unconfirmed reports that some Iranian candidates have a good chance of replacing Skocic".

The move comes after Skocic, who took over as Iran coach from Marc Wilmots in February 2020, secured Iran's place at the World Cup by topping their qualifying group above South Korea.

The Croatian won 15 of his 18 games as a coach but lost two of his last three, including a 2-1 loss in a friendly against Algeria in Qatar last month.

Current Oman boss Branko Ivankovic, who led Iran to the World Cup finals in Germany in 2006, has been linked with the role of Iran's new coach. There are also the names of former Bayern Munich striker Ali Daei and former Osasuna midfielder Javad Nekounam.

Iran will be appearing at the World Cup for the sixth time in the country's history and for the third time in a row.

They are drawn in Group B and will start their campaign against England on November 21 before facing Wales and the United States.