Coach takes over Iranian team

Ghotbi began coaching at La Cañada High and was involved with numerous soccer clubs and schools including the Foothill Flyers, as well as starting his own training program, the Afshin Ghotbi Soccer School, also known as American Global Soccer School.

Ghotbi’s impressive professional coaching resume includes stints as chief scout for the United States national team from 1997-98, football analyst for the South Korean national team from 2000-02 and a one-year run as an assistant coach for the L.A. Galaxy before returning to South Korea as an assistant from 2004-07.

Ghotbi is renowned for his tactical prowess and use of computer software in scouting and preparation, which helped him make a name for himself at the national level.

“He had this computer where he would analyze all the games,” said former Burbank High assistant girls’ coach and current La Salle Coach Edgar Manvelyan, who met Ghotbi at a training session in the mid-90s and has followed his friend’s career since. “That’s how he started out.”

Ghotbi coached against Iran as a member of both the U.S. and Korean national team coaching staffs and has long been a fan favorite in his home country.

“When he got the job at Persepolis, he did a very good job, so that’s why the people love him,” Manvelyan said. “The players loved him and he motivates players a lot.”

Ghotbi’s first match coaching with Iran was against North Korea on June 6. The team tied the match, 0-0, making qualifying for the World Cup much more difficult.

“It’s a lot of pressure on him,” Zein said, “[If the team can do well], the whole country will back him up.”