Yahya Golmohammadi

Yahya Golmohammadi

Golmohammadi in 2016
Personal information
Full name Yahya Golmohammadi
Date of birth (1971-03-19) 19 March 1971
Place of birth Minabad, Ardabil Province, Iran
Playing position Central Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1991 Tractor Sazi
1991–1995 Poora
1995–1999 Persepolis
1999–2002 Foolad 41 (6)
2002–2005 Persepolis 63 (2)
2005–2008 Saba 63 (7)
National team
1993–2006 Iran 74 (5)
2002 Iran Olympic 9 (1)
Teams managed
2008 Saba
2008–2010 Tarbiat Yazd
2010–2011 Nassaji Mazandaran
2012 Saba
2012–2013 Persepolis
2013–2014 Naft Tehran
2014–2016 Zob Ahan

* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.


Yahya Golmohammadi (Persian: يحيى گل محمدى‎‎, born 19 March 1971) is an Iranian former footballer and coach who is the former head coach of Zob Ahan. He is one of only six Iranians to score in a World Cup. 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 Saba Qom, Tarbiat Yazd, Nassaji Mazandaran, Persepolis[1] and Naft Tehran.

Early life

He was born on 19 March 1971 in Minabad,[2] Ardabil Province[3] where, as a youngster was recognized for his footballing talent.

Playing career

Club

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.[4] He played for Saba until 2008 when he announced his retirement as a football player.

International

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.[5] His emotions after the game were a dramatic scene that very few die-hard fans will forget.[6]

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.[7]

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.[8]

Coaching career

Saba

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

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

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

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

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 coaching Persepolis in a match against Malavan, 29 April 2013

Persepolis

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.[9] 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.[10] 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 1–0 lose 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

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

Golmohammadi before Isfahan derby

On 10 May 2014, Zob Ahan announced on their official website that Yahya Golmohammadi signed a two-year deal with the Isfahani outfit.[11] 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.

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.[12]

Statistics

Club career statistics

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--
2001–02Iran Pro League 6--
2002–03 Persepolis 1632032215
2003–04190--
2004–05230--
2005–06 Saba 2331
2006–0718451--235
2007–08 220--
Total Iran 167153
Career total 167153
SeasonTeamAssists
05–06Saba3
07–08Saba1

International goals

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 statistics

As of match played 20 September 2016
Team From To Record
G W D L Win % GF GA GD
Saba 28 March 2008 7 June 2008 10 3 4 3 30.001411+3
Tarbiat Yazd 4 July 2008 2 July 2010 52 21 19 12 40.386142+19
Nassaji 3 July 2010 1 September 2011 26 11 9 6 42.313417+17
Saba 20 June 2012 24 September 2012 9 4 2 3 44.44128+4
Persepolis 10 December 2012 31 May 2013 22 10 10 2 45.453525+10
Naft Tehran 1 June 2013 1 June 2014 32 16 9 7 50.004224+18
Zob Ahan 1 June 2014 24 September 2016 85 42 27 16 49.4113776+61
Total 236107795046.50335196+139

Honours

Golmohammadi celebrating Hazfi Cup title in 2015

Player

Persepolis
Saba
Iran

Manager

Zob Ahan

Individual

References

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