Pitso Mosimane, Head Coach of Esteghlal Football Team, Terminates Contract

Pitso Mosimane, the head coach of Esteghlal football team, abruptly terminated his contract with the club on Tuesday, February 9. According to Iranian media, the sudden resignation of the South African coach was due to delays in the payment of his dues by Esteghlal. The government news agency IRNA reported that Esteghlal owed the coach $81,000. The club claimed that due to a public holiday in Iran, they intended to make the payment on Wednesday, February 10. Mosimane's resignation came only about three months after the final agreement between him and Esteghlal. The football club announced that they would soon release a statement regarding this matter. The South African coach had given Esteghlal a 15-day deadline earlier in January to receive his dues, but despite the deadline passing, he waited until today to give the club another chance. Mosimane parted ways with Esteghlal after 14 matches, including 3 wins, 7 draws, and 4 losses. He had reached an agreement with Esteghlal on October 19, 2023, and after 100 days in Iran, he unilaterally terminated his contract due to non-payment of his salary and that of his assistants. After Esteghlal's draw against Malavan in the 17th week of the Iranian Premier League, Mosimane left Iran for the UAE on Saturday night to pursue his dues. Despite not receiving his salary, he returned to Iran on Tuesday and participated in Esteghlal's training. Reports indicate that he had given the club a deadline until the end of the working day on Tuesday, February 9, to receive his salary. According to Iranian news agencies, Esteghlal received an email today from the coach's agent and wife regarding the contract termination. Iranian news agencies reported the contract termination based on foreign media sources. Esteghlal's management announced that given the current situation, the upcoming match on Thursday, February 11, against Khuzestan Esteghlal would be managed by domestic coaching staff.