Ivankovic answers Iran call
Wednesday, January 30, 2002
Article summary
Croatian Branko Ivankovic has succeeded Miroslav Blazevic as coach of Iran.
Article body
Croatian Branko Ivankovic has succeeded fellow countryman Miroslav Blazevic as coach of the Iranian national team.
World Cup failure
Ivankovic assisted Blazevic during his spell in charge of Iran, which came to an end earlier this month when Blazevic resigned, citing health reasons and the disappointment of not qualifying for the 2002 FIFA World Cup finals as the reasons for his departure.
Success in France
The two have forged an excellent relationship over the years, Ivankovic playing a key role behind the scenes as Blazevic steered Croatia to a third-placed finish at the 1998 FIFA World Cup in France. He made his name in his own right during coaching spells at a number of Croatian clubs, including NK Varteks, HNK Rijeka and NK Zagreb.
