A Comparative Study of Criteria for Selecting Football Coaches in Iranian and European Leagues
Keywords:
Football coach, coach selection, Iran league, European league, professionalization, club structure, scientific evaluationAbstract
This study aims to conduct a comparative analysis of the criteria for selecting football coaches in Iran’s Premier League and major European leagues. This is a narrative review using a descriptive analytical method. Data were collected from academic sources, professional articles, technical reports from clubs and federations, and media analyses between 2017 and 2025. The information was analyzed through qualitative content analysis and interpreted comparatively between Iran and European contexts. The findings indicate that coach selection in European leagues follows a professional, data-driven, and long-term structure, emphasizing international licenses, work experience, analytical ability, and organizational leadership. In contrast, decisions in Iranian football are often influenced by non-professional factors such as fan pressure, media influence, and personal networks. The absence of a transparent structure and scientific evaluation system is a major obstacle to professionalizing the coach selection process in Iran. The study concludes that improving the quality of coach selection in Iran requires restructuring club management systems, enhancing the federation’s supervisory role, and institutionalizing scientific and data-driven criteria in decision-making. Aligning with international professional standards can significantly contribute to the sustainable development of Iranian football.
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