
UEFA-Standard Pro License Course Start
The AFC Pro License coaching course began this morning, June 10, at the Olympic Hotel in Tehran. The course features 24 of the country's top football coaches and is organized by the FFIRI’s Education Department in cooperation with the federation’s technical leadership.
This advanced course is designed to enhance the professional and technical capabilities of Iranian coaches, equipping them with up-to-date knowledge and skills based on UEFA and AFC coaching standards. The initiative is part of a broader effort to modernize coaching education and ensure Iranian football remains competitive on the international stage.
The first phase of the course will run for 13 days until June 22. It includes both theoretical sessions held at the Olympic Hotel and practical training conducted on the natural grass pitches of the National Football Center.
At the course’s opening ceremony, Ali Taregholizadeh (Technical Director of FFIRI) and Baharak Kazem (Head of the Education Department) welcomed the participants and underscored the strategic importance of the program. They emphasized the role of such initiatives in enhancing coach quality, facilitating the professional licensing of clubs, and supporting the future structure of Iranian football.
The course is led by UEFA instructor Mr. Ricardo Duarte from Portugal, with support from elite AFC coaching instructors Nader Arabi and Ardeshir Pourne'mat as assistant tutors.
As the highest-level coaching program available in the country, the Pro License course signifies a crucial investment in football development by FFIRI. It reflects Iran’s commitment to international standards and long-term capacity building for its football ecosystem.