St Patrick’s Athletic manager Stephen Kenny
Former League of Ireland striker Eamon Zayed has revealed that he spoke with Stephen Kenny about the possibility of working together in Iran when the ex-Ireland boss was presented with the opportunity to become the boss of one of the country’s top teams earlier this year.
Kenny told the Irish Independent last month that he did have an offer from Iran before he decided to return to football with St Patrick’s Athletic, stating that he’d turn down the chance to work for a ‘major club who get 70,000-80,000 people at their matches.’
Zayed has provided more detail of his role and the identity of the prospective employer.
The Dubliner enjoyed success under Kenny at Derry City at League of Ireland level, before embarking on an incredible adventure to Iran to play for Persepolis and then a shorter stint with another club, Aluminium Hormozgan. Zayed also played for Libya at international level. He returned home for a spell before moving to America where he is now the coach of Northern Colorado Hailstorm in USL League One, the third tier of the US pyramid.
However, Zayed has admitted that he was asked by Kenny if he would consider moving to Iran as one of his assistants if he followed through on an opening with Tractor (formerly Tractor Sazi), a leading club in the Persian Gulf Pro League.
“I got a phonecall off Stephen Kenny before he took the Pat’s job,” Zayed told the LOI Central podcast.
“He said, ‘Eamon, I’ve got a funny one for you: how’s Iran?’ – I said ‘Why are you asking that?’ and he said ‘I’ve got a really good opportunity, and a really good offer to go over to Iran.’
“The team was a team called Tractor Sazi, I think Anthony Stokes played for them (in 2018/19).
“We started chatting and I told him what I thought about Iran and playing and potentially coaching and he said ‘Look, I can bring two assistant coaches over with me if I do go over there, is that something you would be open to?’ – I didn’t shut the door and I said listen let us know if it does materialise, we’ll have a conversation then but then a few weeks later he ended up going to St Pat’s.”
Tractor parted company with Spanish coach Paco Jemez in April. Kenny was appointed by St Pat’s in May. The Iranians appointed a Croatian, Dragan Skocic, as their new boss later in the summer.
