Mosimane takes over at Iranian outfit

Pitso Mosimane has taken over one of the Asian football’s most prestigious and best supported clubs after agreeing on Friday to become the new coach at Esteghlal of Iran.

It is the fourth adventure outside the country for the veteran coach, who after leaving Mamelodi Sundowns has worked in Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia.

His new club, based in the Iranian capital Teheran, were tagged the “Giant of Asia’ by the Asian Football Confederation and regularly pull crowds estimated at 100,000.

They are two-time Asian champions and have won a total of nine Iranian titles since their formation. In 1945, bettered only by their archrivals Persepolis.

The derby between the two is among world football’s prestige rivalries and last season Esteghlal finished runners-up in the league to Persepolis.