South African coach Pitso Mosimane has officially left his role at Iranian club Esteghlal FC due to unpaid wages, Afrosport reports.
Mosimane and his technical team part ways with Esteghlal immediately after the club failed to reach an agreement on their owed salaries.
MT Sports Marketing and Management, Mosimane’s agency, revealed that it held talks with the Iranian club’s hierarchy regarding the unresolved salary issues, and a formal default notice was sent on 1 January 2025, but the club failed to settle outstanding payments.
A statement from the agency added: “In good faith, Coach Pitso and the Technical Team extended a 15-day deadline as per the FIFA rules, to allow the new CEO and Board time to familiarize themselves with the situation and remedy the outstanding payments. However, the club did not resolve the issue within the deadlines they had set for themselves.
“Coach Pitso Mosimane and his technical team are still owed more than two months’ salaries. Coach Pitso deeply appreciated the players, whose commitment and talent made every challenge worthwhile.
“Esteghlal FC remains a contender for the AFC Champions League, with the highlight being the draw against the star-studded Al Ahli FC in Saudi Arabia, also a former team of Coach Mosimane, which he assisted in promoting back to the Saudi Pro League.”
The 60-year-old joined Esteghlal in October 2024, and the club are currently 11th in the Persian Gulf Pro League standings on 19 points. The club has lost only three of their 10 league matches since he joined and has progressed to the next round of the Iranian Cup under his tutelage.
Mosimane’s all-South African technical team at the club comprises Maahier Davids, Musi Matlaba, Kabelo Rangoaga, and Kyle Solomon.
