'Their fans are hungry for glory': Pitso heads back to the Gulf to manage Iran's Esteghlal

Mosimane replaces a darling of the club, Javad Nekounam, who is regarded as one of the best to ever don the colours of Esteghlal and is the most capped Iranian player of all time.

Nekounam took up coaching in 2016, and last season, led the Tehran-based club to a second-place finish – before resigning at the start of October. 

Jingles joins the club with his trusted lieutenants Maahier Davids who will serve as his assistant, fitness trainer Kabelo Rangoaga, along with performance analysts Musi Matlaba and Kyle Solomon.

Esteghlal are the fourth club that Mosimane will manage in the Gulf Region. He first dipped his toes in Saudi Arabia with Al-Ahli from Jeddah who he helped gain promotion to the Saudi Pro League after two years with Al-Ahly in Egypt. 

As @FabrizioRomano would say… HERE WE GOOO!????

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: PERSIAN GULF PRO LEAGUE @EsteghlalFC_En APPOINTS COACH PITSO MOSIMANE AND HIS TECHNICAL TEAM. #ChangingTheGame #WeAreLegacyMakers #NewSigning @TheRealPitso @onlymusi @kylesolomon8 @mayadavids pic.twitter.com/DCUzoNiSYA

He then took over Al Wahda in the United Arab Emirates before going back to Saudi Arabia to manage Abha Club. 

"Esteghlal is a very big club in the Gulf region, with a long and illustrious history," said Mosimane. 

"The two Asian Champions League stars on top of their badge tell you what kind of club this is. Their last trophy was won in 2022, and we can believe their fans are hungry for glory once again."

He added:

Esteghlal are 10th in the Persian Gulf Pro League after six games, with two draws, two wins and two losses.

The side is also competing in the 2024–25 Asian Football Confederation Champions League, where they have played just two games – winning one and losing the other. 

Mosimane will come up