Afshin Ghotbi

Afshin Ghotbi, an Iranian-American football coach and UCLA engineering graduate, has built an exceptional global career marked by success across continents and competitions.

World Cup Experience (3x):

• USA – FIFA World Cup Finals 1998 Tactical Analyst & Match Preparation Lead

• South Korea NT – FIFA World Cup Finals 2002: Helped the team reach the Semi-Finals

• South Korea NT – FIFA World Cup Finals 2006: Technical & Tactical Advisor

• South Korea NT – Olympic Qualifiers 2008: Contributed to team strategy and player development

Major Achievements:

• LA Galaxy (USA): MLS & US Open Cup Double (2005)

• Persepolis FC (Iran): League Champions (2008), Iran Pro League Coach of the Year

• Iran National Team: Asian Cup Finals Quarterfinalist (2011)

• Shimizu S-Pulse (Japan): Nabisco (J.League) Cup Finalist (2012)

• Shijiazhuang Ever Bright (China): Historic Promotion to Chinese Super League (2019)

• Vancouver FC (Canada): Built from scratch and reached the Canadian Championship Semi-Final (2025)

Career Summary:

• Over 400 matches as Head Coach across five countries

• 1.60 Points per Match average

• Renowned for his analytical mindset, multicultural leadership, and focus on youth development and team-building excellence.