Jalal Cheraghpour
Cheraghpour was born on 22 December 1950 in the Arbab Mahdi Nezamabad neighborhood of Tehran, Iran. He graduated from Tehran's Teachers' Training College, later working as a teacher in Iran's Ministry of Education.
Playing career
Cheraghpour began his football career in the late 1960s, playing in Tehran's local football scene as a defender. In 1971, he was selected by Frank O'Farrell for the Iran U-23 national team, marking a significant milestone. By 1975, he played for Rah Ahan Tehran under coach Parviz Aboutaleb. Renowned for his man-marking skills against prominent players such as Ali Parvin, Nasser Nooraei, and Parviz Ghelichkhani, Cheraghpour was frequently featured in newspapers and regularly named to the "Team of the Week." A meniscus injury forced his early retirement, prompting a transition to coaching.
Coaching career
Cheraghpour completed FIFA and AFC coaching courses and attended advanced training programs in Hungary and Malaysia. His coaching and administrative career includes:1970s–1980s: Head coach for clubs including Payam and Kheybar Khorramabad.1982: Head coach of the Iran national football team for the 1982 Asian Games in Delhi, appointed at age 31.1980s: Head of the Education Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation.1993: Head coach of Bank Tejarat.1994: Head coach of Bank Sepah.1994: Assistant coach to Hassan Habibi for the Iran U-23 team, alongside Homayoun Shahrokhi and Saleh Nia, under the presidency of Dariush Mostafavi.1995–1996: Technical manager of Persepolis.1996: Assistant coach under Hagi Pedis Anvar for Iran's Olympic qualifying campaign for the 1996 Atlanta Olympics, working with Mohammad Reza Karbakhsh and Jamshid Rashidi.1997–1998: Head coach of Esteghlal Ahvaz.2000–2004: Head coach of Niroye Zamini.2004–2005: Technical manager of Esteghlal Rasht.2005–2006: Technical manager of Tractor Sazi Tabriz.2007: Technical manager of Pas Hamedan.2008: Technical manager of Shirin Faraz.2008–2012: Academy manager of Mes Kerman.2013–2016: Academy manager of Esteghlal Ahvaz.2019: Technical manager of Shahrdari Bandar Abbas.2020s: Appointed Head of the Education Committee of the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation under President Shahab Azizi Khadem.2025–present: Assistant manager of Esteghlal.
Personal life
In 2005, Cheraghpour underwent open-heart surgery at Kasra Hospital in Tehran, performed by Dr. Mandegar. Following medical advice to avoid pollution, he relocated to Gilan, Iran, where he currently resides.
Legacy
Cheraghpour's extensive career in Iranian football, spanning playing, coaching, and administrative roles, has significantly influenced the sport's development in Iran. His expertise in player development and tactical coaching remains widely recognized.