Thu, 28 Oct, 2021
Baghdad: Experienced campaigner Akram Selman has been appointed head coach of Iraq following the departure of Radhi Shenaishil, who led the West Asian nation to a fourth-place finish at the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
No stranger to the national team, Selman oversaw the Lions of Mesopotamia’s 1986, 1990, and 1994 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaigns and guided Iraq through the qualifiers of the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, laying the foundations for the side that Jorvan Vieira would ultimately lead to a historic first continental title.
Selman was also in charge of the Iraq side at the 1988 Summer Olympics in Seoul and was at the helm during Iraq’s 2005 West Asian Games gold medal triumph.
Most recently in charge of Oman’s Al Nasr, Selman is a veteran of numerous continental competitions with various clubs throughout the Middle East. He led Iraq's Arbil (pictured) through the Group Stage of the 2008 AFC Champions League before participating in four AFC Cup campaigns with Jordanian giants Al Wehdat (2009), Duhok of Iraq (2011) and Lebanon’s Safa (2012 and 2013).
Photo: AFP