TEHRAN – Former Iran and Persepolis coach Afshin Ghotbi will attend his former team’s clash against Kashima Antlers.

The Japanese team will host Persepolis of Iran at Kashima Stadium in the first leg of the 2018 AFC Champions League final.

The second leg will be held in Tehran’s Azadi Stadium a week later.

Ghotbi was appointed as head coach of Persepolis football team in 2007 and helped the Reds win Iran Pro League for the second time.

One year later he took charge of Iran national football team and advanced to the 2011 AFC Asian Cup quarter-final where Team Melli were knocked out of the competition with a 1-0 loss to South Korea.

Ghotbi was appointed as head coach of Japanese top-flight football team Shimizu S-Pulse.

Most recently, he coached Chinese club Shijiazhuang Ever Bright.