TEHRAN – Former Iran U23 football coach Nelo Vingada has joined Team Melli coaching staff in the AFC Asian Cup underway in the UAE.

The Portuguese coach has been voluntarily added to Iran staff.

Team Melli are preparing for the match against Vietnam in Group D after beating Yemen 5-0 in their first match.

Vingada is no stranger to the region’s football as the 65-year-old coach has already coached Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Iran U23 football teams.

Vingada has also headed Iranian most-popular football team Persepolis in 2009.

At the 2014 Asian Games held in Incheon, South Korea, Iran lost 4–1 to Vietnam in their first match which was the team's worst defeat in the tournament. They drew 1–1 with Kyrgyzstan in the next match, resulting in an early exit from the competition which was Iran's worst result in the Asian Games since its establishment.

Vingada had already worked as Carlos Queiroz’s assistant during the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification.

Reporting by Masoud Hossein