TEHRAN – Farhad Majidi has been named as new head coach of Esteghlal football team on Monday until the end of the season.

Majidi, 42, will lead the Iranian Blues in the remaining third matches in Iran Professional League (IPL) and two matches in the 2019 AFC Champions League group stage against Qatar’s Al Duhail and Al Ain of the UAE.

Majidi started his coaching career as assistant in Esteghlal in early January.

He replaced German coach Winfried Schaefer in Esteghlal.

Esteghlal have little chance of winning the IPL title after suffering a defeat against Padideh in Mashhad Saturday night, which left them in the third place, six points behind leaders Persepolis.

The Tehran based football team also have a difficult task to book a place in the ACL knock out stage, as they sit bottom of the table of Group C with just four points from four matches.

Al Hilal have nine points at the top while Al Duhail sit second with seven points.