Yahya Golmohammadi

Yahya Golmohammadi (, born 19 March 1971) is an Iranian former footballer and coach.

He was born on 19 March 1971 in Minabad, Ardabil Province, where he was recognized for his footballing talent as a youngster.

Yahya Golmohammadi played most of his professional career for Persepolis.

He made his debut as a football player in 1989 with Tractor Sazi.

Two years later, he signed with Poora.

He played in Poora for four years and later signed with Persepolis in 1995 and began his work with Stanko Poklepović and won the league in his first season.

In 1999, he moved to Ahvaz based club Foolad, but returned to Persepolis after only three seasons.

He has been immensely popular with Iranian fans after he scored the last minute winner in a 2002 World Cup qualifying game against Republic of Ireland, coming deep to head the ball home though Iran lost the game in aggregate and failed to qualify for the Korea/Japan World Cup.

His emotions after the game were a dramatic scene that very few die-hard fans will forget.

He was also a member of Iran national under-23 football team in 2002 Asian Games which Iran won the football tournament under Branko Ivanković.

After the resignation of Mohammad Hossein Ziaei as the head coach of Saba Battery, Golmohammadi was named as his successor to lead the team for the ensuing fixtures.

Golmohammadi led Saba in the remaining ten matches and led them to a third-place finish behind Persepolis and Sepahan which is the best result for Saba in Iran Pro League in the club's history.

There were many rumors that Golmohammadi would continue to lead Saba for the following season but he refused to extend his contract.

In 2005, Yahya left Persepolis for a lucrative contract with Saba Battery, many critics were skeptical about his success in this newly formed team, but Saba Battery, with the help of Golmohammadi and Iranian national teammate Ali Daei, surprised everyone by winning the Hazfi Cup, and also did extremely well in the Asian Champions League, beating more experienced and seasoned campaigners.

He is one of only eleven Iranians to score in a World Cup and he is the oldest player to score on his first World Cup start, doing so for Iran in 2006 against Mexico.

His position was usually the central defender.

He was a member of Iranian national football team and played most of his career in Persepolis.

He previously managed some big clubs in Iran, including Naft Tehran, Zob Ahan, Tractor Sazi and Padideh.

On 11 June 2006, Golmohammadi scored the equaliser in a 3–1 loss to Mexico in the opening round of the 2006 FIFA World Cup.

His tackle against Luís Figo in the next game against Portugal cost Iran a penalty.

Golmohammadi was injured in the same game and was not available for Iran's final World Cup game versus Angola.

He retired from international football immediately after World Cup 2006.

He has 74 caps for the senior team and scored five times during his international duty.

He played for Saba until 2008 when he announced his retirement as a football player.

Golmohammadi was a reliable defender with a cool approach to the game and slide tackles that became his hallmark.

Firouz Karimi succeeded him as head coach of Saba in June 2008.

In July 2008, Golmohammadi took over the Azadegan League side Tarbiat Yazd.

His team started the 2008–09 season with three consecutive wins but at the end of the season, Tarbiat finished at 5th place of Group B and were not promoted to the Iran Pro League.

He continued his work with Tarbiat Yazd the following season and led the team to a third-place finish but were shy one point of qualifying for a promotion play-off.

At the end of the season, he resigned as head coach of Tarbiat Yazd in order to become head coach of another Azadegan league side, Nassaji Mazandaran.

He became head coach of his native town team, Nassaji Mazandaran in July 2010.

He was also unable to promote Nassaji to the Iran Pro League as they finished at 4th place in the 2010–11 season.

He was sacked by the club in September 2011.

After Ali Daei became head coach of Rah Ahan, he was chosen by his former teammate as first team coach.

Yahya worked with Daei for one season as his assistant along with Željko Mijač but separated from the Rah Ahan coaching staff at the end of the season in order to take over the reins of Saba Qom for the second time.

After Abdollah Veisi left the team for Paykan, Golmohammadi was named as head coach of Saba for a second time and returned to the club where he began his coaching career after four years.

Golmohammadi signed a one-year contract with the club.

His first match was a 4–0 win over Paykan which placed Saba at the top of the league.

They stayed at the top the following week as well.

They also defeated Persepolis 2–0 at the Azadi Stadium.