Tehran-IRAF- Ali Ahmad Yarzade, a well-known and experienced Afghan footballer, has been officially named head coach of the national youth team by the Afghanistan Football Federation.
He is set to lead Afghanistan’s U-17 team in the upcoming CAFA Championship, a tournament scheduled to be held in Uzbekistan in less than two months, featuring teams from across Central Asia.
Defending Champions
Afghanistan won the title in the previous edition of the competition, and with Yarzade now on the bench, there is strong hope for repeating past successes.
Afghan football supporters view this appointment as an important step toward strengthening the youth squad and better preparing the team for upcoming competitions.
Yarzade’s Career
Yarzade was born on October 15, 1985, in Herat and wore the Afghanistan national team jersey for more than a decade.
He played as a defender and previously featured for clubs including Toofan Harirod, Kabul Bank, Abu Muslim, and Esteghlal Ma’aref.
Yarzade won the Herat League multiple times with various teams and, after retiring from professional football, transitioned into coaching.
Coaching Experience
He holds an AFC B Coaching License and has previously managed Toofan Harirod and Ettek Energy Herat.
He has also been active in the Herat Provincial Youth Football Committee and has experience working with young players—an asset that could prove highly valuable in leading Afghanistan’s U-17 national team.
