IRNA � Iranian football icon Mansour Pour Heidari, 71, known as the father of Esteghlal club, died at Tehran hospital after one year of fighting with cancer.

Both as a player and as a coach, Pour Heidari had gained great achievements in Tehran's Esteqlal football club.

He became the champion of AFC Champions League both as a player and as the head coach of Esteghlal.

Pour Heidari was an experienced champion in Iran's Premier League several times both when he was playing for Esteghlal and when he was the head coach of the team.

He also coached Iran's national football team when the team managed to become champion in Asian Championships.