Kambiz Atabay: The Visionary Leader Who Elevated Iranian Football

Before his rise in football administration, Atabay held several prestigious positions in Iranian sports and royal institutions. He was the managing director of the Royal Horse Society, a member of the executive board of the National Olympic Committee, and later, the Chief of Royal Protocol. Yet, it was his appointment as the head of the Imperial Sports Club—later known as Taj, and eventually Esteghlal—that marked his first major step into the world of organized sport.