Tehran ( CNN ) -- His wife advised him not to go . His friends said it was too dangerous . But in 2011 veteran American football coach Dan Gaspar ignored the warnings and traveled to the Islamic Republic of Iran -- Washington 's longtime political nemesis -- to help Iran 's national football team qualify for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil . `` Sports is my life , '' said Gaspar . `` When I came to Iran it did n't have anything to do with political reasons . My personality is one of adventure and curiosity . I wanted to experience a culture in a part of the world I had never been to . '' The goalkeeping coach 's journey to Iran is the latest chapter in an international career that 's taken the 58-year-old from the amateur football leagues in the U.S. state of Connecticut -- where he was born -- to the football capitals of the world . The Portuguese-American 's resume includes stints with Major League Soccer 's NY/NJ MetroStars and the Portuguese national team -- featuring megastar Cristiano Ronaldo -- which qualified for the 2010 World Cup . In 2011 , Gaspar 's friend and former colleague Carlos Queiroz was named head of coach of Iran 's national football team . Soon after , Queiroz invited Gaspar to join the coaching staff in Iran . At the time , the Iranian government was locked in a bitter political feud with Washington . Iran regularly called the U.S. `` The Great Satan '' . U.S. politicians frequently described Iran as a rogue nation led by a radical regime , secretly building a nuclear bomb . When discussing Washington 's conflict with Tehran , U.S. President Barack Obama said that `` all options are on the table '' , suggesting an attack against Iran was not out of the question . Despite the ominous climate Gaspar accepted the offer -- a decision his wife was n't quite comfortable with . `` She was shocked , '' Gaspar said . `` She was concerned as most family members were . '' Gaspar admits he had concerns too . `` When we first arrived , we did n't know how to behave and how to react , '' he said . During his first few months Gaspar did n't socialize much and rarely left his apartment , except for trips to football practice . But Gaspar says he steadily started feeling comfortable . He says he learned his impressions of Iran , created mostly by the media , did n't quite match reality . `` When you listen to the news and you read the news , you see things . Sometimes during commercials I step off my couch and look out of the balcony and it 's not what I am seeing , it 's not what I am reading , it 's not what I am hearing . '' Gaspar says what he has observed during his stay in Iran is a nation full of generous people who love their country , their food and their football team . One of his most memorable moments was meeting former Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad . `` He walked on to the pitch and asked everyone to sit down , and then he himself sat down on the grass , '' Gaspar said . `` I thought it was interesting how he put himself on the same level as everyone else . At the end of the day -- I saw him as another human being . '' In recent months , Gaspar 's stay in Iran has coincided with a push by Tehran to improve relations with Washington , as moderate President Hassan Rouhani tries to settle Iran 's nuclear dispute with the west . `` Right now more than ever there seems to be a lot of hope and optimism and a sense of energy that things will get better , '' says Gaspar . `` For me I believe in peace , and , if peace is an end result , then that 's best for the world . '' But the highlight of Gaspar 's Iranian adventure came on the night of June 18 , when Iran 's national football team recorded a 1-0 win over South Korea to qualify for the World Cup for only the fourth time . The win sparked frenzied celebrations on the field and in the streets of Tehran . `` There were a lot of tears , a lot of hugging . You ca n't describe it . Only a few privileged people have the opportunity to climb the mountain and go to the big dance in Brazil in 2014 . '' Gaspar says his only disappointment that night was not being able to share the win with his wife and family back in America . His contract in Iran runs through World Cup in Brazil next June and July . He says his focus is to help Iran impress at the tournament and then return to America with some remarkable memories . `` If I would 've listened to the experts , and my friends , and family , I would have never been here in Iran . It 's been part of my life for three years and the memories will last a lifetime . ''
American Dan Gaspar is part of the coaching team for the Iran football team . The Iranian Football Federation has been working with a number of coaches from around the world to help develop their national teams. The Portuguese-American has worked in the MLS and with the Portugal team . Gaspar was part of the coaching team which qualified for the 2014 World Cup .