 He succeeded Mansour Pourheidari who Ghalenoei was his assistant for the years.At the end of the season, Esteghlal lost the league after a defeat to Esteghlal Ahvaz, team Ghalenoei coached in 2002 in the final match.Ghalenoei began his second year as the head coach of Esteghlal, which his side was again in the championship race but ended the season at the third place with a goal difference with Zob Ahan in the second rank.