"I had a meeting with Hamburg SV officials and I accepted their offer to coach the club’s U-14 team. They have hired former Hoffenheim general manager who is a specialist in youth ranks and I will gain a lot of good experience during this new challenge,” Mahdavikia told reporters in a press conference.

Mahdavikia who is a co-founder of KIA Football Academy led his U-11 team to Cordial Cup second place.

In May 2015, the club under-11 side was invited as a guest team to the Cordial Cup in Austria, one of the premier youth competitions in Europe. The little-known team defeated SpVgg EGC Wirges (4-0), SpVgg Unterhaching (2-0), FC Bayern Munich (3-0), Bezirksauswahl Kitzbühel (3-1) and drew in a goalless draw with Finnish side KaPa United.

The team progressed to the next stage to defeat Hungarian champions Videoton FC (4-0) and German sides VfB Stuttgart (1-0) and Bayer 04 Leverkusen (3-1) before progressing to the final. In the final the team lost against TSV 1860 München 7-6 on penalties, and finished runners-up on their debut at an international tournament.

KIA Football Academy striker Yadegar Rostami was awarded the Most Valuable Player (MVP) award and was top goalscorer in the competition.