Foolad FC
Encyclopedia
Foolad Khuzestan Football Club is an Iran
ian football
club, based in Ahvaz
, Khuzestan. It was named Foolad partially because it is funded by the industry in Khuzestan. The club contributed the highest number (six) of players to the national team
during the Asian Cup 2004 in China
, in particular during the quarter-final clash with South Korea, which ended 4-3 (in normal time) in favor of the then underdogs, Iran
. In the 2004-05
season, Foolad became the champion of the fourth Iran Pro League (IPL), gaining a total of 64 points over 30 league matches. After several successful seasons and what at one point seemed to be the emergence of a new pole in Iranian football, Foolad lost many of its key players through transfers and internal problems and also displayed a poor performance in the ACL 2006. The club was subsequently relegated to the 2nd highest division in Iran, the Azadegan League in 2007. Fortunately however, Foolad was able to return to the IPL starting the 2008-2009 season and has been turning out relatively well in the current standings.
City Championship in 1991, and entered the 2nd division of the Khuzestan football league two years later.
. In 1996, with Homayoun Shahrokhinejad as manager, the team was promoted to the 1st division
. It was really an amazing run, considering that the team began in the 4th division of the Ahvaz
City League in 1986.
ian football. The team was eventually bought by the Ahvaz Steel Mill; this helped the team's financial situation improve. The team was finally able to use its massive potential and win the IPL in the 2004-05
season but due to some ensuing internal problems and coaching difficulties could not perform well in the 2006 Asian Champions League
. Their star player and MVP of their championship season was loaned and eventually transferred to Al-Shabab in the UAE
. The club also had to change the location of its home field, due to renovations, instead playing in neighbouring city Abadan's Takhti Stadium
.
After a mediocre 2005-06
, Foolad started the 2006-07 season with former Iranian national team coach Mohammad Mayeli Kohan
, but he resigned half way through the season as Foolad had achieved poor results. Youth club coach Nenad Nikolić temporarily replaced him and soon after Portuguese manager Augusto Inácio
was named head coach.
Foolad went through a terrible 2006-07 season finishing 15th and being relegated to the lower Azadegan League.They won the playoff spot the season after but they lost their match. A few weeks later they bought the right to play in Persian Gulf Cup from Sepahan Novin
and promoted to IPL. They chose Majid Jalali
as their coach for the 2008–09 season where they had an average season but Majid Jalali left the club because the chairman Seifollah Dehkordi despite good results was negotiating with other coaches.
But Luka Bonacic could not please the club as he was not able to win a single match in first 8 weeks and the club decided to bring Majid Jalali
back where they finished the league 10th.
, Arash Afshin
, Bakhtiar Rahmani, and Kaveh Rezaei are products of the youth system.
(1999-03) Luka Bonačić
(2003–04) Mladen Frančić (2004–06) Nenad Nikolić
(2006) Mohammad Mayeli Kohan
(2006)
Abdollah Veisi
(2007) Nenad Nikolić
(2007) (interim) Augusto Inácio
(2007–08) Guilherme Farinha
(2008) Majid Jalali
(2008-)
For recent transfers, see List of Iranian football transfers, summer 2011.
Iran Mohammad Alavi
Ali Badavi
Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh
Yahya Golmohammadi
Hossein Kaebi Mojahed Khaziravi
Adel Kolahkaj
Ebrahim Mirzapour
Iman Mobali
Jalal Kameli Mofrad
Ahmad Momenzadeh
Pejman Montazeri
Gholamreza Rezaei
Naeem Saadavi
Behnam Seraj
Omid Sharifinasab
AFC Emad Mohammed Ridha
CAF Carlos Armando Sá
Erfan Olerum
CONMEBOL Fábio Hempel
Fábio Januário
UEFA Mahmud Qurbanov Rashad Sadygov
Mladen Bartolović
Jaba Mujiri
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club, based in Ahvaz
Ahvaz
-History:For a more comprehensive historical treatment of the area, see the history section of Khūzestān Province.-Ancient history:Ahvaz is the anagram of "Avaz" and "Avaja" which appear in Darius's epigraph...
, Khuzestan. It was named Foolad partially because it is funded by the industry in Khuzestan. The club contributed the highest number (six) of players to the national team
Iran national football team
The national football team of Iran represents Iran in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran...
during the Asian Cup 2004 in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, in particular during the quarter-final clash with South Korea, which ended 4-3 (in normal time) in favor of the then underdogs, Iran
Iran national football team
The national football team of Iran represents Iran in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran...
. In the 2004-05
IPL 2004/05
The following is the standings of the Persian Gulf Cup's 2004/05 football season. This season will be the 4th season since the establishment of the Iran Pro League . Foolad Khuzestan F.C...
season, Foolad became the champion of the fourth Iran Pro League (IPL), gaining a total of 64 points over 30 league matches. After several successful seasons and what at one point seemed to be the emergence of a new pole in Iranian football, Foolad lost many of its key players through transfers and internal problems and also displayed a poor performance in the ACL 2006. The club was subsequently relegated to the 2nd highest division in Iran, the Azadegan League in 2007. Fortunately however, Foolad was able to return to the IPL starting the 2008-2009 season and has been turning out relatively well in the current standings.
Establishment
Foolad was a team that no one knew anything about until the dissolution of Jonoub Ahvaz F.C. in 1996. Foolad had won the AhvazAhvaz
-History:For a more comprehensive historical treatment of the area, see the history section of Khūzestān Province.-Ancient history:Ahvaz is the anagram of "Avaz" and "Avaja" which appear in Darius's epigraph...
City Championship in 1991, and entered the 2nd division of the Khuzestan football league two years later.
Road to Azadegan League
In 1995, which was Foolad's second year in the Khuzestan 2nd Division, they became provincial champions. That same year Jonoob Ahvaz F.C., was contracted and Foolad took their place in Iran Football's 2nd DivisionIran Football's 2nd Division
Iranian football's 2nd division is the third-highest football division overall in the Iranian football league system.Before 2001, the 2nd division was known as the 3rd division, but this was changed when Iran's football structure officially became professional.The league consists of two, fourteen...
. In 1996, with Homayoun Shahrokhinejad as manager, the team was promoted to the 1st division
Iran Football's 1st Division
The Azadegan League is the second-highest division overall in the Iranian football league system after the Iran Pro League.Up until 2001 the league was the top football league in Iran, but that changed when the Iranian Football Federation decided to start a professional league...
. It was really an amazing run, considering that the team began in the 4th division of the Ahvaz
Ahvaz
-History:For a more comprehensive historical treatment of the area, see the history section of Khūzestān Province.-Ancient history:Ahvaz is the anagram of "Avaz" and "Avaja" which appear in Darius's epigraph...
City League in 1986.
IPL
Ever since their promotion, the club has introduced very talented young footballers to IranIran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian football. The team was eventually bought by the Ahvaz Steel Mill; this helped the team's financial situation improve. The team was finally able to use its massive potential and win the IPL in the 2004-05
IPL 2004/05
The following is the standings of the Persian Gulf Cup's 2004/05 football season. This season will be the 4th season since the establishment of the Iran Pro League . Foolad Khuzestan F.C...
season but due to some ensuing internal problems and coaching difficulties could not perform well in the 2006 Asian Champions League
AFC Champions League 2006
The 2006 AFC Champions League was the 25th edition of the top-level Asian club football tournament and the 4th edition under the current AFC Champions League title....
. Their star player and MVP of their championship season was loaned and eventually transferred to Al-Shabab in the UAE
United Arab Emirates
The United Arab Emirates, abbreviated as the UAE, or shortened to "the Emirates", is a state situated in the southeast of the Arabian Peninsula in Western Asia on the Persian Gulf, bordering Oman, and Saudi Arabia, and sharing sea borders with Iraq, Kuwait, Bahrain, Qatar, and Iran.The UAE is a...
. The club also had to change the location of its home field, due to renovations, instead playing in neighbouring city Abadan's Takhti Stadium
Takhti Stadium (Abadan)
The Takhti Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Abadan, Iran. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Sanat Naft F.C.. The stadium holds 22,000 people....
.
After a mediocre 2005-06
IPL 2005/06
The following is the standings of the Persian Gulf Cup's 2005/06 football season. This season will be the 5th season since the establishment of the Iran Pro League . Esteghlal F.C. were defending champions.-Final classification:...
, Foolad started the 2006-07 season with former Iranian national team coach Mohammad Mayeli Kohan
Mohammad Mayeli Kohan
Mohammad Mayeli Kohan is a retired Iranian football player and now coach.- Early life:He was born on 5 June 1953 in Bandar-e Anzali in Iran. His father was a farmer. He has two brothers and one sister...
, but he resigned half way through the season as Foolad had achieved poor results. Youth club coach Nenad Nikolić temporarily replaced him and soon after Portuguese manager Augusto Inácio
Augusto Inácio
Augusto Soares Inácio is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a left defender, and a current coach.Having represented both Sporting Clube de Portugal and F.C...
was named head coach.
Foolad went through a terrible 2006-07 season finishing 15th and being relegated to the lower Azadegan League.They won the playoff spot the season after but they lost their match. A few weeks later they bought the right to play in Persian Gulf Cup from Sepahan Novin
Sepahan Novin F.C.
Sepahan Novin Football Club is an Iranian professional football team based in Esfahan, Iran. They are the reserve team of Sepahan F.C. and currently compete in the 2011–12 Iran Football's 3rd Division.-History:...
and promoted to IPL. They chose Majid Jalali
Majid Jalali
Majid Jalali is a retired Iranian football player and now a football manager, currently head coach of Foolad F.C. He has served as the manager in several clubs in Iran and of national football teams at various youth levels....
as their coach for the 2008–09 season where they had an average season but Majid Jalali left the club because the chairman Seifollah Dehkordi despite good results was negotiating with other coaches.
But Luka Bonacic could not please the club as he was not able to win a single match in first 8 weeks and the club decided to bring Majid Jalali
Majid Jalali
Majid Jalali is a retired Iranian football player and now a football manager, currently head coach of Foolad F.C. He has served as the manager in several clubs in Iran and of national football teams at various youth levels....
back where they finished the league 10th.
Youth academy
In 2000 Foolad formed a youth academy and today over 400 players play in Foolad's youth system. Players such as Iman MobaliIman Mobali
Iman Mobali is an Iranian football player who currently plays for Al Sharjah in UAE Football League.-Club career:He was considered as the creative dynamo of the highly talented Foolad F.C., based in Iran's oil-rich Khuzestan province. Mobali was the key member of his team during Foolad's IPL...
, Arash Afshin
Arash Afshin
Arash Afshin is an Iranian footballer who currently plays for Foolad in the Iran Pro League and is a part of Iran national team, as well as Iran under-23 team...
, Bakhtiar Rahmani, and Kaveh Rezaei are products of the youth system.
Season-by-season
The table below chronicles the achievements of Foolad in various competitions since 1997.| Season | Pos. | Hazfi Cup Hazfi Cup The Hazfi Cup is a knockout cup competition in Iranian football, run by the Iranian Football Federation. The competition wasn't regarded important by clubs until the IRIFF decided to award one of Iran's four AFC Champions League spots to the champion.... |
ACL AFC Champions League The AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs... |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-98 | 1D* | 10th | Not held | Did not qualify |
| 1998-99 | 1D* | 7th | ||
| 1999-00 | 1D* | 10th | ||
| 2000-01 | 1D* | 8th | ||
| 2001-02 IPL 2001/02 The following is the standings of the Persian Gulf Cup's 2001–02 football season. This was the first season since the establishment of the Iran Pro League . Persepolis F.C... |
1D** | 3rd | Quarterfinal | |
| 2002-03 IPL 2002/03 The following is the standings of the Persian Gulf Cup's 2002/03 football season. This season will be the 2nd season since the establishment of the Iran Pro League . Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan F.C... |
1D** | 7th | ||
| 2003-04 IPL 2003/04 The following is the standings of the Persian Gulf Cup's 2003/04 football season. This season will be the 3rd season since the establishment of the Iran Pro League . Pas Tehran F.C... |
1D** | 3rd | 1/8 Final | |
| 2004-05 IPL 2004/05 The following is the standings of the Persian Gulf Cup's 2004/05 football season. This season will be the 4th season since the establishment of the Iran Pro League . Foolad Khuzestan F.C... |
1D** | 1st | ||
| 2005-06 IPL 2005/06 The following is the standings of the Persian Gulf Cup's 2005/06 football season. This season will be the 5th season since the establishment of the Iran Pro League . Esteghlal F.C. were defending champions.-Final classification:... |
1D** | 8th | 1/16 Final | First round |
| 2006-07 IPL 2006/07 The following is the standings of the Persian Gulf Cup's 2006/07 football season. This season was the 6th season since the establishment of the Iranian Premier League... |
1D** | 15th | 1/8 Final | Did not qualify |
| 2007-08 | 2D | Playoff | Semifinal | |
| 2008-09 Persian Gulf Cup 2008-09 The following is the standings of the Persian Gulf Cup's 2008/09 football season. This season will be the 8th season since the establishment of the Iran Pro League . Persepolis are the defending champions.-Teams:... |
1D** | 7th | Quarterfinal | |
| 2009-10 | 1D** | 10th | 1/16 Final | |
| 2010-11 | 1D** | 6th | Semifinal | |
- Azadegan League.
-
- Iran Pro League.
Club honours
- League Championships:
- 2004-05
Managerial history
Homayoun Shahrokhinejad (1996–97) Lefteh Sebaradaran (1997–98) Majid Bagherinia (1998–99) Vinko BegovićVinko Begovic
Vinko Begović is a Croatian football coach.He has previously served as head coach of several clubs namely Foolad, Persepolis and Pegah Gilan of Iran, and Al-Wasl of the UAE. He was also manager of the Iran national under-23 football team for a short period in 2007.- Sources :...
(1999-03) Luka Bonačić
Luka Bonacic
Luka Bonačić is a Croatian football coach and former player.-Early life:He was born on March 2, 1955 in Split, Croatia that was part of Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. He began football careers in Split Football Academy...
(2003–04) Mladen Frančić (2004–06) Nenad Nikolić
Nenad Nikolic
Nenad Nikolić is a Croatian football coach and former player who has worked in Iran for nearly a decade. He has worked in the Foolad academy since it began in 1999.-External links:...
(2006) Mohammad Mayeli Kohan
Mohammad Mayeli Kohan
Mohammad Mayeli Kohan is a retired Iranian football player and now coach.- Early life:He was born on 5 June 1953 in Bandar-e Anzali in Iran. His father was a farmer. He has two brothers and one sister...
(2006)
Abdollah Veisi
Abdollah Veisi
Abdollah Veisi is an Iranian retired football player and current manager of Saba Qom.-Playing career:Veisi Spent the Azadegan League 1999–2000 season and the Azadegan League 2000–01 playing for Sepahan, scoring two goals. In the following season, he transferred to Foolad.-Managerial career:In mid...
(2007) Nenad Nikolić
Nenad Nikolic
Nenad Nikolić is a Croatian football coach and former player who has worked in Iran for nearly a decade. He has worked in the Foolad academy since it began in 1999.-External links:...
(2007) (interim) Augusto Inácio
Augusto Inácio
Augusto Soares Inácio is a retired Portuguese footballer who played as a left defender, and a current coach.Having represented both Sporting Clube de Portugal and F.C...
(2007–08) Guilherme Farinha
Guilherme Farinha
Guilherme Farinha is a Portuguese football coach.He is a highly rated coach in the Americas as he has won the Primera División de Costa Rica on two occasions.- Career :* LD Alajuelense – Head Coach – 1999–2001* Casa Pia A.C. – Head Coach – 2004...
(2008) Majid Jalali
Majid Jalali
Majid Jalali is a retired Iranian football player and now a football manager, currently head coach of Foolad F.C. He has served as the manager in several clubs in Iran and of national football teams at various youth levels....
(2008-)
First-team squad
As of July 27, 2011For recent transfers, see List of Iranian football transfers, summer 2011.
Retired number(s)
12 – Club Supporters (the 12th Man)12th Man (football)
The 12th man or 12th player is a term used to describe the fans within a stadium during association football or American football games. This term has a different meaning in cricket, referring to the first substitute player who fields when a member of the fielding side is injured...
Notable players
This list of former players includes those who received international caps (in bold) while playing for the team, made significant contributions to the team in terms of appearances or goals while playing for the team, or who made significant contributions to the sport either before they played for the team, or after they left. It is clearly not yet complete and all inclusive, and additions and refinements will continue to be made over time.Iran Mohammad Alavi
Mohammad Alavi
Seyed Mohammad Alavi is an Iranian footballer. He plays for Mashin Sazi in Iran's Azadegan League. He usually plays in the defensive midfield position.- Club career :...
Ali Badavi
Ali Badavi
Ali "Naji" Badavi is an Iranian footballer who plays for the Sanat Naft in Azadegan League.-Club career:Badavi started his career at Foolad FC, however on his return from China after the 2004 Asian Cup, his troubles continued with Foolad FC and eventually left for city rival Esteghlal Ahvaz where...
Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh
Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh
Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh is an Iranian football defender who currently plays for Saba in Iran's Premier Football League and formerly the Iran national football team.-Club career:...
Yahya Golmohammadi
Yahya Golmohammadi
Yahya Golmohammadi is a retired Iranian football player. His position usually was the central defender. He is currently with Tarbiat Yazd as a manager and has now retired from the Iranian national football team...
Hossein Kaebi Mojahed Khaziravi
Mojahed Khaziravi
Mojahed Khaziravi is an Iranian football player currently playing for Foolad F.C. in Iran's Premier Football League.His career took a dramatic turnover in June 2002 when he got arrested by Iranian police for frequenting a brothel in Tehran...
Adel Kolahkaj
Adel Kolahkaj
Adel Kolahkaj is an Iranian football player. He currently plays for the IPL club Mes Kerman. He usually plays in the midfielder position.-ClubCareer:...
Ebrahim Mirzapour
Ebrahim Mirzapour
Ebrahim Mirzapour is an Iranian football goalkeeper, currently playing for Shahrdari Tabriz in the IPL.-Club career:He started his professional IPL career, playing for Foolad F.C., and was a member of the team until August 2006. He also made it to the national team while playing for Foolad,...
Iman Mobali
Iman Mobali
Iman Mobali is an Iranian football player who currently plays for Al Sharjah in UAE Football League.-Club career:He was considered as the creative dynamo of the highly talented Foolad F.C., based in Iran's oil-rich Khuzestan province. Mobali was the key member of his team during Foolad's IPL...
Jalal Kameli Mofrad
Jalal Kameli Mofrad
Jalal Kameli-Mofrad is an Iranian football player who currently plays for Foolad in Iran's Premier League football as Captain.-Club career:Kameli Mofrad started his career at Foolad FC. At first due to his physical style, Mofrad played some good games and became a stater for his club. He was a...
Ahmad Momenzadeh
Ahmad Momenzadeh
Ahmad Momenzadeh is an Iranian football player who currently plays for Aluminium Hormozgan in the Azadegan League.-Club career:He previously played for the Saipa F.C...
Pejman Montazeri
Pejman Montazeri
Pejman Montazeri is an Iranian football player. He currently plays for Esteghlal in Iran's Premier Football League.-Club career:He was one of the talnted players in the Foolad squad and moved to Esteghlal when Foolad relegated to the first division.He has been a regular player for the team in his...
Gholamreza Rezaei
Gholamreza Rezaei
Gholamreza Rezaei is an Iranian Football Striker who currently plays for Persepolis in the Iran Pro League- Club career :He started his career in Fajr Sepasi in his hometown, Shiraz, where he was introduced to Iranian Football. after showing his talent in Fajr, he was bought by Tehrani wealthy...
Naeem Saadavi
Naeem Saadavi
Naeim Sadavi Saad is a retired Iranian football player and now a football coach. He usually played in the defender position.-Club career:He played for a few clubs in Iran, namely Bahman, Persepolis FC and Foolad FC....
Behnam Seraj
Behnam Seraj
Behnam Seraj is a retired Iranian football player who previously played for the Iran national football team. He was one of the most successful strikers in the Iran Pro League.-References:...
Omid Sharifinasab
AFC Emad Mohammed Ridha
CAF Carlos Armando Sá
Armando Sá
Armando Miguel Correia de Sá is a retired Mozambican footballer who played usually a right defender.He also holds a Portuguese passport, and played professionally in four different countries in a 16-year professional career: Portugal , Spain, England and Iran.-Club...
Erfan Olerum
Daniel Olerum
Daniel "Erfan" Okechukwu Olerum is a Nigerian-born football striker. He currently plays for FC Aboomoslem in the Azadegan League.-Club career:...
CONMEBOL Fábio Hempel
Fábio Hempel
Fábio Hermínio Hempel |Paraná]], Brazil) is a Brazilian football player who plays for União da Madeira. He is usually plays in the striker position....
Fábio Januário
Fábio Januário
Fábio Daniel Januário known simply as Januário is an association football player. He currently plays for the very popular and successful Iranian club Sepahan in Iran's Premier Football League...
UEFA Mahmud Qurbanov Rashad Sadygov
Rashad sadygov
Rashad Farhad oghlu Sadygov is an Azerbaijani footballer and the national team captain. He plays for the Azerbaijani club side FK Qarabağ.In 2006, as a result of missing the registration deadline for the Azerbaijani football club side PFC Neftchi, Sadygov played basketball for local club BK...
Mladen Bartolović
Mladen Bartolovic
Mladen Bartolović is a Bosnian football player. Although he spent almost his entire career in Croatia, he is part of the Bosnia and Herzegovina national football team. Not to be confused with Croatian player Mladen Bartulović.He formerly played for HNK Čapljina, HNK Cibalia, Dinamo Zagreb, 1...
Jaba Mujiri
Jaba Mujiri
Jaba Mujiri is a Georgian football player who currently plays for Foolad F.C. in the Iran Pro League. He usually plays in the defender position.-Club career:...