Football in Iran
Encyclopedia
Football in Iran
is quite possibly the most popular sport, with only wrestling
and volleyball
being able to match its popularity. Football has been a part of life for Iranians for many decades now and is played in schools, alleys, streets and football clubs nationwide.
as early as 1898, when a team of British residents of Isfahan played a team of Armenians
.
In south western Iran
the game was introduced in 1907 by British
sailors and workers. At that time they were working at port cities Bushehr
, Khorramshahr
, Bandar Abbas
and major oil refineries such as Abadan
and Masjed Soleiman in the province of Khuzestan, the latter area even boasting a football league. The local Iranian employees of the company first looked on, and then began replacing individual players on the teams, until they formed their own teams. These young Iranian football players
met some hostility from their social environment for participating in the games of the "infidels," and were at times beaten up and pelted with stones.
1907 was the year that British
Ambassador in Tehran
by the name of Cecil Spring-Rice
founded Iran's first Football Tournament which had only 3 teams Embassy of Great Britain, Imperial Bank of Persia
and Indo-European Telegraph Company.
In the same year, Tehran Football Association Club, an organising body for arranging football matches was established.
However all teams were made up of British residents of Tehran, although when teams didn't have enough players they sometimes
chose Iranian bystanders to come on the field and play. The first Iranian player was Karim Zandi who played from 1908 to 1916. He was the reason other Iranians became motivated and interested in the sport. It became every young Iranian's dream to play alongside these British residents of Tehran. All matches were played at around Mashq Square.
In 1910 Dr. Samuel M. Jordan
, the principal of American School (currently known as Alborz High School
) in Tehran, introduced football as part of the school's curriculum. Four years later 1914, start of World War I
put an end to these football matches and football programs.
Elsewhere in the south of Iran, (i.e. cities such as Shiraz
) football was introduced by the British officers of the
South Persia Rifles
(1916–1921) to the Iranian troops they commanded, who then spread the game among the population.
Post-Great War(in 1918) saw football matches recommence in Tehran. Then two years later, in 1920, a number of Iranian and British football enthusiasts founded the Iranian Football Association (Majmaa-i Football-i Iran) to encourage Iranian players and to popularize the game. The director of the Imperial Bank of Persia
, James McMurray, became its president, and he was assisted by the legation doctor, A.R. Neligan; they each donated a cup to be awarded to winning teams.
Whilst the same year(i.e. 1920) saw the establishment of Iran's first football club called Iran Club
. Soon after the alumni of American College and the students of School of Political Science also formed teams. The Iran Club
squad consisted of Karim Zandi, Khan Sardar brothers, Amir-Aslani brothers, Mohammad Ali Shokooh, Azizollah Afkkhami, Reza Kalantar, Sheybani, Hasan Meftah, Herand, Galustyan, Khajeh-Noori, Reza Rabizadeh,Hambarson,Ashrafi. This group of players won the Tehran Association Cup in 1923.
In the same year a new club was established called Tehran Club
, this followed by creation of Armenian Sports Club
and Toofan Club, and in 1925 Tehran Club reached the final and defeated British Select Team of Tehran 2-1.
Also in the Post-Great War period, some footballers who played abroad such as Hossein Sadaghiani
and Khan-Sardar brothers who played in Belgian Football Leagues returned to Iran. Hossein Sadaghiani
for instance after returning to Iran temporarily from Europe, helped to establish the first football club(Ferdowsi Club
) in Mashhad
. During his one year stay in Mashhad, he arranged football matches between the club and the British Consulate-General. Prior to that, in Mashhad football was only played by foreign residents specially the employees of the Telegraph Office and the British Consulate-General.
To sum up, the British presence in Iran was instrumental in popularizing
football in Iran, but other Westerners, like the Americans and the French, also
furthered its popularity through the schools they established. In places that had
not entertained a significant foreign presence, such as Ardabil
, it seems that the
game was introduced in the 1920s by young men who had spent some time in
the Caucasus
.
, Toofan F.C. and Armenian Sports Club
)
traveled across the border to Baku
, USSR, this was the first away football match for an Iranian team. This Tehran Select team is the predessor of Iran's national football team.
In 1929 it was time for a return visit, and so a team from Baku was invited
to play in Tehran in late November. To impress the visitors, grass had been
planted on the state-owned football field. The last of the three games, all of
which were won by the visitors, was attended by Abdolhossein Teymourtash,
the powerful minister of court. The humiliating defeats, suffered on home ground, caused great consternation,so much so
that some young men gave up football altogether. In subsequent years the interest in football waned, and newspapers hardly reported on those matches that did take place. However, all this changed with the return of crown prince Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
from Switzerland
in 1936 and arrival of Thomas R Gibson in the 1930s to promote the game.
The results were as follow:
became active in sharing the knowledge of the game and also with growth of football, he became the first head coach of the Iranian national team, who later on went on coaching football teams of University of Tehran
. The very first match that the Iranian national football team
played was on January 1, 1941 away at Afghanistan
.
In 1942, when the Allied Forces were in Iran
, Iran national football team
defeated a British Military XI team in a friendly match played in Tehran
. Match details as follow:
Iran team lineup were: Fathollah Minbashian, Mansour Hajian, Abbas Qarib
, Aziz Farzanegan, Abbas Tandidehgar, Jamshid Malekshahi, Bakhtiar, Akbar Toofan, Ahmad Izadpanah and 2 more players. The team's head coach was Hossein Sadaghiani
.
British Army XI lineup included players such as Wilf Mannion
, Migger and Bick, Bertie Mee
, Jimmy McCabe.
, and Taj
, were all Tehran teams established in the mid 1940's which even to this day have a great following.
As the number of club teams increased the need for a national league became apparent, and ever since 1960, with the exception of a few years, a nationwide football league has existed in Iran. The Takhte Jamshid Cup, Azadegan League and the IPL being the most important ones.
The first two decades of international football for Iran was uneventful, but the 60's and 70's was when Iran established itself as one of Asia's
top sides.
They won the Asian Cup in 1968, 1972 and 1976, the 1974 Asian Games
football tournament, qualified for the 1964
, 1972
, 1976
and 1980
Olympic Games
and most importantly qualified for World Cup 1978 in Argentina
. The Iranian Revolution
and the Iran–Iraq War soon occurred and football was downplayed, but the national team has made a comeback in recent years, qualifying for the 1998 Football World Cup and recording their first win ever in World Cup (against the United States
) and also qualifying for the 2006 tournament in Germany
.
and national team
are administrated by the Iranian FA known as the I.R.I.F.F
. The I.R.I.F.F has also been a member of FIFA
since 1945 and the Asian Football Confederation
since 1958. The Federation receives most of its budget from the Iranian government's Physical Education Department, and also from sponsorships with various companies.
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...
is quite possibly the most popular sport, with only wrestling
Wrestling
Wrestling is a form of grappling type techniques such as clinch fighting, throws and takedowns, joint locks, pins and other grappling holds. A wrestling bout is a physical competition, between two competitors or sparring partners, who attempt to gain and maintain a superior position...
and volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
being able to match its popularity. Football has been a part of life for Iranians for many decades now and is played in schools, alleys, streets and football clubs nationwide.
History of football in Iran
Football was played in 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...
as early as 1898, when a team of British residents of Isfahan played a team of Armenians
Armenians
Armenian people or Armenians are a nation and ethnic group native to the Armenian Highland.The largest concentration is in Armenia having a nearly-homogeneous population with 97.9% or 3,145,354 being ethnic Armenian....
.
In south western Iran
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...
the game was introduced in 1907 by British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
sailors and workers. At that time they were working at port cities Bushehr
Bushehr
Bushehr Bushehr lies in a vast plain running along the coastal region on the Persian Gulf coast of southwestern Iran. It is the chief seaport of the country and the administrative centre of its province. Its location is about south of Tehran. The local climate is hot and humid.The city...
, Khorramshahr
Khorramshahr
Khorramshahr is a city in and the capital of Khorramshahr County, Khuzestan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 123,866, in 26,385 families.Khorramshahr is a port city located approximately north of Abadan...
, Bandar Abbas
Bandar Abbas
Bandar-Abbas or Bandar-e ‘Abbās , also Romanized as Bandar ‘Abbās, Bandar ‘Abbāsī, and Bandar-e ‘Abbās; formerly known as Cambarão and Port Comorão to Portuguese traders, as Gombroon to English traders and as Gamrun or Gumrun to Dutch merchants) is a port city and capital of Hormozgān Province on...
and major oil refineries such as Abadan
Abadan
Abadan is a city in and the capital of Abadan County, Khuzestan Province, Iran. It lies on Abadan Island , from the Persian Gulf, near the Iraqi-Iran border. The civilian population of the city dropped to near zero during the eight-years Iran–Iraq War. In 1992, only 84,774 had returned to live...
and Masjed Soleiman in the province of Khuzestan, the latter area even boasting a football league. The local Iranian employees of the company first looked on, and then began replacing individual players on the teams, until they formed their own teams. These young Iranian football players
met some hostility from their social environment for participating in the games of the "infidels," and were at times beaten up and pelted with stones.
1907 was the year that British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Ambassador in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
by the name of Cecil Spring-Rice
Cecil Spring-Rice
Sir Cecil Arthur Spring-Rice GCMG GCVO , was a British diplomat who served as British Ambassador to the United States from 1912 to 1918.-Early life:...
founded Iran's first Football Tournament which had only 3 teams Embassy of Great Britain, Imperial Bank of Persia
Imperial Bank of Persia
The Imperial Bank of Persia was an Iranian bank. It was established in 1885 with a concession from the government of Persia to Baron Julius De Reuter, under a Royal charter from Queen Victoria....
and Indo-European Telegraph Company.
In the same year, Tehran Football Association Club, an organising body for arranging football matches was established.
However all teams were made up of British residents of Tehran, although when teams didn't have enough players they sometimes
chose Iranian bystanders to come on the field and play. The first Iranian player was Karim Zandi who played from 1908 to 1916. He was the reason other Iranians became motivated and interested in the sport. It became every young Iranian's dream to play alongside these British residents of Tehran. All matches were played at around Mashq Square.
In 1910 Dr. Samuel M. Jordan
Samuel M. Jordan
Dr. Samuel Martin Jordan was an American presbyterian missionary in Persia .He is sometimes referred to as the "father of modern education in Iran," though Amir Kabir is generally thought to be more deserving of this title, and indeed within Iran, the title refers to Amir Kabir.After graduating...
, the principal of American School (currently known as Alborz High School
Alborz High School
Alborz High School , is a college preparatory high school located in the heart of Tehran, Iran. It is named after the Alborz mountain range north of Tehran.- History :...
) in Tehran, introduced football as part of the school's curriculum. Four years later 1914, start of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
put an end to these football matches and football programs.
Elsewhere in the south of Iran, (i.e. cities such as Shiraz
Shiraz
Shiraz may refer to:* Shiraz, Iran, a city in Iran* Shiraz County, an administrative subdivision of Iran* Vosketap, Armenia, formerly called ShirazPeople:* Hovhannes Shiraz, Armenian poet* Ara Shiraz, Armenian sculptor...
) football was introduced by the British officers of the
South Persia Rifles
South Persia Rifles
The South Persia Rifles was a Persian military force recruited by the British in 1916 and under British command. They participated in the Persian Campaign of World War I.-History:...
(1916–1921) to the Iranian troops they commanded, who then spread the game among the population.
Post-Great War(in 1918) saw football matches recommence in Tehran. Then two years later, in 1920, a number of Iranian and British football enthusiasts founded the Iranian Football Association (Majmaa-i Football-i Iran) to encourage Iranian players and to popularize the game. The director of the Imperial Bank of Persia
Imperial Bank of Persia
The Imperial Bank of Persia was an Iranian bank. It was established in 1885 with a concession from the government of Persia to Baron Julius De Reuter, under a Royal charter from Queen Victoria....
, James McMurray, became its president, and he was assisted by the legation doctor, A.R. Neligan; they each donated a cup to be awarded to winning teams.
Whilst the same year(i.e. 1920) saw the establishment of Iran's first football club called Iran Club
Iran Club
Iran Club was an Iranian football club based in Tehran, Iran. It was Iran's first football club and predecessor to Tehran Club. In 1923 all players moved to newly established Tehran Club.-Honours:Tehran Annual Football Association Cup:...
. Soon after the alumni of American College and the students of School of Political Science also formed teams. The Iran Club
Iran Club
Iran Club was an Iranian football club based in Tehran, Iran. It was Iran's first football club and predecessor to Tehran Club. In 1923 all players moved to newly established Tehran Club.-Honours:Tehran Annual Football Association Cup:...
squad consisted of Karim Zandi, Khan Sardar brothers, Amir-Aslani brothers, Mohammad Ali Shokooh, Azizollah Afkkhami, Reza Kalantar, Sheybani, Hasan Meftah, Herand, Galustyan, Khajeh-Noori, Reza Rabizadeh,Hambarson,Ashrafi. This group of players won the Tehran Association Cup in 1923.
In the same year a new club was established called Tehran Club
Tehran Club
Tehran Club was an Iranian football club based in Tehran, Iran. It was the successor to Iran first football club Iran Club..-Famous players:*Karim Zandi*Mohammad Ali Shokooh*Azizollah Afkhami*Hasan Meftah*Reza Rabizadeh*Hossein-Ali Khan Sardar...
, this followed by creation of Armenian Sports Club
Armenian Sports Club
Armenian Sports Club was an Iranian football club based in Tehran, Iran. It was Iran's first sport club for Iranian-Armenians.. It's not known when the sport club ceased to exist, however it can be assumed that sometime in the 1930s as in 1944 F.C...
and Toofan Club, and in 1925 Tehran Club reached the final and defeated British Select Team of Tehran 2-1.
Also in the Post-Great War period, some footballers who played abroad such as Hossein Sadaghiani
Hossein Sadaghiani
Dr. Amir Hossein Sadaghiani was an Iranian football player and manager. He was a striker during his playing career and afterwards was Iran national football team's head coach from 1941 till 1950.- Club career :...
and Khan-Sardar brothers who played in Belgian Football Leagues returned to Iran. Hossein Sadaghiani
Hossein Sadaghiani
Dr. Amir Hossein Sadaghiani was an Iranian football player and manager. He was a striker during his playing career and afterwards was Iran national football team's head coach from 1941 till 1950.- Club career :...
for instance after returning to Iran temporarily from Europe, helped to establish the first football club(Ferdowsi Club
Ferdowsi Club
Ferdowsi Club was an Iranian football club based in Mashhad, Iran. It was the first football club that was established in Khorasan. It was founded by Hossein Sadaghiani who played for the club for one season 1924-1925...
) in Mashhad
Mashhad
Mashhad , is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia Muslim world. It is also the only major Iranian city with an Arabic name. It is located east of Tehran, at the center of the Razavi Khorasan Province close to the borders of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Its...
. During his one year stay in Mashhad, he arranged football matches between the club and the British Consulate-General. Prior to that, in Mashhad football was only played by foreign residents specially the employees of the Telegraph Office and the British Consulate-General.
To sum up, the British presence in Iran was instrumental in popularizing
football in Iran, but other Westerners, like the Americans and the French, also
furthered its popularity through the schools they established. In places that had
not entertained a significant foreign presence, such as Ardabil
Ardabil
Ardabil is a historical city in north-western Iran. The name Ardabil probably comes from the Zoroastrian name of "Artavil" which means a holy place. Ardabil is the center of Ardabil Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 412,669, in 102,818 families...
, it seems that the
game was introduced in the 1920s by young men who had spent some time in
the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
.
Tehran XI
In 1926 Tehran XI(selected players from Tehran ClubTehran Club
Tehran Club was an Iranian football club based in Tehran, Iran. It was the successor to Iran first football club Iran Club..-Famous players:*Karim Zandi*Mohammad Ali Shokooh*Azizollah Afkhami*Hasan Meftah*Reza Rabizadeh*Hossein-Ali Khan Sardar...
, Toofan F.C. and Armenian Sports Club
Armenian Sports Club
Armenian Sports Club was an Iranian football club based in Tehran, Iran. It was Iran's first sport club for Iranian-Armenians.. It's not known when the sport club ceased to exist, however it can be assumed that sometime in the 1930s as in 1944 F.C...
)
traveled across the border to Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
, USSR, this was the first away football match for an Iranian team. This Tehran Select team is the predessor of Iran's national football team.
In 1929 it was time for a return visit, and so a team from Baku was invited
to play in Tehran in late November. To impress the visitors, grass had been
planted on the state-owned football field. The last of the three games, all of
which were won by the visitors, was attended by Abdolhossein Teymourtash,
the powerful minister of court. The humiliating defeats, suffered on home ground, caused great consternation,so much so
that some young men gave up football altogether. In subsequent years the interest in football waned, and newspapers hardly reported on those matches that did take place. However, all this changed with the return of crown prince Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Reza Pahlavi
Mohammad Rezā Shāh Pahlavi, Shah of Iran, Shah of Persia , ruled Iran from 16 September 1941 until his overthrow by the Iranian Revolution on 11 February 1979...
from Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in 1936 and arrival of Thomas R Gibson in the 1930s to promote the game.
- Head Coach: Mir Mehdi Varzandeh
- Squad:
Hossein-Ali Khan Sardar Hossein-Ali Khan SardarHossein-Ali Khan Sardar was an Iranian football player from the early years of 20th Century. He was a Goalkeeper during his playing career. He was born in Tehran, Iran.- Club career :He played his club football in Belgium whilst studying...
(Goalkeeper, captain)Ahmad-Ali Khan Sardar Mohammad-Ali Khan Sardar Hossein Sadaghiani Hossein SadaghianiDr. Amir Hossein Sadaghiani was an Iranian football player and manager. He was a striker during his playing career and afterwards was Iran national football team's head coach from 1941 till 1950.- Club career :...Karim Zandi Hasan Meftah Ali Kani Mohammad Ali Shokooh Amir Aslani Aziz Eqtedar Akbar Heydari Herand Galusetiyan Naser Enshaa Reza Qoli Kalantar Azizollah Afkhami
The results were as follow:
| # | Date | Opponent | Result | Score | Venue | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | autumn 1926 |  Transcaucasian SFSR Baku XI |
L | 0-2 | Baku Baku Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal... , Transcaucasian SFSR Transcaucasian SFSR The Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic , also known as the Transcaucasian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the Transcaucasian SFSR and the TSFSR for short, was a short-lived republic of the Soviet Union, lasting from 1922 to 1936... , USSR |
Friendly |
| 2 | autumn 1926 | Transcaucasian SFSR Azerbaijan Polytechnical Institute |
D | 0-0 | Baku Baku Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal... , Transcaucasian SFSR Transcaucasian SFSR The Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic , also known as the Transcaucasian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the Transcaucasian SFSR and the TSFSR for short, was a short-lived republic of the Soviet Union, lasting from 1922 to 1936... , USSR |
Friendly |
| 3 | autumn 1926 | Transcaucasian SFSR Baku Youth XI |
L | 3-4 | Baku Baku Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal... , Transcaucasian SFSR Transcaucasian SFSR The Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic , also known as the Transcaucasian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the Transcaucasian SFSR and the TSFSR for short, was a short-lived republic of the Soviet Union, lasting from 1922 to 1936... , USSR |
Friendly |
| 4 | autumn 1926 | Transcaucasian SFSR Taraqi Baku |
L | 1-3 | Baku Baku Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal... , Transcaucasian SFSR Transcaucasian SFSR The Transcaucasian Socialist Federative Soviet Republic , also known as the Transcaucasian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, the Transcaucasian SFSR and the TSFSR for short, was a short-lived republic of the Soviet Union, lasting from 1922 to 1936... , USSR |
Friendly |
| 5 | Nov 1929 | Transcaucasian SFSR Baku XI |
L | 0-4 | Tehran Tehran Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to... , Iran 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... |
Friendly |
| 6 | Nov 1929 | Transcaucasian SFSR Baku XI |
L | 1-3 | Tehran Tehran Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to... , Iran 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... |
Friendly |
| 7 | Nov 1929 | Transcaucasian SFSR Baku XI |
L | 0-11 | Tehran Tehran Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to... , Iran 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... |
Friendly |
World War Two period
One man can be remembered, who contributed to Iranian football during the post–World War One period. Hossein SadaghianiHossein Sadaghiani
Dr. Amir Hossein Sadaghiani was an Iranian football player and manager. He was a striker during his playing career and afterwards was Iran national football team's head coach from 1941 till 1950.- Club career :...
became active in sharing the knowledge of the game and also with growth of football, he became the first head coach of the Iranian national team, who later on went on coaching football teams of University of Tehran
University of Tehran
The University of Tehran , also known as Tehran University and UT, is Iran's oldest university. Located in Tehran, the university is among the most prestigious in the country, and is consistently selected as the first choice of many applicants in the annual nationwide entrance exam for top Iranian...
. The very first match that the Iranian national football 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...
played was on January 1, 1941 away at Afghanistan
Afghanistan national football team
The Afghanistan national football team is the national team of Afghanistan and is controlled by the Afghanistan Football Federation. The national team was founded in 1922 that joined FIFA in 1948 and the AFC in 1954...
.
In 1942, when the Allied Forces were in Iran
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...
, Iran national football 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...
defeated a British Military XI team in a friendly match played in Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
. Match details as follow:
Iran team lineup were: Fathollah Minbashian, Mansour Hajian, Abbas Qarib
Abbas Qarib
Abbas Qarib born 1916 in Tehran, Iran and died on September 16, 2009 was the last surviving member of Iran's first national football team.In 1941, he played as left wing defender in games against Afghanistan and British Raj...
, Aziz Farzanegan, Abbas Tandidehgar, Jamshid Malekshahi, Bakhtiar, Akbar Toofan, Ahmad Izadpanah and 2 more players. The team's head coach was Hossein Sadaghiani
Hossein Sadaghiani
Dr. Amir Hossein Sadaghiani was an Iranian football player and manager. He was a striker during his playing career and afterwards was Iran national football team's head coach from 1941 till 1950.- Club career :...
.
British Army XI lineup included players such as Wilf Mannion
Wilf Mannion
Wilfred James Mannion was an English professional footballer who played as an inside forward, making over 350 senior appearances for Middlesbrough. He also played international football for England...
, Migger and Bick, Bertie Mee
Bertie Mee
Bertram "Bertie" Mee OBE was an English football player and manager, noted for managing Arsenal to their first Double win in 1971. He was the younger brother of fellow footballer Georgie Mee.-Early life:...
, Jimmy McCabe.
Post–World War period
Teams from Khuzestan were always the most successful was the powerhouse the 50's and early 60's, but the game had become very popular in Iran by then. Tehran slowly started becoming the football capital of Iran, and numerous great clubs emerged from there. Shahin FC, Oghab FCOghab FC
Oghab Tehran Football Club is an Iranian football team based in Tehran, Iran. They currently compete in the 2011–12 Iran Football's 3rd Division.-History:...
, and Taj
Esteghlal
Esteghlal is an Arabic word means independence. the name held by many Iranian football clubs and Armenian football clubs. This includes:*Esteghlal F.C.— Iranian football club*Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C...
, were all Tehran teams established in the mid 1940's which even to this day have a great following.
As the number of club teams increased the need for a national league became apparent, and ever since 1960, with the exception of a few years, a nationwide football league has existed in Iran. The Takhte Jamshid Cup, Azadegan League and the IPL being the most important ones.
The first two decades of international football for Iran was uneventful, but the 60's and 70's was when Iran established itself as one of Asia's
Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
top sides.
1974 Asian Games
The 7th Asian Games were held from September 1, 1974 to September 16, 1974 in Tehran, Iran. The Aryamehr sports complex was made for the Games. The Asian Games were hosted in the Middle East for the first time...
football tournament, qualified for the 1964
Football at the 1964 Summer Olympics
The football competition at the 1964 Summer Olympics started on October 11 and ended on October 23. Only one event, the men's tournament, was contested...
, 1972
Football at the 1972 Summer Olympics
Final results for the Football competition at the 1972 Summer Olympics held in Munich, Augsburg, Ingolstadt, Nürnberg, Passau, and Regensburg.-Medalists:-Group A: ---- -----------------Group B: ---- ----------------...
, 1976
Football at the 1976 Summer Olympics
Final results for the Football competition at the 1976 Summer Olympics held in Montreal, Toronto, Ottawa, and Sherbrooke. Groups A, C and D had only three teams instead of four, as Nigeria, Ghana and Zambia national teams adhered to African-led boycott of the Games against the participation of New...
and 1980
Football at the 1980 Summer Olympics
thumb|right|Official Programme of the match [[USSR]] vs [[Venezuela]]The football tournament at the 1980 Summer Olympics started on July 20 and ended on August 2. Only one event, the men's tournament, was contested...
Olympic Games
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
and most importantly qualified for World Cup 1978 in Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
. The Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
and the Iran–Iraq War soon occurred and football was downplayed, but the national team has made a comeback in recent years, qualifying for the 1998 Football World Cup and recording their first win ever in World Cup (against the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
) and also qualifying for the 2006 tournament in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
.
Football structure
The leagueIran's Premier Football League
The Iran Pro League , is a professional football league competition for clubs located at the highest level of the Iranian football league system.The league system resembles the system being used in England currently...
and 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...
are administrated by the Iranian FA known as the I.R.I.F.F
Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation
The Football Federation of the Islamic Republic of Iran ' is the governing body for football in Iran. It was founded in 1920, and has been a member of FIFA since 1945. It is also a member of the Asian Football Confederation...
. The I.R.I.F.F has also been a member of FIFA
FIFA
The Fédération Internationale de Football Association , commonly known by the acronym FIFA , is the international governing body of :association football, futsal and beach football. Its headquarters are located in Zurich, Switzerland, and its president is Sepp Blatter, who is in his fourth...
since 1945 and the Asian Football Confederation
Asian Football Confederation
The Asian Football Confederation is the governing body of association football in Asia. It has 46 member countries, mostly located on the Asian continent. However, due to the disputed boundary of Europe and Asia, nations such as Russia and Turkey which are located mostly in geographic Asia are...
since 1958. The Federation receives most of its budget from the Iranian government's Physical Education Department, and also from sponsorships with various companies.
Major arenas
- Azadi StadiumAzadi StadiumThe Azadi Stadium formerly Aryamehr Stadium is Iran's national stadium and the largest in the country. The Azadi stadium officially has a capacity of 100,000 people and was built to host the 1974 Asian Games...
, TehranTehranTehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to... - Ali Daei StadiumAli Daei StadiumThe Ali Daei Stadium is a 20,000 seater stadium in Ardabil, Iran. The seated capacity may in due course be increased to 30,000. The stadium is part of a much larger sports complex that expands over 40,000 square meters. It was fully funded by legendary Iranian footballer Ali Daei...
, Ardebil - Dr. Azodi StadiumDr. Azodi StadiumThe Dr. Azodi Stadium is a multipurpose stadium in Rasht, Iran. It is currently used mostly for football matches and was the home stadium of Damash Gilan F.C.. The stadium holds 20,000 people....
, RashtRashtRasht is a city in and the capital of Gilan Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 551,161, in 159,983 families.Rasht is the largest city on Iran's Caspian Sea coast. It is a major trade center between Caucasia, Russia and Iran using the port of Bandar-e Anzali... - Bagh Shomal Stadium, TabrizTabrizTabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
- Enghelab StadiumEnghelab Stadium (Karaj)The Enghelab Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Karaj, Iran. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home of football team, Saipa F.C. as of 2001. It has a capacity of 15,000 people....
, KarajKarajKaraj is a city in and the capital of Karaj County, Alborz Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 1,377,450, in 385,955 families, , making it the fifth-largest city in Iran after Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Tabriz.) It is situated west of Tehran, at the foothills of the Alborz... - Foolad Shahr Stadium, Isfahan
- Hafezieh StadiumHafezieh StadiumThe Hafezieh Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Shiraz, Iran. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Bargh Shiraz F.C. and Moghavemat Sepasi F.C., both of whom currently play in Iran's Premier Football League. The stadium holds 20,000 people and is...
, ShirazShirazShiraz may refer to:* Shiraz, Iran, a city in Iran* Shiraz County, an administrative subdivision of Iran* Vosketap, Armenia, formerly called ShirazPeople:* Hovhannes Shiraz, Armenian poet* Ara Shiraz, Armenian sculptor... - Iran Khodro StadiumIran Khodro StadiumThe Iran Khodro Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Karaj, Iran. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Paykan Qazvin F.C. . The stadium holds 10,000 people....
, KarajKarajKaraj is a city in and the capital of Karaj County, Alborz Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 1,377,450, in 385,955 families, , making it the fifth-largest city in Iran after Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Tabriz.) It is situated west of Tehran, at the foothills of the Alborz... - Naghsh-e-Jahan Stadium, Isfahan
- Nassiri StadiumNassiri StadiumThe Shahid Nassiri Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Yazd, Iran. It is part of the much larger Shahid Nassiri Sports Complex. It is used mostly for football matches. However, during football's lull in popularity in the mid-1990s, it was discussed whether the National Afghan Buzkashi League ...
, YazdYazdYazd is the capital of Yazd Province in Iran, and a centre of Zoroastrian culture. The city is located some 175 miles southeast of Isfahan. At the 2006 census, the population was 423,006, in 114,716 families.... - Rah Ahan StadiumRah Ahan StadiumThe Rah Ahan Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Tehran, Iran. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Rah Ahan F.C. who currently play in Iran's Premier Football League....
, TehranTehranTehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to... - Samen StadiumSamen StadiumThe Samen Stadium is a sport venue in the outskirts of Mashhad, Iran. It is used by F.C. Aboomoslem and Payam Mashhad F.C., two Iranian football clubs from Mashhad playing in Iran's Premier Football League. It is also used for track and field events, concerts and other local football teams...
, MashhadMashhadMashhad , is the second largest city in Iran and one of the holiest cities in the Shia Muslim world. It is also the only major Iranian city with an Arabic name. It is located east of Tehran, at the center of the Razavi Khorasan Province close to the borders of Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. Its... - Shahid Dastgerdi StadiumShahid Dastgerdi StadiumThe Shahid Dastgerdi Stadium is a football stadium located in the Ekbatan area of Tehran, Iran. It was named after a casualty of the Iran–Iraq War.It is currently the home of Steel Azin F.C. football club...
, TehranTehranTehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to... - Shahid Shiroudi StadiumShahid Shiroudi StadiumThe Shahid Shiroudi Stadium is a sports stadium in Tehran, Iran, currently used only for Athletic competitions. Until 2009 it was used mostly for football matches....
, TehranTehranTehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to... - Shiroudi Stadium, KarajKarajKaraj is a city in and the capital of Karaj County, Alborz Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 1,377,450, in 385,955 families, , making it the fifth-largest city in Iran after Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Tabriz.) It is situated west of Tehran, at the foothills of the Alborz...
- Shohada StadiumShohada StadiumThe Shohada Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Noshahr, Iran. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Shemushack Noshahr F.C. in the Azadegan League. The stadium holds 6,000 people....
, NoshahrNoshahrNowshahr is a port city in and the capital of Nowshahr County, Mazandaran Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 40,578, in 11,550 families.-Climate and Tourism:... - Takhti StadiumTakhti 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....
, Abadan - Takhti StadiumTakhti Stadium (Ahvaz)The Takhti Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Ahvaz, Iran. It is currently used mostly for football matches. The stadium is able to hold 30,000 people.As of October 2007 only Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C...
, 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... - Takhti StadiumTakhti Stadium (Anzali)The Takhti Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Bandar-e Anzali, Iran. It is located in the Pishgah Hadian Sports Complex. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Malavan who play in Iran's Premier Football League...
, Bandar-e AnzaliBandar-e AnzaliBandar-e Anzali , also Romanized as Bandar-e Pahlavī, Bandar Pahlavi, and Bandar Pahlevi, or simply as Pahlavī, Pahlevī, and Pehlevi; earlier, Enceli and Enzeli) is a city in and the capital of Bandar-e Anzali County, Gilan Province, Iran... - Takhti StadiumTakhti Stadium (Tehran)Takhti Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Tehran, Iran. It is used mostly for football matches. The stadium is able to hold 30,000 people and was opened in 1973....
, TehranTehranTehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to... - Yadegar Emam StadiumYadegar Emam StadiumThe Yadegar Emam Stadium is a multi-purpose stadium in Qom, Iran. It is currently used mostly for football matches and is the home stadium of Saba Qom F.C. who currently play in Iran's Premier Football League. The stadium holds 15,000 people....
, QomQomQom is a city in Iran. It lies by road southwest of Tehran and is the capital of Qom Province. At the 2006 census, its population was 957,496, in 241,827 families. It is situated on the banks of the Qom River.... - Yadegar Emam Stadium, TabrizTabrizTabriz is the fourth largest city and one of the historical capitals of Iran and the capital of East Azerbaijan Province. Situated at an altitude of 1,350 meters at the junction of the Quri River and Aji River, it was the second largest city in Iran until the late 1960s, one of its former...
See also
- Azadegan League (Post 2001)Iran Football's 1st DivisionThe 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...
- Football around the world
- Futsal in IranFutsal in IranFutsal in Iran is conducted under the aegis of the Futsal Commission of the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation. Futsal is a popular and growing sport in the country....
- Hazfi CupHazfi CupThe 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....
- IPL
- Iran national football teamIran national football teamThe national football team of Iran represents Iran in international football competitions and is controlled by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran...
- Iran national futsal teamIran national futsal teamThe Iran national futsal team represents Iran in international futsal competitions and is controlled by the Futsal Commission of the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation. The "Kings of Asian Futsal" have won almost all editions of Asian Futsal Championship and are the 6th strongest team in...
- List of ex-pat Iranian football clubs
- List of Iranian football clubs in 2009–10 season
- List of Iranian football clubs in 2010–11 season
- List of Iranian football clubs in 2011–12 season
- Women's Football in IranWomen's football in IranAssociation football in Iran is very popular. Football has been a part of life for Iranians for many decades now and is played in schools, alleys, streets and football clubs nationwide. Women in Iran are increasingly inclined to play football, and with this increasing popularity it is only a matter...
- Sports in Iran