Iran Football's 1st Division
Encyclopedia
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. The IPL
was created and the Azadegan League became the second highest division in the Iranian football league system
.
and Saipa
dominated the league in the first four years. Pas and Esteghlal both were able to capture Asian Club Championships
in the early 1990s. By the mid-90s Persepolis and Esteghlal regained their dominant form. The league championship every year between 1995-2001 was either Esteghlal
or Persepolis
. The two clubs always had the most talented players in Iran, the national team consisted mainly of Persepolis and Esteghlal players, and some of the greatest talents Iranian football has seen were discovered during this period.
, with the top team being declared the Azadegan League champion. The eleventh and twelfth placed teams in the groups are automatically relegated to the 2nd division
. Sometimes the playoff match format is not used and one match takes place between the teams on a neutral ground instead.
The top two teams from the two 2nd division groups are promoted to the Azadegan League.
Last updated:02.08.2011
Iranian football league system
The Iranian football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for football clubs in Iran.-Structure:The current structure has been in place since 2001. The Iran Premier League is the highest level of club football in Iran. It is also called the Persian Gulf Cup. Below it is the Azadegan...
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
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...
decided to start a professional league. The IPL
Iran'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...
was created and the Azadegan League became the second highest division in the Iranian football league system
Iranian football league system
The Iranian football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for football clubs in Iran.-Structure:The current structure has been in place since 2001. The Iran Premier League is the highest level of club football in Iran. It is also called the Persian Gulf Cup. Below it is the Azadegan...
.
History
The league was founded in 1989 as the Qods League. In 1991 it was renamed the Azadegan League in honor of the Iranian prisoners of war who were released. Esteghlal was its first champion. For the first time in ten years Iran finally had a national league again. The number of teams playing in the league varied from year to year. PasPas Tehran
Pas Tehran Football Club was an Iranian football club based in Tehran, Iran.Pas F.C. was the football club of the multisport Pas Cultural and Sport Club....
and Saipa
Saipa FC
Saipa Alborz Football Club is a football team based in Karaj, Alborz Province, Iran. The team is owned by SAIPA, an Iranian automobile manufacturer. The team has never had a large fanbase, despite some success. It is known to have one of the best youth training programs in Iranian football.Saipa F.C...
dominated the league in the first four years. Pas and Esteghlal both were able to capture Asian Club Championships
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...
in the early 1990s. By the mid-90s Persepolis and Esteghlal regained their dominant form. The league championship every year between 1995-2001 was either Esteghlal
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...
or Persepolis
Persepolis
Perspolis was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire . Persepolis is situated northeast of the modern city of Shiraz in the Fars Province of modern Iran. In contemporary Persian, the site is known as Takht-e Jamshid...
. The two clubs always had the most talented players in Iran, the national team consisted mainly of Persepolis and Esteghlal players, and some of the greatest talents Iranian football has seen were discovered during this period.
Format
The Azadegan League consists of two subdivisions, each having 14 teams. The top two teams in each group have a playoff tournament at the end of the season in which home and away games take place. The top two point getters are then promoted to the IPLIran'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...
, with the top team being declared the Azadegan League champion. The eleventh and twelfth placed teams in the groups are automatically relegated to the 2nd division
Iran 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...
. Sometimes the playoff match format is not used and one match takes place between the teams on a neutral ground instead.
The top two teams from the two 2nd division groups are promoted to the Azadegan League.
Azadegan League 2011-12
In total, the following 28 teams will compete in 2011–12 Azadegan League Season.- Aboomoslem
- Aluminium HormozganAluminium Hormozgan F.C.Aluminum Hormozgan F.C. is an Iranian football club based in Bandar Abbas, Iran. They currently compete in the Azadegan League.-Season-by-Season:The table below chronicles the achievements of Aluminium Hormozgan in various competitions since 2006....
- Bargh Shiraz
- Esteghlal KhuzestanEsteghlal Meli-Sanati Khuzestan F.C.Esteghlal Meli-Sanati Khuzestan Football Club is an Iranian football club based in Ahvaz, Iran. They currently compete in the 2011–12 Azadegan League....
- Etka GorganEtka Gorgan F.C.Etka Gorgan is an Iranian football club based in Gorgan, Iran. They currently compete in the Azadegan League.-Season-by-season:The table below chronicles the achievements of Etka Gorgan in various competitions since 2008....
- Foolad YazdFoolad Yazd F.C.Foolad Yazd F.C is an Iranian football club based in Yazd, Iran. They currently compete in the Azadegan League. The Team was founded in 2004.-Season-by-season:The table below chronicles the achievements of Foolad Yazd in various competitions since 2004....
- Gahar Zagros
- Gol GoharGol Gohar F.C.Gol-e Gohar Football Club is an Iranian football club based in Sirjan, Iran. They currently compete in the Azadegan League.Gol-e Gohar Football Club is the football team of the Gol-e Gohar Cultural Sports Club who boast a successful basketball team who currently compete in the Iranian Basketball...
- IranjavanIranjavan F.C.Iranjavan Bushehr Football Club is an Iranian football, club based in Bushehr, Iran. They compete in the Iranian first division, and hold home games at the Shahid Beheshti Stadium.-Season-by-season:...
- Gostaresh FooladGostaresh Foolad F.C.Gostaresh Foolad F.C. is an Iranian football club based in Tabriz, Iran. They currently compete in the Azadegan League.-History:Formed in 2009, Gostaresh took over the licence of Niroye Zamini F.C. when they ran into financial difficulties...
- Machine SaziMachine Sazi Tabriz F.C.Machine Sazi Tabriz F.C. is an Iranian football club based in Tabriz, East Azerbaijan. They currently play the Azadegan League...
- Mes RafsanjanMes Rafsanjan F.C.Mes Rafsanjan Football Club is an Iranian football club based in Rafsanjan, Iran. The club is owned by "Sherkat Mess". Mes Rafsanjan famously knocked out a number of Premier League clubs in the Hazfi Cup of 2008/2009, including Foolad Khouzestan & Esteghlal Tehran...
- Naft Masjed Soleyman
- Nassaji
- Nirooye ZaminiNiroye Zamini F.C.Niroye Zamini Football Club is an Iranian football club based in Tehran, Iran. It is the football team of Iran's ground forces.They competed in the Azadegan League for a long time. Many younger players who must serve the mandatory two-year military service end up playing for the team...
- Payam Mokhaberat
- Parseh TehranParseh Tehran F.C.Parseh Tehran Football Club is an Iranian football club based in Tehran, Iran. They currently compete in the Azadegan League.-History:Club was formed by Arya Investment Company and named Damash in 2008....
- PAS HamedanPAS Hamedan F.C.PAS Hamedan Football Club is an Iranian football club based in Hamedan, Iran.-Establishment:PAS Hamedan was formed as a result of the dissolution of PAS Tehran F.C...
- Paykan
- Saipa ShomalSaipa Shomal Sari F.C.Saipa Shomal Q'aemshahr F.C. is an Iranian football club based in Qaem Shahr, Iran. They currently compete in the Azadegan League.-Season-by-Season:The table below chronicles the achievements of Saipa Shomal in various competitions since 2008....
- Sanat SariSanat Sari F.C.Sanat Sari Football Club is an Iranian football club based in Sari, Iran. They currently compete in the Azadegan League.-History:The club was formed out of the ensuring battle to relocate Mehrkam Pars Tehran after the club ran into financial difficulties...
- Sanati Kaveh
- Shahrdari ArakShahrdari Arak F.C.Shahrdari Arak Football Club is an Iranian football club based in Arak, Iran. They currently compete in the 2011–12 Azadegan League.-Season-by-Season:The table below shows the achievements of the club in various competitions.-See also:...
- Shahrdari Bandar AbbasShahrdari Bandar Abbas F.C.Shahrdari Bandar Abbas is an Iranian football club based in Bandar Abbas, Iran. They currently compete in the Azadegan League.- Establishment :...
- Shahrdari YasujShahrdari Yasuj F.C.Shahrdari Yasuj Football Club is an Iranian football club based in Yasuj, Iran. They currently compete in the Azadegan League.-History:In 2009, the team placed second in their grouping, gaining promotion to the Azadegan League.-Season-by-season:...
- Shirin FarazShirin Faraz F.C.Shirin Faraz Kermanshah Football Club is an Iranian football club based in Kermanshah, Iran. The club is in the private ownership of Farman Karimi.-Establishment:...
- Steel AzinSteel Azin F.C.Steel Azin Football Club is an Iranian football club based in Semnan, Iran.The club is owned by Hossein Hedayati, owner of Steel Azin Co.Steel Azin club also had a volleyball team, sponsored by the same Company, which competed in the Iranian Volleyball Super League.-Ekbatan football club:Ekbatan...
- Tarbiat Yazd
Last updated:02.08.2011
2nd Division Champions
- 1992-93: Saipa
- 1993-94: Esteghlal
- 1994-95: BahmanBahman F.C.Bahman Karaj Football Club was an Iranian football club based in Karaj, Iran. In 1993, the rights and licenses of two football clubs Vahdat F.C. and Bank Sepah F.C. were purchased and Bahman F.C. entered the league. In the early years, the bulk of players were from Pas Tehran F.C...
- 1995-96: Zob Ahan
- 1996-97: Fajr Sepasi
- 1997-98: MalavanMalavanMalavan Bandar Anzali Football Club is an Iranian football club based in Bandar-e Anzali, Iran.The team is known to have some of the most passionate and loyal fans in Iranian football, and is one of the most successful teams not based in Tehran....
- 1998-99: BahmanBahman F.C.Bahman Karaj Football Club was an Iranian football club based in Karaj, Iran. In 1993, the rights and licenses of two football clubs Vahdat F.C. and Bank Sepah F.C. were purchased and Bahman F.C. entered the league. In the early years, the bulk of players were from Pas Tehran F.C...
- 1999-00: Bargh Shiraz
- 2000-01: Aboomoslem
Azadegan League Champions, 2001-
- 2001-02: Sanat Naft
- 2002-03: Shemushack Noshahr
- 2003-04: Saba Battery
- 2004-05: Shahid Ghandi Yazd
- 2005-06: Mes Kerman
- 2006-07: Shirin FarazShirin Faraz F.C.Shirin Faraz Kermanshah Football Club is an Iranian football club based in Kermanshah, Iran. The club is in the private ownership of Farman Karimi.-Establishment:...
- 2007-08: Payam MashhadPayam Mashhad F.C.Payam Khorasan Razavi F.C. is an Iranian football club based in Nishapur, Razavi Khorasan. They currently compete in the 2011–12 Iran Football's 2nd Division. The club formerly was more commonly known as Payam Mashhad as it was based in Mashhad from .-Establishment:The club was established in 1976...
- 2008-09Azadegan League 2008-09- Group A:-Group B:- Group A:Last updated June 7, 2009...
: Steel AzinSteel Azin F.C.Steel Azin Football Club is an Iranian football club based in Semnan, Iran.The club is owned by Hossein Hedayati, owner of Steel Azin Co.Steel Azin club also had a volleyball team, sponsored by the same Company, which competed in the Iranian Volleyball Super League.-Ekbatan football club:Ekbatan...
(A) and Teraktor Sazi (B) - 2009-10: Shahrdari TabrizShahrdari Tabriz F.C.Shahrdari Tabriz Cultural and Athletic Club is an Iranian sports club most widely known for its professional football team based in Tabriz, Iran.They currently compete in the Iran Pro League, the first tier of Iranian football.-The birth of Shahrdari Tabriz F.C...
(A) and Naft TehranNaft Tehran F.C.Naft Tehran F.C. is an Iranian football club based in Tehran, Iran. They currently compete in the Iran Pro League.-History:In 1950, National Iranian Oil Company decided on starting a football team...
(B) - 2010-11: Damash Gilan
All-time top scorers
last update: February 14, 2010| Season | Player | Goals | Club |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005-06 |  Hossein AbdiHossein Abdi -References:... |
14 | Sanaye Arak |
| 2006-07 | Farhad Kheirkhah Farhad Kheirkhah Farhad Kheirkhah is an Iranian football striker who currently plays for Pas Hamedan in Iran's Premier Football League.He joined Sorkhpooshan last year and having only played 8 games in the Azadegan League he managed to score 12 goals and become the top scorer... |
11 | Sorkhpooshan |
| 2007-08 | Mohammad Parvin Mohammad Parvin Mohammad Parvin is an Iranian football player who currently watches Paykan matches in Azadegan League. He is also the son of Ali Parvin, a legendary Iranian football player... |
15 | Steel Azin |
| 2008-09 | Abbas Porkhosravani Abbas Porkhosravani Abbas Pourkhosravani is an Iranian footballer who plays for Shahin Bushehr F.C. in the IPL.-Club career:Pourkhosravani joined Shahin F.C. in 2009 after spending the previous two seasons at Gol Gohar F.C.-Club Career Statistics:... |
17 | Gol Gohar |
| 2009-10 | Ali Karimi |
17 | Sha. Tabriz Shahrdari Tabriz F.C. Shahrdari Tabriz Cultural and Athletic Club is an Iranian sports club most widely known for its professional football team based in Tabriz, Iran.They currently compete in the Iran Pro League, the first tier of Iranian football.-The birth of Shahrdari Tabriz F.C... |
| 2010-11 | Afshin Chavoshi |
13 | Damash Gilan |
| Mostafa Shojaei Mostafa Shojaei Mostafa Shojaei is an Iranan football player currently playing for Mes Kerman of the IPL.-Career:Shojaei played for Sepahan Novin before moving to Foolad Natanz in the summer of 2010... |
13 | Foolad Natanz Foolad Natanz F.C. Foolad Natanz Football Club is an Iranian football club based in Natanz, Iran. In 2010, the license of Sepahan Novin Football Club was bought by Foolad Natanz.They competed in the 2010–11 Azadegan League.-Season-by-season:... |
|
| Moslem Firoozabadi |
13 | Gol Gohar Gol Gohar F.C. Gol-e Gohar Football Club is an Iranian football club based in Sirjan, Iran. They currently compete in the Azadegan League.Gol-e Gohar Football Club is the football team of the Gol-e Gohar Cultural Sports Club who boast a successful basketball team who currently compete in the Iranian Basketball... |
See also
- IPLIran's Premier Football LeagueThe 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...
- Iran Football's 2nd DivisionIran Football's 2nd DivisionIranian 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...
- Iran Football's 3rd DivisionIran Football's 3rd DivisionIranian football's 3rd division is the fourth-highest football division overall in the Iranian football league system.Before 2001, the 3rd division was known as the 4th division, but this was changed when Iran's football structure officially became professional.The league consists of six groups,...
- Iranian Super CupIranian Super CupThe Iranian Super Cup is an Iranian association football trophy awarded to the winner of a match between the Iranian Premier League's season champion and the winner of the Hazfi Cup. It is similar to numerous other Super Cup tournaments held in other countries....
- 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....
- Iranian Futsal Super League
- Iran Futsal's 1st DivisionIran Futsal's 1st DivisionThe Iran Futsal's 1st Division is the second-highest division overall in the Iranian futsal league system after the Super League.- 1st Division 2011-12 :...