Malavan
Encyclopedia
Malavan Bandar Anzali Football Club is an Iran
ian football
club based in Bandar-e Anzali
, Iran
.
The team is known to have some of the most passionate and loyal fans in Iran
ian football, and is one of the most successful teams not based in Tehran
.
It is attached to the Iranian Navy, and is known to have one of the best youth football programs in the country.
It currently plays in Iran's
top football league, the IPL.
Malavan is the football club of the multisport Malavan Sport and Cultural Club
.
created the team in 1969 along with some young athletes from the port city of Anzali. After some time, the Iranian Navy decided to become the team's main sponsor and owner. Salehnia can be called the team's founder; he took over as the team's manger in 1973, and until 1998 remained in the position. Until 2010 the team has only had two coaches other than Salehnia, (Mohammad Ahmadzadeh
and Nosrat Irandoost
).
and back into the IPL. The club has never really had great success in the league but they were able to become the best non-Tehran
based club and finishing third in the 1977 and 1989. Malavan has won the Hazfi Cup
on three occasions, in 1976, 1987 and 1990. In 1988 Malavan participated in Asian Club Championship but after beating Saunders SC in first round they withdrew from tournament due to the Iran–Iraq War.
They have been one of the most stable teams of the league in recent years where they only had few coaches during their history and always finished in mid table and challenge the big teams.They finished 12th in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 season.
In 2010-2011 season they finished 8th and reached the final of Hazfi Cup
but lost to Perspolis F.C..
are two big cities in Gilan Province
. Bandar Anzali is the biggest port in the north of Iran and Rasht
is the capital of Gilan and there have always been a competition between these two cities specially in football. Malavan is the best team of Anzali and S.C. Damash is the best team in Rasht (Rasht also has Sepidrood
).The match between these two teams ( Malavan vs Damash or Sepidrood ) is known as The Derbi Of Gilan or El Gilano. It has been 14 years since the last time a team from Rasht won Malavan.
In 2008-2009 season Malavan won Damash in Rasht with goals from Jalal Rafkhaei
and Mehran Jafari. At the end of the match about 1000 seats were broken by Damash fans.
In 2009-2010 season Malavan faced Sepidrood in Hazfi Cup
after a very long time and beat them with two goals from Mehrdad Oladi
and Milad Goharinia scored the only goal of Sepidrood.
Malavan fans are very passionate to Sirous Ghayeghran
and they have a special chant that they always sing when their team is behind to remind the legacy of Ghayeghran to players.
In 2010-2011 season when Malavan faced Esteghlal the semi-final of Hazfi Cup
, a lot fans even more than the capacity of the stadium went to see the match and after Malavan won it , they celebrated the victory all over the city. In final even more went to stadium but when Malavan lost to Persepolis a lot of fans broke the fence of stadium and rushed into the ground.
For recent transfers, see List of Iranian football transfers, summer 2011.
Ghafour Jahani
Akbar Misaghian
Ali Niakani Mikhaeil Petrosyan Mahmoud Pishgah-Hadian
1980s Mohammad Ahmadzadeh
Mahmoud Fekri
Sirous Ghayeghran
Farhad Pourgholami
1990s Mohammad Ghadirbahri Mohammad Habibi Aref Mohammadvand
Payan Rafat
2000s Hassan Ashjari
Mohammad Gholami
Mohammad Hamrang
Pejman Nouri
Babak Pourgholami
Jalal Rafkhaei
Hadi Ta'mini Maziar Zare
RCD Cup
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 Bandar-e Anzali
Bandar-e Anzali
Bandar-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...
, 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 team is known to have some of the most passionate and loyal fans 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...
ian football, and is one of the most successful teams not based 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...
.
It is attached to the Iranian Navy, and is known to have one of the best youth football programs in the country.
It currently plays in Iran's
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...
top football league, the IPL.
Malavan is the football club of the multisport Malavan Sport and Cultural Club
Malavan Sport and Cultural Club
Malavan Sport and Cultural Club is an Iranian multisport club based in Bandar Anzali, Iran. Bandar Anzali with 150,000 citizens has 64 sport clubs with 11,000 male and female athletes...
.
Establishment
Bahman SalehniaBahman Salehnia
Bahman Salehnia is an Iranian football coach. He is currently head-coach of Esteghlal Anzali....
created the team in 1969 along with some young athletes from the port city of Anzali. After some time, the Iranian Navy decided to become the team's main sponsor and owner. Salehnia can be called the team's founder; he took over as the team's manger in 1973, and until 1998 remained in the position. Until 2010 the team has only had two coaches other than Salehnia, (Mohammad Ahmadzadeh
Mohammad Ahmadzadeh
Mohammad Ahmadzadeh is a former Iranian football, basketball and tennis player and current football coach. He played most his career for Malavan and also was the team's head coach for several seasons...
and Nosrat Irandoost
Nosrat Irandoost
Nosrat Irandoost is a retired Iranian football player and current manager of Chooka Talesh.-Playing career:Irandoost spent his entire career playing for Malavan. In 1976, he helped the team win the Hazfi Cup. In 1977, Irandoost was hired as a player-coach by his team Malavan...
).
Success
Salehnia was last manager of the team when he helped the team climb out of the 1st divisionIran 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...
and back into the IPL. The club has never really had great success in the league but they were able to become the best non-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...
based club and finishing third in the 1977 and 1989. Malavan has won the 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....
on three occasions, in 1976, 1987 and 1990. In 1988 Malavan participated in Asian Club Championship but after beating Saunders SC in first round they withdrew from tournament due to the Iran–Iraq War.
They have been one of the most stable teams of the league in recent years where they only had few coaches during their history and always finished in mid table and challenge the big teams.They finished 12th in the 2008-09 and 2009-10 season.
In 2010-2011 season they finished 8th and reached the final of 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....
but lost to Perspolis F.C..
Rivalries
Bandar Anzali and RashtRasht
Rasht 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...
are two big cities in Gilan Province
Gilan Province
Gilan Province is one of the 31 provinces of Iran. It lies along the Caspian Sea, just west of the province of Mazandaran, east of the province of Ardabil, north of the provinces of Zanjan and Qazvin....
. Bandar Anzali is the biggest port in the north of Iran and Rasht
Rasht
Rasht 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...
is the capital of Gilan and there have always been a competition between these two cities specially in football. Malavan is the best team of Anzali and S.C. Damash is the best team in Rasht (Rasht also has Sepidrood
Sepidrood Rasht F.C.
Sepidrood F.C. is an Iranian football club based in Rasht, Iran. They currently compete in the 2011–12 Iran Football's 2nd Division.-History:...
).The match between these two teams ( Malavan vs Damash or Sepidrood ) is known as The Derbi Of Gilan or El Gilano. It has been 14 years since the last time a team from Rasht won Malavan.
In 2008-2009 season Malavan won Damash in Rasht with goals from Jalal Rafkhaei
Jalal Rafkhaei
Seyed Jalal Rafkhaei |football]] defender who currently plays for Malavan in the Iran Pro League.Born in Bandar Anzali,he is a Malavan F.C. youth system product and played with the senior team for five years then transferred to Zob Ahan. In 2008 he was called for the Iran national football team by...
and Mehran Jafari. At the end of the match about 1000 seats were broken by Damash fans.
In 2009-2010 season Malavan faced Sepidrood in 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....
after a very long time and beat them with two goals from Mehrdad Oladi
Mehrdad Oladi
Mehrdad Oladi is an Iranian Footballer who is currently playing for Persepolis in Iran Pro League. He usually plays in the Striker position.-Club career:...
and Milad Goharinia scored the only goal of Sepidrood.
Fans
Malavan is known to have some the most passionate and loyal fans in Iran. Their famous chant is Ghouye sepide khazari/Malavan bandar Anzali which means the white swan of north/Malavan of bandar Anzali.Malavan fans are very passionate to Sirous Ghayeghran
Sirous Ghayeghran
Sirous Ghayeghran was a famous Iranian footballer and former captain of Iran national football team. He is notably referred as the legendary player of Malavan Bandar Anzali Football Club, and is one of the most popular icons in the city of Bandar Anzali.-Club career:He played most of his club...
and they have a special chant that they always sing when their team is behind to remind the legacy of Ghayeghran to players.
In 2010-2011 season when Malavan faced Esteghlal the semi-final of 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....
, a lot fans even more than the capacity of the stadium went to see the match and after Malavan won it , they celebrated the victory all over the city. In final even more went to stadium but when Malavan lost to Persepolis a lot of fans broke the fence of stadium and rushed into the ground.
Current Coaching Staff
| Position | Name |
|---|---|
| Head Coach |  Farhad PourgholamiFarhad Pourgholami Farhad Pourgholami is a former Iranian footballer and current manager.Pourgholami was assistant head coach to Mohammad Ahmadzadeh in Iran national under-20 football team. After Ahmadzadeh was appointed as Malavan's head coach, Pourgholami was chosen as his first team coach. Later he was appointed... |
| Assistant Coach | Mohammad Habibi |
| Team Manager | Hossein Gholami |
| Doctor | Ali Pour-Tahmsabi |
First-team squad
as of 3 August 2011For recent transfers, see List of Iranian football transfers, summer 2011.
Notable players
1970s Manoochehr Darjezi Aziz EspandarAziz Espandar
Aziz Espandar is a retired Iranian football player and coach.He became the top goalscorer in Takht Jamshid Cup in 1974-75 season along with Gholam Hossein Mazloumi and in 1977-78 season.- References :...
Ghafour Jahani
Ghafour Jahani
Ghafour Jahani is an Iranian football coach and former player.He Mostly played for Malavan. He was one of the key players of Malavan reaching the third place in the Iranian Takht Jamshid in 1978. 1974 and 1977 he was the second best scorer of the Iranian league...
Akbar Misaghian
Akbar Misaghian
Akbar Misaghian is a retired Iranian football player. After retirement, he managed several clubs most notably F.C. Aboomoslem. He is current head coach of Aluminium Hormozgan.He is also a member of Baha'i Faith.-Club career:...
Ali Niakani Mikhaeil Petrosyan Mahmoud Pishgah-Hadian
1980s Mohammad Ahmadzadeh
Mohammad Ahmadzadeh
Mohammad Ahmadzadeh is a former Iranian football, basketball and tennis player and current football coach. He played most his career for Malavan and also was the team's head coach for several seasons...
Mahmoud Fekri
Mahmoud Fekri
Mahmoud Fekri Juybari is a former Iranian football player who was the head coach of Shirin Faraz in the Iran Pro League. He usually plays the defender position. He was the assistant coach of Esteghlal from 2008 to 2009 and 2010 to 2011...
Sirous Ghayeghran
Sirous Ghayeghran
Sirous Ghayeghran was a famous Iranian footballer and former captain of Iran national football team. He is notably referred as the legendary player of Malavan Bandar Anzali Football Club, and is one of the most popular icons in the city of Bandar Anzali.-Club career:He played most of his club...
Farhad Pourgholami
Farhad Pourgholami
Farhad Pourgholami is a former Iranian footballer and current manager.Pourgholami was assistant head coach to Mohammad Ahmadzadeh in Iran national under-20 football team. After Ahmadzadeh was appointed as Malavan's head coach, Pourgholami was chosen as his first team coach. Later he was appointed...
1990s Mohammad Ghadirbahri Mohammad Habibi Aref Mohammadvand
Aref Mohammadvand
Aref Mohammadvand born July 11, 1970 in Bandar Anzali is a retired Iranian football player. He played for Malavan and Persepolis F.C..- References :...
Payan Rafat
Payan Rafat
Payan Rafat is a retired Iranian footballer and current coach. He served his golden days in Persepolis. His style of play was similar to Iranian football legend Ali Daei...
2000s Hassan Ashjari
Hassan Ashjari
Hassan Ashjari is an Iranian football player who currently plays for Sepahan in the Iran Pro League.-Club career:He starts his professional career with his hometown team Malavan at 2001 in Iran Pro League and played 4 seasons in the team...
Mohammad Gholami
Mohammad Gholami
Mohammad Gholami is an Iranian football player. He currently plays for Damash Gilan. He usually plays in the Striker position.-Club career:He began his professional career in Malavan football club. He is a very serious and committed player who showed consistent and impressive displays for Malavan...
Mohammad Hamrang
Mohammad Hamrang
Mohammad Hamrang is an Iranian football player of Saba Battery. He usually playes in the defender position. He was part of Iran national under-17 football team at 2001 FIFA U-17 World Championship.-Club Career Statistics:Last Update 22 August 2011 ...
Pejman Nouri
Pejman Nouri
Pejman Nouri is an Iranian football player, currently playing for UAE Pro-League side Emirates Club and Iran national football team in the midfielder position.-Club career:Born in Rezvanshahr, Gilan Province, he has spent most of his career in Malavan F.C...
Babak Pourgholami
Babak Pourgholami
Babak Pourgholami is an Iranian football player who plays for Malavan Bandar Anzali. Babak's father was a famous Iranian football player who played for Malavan and now is a trainer for Malavan under-18 team.-Club career statistics:...
Jalal Rafkhaei
Jalal Rafkhaei
Seyed Jalal Rafkhaei |football]] defender who currently plays for Malavan in the Iran Pro League.Born in Bandar Anzali,he is a Malavan F.C. youth system product and played with the senior team for five years then transferred to Zob Ahan. In 2008 he was called for the Iran national football team by...
Hadi Ta'mini Maziar Zare
Maziar Zare
Maziar Zare Eshghdoust is an Iranian Football player. He currently plays for Persepolis in the Iran Pro League...
National titles
- 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....
- Winners (3): 1976Hazfi Cup 1976-Quarterfinals:-Semifinals:-Final:-References:* RSSSF...
, 1987, 1990 - Runner Up (4): 1988, 1989, 1991, 2010-11
- Azadegan League
- Runner Up (1): 2003
Minor titles
Vahdat Cup1981 Vahdat International Cup
Vahdat International Cup was an international football tournament hosted by Iran that was played in Tehran in 1981. Vahdat means Unity. This tournament's participants were teams from Iran and friend countries such as Algeria, Syria and Libya....
- Third Place (1): 1981
RCD Cup
ECO Cup
The ECO Cup is a football competition for members of Economic Cooperation Organisation. Previously it was known as RCD Cup, RCD abbreviates Regional Corporation for Development and was an economic cooperation between Iran, Pakistan and Turkey from 1964 to 1979. A new organisation, ECO, was set up...
- Runner Up (1): RCD Cup 1974RCD Cup 1974The RCD Cup 1974 was the fifth edition of the RCD Cup tournament, held in Karachi, Pakistan in 1974. This was a three nation tournament played in league format between Iran, Pakistan and Turkey.This was the last tournament under the name of RCD Cup...