Iran |
AFC |
1970 officially 2001 with current format |
1 |
16 |
1 |
Azadegan League |
Hazfi Cup |
AFC Champions League |
Foolad (2nd title) (2013–14) |
Sepahan (4 titles) |
IRIB TV3 & Jame Jam 1 (live matches) Varzesh (live matches) Channel 2 (highlights) |
Iranleague.ir |
2014–15 Persian Gulf Pro League |
The Persian Gulf Pro League (Persian: لیگ برتر خلیج فارس) also known as Iran Pro League (IPL) (Persian: جام خلیج فارس), is a professional football league competition for clubs located at the highest level of the Iranian football league system. It was founded in 1970 as the Takht Jamshid Cup, but the current format was adopted in 2001. Contested by 16 teams, it is ranked by the Asian Football Confederation as the 2nd best league in Asia and the best league in Western Asia. The Premier League is the top tier of an extensive pyramid-like structure, above the Azadegan League (or 1st Division), the 2nd division, the 3rd Division and the lower local leagues. Since the creation of the league in 2001, six different teams have become league champions.
Contents1970–71 | Taj | Pas Tehran |
1971–72 | Persepolis | Pas Tehran |
1973–74 | Persepolis | Taj |
1974–75 | Taj | Persepolis |
1975–76 | Persepolis | Homa |
1976–77 | Pas Tehran | Persepolis |
1977–78 | Pas Tehran | Persepolis |
1989–90 | Esteghlal | Persepolis |
1991–92 | Pas Tehran | Esteghlal |
1992–93 | Pas Tehran | Persepolis |
1993–94 | Saipa | Persepolis |
1994–95 | Saipa | Esteghlal |
1995–96 | Persepolis | Bahman |
1996–97 | Persepolis | Bahman |
1997–98 | Esteghlal | Pas Tehran |
1998–99 | Persepolis | Esteghlal |
1999–2000 | Persepolis | Esteghlal |
2000–01 | Esteghlal | Persepolis |
2001–02 | Persepolis | Esteghlal |
2002–03 | Sepahan | Pas Tehran |
2003–04 | Pas Tehran | Esteghlal |
2004–05 | Foolad | Zob Ahan |
2005–06 | Esteghlal | Pas Tehran |
2006–07 | Saipa | Esteghlal Ahvaz |
2007–08 | Persepolis | Sepahan |
2008–09 | Esteghlal | Zob Ahan |
2009–10 | Sepahan | Zob Ahan |
2010–11 | Sepahan | Esteghlal |
2011–12 | Sepahan | Tractor Sazi |
2012–13 | Esteghlal | Tractor Sazi |
2013–14 | Foolad | Persepolis |
Before the 1970s Iran did not have an official national league and most teams competed in their local leagues, the most popular of those leagues being the Tehran Local League, which featured teams like Pas Tehran, Persepolis, and Taj.
In 1972, the Takht Jamshid Cup was created as the national league and included teams from all over the country. Pas Tehran and Persepolis were the most successful clubs in the cups five year existence, winning the cup twice each. In 1978, the league was abandoned because of the Iranian Revolution.
Due to the revolution and the Iran–Iraq War, football was no longer a priority. In 1985, the Qods League was created and was played among provincial teams. Tehran A, and Esfahan were the most successful teams, winning the League twice each. In spite of the attempts to create a national league the most important competition in Iran in the 1980s was the Tehran Clubs Cup in which Persepolis dominated.
In 1991 the Qods League was renamed the Azadegan League in honor of Iranian prisoners of war. Pas Tehran won the inaugural edition of the league, and for the first time since the revolution, Iran had a national league. Pas Tehran, Persepolis, and Esteghlal were the leagues most successful sides, with Pas and Esteghlal winning the Asian Club Championships and Persepolis winning the Asian Cup Winners'' Cup. In 2001 the league dissolved with the introduction of the new Iran Pro League.
Iran Pro LeagueThe 2001–02 season saw the introduction of a professional football league in Iran. The first winner of the Iran Pro League was Persepolis, who beat rival club Esteghlal by one point on the final match day. In the 2002–03 season, Sepahan won the league comfortably with seven points separating them and second placed Pas Tehran. In the 2003–04 Iran Pro League season, Pas Tehran won their first title after coming in second place the year before. Defending champions Sepahan finished 6th place. The 2004–05 season was a surprising one as Foolad shockingly won the title, finishing on top by six points. In the 2005–06 season, Tehran club Esteghlal won their first league title, winning on the final day as they finished one point ahead of second placed team Pas Tehran.
Persian Gulf CupOn August 12, 2006, the Iranian Football Federation decided to change the name of the league once again. The name of the league was changed to the Persian Gulf Cup. This was done to promote the name of the Persian Gulf, instead of the many variations that some nations and organizations use which Iran disputes. The logo of the league was also changed, with the winner being selected from over 130 designs and unveiled on November 14, 2006.
Saipa was the 6th team to win the new edition of the league which meant six different teams won leagues in a row. However, Persepolis regained the title after six years in 2008 by a dramatic win against rivals Sepahan on the 96th minute of the final matchday and became the first team that won two titles in the new edition of the League. The next season, Esteghlal did the same thing and won the league for the second time on the final match day.
Sepahan''s domestic dominance started in the 2009–10 season where they won the league comfortably, a feat which they did again the following season. They also won In the 2011–12 edition of the league, they had a more difficult job trying repeat the glory of the past years, they won it on the final match day for the third time in a row. They are the first club in the history of the Iran Pro League to win the League 3 times, and 3 times in a row. Sepahan''s dominance ended in the 2012–13 season, when Esteghlal cruised to a comfortable league victory.
Before the start of the 2012–13 season, the IFF, who were recommended by Iran national football team manager Carlos Queiroz, announced that for the 2013–14 season the number of the teams will be reduced from 18 to 16, to increase the competitiveness of the league.
The 2013–14 season witnessed the closest title race since the league came into existence. Coming into the last match day, 5 teams had the possibility of becoming champions, in the end Foolad became champions after beating Gostaresh 1–0. While Persepolis finished second, two points behind Foolad. Although Sepahan beat Naft Tehran 1–0 on the final matchday, Naft finished third ahead of Sepahan because of better goal difference. With Esteghlal''s 3–1 loss to Tractor Sazi, Esteghlal finished 5th and missed out on a Champions League spot for the first time in four years.
In the summer of 2014, the leagues name was officially changed to Persian Gulf Pro League, and a new logo was made as well.
Current clubs (2014–15)Esteghlal | Tehran | Azadi | 95,225 - 100,000 |
Esteghlal Khuzestan | Ahvaz | Takhti Ahvaz | 30,000 |
Foolad | Ahvaz | Ghadir | 50,199 |
Gostaresh | Tabriz | Gostaresh Foolad | 12,000 |
Malavan | Anzali | Takhti Anzali | 15,559 |
Naft Masjed Soleyman | Masjed Soleyman | Behnam Mohammadi | 8,000 |
Naft Tehran | Tehran | Dastgerdi | 8,250 |
Padideh | Mashhad | Samen | 30,000 |
Paykan | Qods | Shahre Qods | 25,000 |
Perspolis | Tehran | Azadi | 95,225 - 100,000 |
Rah Ahan | Tehran | Takhti Tehran | 12,922 |
Saba Qom | Qom | Yadegar Emam | 10,610 |
Saipa | Karaj | Enghelab Karaj | 15,000 |
Sepahan | Esfahan | Foolad Shahr | 15,000 |
Tractor Sazi | Tabriz | Sahand | 80,451 |
Zob Ahan | Esfahan | Foolad Shahr | 15,000 |
2001–02 | Persepolis | 1 |
2002–03 | Sepahan | 1 |
2003–04 | Pas Tehran | 1 |
2004–05 | Foolad | 1 |
2005–06 | Esteghlal | 1 |
2006–07 | Saipa | 1 |
2007–08 | Persepolis | 2 |
2008–09 | Esteghlal | 2 |
2009–10 | Sepahan | 2 |
2010–11 | Sepahan | 3 |
2011–12 | Sepahan | 4 |
2012–13 | Esteghlal | 3 |
2013–14 | Foolad | 2 |
Sepahan | 4 (2002–03, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12) | 1 (2007–08) | 1 (2012–13) |
Esteghlal | 3 (2005–06, 2008–09, 2012–13) | 3 (2001–02, 2003–04, 2010–11) | 3 (2004–05, 2009–10, 2011–12) |
Persepolis | 2 (2001–02, 2007–08) | 1 (2013–14) | 2 (2002–03, 2006–07) |
Foolad | 2 (2004–05, 2013–14) | — | 2 (2001–02, 2003–04) |
Pas Tehran | 1 (2003–04) | 2 (2002–03, 2005–06) | — |
Saipa | 1 (2006–07) | — | 1 (2005–06) |
Zob Ahan | — | 3 (2004–05, 2008–09, 2009–10) | 1 (2010–11) |
Tractor Sazi | — | 2 (2011–12, 2012–13) | — |
Esteghlal Ahvaz | — | 1 (2006–07) | — |
Naft Tehran | — | — | 1 (2013–14) |
2001–02 | 1 | 2 | 9 |
2002–03 | 3 | 9 | 1 |
2003–04 | 5 | 2 | 6 |
2004–05 | 4 | 3 | 10 |
2005–06 | 9 | 1 | 7 |
2006–07 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
2007–08 | 1 | 13 | 2 |
2008–09 | 5 | 1 | 4 |
2009–10 | 4 | 3 | 1 |
2010–11 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
2011–12 | 12 | 3 | 1 |
2012–13 | 7 | 1 | 3 |
2013–14 | 2 | 5 | 4 |
Top three finishes | 5 | 9 | 6 |
out of 13 | |||
Champions | |||
2nd or 3rd place | |||
4th or below |
Since the 2001–02 season, thirteen seasons of the Professional League has been completed. The below table shows the total ranking for the all football clubs competing in these all 13 seasons.
1 | Esteghlal | 13 | 402 | 198 | 126 | 78 | 602 | 384 | +218 | 719 | Champions |
2 | Sepahan | 13 | 402 | 192 | 123 | 91 | 597 | 388 | +209 | 6821 | Champions |
3 | Persepolis | 13 | 402 | 174 | 135 | 93 | 565 | 423 | +142 | 6502 | Champions |
4 | Zob Ahan | 13 | 402 | 158 | 132 | 112 | 485 | 412 | +73 | 606 | 2nd |
5 | Foolad | 12 | 368 | 145 | 123 | 100 | 460 | 382 | +78 | 558 | Champions |
6 | Saipa | 13 | 402 | 123 | 147 | 132 | 467 | 465 | +2 | 516 | Champions |
7 | Malavan | 12 | 368 | 110 | 119 | 139 | 354 | 433 | -79 | 448 | 7th |
8 | Fajr Sepasi | 12 | 368 | 111 | 122 | 149 | 347 | 406 | -59 | 438 | 4th |
9 | Saba Qom | 10 | 324 | 104 | 125 | 95 | 387 | 367 | +20 | 437 | 3rd |
10 | Paykan | 10 | 308 | 94 | 82 | 132 | 326 | 402 | -76 | 364 | 5th |
11 | Mes Kerman | 8 | 264 | 85 | 99 | 80 | 310 | 292 | +18 | 354 | 3rd |
12 | Aboomoslem | 9 | 270 | 83 | 90 | 97 | 299 | 305 | -6 | 339 | 4th |
13 | Rah Ahan | 9 | 298 | 78 | 97 | 119 | 303 | 364 | -61 | 331 | 8th |
14 | Esteghlal Ahvaz | 8 | 244 | 78 | 71 | 95 | 310 | 344 | -34 | 305 | 2nd |
15 | Tractor Sazi | 6 | 192 | 76 | 68 | 53 | 248 | 204 | +44 | 295 | 2nd |
16 | Pas Tehran | 6 | 168 | 72 | 59 | 37 | 263 | 181 | +82 | 275 | Champions |
17 | Bargh Shiraz | 8 | 236 | 60 | 78 | 98 | 250 | 334 | -84 | 258 | 7th |
18 | Damash Gilan | 8 | 248 | 57 | 80 | 111 | 228 | 342 | -114 | 250 | 7th |
19 | Naft Tehran | 4 | 132 | 49 | 47 | 36 | 154 | 134 | +20 | 194 | 3rd |
20 | Sanat Naft | 5 | 162 | 43 | 42 | 77 | 178 | 251 | -73 | 171 | 9th |
21 | Pas Hamedan | 4 | 136 | 38 | 47 | 51 | 140 | 166 | -26 | 161 | 5th |
22 | Shahin Bushehr | 3 | 102 | 23 | 38 | 41 | 98 | 117 | -19 | 107 | 13th |
23 | Steel Azin | 2 | 68 | 19 | 23 | 26 | 85 | 112 | -27 | 80 | 5th |
24 | Shamoushak | 3 | 86 | 16 | 26 | 44 | 64 | 118 | -54 | 74 | 14th |
25 | Shahrdari Tabriz | 2 | 68 | 14 | 29 | 25 | 79 | 97 | -18 | 71 | 12th |
26 | Aluminium Hormozgan | 1 | 34 | 7 | 14 | 13 | 26 | 40 | -14 | 35 | 15th |
27 | Payam Mashhad | 1 | 34 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 33 | 52 | -19 | 35 | 16th |
28 | Gostaresh | 1 | 30 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 31 | 34 | -3 | 32 | 10th |
29 | Esteghlal Khuzestan | 1 | 30 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 26 | 37 | -11 | 29 | 12th |
30 | Mes Sarcheshmeh | 1 | 34 | 5 | 9 | 20 | 23 | 54 | -31 | 24 | 18th |
31 | Shirin Faraz | 1 | 34 | 3 | 12 | 19 | 25 | 59 | -34 | 21 | 18th |
32 | Shahid Ghandi Yazd | 1 | 30 | 4 | 7 | 19 | 21 | 43 | -22 | 19 | 16th |
33 | Gahar Doroud | 1 | 34 | 3 | 10 | 21 | 24 | 59 | -35 | 19 | 18th |
1 Sepahan was deducted 3 points in 2007–08 season issued by Iranian Football Federation. 2 Persepolis was deducted 6 points in 2007–08 season issued by FIFA.
Competition format and sponsorship CompetitionThere are currently 16 clubs in the league, although the competition started in 2001–02 with 14 teams. The season lasts from August to May, with each club playing the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents for a total of 30 games for each club, with a total of 240 games in each season. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned as champion. At the end of the season, the two worst teams are relegated directly to the Azadegan League. While the third worst team plays in a relegation play-off with an Azadegan League club.
In the Azadegan League there are two groups, the top team from each group is automatically promoted to the top flight. But, the two runner-up teams have to play against each other in a 2-legged competition. The winner is promoted to the Iran Pro League play-off, while the loser remains in the Azadegan League.
In 2012, the league considered reducing the amount of teams to 16, for the 2012–13 season. This idea was dismissed for the 2012–13 season, but was implicated for the 2013–14 season.
Qualification for Asian competitionsAs of 2008 four teams from Iran qualify for the AFC Asian Champions League annually. This includes the top three teams of the PGPL together with the winner of the Hazfi Cup. If the winner of the Hazfi Cup is also among the three top PGPL teams then the fourth best PGPL team also qualifies.
SponsorshipFormer logo, used from 2006 to 2014The Persian Gulf Pro League has been sponsored since 2005. There have been four sponsors since the league''s formation. In 2014, Irannovin Company became the League''s sponsor for a record fee.
According to a November 2012 study, in the 2010–11 season Iran Pro League clubs on average obtained 15% of their income from sponsorship.
Media coverageChannel 3 broadcast two games a week nationally and IRIB 2 broadcast two games a week internationally, however due to the immense popularity of Tehran teams Persepolis F.C. and Esteghlal F.C. only these teams'' matches are shown on IRIB 2 internationally. Since the 2012-13 season IRIB Varzesh will televise a second game each week nationally. With the provincial channels broadcasting the rest of their local games. Occasionally on important match days, such as the final day, Channel 2 and Shoma broadcast games nationally.
On 20 July 2011, IRIB and the IFF came to agreement regarding TV rights of both IPL and national team matches worth $96.5 million that will run until 2014.
Players Transfer seasonEach team is allowed as many foreign players in their squad as they desire, however there is a rule that only permits three foreign players the pitch at any one time for each side. In the past there have been breaches of this rule and in the 2006–07 season Pas Tehran were deducted one point for fielding four foreigners on one occasion and handed a 3–0 loss. Shortly after the 2011–12 Iran Pro League season finished, the IFF announced that foreign goalkeepers on Iranian teams would be banned from Azadegan League, Iran Pro League, Hazfi Cup, and Asian Champions League. A few weeks later, the IFF announced that the ban of foreign goalkeepers had been lifted, and that each team is allowed 4 foreign on the field including the goalkeeper.
RankingAs of 2012 it was ranked as the 36th strongest league in the world by the IFFHS. It was also ranked the 2nd best league in Asia and the best in Western Asia by the Asian Football Confederation.
Records All-time top scorers See also: List of Iranian club football top goal scorers, List of IPL all-time top goal scorers and Iranian Football League § All-time League top scorerslast update: October 3, 2014
1 | Reza Enayati | 132 | 2001 to present |
2 | Arash Borhani | 112 | 2002 to present |
3 | Mehdi Rajabzadeh | 93 | 2001 to present |
4 | Fereydoon Fazli | 85 | 2001 to 2010 |
5 | Karim Ansarifard | 76 | 2007 to 2014 |
6 | Jalal Rafkhaei | 70 | 2005 to present |
= | Emad Mohammed | 70 | 2005 to 2012 |
8 | Reza Norouzi | 67 | 2007 to present |
9 | Siavash Akbarpour | 65 | 2004 to 2014 |
10 | Mohammad Gholami | 64 | 2001 to present |
11 | Edinho | 63 | 2007 to present |
12 | Mohammad Reza Khalatbari | 61 | 2006 to present |
= | Mohsen Bayatinia | 61 | 2001 to 2014 |
13 | Ibrahima Touré | 60 | 2007 to 2011 |
= | Mehdi Seyed-Salehi | 60 | 2001 to present |
16 | Saeid Daghighi | 57 | 2004 to present |
17 | Davoud Haghi | 53 | 2003 to 2013 |
18 | Iman Razaghirad | 52 | 2001 to 2014 |
19 | Hadi Asghari | 52 | 2005 to 2012 |
20 | Ali Daei | 49 | 2003 to 2007 |
21 | Javad Kazemian | 47 | 2001 to 2014 |
Players in bold are still active in the league.
Winning managers See also: List of Iranian football league winning managerslast update: April 20, 2014
2001–02 | Iran ! Iran | Parvin, AliAli Parvin | Persepolis |
2002–03 | Iran ! Iran | Kazemi, FarhadFarhad Kazemi | Sepahan |
2003–04 | Iran ! Iran | Jalali, MajidMajid Jalali | Pas Tehran |
2004–05 | Croatia ! Croatia | Mladen Frančić | Foolad |
2005–06 | Iran ! Iran | Ghalenoei, AmirAmir Ghalenoei | Esteghlal |
2006–07 | Iran ! Iran | Daei, AliAli Daei | Saipa |
2007–08 | Iran ! Iran United States ! United States | Ghotbi, AfshinAfshin Ghotbi | Persepolis |
2008–09 | Iran ! Iran | Ghalenoei, AmirAmir Ghalenoei | Esteghlal |
2009–10 | Iran ! Iran | Ghalenoei, AmirAmir Ghalenoei | Sepahan |
2010–11 | Iran ! Iran | Ghalenoei, AmirAmir Ghalenoei | Sepahan |
2011–12 | Croatia ! Croatia | Kranjčar, ZlatkoZlatko Kranjčar | Sepahan |
2012–13 | Croatia ! Iran | Ghalenoei, AmirAmir Ghalenoei | Esteghlal |
2013–14 | Croatia ! Iran | Faraki, HosseinHossein Faraki | Foolad |
last update: April 20, 2014
1 | Amir Ghalenoei | Esteghlal, Sepahan | 5 |
2 | Ali Parvin | Perspolis | 1 |
Farhad Kazemi | Sepahan | ||
Majid Jalali | Pas Tehran | ||
Mladen Frančić | Foolad | ||
Ali Daei | Saipa | ||
Afshin Ghotbi | Persepolis | ||
Zlatko Kranjčar | Sepahan | ||
Hossein Faraki | Foolad |
last update: April 20, 2014
1 | Moharram Navidkia | Sepahan | 4 |
Jalal Hosseini | Saipa, Sepahan | ||
Mehdi Rahmati | Esteghlal, Sepahan | ||
Hashem Beikzadeh | Esteghlal, Sepahan | ||
Fábio Januário | Esteghlal, Sepahan | ||
6 | Mohsen Bengar | Sepahan | 3 |
Ahmad Jamshidian | Sepahan | ||
Mehdi Karimian | Sepahan | ||
Hossein Papi | Sepahan | ||
Mehdi Jafarpour | Sepahan | ||
Rahman Ahmadi | Saipa, Sepahan | ||
Shahin Kheiri | Sepahan, Esteghlal | ||
Pejman Montazeri | Foolad, Esteghlal | ||
Kianoush Rahmati | Pas Tehran, Esteghlal | ||
Siavash Akbarpour | Esteghlal | ||
Arash Borhani | Pas Tehran, Esteghlal | ||
Mojtaba Jabbari | Esteghlal |
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