Iran Pro League
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| Country |  Iran |
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| Confederation | AFC |
| Founded | 1970 officially 2001 with current format |
| Divisions | 1 |
| Number of teams | 16 |
| Levels on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Azadegan League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Hazfi Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Champions League |
| Current champions | Esteghlal (2012–13) |
| Most championships | Sepahan (4 titles) |
| TV partners | IRIB |
 2012–13 Iran Pro League |
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The Iran Pro League (IPL) (Persian: لیگ برتر فوتبال ایران) also known as Persian Gulf Cup (Persian: جام خلیج فارس) , is a professional football league competition for clubs located at the highest level of the Iranian football league system.
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.
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History [edit]
Iran Pro League [edit]
The 2001-2002 season saw the introduction of a professional football league in Iran.[1] The first winner of the Iran Pro League was Persepolis F.C., they beat their rival club Esteghlal F.C. by 1 point.
Persian Gulf Cup [edit]
On August 12, 2006, the Iranian Football Federation decided to change the name of the league once again. The name of the league now is the Persian Gulf Cup.[2] This was done to promote the name of the Persian Gulf, instead of the many variations which some nations and organizations use which Iran disputes. The league logo was also changed, with the winner being selected from over 130 designs and unveiled on November 14, 2006.[3] Saipa was the 6th team to win the 6th new edition of the league which meant 6 different teams won 6 leagues in the row. But in 2008 Persepolis regained the title after 6 years by the dramatic win again the rival Sepahan on the 96th minute of the final match and become the first team that won two titles in the new edition of the Iranian League. The next season Esteghlal did the same thing and won the league for second time on the final match day. Sepahan's dominance started in 2009-10 season where they won the league before the final match day and the same thing happened in the next season. But in 2011-12 they had a more difficult job to repeat the glory and they won it on the final match day for the third time in a row which is a new record in the history of the Iranian League. Before the start of the 2012-13 season, the IFF announced that for the 2013-14 season the number of the teams will be reduced from 18 to 16.
Current clubs (2012-13) [edit]
| Team | City | Venue | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium (R) | Bandar Abbas | Khalij Fars | 15,000 |
| Damash Sadra | Rasht | Dr. Azodi | 11,000 |
| Esteghlal | Tehran | Azadi | 84,412 |
| Fajr Sepasi | Shiraz | Hafezieh | 22,000 |
| Foolad | Ahvaz | Ghadir | 50,000 |
| Gahar Zagros (R) | Dorood | Takhti Doroud | 2,000 |
| Malavan | Bandar Anzali | Takhti Anzali | 15,000 |
| Mes Kerman | Kerman | Shahid Bahonar | 12,000 |
| Naft Tehran | Tehran | Dastgerdi | 8,250 |
| Paykan (R) | Tehran | Takhti | 30,000 |
| Persepolis | Tehran | Azadi | 84,412 |
| Rah Ahan | Tehran | Rah Ahan | 12,000 |
| Saba Qom | Qom | Yadegar Emam Qom | 10,610 |
| Saipa | Karaj | Enghelab Karaj | 14,000 |
| Sanat Naft (R) | Abadan | Takhti Abadan | 25,000 |
| Sepahan | Esfahan | Foolad Shahr | 20,000 |
| Tractor Sazi | Tabriz | Yadegar e Emam Stadium | 67,000 |
| Zob Ahan | Esfahan | Foolad Shahr | 20,000 |
Champions [edit]
List of champions by season [edit]
| Season | Winner | No. IPL titles [Total titles] |
|---|---|---|
| 2001–02 | Persepolis | 1 [8] |
| 2002–03 | Sepahan | 1 [1] |
| 2003–04 | Pas Tehran | 1 [5] |
| 2004–05 | Foolad | 1 [1] |
| 2005–06 | Esteghlal | 1 [6] |
| 2006–07 | Saipa | 1 [3] |
| 2007–08 | Persepolis | 2 [9] |
| 2008–09 | Esteghlal | 2 [7] |
| 2009–10 | Sepahan | 2 [2] |
| 2010–11 | Sepahan | 3 [3] |
| 2011–12 | Sepahan | 4 [4] |
| 2012–13 | Esteghlal | 3 [8] |
Most successful clubs [edit]
| Team | Winners | Runners-up | Third Place |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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) | — | 2 (2002–03, 2006–07) |
| Pas Tehran | 1 (2003–04) | 2 (2002–03, 2005–06) | — |
| Foolad | 1 (2004–05) | — | 2 (2001–02, 2003–04) |
| 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) | — |
Competition format and sponsorship [edit]
Competition [edit]
There are currently 18 clubs in the league,[4] although the competition started in 2001–02 with 14 teams.[5] The season lasts from August to May, each club plays the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents for a total of 34 games for each club, with a total of 306 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 three worst teams are relegated to the Azadegan League. 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 top flight, while the loser remains in the Azadegan League.
In 2012, the league considered reducing the amount of teams to 16, for the 2012-2013 Persian Gulf Cup season. This idea was dismissed for the 2012-2013 season, but was said it would be implicated in the 2013-14 season.
Qualification for Asian competitions [edit]
As of 2008 four teams from Iran qualify for the AFC Asian Champions League annually. This includes the top three teams of the IPL together with the winner of the Hazfi Cup. If the winner of the Hazfi Cup is also among the three top IPL teams then the fourth best IPL team also qualifies.
Sponsorship [edit]
According to a November 2012 study, in the 2010–11 season Iran Pro League clubs on average obtained 15% of their income from sponsorship.[6]
Media coverage [edit]
Channel 3 broadcasted nationally and IRIB 2 broadcasted internationally both show IPL matches, 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.
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.[7]
Players [edit]
Transfer season [edit]
- The summer transfer season for teams in the Persian Gulf Cup lasts from June 18 to 12pm on August 8.
- The winter transfer season for teams in the Persian Gulf Cup lasts from December 31 to 12pm on January 20.
Foreigner cap [edit]
Each team is allowed as many foreign players in their squad as they desire, however there is a rule that only permits 3 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 F.C. were deducted 1 point for fielding 4 foreigners on one occasion and handed a 3-0 loss. Shortly after the 2011-2012 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.
Ranking [edit]
As of 2012 it was ranked as the 36th strongest league in the world by the IFFHS.[8]
Records [edit]
All-time top scorers [edit]
last update: May 10, 2013
| No. | Player | Goals | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Reza Enayati |
116 | 2001 to 2006, 2009 to Present |
| 2 | Arash Borhani |
106 | 2002 to 2006, 2007 to Present |
| 3 | Mehdi Rajabzadeh |
87 | 2001 to 2007, 2009 to Present |
| 4 | Fereydoon Fazli |
85 | 2001 to 2002, 2003 to 2010 |
| 5 |  Emad Mohammed |
70 | 2005 to 2012 |
| 6 | Karim Ansarifard |
68 | 2007 to Present |
| 7 | Siavash Akbarpour |
67 | 2004 to 2007, 2008 to Present |
| 8 |  Ibrahima Touré |
60 | 2007 to 2011 |
| 9 | Mohammad Gholami |
58 | 2001 to 2003, 2004 to Present |
| 10 | Mohsen Bayatinia |
57 | 2001 to Present |
| 11 | Iman Razaghirad |
55 | 2001 to 2006, 2009 to Present |
| 12 | Hadi Asghari |
52 | 2005 to Present |
| 13 | Davoud Haghi |
50 | 2003 to Present |
Players in bold are still active in the league.
Winning managers [edit]
last update: May 10, 2013
Multiple winning managers [edit]
last update: May 5, 2013
| No. | Winning manager | Club | No. titles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Multiple winning players [edit]
last update: May 12, 2013 [9]
See also [edit]
- Iranian Futsal Super League
- 17th of Shahrivar league
- Qods League
- Iranian Super Cup
- Tehran Football Competitions
- List of foreign IPL players
- Takht Jamshid Cup
- Navad
- Fars Province League
- Isfahan Province League
Notes [edit]
- ^ Mehrdad Estiri, Mohammad Haghighi, Reza Mohammadkazemi, Hamzeh Rayej & Mohammad Jahed (2010). "Promotion in Iran's Football Pro-league: Important but Weak!". International Journal of Applied Sports Sciences (Korea Institute of Sports Science) 22 (1): 62. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
- ^ "(Persian)[[Category:Articles with Persian language external links]][[Category:Articles with Persian language external links]] برنامهي كامل دور رفت ششمين دورهي ليگ برتر فوتبال؛ ليگ برتر به "خليج فارس" تغيير نام داد". ISNA. Retrieved 2006-08-14. Wikilink embedded in URL title (help)
- ^ "(Persian)[[Category:Articles with Persian language external links]][[Category:Articles with Persian language external links]]برترين طرح ارائه شده براي ليگ برتر انتخاب شد". IRIFF Official Website. Retrieved 2006-11-24. Wikilink embedded in URL title (help)
- ^ "Persian Gulf Cup". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
- ^ "Iran League Seasons". Persianleague.com. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
- ^ Mahsa Qorbani, Mohammad Javad Sheikh, Meysam Bagheri (November 2012). "A comparative study of how to finance professional football premier leagues in Iran and England". Scholarly Journal of Business Administration 2(9): 147. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
- ^ http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9004295645
- ^ "The strongest National League in the World 2012". IFFHS. Retrieved 11 January 2013.
- ^ "(Persian)[[Category:Articles with Persian language external links]][[Category:Articles with Persian language external links]] با رسیدن به نویدکیا و سیدجلال/ رحمتی، بیک زاده و جانواریو هم 4 تایی شدند". Goal.com. Retrieved 2013-05-14. Wikilink embedded in URL title (help)
External links [edit]
- Iran Pro League at PersianLeague.com
- League at Soccerway.com
- League results in date order at persianfootball.com
- IRIFF – Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation
- List of Iranian champions at RSSSF
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