Foolad F.C.
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| Full name | Foolad Khuzestan Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1973 | ||
| Ground | Takhti Stadium Ahvaz Iran | ||
| Capacity | 30,000 | ||
| Chairman |  Seifollah Dehkordi | ||
| Head Coach | Majid Jalali | ||
| League | Iran Pro League | ||
| 2008-09 | Persian Gulf Cup, 7th | ||
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Foolad Khuzestan Football Club (Persian: باشگاه فوتبال فولاد خوزستان) is an Iranian football club, based in Ahvaz, Khuzestan. It was named Foolad partially because it is funded by the industry in Khuzestan. The club contributed the highest number (six) of players to the national team during the Asian Cup 2004 in China, in particular during the quarter-final clash with South Korea, which ended 4-3 (in normal time) in favor of the then underdogs, Iran. In the 2004-05 season, Foolad became the champion of the fourth Iran Pro League (IPL), gaining a total of 64 points over 30 league matches. After several successful seasons and what at one point seemed to be the emergence of a new pole in Iranian football, Foolad lost many of its key players through transfers and internal problems and also displayed a poor performance in the ACL 2006. The club was subsequently relegated to the 2nd highest division in Iran, the Azadegan League in 2007. Fortunately however, Foolad was able to return to the IPL starting the 2008-2009 season and has been turning out relatively well in the current standings.
Club history
Establishment
Foolad was a team that no one knew anything about until the dissolution of Jonoub Ahvaz F.C. in 1996. Foolad had won the Ahvaz City Championship in 1991, and entered the 2nd division of the Khuzestan football league two years later.
Road to Azadegan League
In 1995, which was Foolad's second year in the Khuzestan 2nd Division, they became provincial champions. That same year Jonoob Ahvaz F.C., was contracted and Foolad took their place in Iran Football's 2nd Division. In 1996, with Homayoun Shahrokhinejad as manager, the team was promoted to the 1st division. It was really an amazing run, considering that the team began in the 4th division of the Ahvaz City League in 1986.
IPL
Ever since their promotion, the club has introduced very talented young footballers to Iranian football. The team was eventually bought by the Ahvaz Steel Mill; this helped the team's financial situation improve. The team was finally able to use its massive potential and win the IPL in the 2004-05 season but due to some ensuing internal problems and coaching difficulties could not perform well in the 2006 Asian Champions League. Their star player and MVP of their championship season was loaned and eventually transferred to Al-Shabab in the UAE. The club also had to change the location of its home field, due to renovations, instead playing in neighbouring city Abadan's Takhti Stadium.
After a mediocre 2005-06, Foolad started the 2006-07 season with former Iranian national team coach Mohammad Mayeli Kohan, but he resigned half way through the season as Foolad had achieved poor results. Youth club coach Nenad Nikolić temporarily replaced him and soon after Portuguese manager Augusto Inácio was named head coach. Foolad went through a terrible 2006-07 season finishing 15th and being relegated to the lower Azadegan League.They won the playoff spot the season after but they lost their match. A few weeks later they bought the right to play in Persian Gulf Cup from Sepahan Novin and promoted to IPL. They chose Majid Jalali as their coach for the 2008–09 season where they had an average season but Majid Jalali left the club because the chairman despite good results was negotiating with other coaches.
Youth academy
In 2000 Foolad formed a youth academy and today over 400 players play in Foolad's youth system. Players such as Eman Mobali and Adel Kolahkaj are products of the youth system.
Season-by-season
The table below chronicles the achievements of Foolad in various competitions since 1997.
| Season | Pos. | Hazfi Cup | ACL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997-1998 | 1D* | 10th | Not held | Did not qualify |
| 1998-1999 | 1D* | 7th | ||
| 1999-2000 | 1D* | 10th | ||
| 2000-2001 | 1D* | 8th | ||
| 2001-2002 | 1D** | 3rd | Quarterfinal | |
| 2002-2003 | 1D** | 7th | ||
| 2003-2004 | 1D** | 3rd | 1/8 Final | |
| 2004-2005 | 1D** | 1st | ||
| 2005-2006 | 1D** | 8th | 1/16 Final | First round |
| 2006-2007 | 1D** | 15th | 1/8 Final | Did not qualify |
| 2007-2008 | 2D | Playoff | Semifinal | |
| 2008-2009 | 1D** | 7th | Quarterfinal |
* Azadegan League.
** Iran Pro League.
Club honours
Club managers
Managerial history
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Players
First-team squad
As of 9 November 2009
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
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For recent transfers, see List of Iranian football transfers, winter 2009–10.
Famous players
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References
External links
Official
{{IPL}} may refer to:
- {{Persian Gulf Pro League}} - Iran Pro League
- {{Indian Premier League}} - Indian Premier League
- {{Irish Premier League}} - Irish Premier League
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