Azadegan League
This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2018) |
Hazfi Cup | |
International cup(s) | AFC Champions league (through the hazfi cup) |
---|---|
Current champions | Shams Azar (1st title) (2022–23) |
Most championships | Persepolis (4 titles) |
TV partners | IRIB |
Website | league1football |
Current: 2023–24 Azadegan League |
The Azadegan League (Persian: ليگ آزادگان, Lig-e Âzâdegân), also known as League 1 (Persian: لیگ یک, Lig-e Yek), is the second highest division of professional football in Iran. It was the top-level football league in Iran from its foundation in 1991 until 2001, when the Persian Gulf Pro League was established.
Azadegan League operates on a system of promotion and relegation. Each year, the top finishing teams in the Azadegan League are promoted to the Persian Gulf Pro League, and the lowest finishing teams are relegated to League 2.
Since 2016, the league comprises 18 teams. The winner and the runner-up of the Azadegan League are automatically promoted to the Persian Gulf Pro League. The bottom three teams in the league are relegated to League 2. In the past, the format and number of teams were changed for various times.
History
Before 1970
Before the 1970s, Iran did not have an official national football league. Most clubs participated in championships of their city or province. In 1970, the Local League was created. The league included teams from all Iran in different qualifying tournaments. In 1972, the Takht Jamshid Cup was founded as the national league and included teams from all over the country.
1979 Revolution and 1980s
Due to the Islamic Revolution and the Iran–Iraq War, the Takht Jamshid Cup was dissolved and also the lower leagues were unorganized. In 1989 the Qods League was created as the national football league. Esteghlal were the first national champion since PAS Tehran in 1978. After the season the Qods League was not continued.
Establishment as First tier (1991–2001)
Season | Champions | Runners-up |
---|---|---|
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 |
In 1991 the Azadegan League was formed as the top flight of Iranian football. The league was named as Azadegan League in honor of the Iranian
Prior to the start of the 1995–96 Azadegan League season, the league changed its format again.[2] 16 teams participated in one group until 1999. Persepolis were the champions in 1995–96,[3] 1996–97[4] and 1998–99,[5] while Esteghlal became the champion in the 1997–98 season.[6] In 1999 the league was reduced to 14 teams. Persepolis won the 1999–2000 Azadegan League season, sitting seven points clear of rival Esteghlal.[7] The 2000–01 season was the last year of the Azadegan League as the top-level football league of Iran. Esteghlal became the champion in a league of 12 teams.[8]
Continuance as Second tier (2001–)
Season | Champions | Runners-up |
---|---|---|
2001–02 | Esteghlal Ahvaz | Sanat Naft |
2002–03 | Shamoushak | Pegah |
2003–04 | Saba Battery | Malavan |
2004–05 | Shahid Ghandi | Rah Ahan |
2005–06 | Mes Kerman | Paykan |
2006–07 | Shirin Faraz | Pegah |
2007–08 | Payam
|
Sepahan Novin |
2008–09 | Steel Azin | Shahin |
Tractor | ||
2009–10 | Shahrdari Tabriz | Sanat Naft |
Naft Tehran | ||
2010–11 | Damash | Mes Sarcheshmeh
|
2011–12 | Paykan | Aluminium Hormozgan |
2012–13 | Gostaresh Foolad | PAS Hamedan |
Esteghlal Khuzestan | ||
2013–14 | Padideh | Naft MIS |
2014–15 | Foolad Novin | Siah Jamegan |
2015–16 | Paykan | Machine Sazi |
2016–17 | Pars Jonoubi | Sepidrood |
2017–18 | Naft MIS | Nassaji |
2018–19 | Gol Gohar | Shahin |
2019–20 | Mes Rafsanjan | Aluminium Arak |
2020–21 | Fajr Sepasi
|
Havadar |
2021–22 | Malavan | Mes Kerman |
2022–23 | Shams Azar | Esteghlal Khuzestan |
After the Iran Pro League was established as the professional football league of Iran, Azadegan League was declared as the second-highest professional league in the Iranian football league system. Esteghlal Ahvaz won the 2001–02 Azadegan League season and promoted to Iran Pro League. Also Sanat Naft Abadan promoted to the Iran Pro League. 22 clubs participated in two groups of 11 teams including a final stage for the best four teams. The format was changed into a classic league of 16 teams for the next two seasons. Shamoushak Noshahr became the champion in 2002–03, while Saba Battery won the league title in the 2003–04 season.
Once more the league changed their format in 2004. Between the
After
The number of teams was reduced in the next two seasons. 26 clubs participated in
Since 2015
Before the start of the 2015–16 Azadegan League season, they returned to a classic league format. 20 clubs participated in 2015–16, before the number of teams were reduced to 18 one season later. Paykan won the 2015–16 season, sitting seven points clear of Machine Sazi.
Like in the 2016–17 season,
Format
In the past, the format and number of teams were changed for various times. Since 2016, the league comprises 18 teams. Over the course of a season, which runs annually from July to the following May, each team plays twice against the others in the league, once at home and once away, resulting in each team competing in 34 games in total. Three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. The teams are ranked in the league table by points gained, then goal difference, then goals scored and then their head-to-head record for that season. At the end of the season, the top two teams are promoted to the
Number of teams | Period |
---|---|
12 | 1991–92, 2000–01 |
16 (two groups) | 1992–93 |
14 | 1993–94, 1999–2000 |
24 (two groups) | 1994–95, 2004–05 until 2007–08, 2014–15 |
16 | 1995–96 until 1998–99, 2002–03 until 2003–04 |
22 (two groups) | 2001–02 |
28 (two groups) | 2008–09 until 2012–13 |
26 (two groups) | 2013–14 |
20 | 2015–16 |
18 | since 2016–17 |
Logo
Clubs
Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
---|---|---|---|
Aluminium Arak | Arak | Imam Khomeini | 15,000 |
Arman Gohar Sirjan | Sirjan | TBA | TBA |
Baadraan Tehran | Tehran | Kargaran | 5,000 |
Damash | Rasht | Shahid Dr. Azodi | 11,000 |
Elmoadab Tabriz | Tabriz | Marzdaran Stadium | 5,000 |
Esteghlal Khuzestan | Ahvaz | Ghadir | 38,900 |
Fajr Sepasi | Shiraz | Hafezieh | 15,000 |
Gol Reyhan Alborz | Karaj | Enghelab | 15,000 |
Khooshe Talaei Saveh | Saveh | Shahid Chamran | 3,000 |
Malavan | Bandar-e Anzali | Takhti Anzali | 8,000 |
Mes Kerman | Kerman | Shahid Bahonar | 15,430 |
Mes Rafsanjan | Rafsanjan | Shohadaye Noushabad | 5,000 |
Navad Urmia | Urmia | Shahid Bakeri | 15,000 |
Nirooye Zamini | Tehran | TBA | TBA |
Qashqai | Shiraz | Hafezieh | 15,000 |
Rayka Babol | Babol | Haft-e Tir | 6,000 |
Sepidrood | Rasht | Sardar Jangal | 15,000 |
Sorkhpooshan Pakdasht
|
Pakdasht | Shahid Dastgerdi | 8,250 |
Champions
Notes:
1
All-time table
Pos. | Club | Seasons | Matches | Win | Draw | Loss | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Champions | Runners-up | Promoted | Relegated | Best Rank |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Nassaji Mazandaran1 | 19 | 494 | 172 | 152 | 170 | 526 | 540 | −14 | 665 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2nd |
2 | Mes Kerman | 13 | 384 | 159 | 126 | 99 | 426 | 305 | +121 | 603 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 1st |
3 | Sanat Naft | 17 | 417 | 154 | 139 | 124 | 478 | 427 | +51 | 601 | — | 2 | 4 | 2 | 2nd |
4 | Aluminium Arak2 | 16 | 436 | 143 | 148 | 145 | 455 | 465 | −10 | 577 | — | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2nd |
5 | Malavan3 | 14 | 404 | 143 | 144 | 117 | 401 | 347 | +54 | 567 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1st |
6 | Fajr Sepasi | 13 | 390 | 145 | 131 | 114 | 427 | 329 | +98 | 566 | 1 | — | 2 | — | 1st |
7 | Tractor Sazi
|
16 | 392 | 143 | 131 | 118 | 448 | 414 | +34 | 560 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1st |
8 | Machine Sazi | 17 | 463 | 129 | 146 | 188 | 470 | 616 | −146 | 533 | — | 1 | 2 | 4 | 2nd |
9 | Mes Rafsanjan | 13 | 367 | 133 | 129 | 105 | 430 | 344 | +86 | 528 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1st |
10 | Gol Gohar | 12 | 333 | 120 | 121 | 92 | 399 | 337 | +62 | 481 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1st |
11 | Persepolis | 9 | 222 | 122 | 71 | 29 | 368 | 167 | +201 | 437 | 4 | 3 | — | — | 1st |
12 | Payam Mashhad 4
|
12 | 305 | 102 | 106 | 97 | 353 | 350 | +3 | 409 | 1 | — | 1 | 3 | 1st |
13 | Esteghlal | 9 | 224 | 108 | 77 | 39 | 328 | 194 | +134 | 401 | 2 | 4 | — | 1 | 1st |
14 | PAS Tehran | 10 | 250 | 94 | 106 | 50 | 304 | 227 | +77 | 388 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 1st |
15 | Damash Gilan5 | 10 | 263 | 105 | 73 | 85 | 290 | 252 | +38 | 388 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1st |
16 | Esteghlal Ahvaz | 13 | 330 | 90 | 109 | 131 | 352 | 429 | −77 | 379 | 1 | — | 2 | 3 | 1st |
17 | Iranjavan | 11 | 300 | 89 | 103 | 108 | 317 | 347 | −30 | 370 | — | — | — | 2 | 2nd |
18 | Niroye Zamini
|
12 | 300 | 89 | 92 | 119 | 283 | 333 | −50 | 359 | — | — | — | 4 | 3rd |
19 | Saipa | 9 | 250 | 83 | 106 | 61 | 287 | 244 | +43 | 355 | 2 | — | — | 1 | 1st |
20 | Sepahan | 9 | 236 | 87 | 79 | 70 | 250 | 230 | +20 | 340 | — | — | — | 1 | 3rd |
21 | Rayka Babol6 | 7 | 238 | 80 | 87 | 71 | 243 | 221 | +22 | 327 | — | — | — | — | 5th |
28 | Esteghlal Khuzestan | 6 | 186 | 72 | 62 | 52 | 202 | 141 | +61 | 278 | 1 | 1 | 2 | — | 1st |
35 | Kheybar Khorramabad | 5 | 172 | 59 | 64 | 49 | 189 | 158 | +31 | 241 | — | — | — | 1 | 4th |
41 | Pars Jonoubi Jam | 4 | 134 | 53 | 46 | 35 | 130 | 115 | +15 | 205 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1st |
43 | Khooshe Talaei | 4 | 134 | 49 | 46 | 39 | 151 | 125 | +26 | 193 | — | — | — | — | 4th |
47 | Arman Gohar Sirjan | 4 | 134 | 49 | 39 | 46 | 157 | 157 | 0 | 186 | — | — | — | — | 3rd |
63 | Chooka Talesh | 5 | 142 | 30 | 43 | 69 | 130 | 229 | −99 | 133 | — | — | — | 3 | 6th |
65 | Esteghlal Mollasani | 3 | 100 | 26 | 47 | 27 | 97 | 112 | -15 | 125 | — | — | — | — | 8th |
69 | Shams Azar Qazvin | 2 | 66 | 32 | 18 | 16 | 104 | 59 | +45 | 114 | 1 | — | 1 | — | 1st |
71 | Shahrdari Astara | 3 | 100 | 27 | 32 | 41 | 75 | 99 | −24 | 113 | — | — | — | — | 11th |
77 | Mes Shahr-e Babak | 2 | 66 | 20 | 31 | 15 | 54 | 43 | +11 | 91 | — | — | — | — | 7th |
83 | Shahrdari Hamedan | 2 | 66 | 15 | 26 | 25 | 43 | 54 | -11 | 71 | — | — | — | 1 | 10th |
95 | Van Pars Naghsh-e-Jahan | 1 | 32 | 12 | 9 | 11 | 32 | 29 | +3 | 45 | — | — | — | — | 7th |
96 | Chadormalou Ardakan | 1 | 32 | 11 | 12 | 9 | 32 | 31 | +1 | 45 | — | — | — | — | 8th |
100 | Darya Babol | 1 | 32 | 8 | 14 | 10 | 26 | 25 | +1 | 38 | — | — | — | — | 10th |
109 | Khalij Fars Mahshahr | 1 | 32 | 7 | 8 | 17 | 21 | 42 | -21 | 29 | — | — | — | — | 15th |
127 | Omid Vahdat Khorasan | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 1 | 18th |
2022–23 Persian Gulf Pro League | |
2022–23 Azadegan League | |
Dissolved |
Notes:
Only league matches, Play-offs are not included in the all-time table
1 Nassaji Mazandaran was deducted three points in the 2012–13 season
2 Aluminium Arak was formerly known as PAS Arak, Shensa Arak, Hamyari Arak and Shahrdari Arak
3 Malavan was deducted six points in the 2018–19 season
4
5 Damash Gilan was formerly known as Esteghlal Rasht and Pegah Gilan
6 Rayka Babol was formerly known as Khooneh be Khooneh
Attendances
Average league attendances
Season | Average | Highest attended club | Club average | Lowest attended club | Club average |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008–09 | 3,075 | Tractor | 9,385 | Niroye Zamini
|
319 |
2009–10 | 2,667 | Nassaji Mazandaran | 11,833 | Foolad Novin | 192 |
2010–11 | 2,733 | Nassaji Mazandaran | 12,769 | Sanati Kaveh | 188 |
2011–12 | 2,350 | Naft Masjed Soleyman | 9,091 | Sanati Kaveh | 200 |
2015–16 | 2,539 | Nassaji Mazandaran | 8,931 | Parseh Tehran
|
120 |
2016–17 | 2,650 | Nassaji Mazandaran | 10,333 | Rah Ahan
|
188 |
2017–18 | 2,287 | Nassaji Mazandaran | 12,941 | Machine Sazi | 247 |
Notes:
Matches with spectator bans are not included in average attendances
Highest attended season matches
Season | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance | Date | Week | Stadium |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2008–09 | Tractor | 2–0 | Aluminium Hormozgan | 20,000 | 8 June 2009 | 26 | Sahand |
2009–10 | Nassaji | 4–1 | Damash | 15,000 | 13 November 2009 | 6 | Vatani |
2010–11 | Gostaresh | 1–0 | Aboumoslem | 30,000 | 9 May 2011 | 26 | Sahand |
2011–12 | Nassaji | 0–0 | Naft MIS | 15,000 | 5 April 2012 | 24 | Vatani |
2015–16 | Machine Sazi | 3–0 | Mes Rafsanjan | 15,500 | 10 May 2016 | 37 | Sahand |
2016–17 | Sepidrood | 3–2 | Nassaji | 20,000 | 1 May 2017 | 34 | Dr. Azodi |
2017–18 | Rah Ahan | 0–6 | Nassaji | 23,000 | 29 April 2018 | 34 | Takhti Tehran |
Statistics
Top scorers
Season | Player | Club | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
2005–06 | Hossein Abdi | Sanaye Arak | 14 |
2006–07
|
Farhad Kheirkhah | Sorkhpooshan |
11 |
2007–08
|
Mohammad Parvin | Steel Azin | 15 |
2008–09
|
Abbas Porkhosravani |
Gol Gohar | 17 |
2009–10
|
Ali Karimi |
Shahrdari Tabriz | 17 |
2010–11
|
Afshin Chavoshi | Damash |
13 |
Mostafa Shojaei | Foolad Natanz | 13 | |
Moslem Firoozabadi | Gol Gohar | 13 | |
2011–12
|
Bahman Tahmasebi | Aluminum | 13 |
2012–13 | Mohammad Abbaszadeh | Nassaji | 17 |
2013–14 | Mokhtar Jomehzadeh | Gol Gohar | 15 |
2014–15 | Issa Alekasir | Aluminum | 11 |
2015–16 | Hamid Kazemi | Nassaji | 16 |
2016–17 | Mohammad Abbaszadeh | Nassaji | 24 |
2017–18 | Farshid Padash | Shahrdari Mahshahr | 17 |
Shahin Majidi | Fajr Sepasi |
17 | |
2018–19 | Peyman Ranjbari | Gol Gohar | 16 |
Shahriyar Moghanlou | Paykan | 16 | |
2019–20 | Hamid Kazemi | Baadraan | 17 |
2020–21 | Aref Rostami | Kheybar Khorramabad |
17 |
See also
- Football in Iran
- Iranian football league system
- Persian Gulf Pro League
- League 2
- League 3
- Hazfi Cup
- Iranian Super Cup
References
- ^ "List of Iranian football champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- ^ "1995–96 Azadegan League season". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- ^ "1995–96 Azadegan League season". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- ^ "1996–97 Azadegan League season". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- ^ "1998–99 Azadegan League season". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- ^ "1997–98 Azadegan League season". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2023-02-03. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- ^ "1999–2000 Azadegan League season". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- ^ "2000–01 Azadegan League season". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
- ^ "Naft Masjed Soleyman, Nassaji Mazandaran win promotion to IPL". 29 April 2018. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
External links
- Official website
- Azadegan League stats (archived)
- Azadegan League Live Score, Player Statistics, Goal Scorers, Fixtures, Standing
- PFDC – Persian Football Dot Com
- Iran Goals Archived 2020-09-19 at the Wayback Machine
- Iran Sports Press
- Pars Football
- RSSSF database about Iranian league football (archived)