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Esteghlal Tehran Football Club (Persian: استقلال , meaning 'Independence') (formerly known as Taj, meaning 'Crown') is an Iranian football club.
It is one of the most famous football (soccer) clubs in Asia and in Iran's Premier Football League, established in 1945, and has won many championships in different competitions. Esteghlal and Persepolis are presently the two most popular football clubs in Iran, however in recent years their dominance has been seriously threatened by other clubs like Sepahan and Foolad. The team's main rival and its opponent in the Tehran derby is Persepolis. Azadi Stadium is always sold out when the match takes place.
The club was under the control of the National Sports Organization of Iran (سازمان تربیت بدنی), a governmental department. It was granted to the Welfare Ministry (وزارت رفاه) in 2005, but the ministry returned the club to the former owner a year later.
[edit] Club history
On 24 September 1945, three individuals by the names of Mirzani, Jananpour and Navab started a sports club on Ferdowsi Street of Tehran. Since the founders of the club were mostly interested in cycling, the club's original name was Docharke Savaran or The Cyclists. The Docharkhe Savaran football club played its first official match a year later, and in 1947 was able to capture the Tehran Hazfi Cup. In 1949, the team officially changed its name to Taj. The club became the second most loved team in Iran after some years, and were able to make their fans happy by winning numerous league championships, Hazfi Cups and Asian Club Championships. The team had to change its name again in 1979 to Esteghlal(independence in Persian), because of the revolution. Taj means crown in Persian, and after the revolution, any sign of the previous monarchist regime was not tolerated, so naturally, the name Taj was not suitable. The club has been able to get successful results in the past couple of years and is always looked at as a contender for the league championship. In the past two years it has finished 2nd or 3rd in the league, but Ghalenoei was able to get the team its first championship in the IPL in the 2005-06 season after his third and final year as the manager.
Esteghlal was dropped from the 2007 edition of the Asian Champion's League after the AFC did not receive the club's player list for the tournament in time. Despite efforts by the club management to reverse the decision, AFC upheld its decision[1] and the club's board resigned soon after.
[edit] Recent Results and Criticism
Esteghlal under the direction of Marfavi has reached to the second place in the midseason, lagging behind Saipa. Though Esteghlal has won several games, Marfavi has always been under heavy criticism from the media. Critics argue that Esteghlal wins its games, but shows no indication of the spirit that led them to the championship last year. They say, Esteghlal does not play joyful and nice.
[edit] Season-by-season
The table below chronicles the achievements of Esteghlal FC in IPL.
| Season |
League |
League Finishing Position |
Hazfi Cup |
Asian Cup |
| 2001-2002 |
Iran Premier League |
2nd |
Cup |
|
| 2002-2003 |
Iran Premier League |
9th |
|
Asian Cup (3rd) |
| 2003-2004 |
Iran Premier League |
2nd |
Final |
|
| 2004-2005 |
Iran Premier League |
3rd |
|
|
| 2005-2006 |
Iran Premier League |
1st (Champions) |
Quarterfinal |
|
| 2006-2007 |
Iran Premier League |
Not done yet |
1/16 Final |
Disqualified |
[edit] Club Honours
[edit] 2006/2007 Squad
The numbers are established according to Iranian Pro League Stats
As of March 30, 2007
[edit] Squad changes during 2006/07 season
In:
Out:
[edit] Famous players
[edit] External links
Samad Marfavi
Joelson Rodriguez da Silva - From Zob Ahan FC
