Zob Ahan Isfahan FC

Zob Ahan Football Club (Persian: باشگاه فوتبال ذوب ‌آهن) is an Iranian football club based in Isfahan, Iran. They compete in the Iran Pro League. The team is sponsored by the Isfahan Steel Company, which also goes by the name Zob Ahan. The club's main rival is fellow Isfahani team Sepahan, which is also sponsored by the rival steel mill.

Zob Ahan club also has a basketball team, sponsored by the same Isfahan Steel Company, which is one of the teams in the Iranian Super League.

Club history

Early years (1969–1980)

Mohammad Ali Taghizadeh Farahmand established the club in 1969. They entered the Takht Jamshid Cup in 1973 and end season in the 10th place. They promoted to the quarterfinals of the Hazfi Cup in 1976. Their best results in Takht Jamshid Cup was erned in 1977–78 in the 8th place. Zob Ahan prepared its team by buying 14 players from their local rivals Sepahan.

Azadegan League (1980–2001)

The team has participated in the highest division of the Iranian league system since 1973, except for the 1995 season when they played in the 2nd division. After Iranian Revolution in 1979, Takht Jamshid Cup was suspended due to Iran-Iraq War. After the end of the war, league began again in the title of Azadegan League. They were once again promoted to the 1st division the year after.

IPL (2001–Present)

Zob Ahan currently play in the IPL starting from 2001. The club's first honor, remains the winning of the Hazfi Cup in 2003, after defeating the Shiraz-based team Moghavemat Sepasi in the finals.^[1] This feat was repeated in the 2008–09 Hazfi Cup, when the club beat Rah Ahan F.C. to re-claim the title after 6 years.^[2] The club made its first appearance in the Asian Champions League in 2004, as the winners of the 2003 Hazfi Cup, but were eliminated in the group stages.

Having missed out so narrowly on winning their first-ever domestic league title in the 2008–2009 season, Zobahan were one of the title contenders once again in the 2009/10 season, never dropping out of the top-four positions throughout the season. However, at the end, they had to settle for second place once again after finishing six points behind their city rivals Sepahan F.C.. They also lost their grip on the Hazfi Cup after a shock 0–2 loss to a second-division side Gostaresh Foolad F.C. in the semi-finals.^[3]

2010 AFC Champion League

In the 2010 AFC Champions League Zob Ahan finished first on the group stage that included FC Bunyodkor, Al-Wahda and Al-Ittihad. By finishing first they qualified for the first time for the Knockout stages. On the Round of 16 they draw country neighbours Mes Kerman winning 1–0. The club then qualified to the Quarter-finals and were drawn with title holders Pohang Steelers, Zob Ahan won 2–1 at home and draw 1–1 on Korea, knocking-out shockingly the title holders. Zob Ahan played against Saudi powerhouse Al-Hilal which they won 1–0 at home, and won 1–0 on Saudi Arabia with a goal from Igor Castro leading the club to an historical Asian Champions League final where they face Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma. On November 13, in the final Zob Ahan lost 1–3 to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma. At half-time the score was 0–1 with a goal from Saša Ognenovski, in the second-half Zob Ahan conceded an early goal scored by Cho Byung-Kuk making the score 0–2, Zob Ahan finally scored the goal from Mohammad Reza Khalatbari making 1–2, but on the last minutes of the game Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma scored the 1–3 and killed the game. Zob Ahan couldn't be the champions on their 2nd Asian Champions League participation always being under-dogs, but they fought like warriors and made Iran proud.

Colours and crest

One of Zob Ahan's nicknames is Sabzpoushan ("The Greens", Persian: سبز پوشان), stemming from their traditional kit, which is predominantly green. From the foundation of the club, the common home kit includes a green shirt, black or white shorts, and white or yellow socks. White and black colours are also seen in the kit. The away kit of the club is commonly with a white background.

Stadium and facilities

The home stadium of the club is Foolad Shahr Stadium located in Fooladshahr, Isfahan. The stadium had 20,000 capacity but was changed to about 30,000 in 2011. The stadium was built in 1998. The other stadium of Zob Ahan is Naghsh-e Jahan Stadium belongs to the Sepahan FC with 75,000 capacity. The training stadium is located outside of Isfahan named Zob Ahan Private Stadium.

Rivalries

Zob Ahan is one side of Iran's most important football match which is called Esfahan derby of Naghsh-e-Jahan derby. According to Iranian football journalist Afshin Afshar, the rivalry between Zob Ahan and Sepahan is one of the most important matches in the Iran Pro League.

Esfahan derby goes back to the 1970s, when Zob Ahan and Sepahan F.C. faced each other in Takht Jamshid Cup seasons(1974/75, 1975/76, 1976/77, 1977/78). Their rivalry resumed in the 1990s when they faced each other in Azadegan League seasons (1993/94, 1996/97, 1997/98) and from then on the two met each other twice a year.

Players

First-team squad

As of 16 June 2011^[4]

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

For recent transfers, see List of Iranian football transfers winter 2011–12.

Notable players

This list of former players includes those who received international caps (in bold) while playing for the team, made significant contributions to the team in terms of appearances or goals while playing for the team, or who made significant contributions to the sport either before they played for the team, or after they left. It is clearly not yet complete and all inclusive, and additions and refinements will continue to be made over time.

Club captains

Club officials

IPL managers

Only IPL matches are counted.

Last updated 15 December 2011.

Current Coaching Staff

Chairpersons

Season-by-season

The table below chronicles the achievements of Zob Ahan since 1973.

* Relegated.
** Promoted.

Club honours

Domestic

• Iran Pro League

Runners-Up (3): 2004–05, 2008–2009, 2009–10

• Iran 2nd Division:

Winners (1): 1995–96

• Hazfi Cup:

Winners (2): 2002–03, 2008–09

Runners-Up (1): 2000–01

Continental

• AFC Champions League

Runners-Up (1): 2010

Quarter-Finalist (1): 2011

Ownership

The owner of the Zob Ahan FC is Isfahan Steel Company. Company is the first Iranian steel maker opened in late 1960, based close to the cities of Fooladshahr and Zarrinshahr, Isfahan Province.

Zob Ahan-e Esfahan and Iran's first car manufacturer, Iran National (renamed Iran Khodro after the Iranian revolution) were parts of a significant move from mainly agriculture-based economy toward industrialization by the pre-revolutionary government of Amir Abbas Hoveida.

References

External links

External

• Player Statistics

Official

• Official club website