| Countries | Iran |
|---|---|
| Confederation | AFC |
| Founded | 1970 officially 2001 with current format |
| Divisions | 1 |
| Number of teams | 18 |
| Levels on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | Azadegan League |
| Domestic cup(s) | Hazfi Cup |
| International cup(s) | AFC Champions League |
| Current champions | Sepahan (2010–11) |
| Most championships | Sepahan (3 titles) |
| TV partners | IRIB |
| 2011-12 season | |
The Iran Pro League (IPL) (Persian: لیگ برتر فوتبال ایران), is a professional football league competition for clubs located at the highest level of the Iranian football league system.
The league system resembles the system being used in England currently. 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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The 2001-2002 season saw the introduction of a professional football league in Iran.[1]
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 matchday.
| 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] |
| Team | Winners | Runners-up |
|---|---|---|
| Sepahan | 3 (2002-03, 2009-10, 2010-11) | 1 (2007-08) |
| Esteghlal | 2 (2005-06, 2008–09) | 3 (2001-02, 2003-04, 2010-11) |
| Persepolis | 2 (2001-02, 2007-08) | - |
| Pas Tehran | 1 (2003-04) | 2 (2002-03, 2005-06) |
| Foolad | 1 (2004-05) | - |
| Saipa | 1 (2006-07) | - |
| Zob Ahan | - | 3 (2004-05, 2008–09, 2009–10) |
| Esteghlal Ahvaz | - | 1 (2006-07) |
Since the 2001-2002 season, 10 seasons of "IPL/Persian Gulf League" has been completed. The below table shows the total ranking for the all football clubs competing in these all 10 seasons.[4]
| Pos. | Club | Seasons | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Best Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Esteghlal | 10 | 304 | 145 | 98 | 61 | 468 | 308 | +160 | 533 | Champions |
| 2 | Persepolis | 10 | 304 | 136 | 101 | 67 | 440 | 323 | +117 | 5031 | Champions |
| 3 | Sepahan | 10 | 304 | 135 | 95 | 74 | 447 | 309 | +138 | 4972 | Champions |
| 4 | Zob Ahan | 10 | 304 | 134 | 92 | 78 | 396 | 303 | +93 | 494 | 2nd |
| 5 | Foolad | 9 | 270 | 105 | 90 | 75 | 337 | 286 | +51 | 405 | Champions |
| 6 | Saipa | 10 | 304 | 95 | 108 | 101 | 349 | 362 | -13 | 393 | Champions |
| 7 | Aboomoslem | 9 | 270 | 83 | 90 | 97 | 299 | 305 | -6 | 339 | 4th |
| 8 | Paykan | 9 | 274 | 88 | 75 | 111 | 300 | 336 | -36 | 339 | 5th |
| 9 | Malavan | 9 | 278 | 79 | 90 | 109 | 248 | 328 | -80 | 327 | 7th |
| 10 | Moghavemat Sepasi | 9 | 270 | 75 | 101 | 94 | 254 | 296 | -42 | 326 | 4th |
| 11 | Saba Qom | 7 | 226 | 74 | 87 | 65 | 278 | 258 | 20 | 309 | 3rd |
| 12 | Esteghlal Ahvaz | 8 | 244 | 78 | 71 | 95 | 310 | 344 | -34 | 305 | 2nd |
| 13 | Pas Tehran | 6 | 168 | 72 | 59 | 37 | 263 | 181 | 82 | 275 | Champions |
| 14 | Bargh Shiraz | 8 | 236 | 60 | 78 | 98 | 250 | 334 | -84 | 258 | 8th |
| 15 | Mes Kerman | 5 | 166 | 60 | 56 | 50 | 221 | 195 | 26 | 236 | 3rd |
| 16 | Rah Ahan | 6 | 196 | 50 | 62 | 84 | 203 | 253 | -50 | 212 | 11th |
| 17 | Pas Hamedan | 4 | 136 | 38 | 47 | 51 | 140 | 166 | -26 | 161 | 5th |
| 18 | Tractor Sazi | 3 | 94 | 28 | 35 | 31 | 97 | 107 | -10 | 119 | 5th |
| 19 | Sanat Naft Abadan | 3 | 94 | 28 | 19 | 47 | 98 | 134 | -36 | 103 | 9th |
| 20 | Pegah Gilan | 3 | 90 | 20 | 28 | 42 | 70 | 122 | -52 | 88 | 9th |
| 21 | Steel Azin | 2 | 68 | 19 | 23 | 26 | 85 | 112 | -27 | 80 | 5th |
| 22 | Shahin Bushehr | 2 | 68 | 17 | 23 | 28 | 68 | 74 | -6 | 74 | 13th |
| 23 | Shamoushak | 3 | 86 | 16 | 26 | 44 | 64 | 118 | -54 | 74 | 14th |
| 24 | Shahrdari Tabriz | 1 | 34 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 45 | 53 | -8 | 37 | 12th |
| 25 | Naft Tehran | 1 | 34 | 7 | 15 | 12 | 37 | 44 | -7 | 36 | 13th |
| 26 | Payam Mashhad | 1 | 34 | 9 | 8 | 17 | 33 | 52 | -19 | 35 | 16th |
| 27 | Damash Gilan | 1 | 34 | 7 | 12 | 15 | 40 | 55 | -15 | 33 | 17th |
| 28 | Shirin Faraz | 1 | 34 | 3 | 12 | 19 | 25 | 59 | -34 | 21 | 18th |
| 29 | Shahid Ghandi Yazd | 1 | 30 | 4 | 7 | 19 | 21 | 43 | -22 | 19 | 16th |
| 30 | Esteghlal Rasht | 1 | 26 | 3 | 7 | 16 | 18 | 44 | -26 | 16 | 13th |
1 Persepolis was deducted 6 points in 2007–08 season issued by Fifa.
2 Sepahan was deducted 3 points in 2007–08 season issued by Iranian Football Federation.
There are currently 18 clubs in the league,[5] although the competition started in 2001–02 with 14 teams.[6] 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. The two teams at the bottom of the IPL and top of the Azadegan League play in a series of playoffs with return legs, the two teams out of the four that come out of those games victorious will be promoted or remain (if previously there) in the IPL.
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.
Up until 2011 the league had no private sponsorship and a large majority of the teams participating in the league belonged to public sector industries and companies. Starting from the 2011-12 season, the league is sponsored by MTN Irancell for approximately 2.55 million USD for 1 year. [7]
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.[8]
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.
Also as of the 2008-09 season no IPL clubs will be permitted to buy foreign goalkeepers in a bid to develop the talents of Iranian goalkeepers and allow younger goalkeepers to have more first team opportunities. However the teams which have already got long term contracts with foreign goalkeepers will be exempt from this rule.
Players receive a one match suspension when they receive 3 yellow cards at any point of the season.
As of 2011 the Iranian league was ranked as the 22nd strongest in the world.[9]
last update: October 1, 2011
| No. | Player | Goals | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arash Borhani | 91 | 2002 to 2006, 2007 to Present |
| 2 | Reza Enayati | 87 | 2001 to 2006, 2009 to Present |
| 3 | Fereydoon Fazli | 85 | 2001 to 2002, 2003 to 2010 |
| 4 | Mehdi Rajabzadeh | 68 | 2001 to 2007, 2009 to Present |
| 5 | Emad Mohammed | 61 | 2005 to Present |
| 6 | Ibrahima Touré | 60 | 2007 to 2011 |
| 7 | Siavash Akbarpour | 59 | 2004 to 2007, 2008 to Present |
| 8 | Mohsen Bayatinia | 56 | 2001 to Present |
| 9 | Hadi Asghari | 52 | 2005 to Present |
| 10 | Davoud Haghi | 50 | 2003 to Present |
| Iman Razaghirad | 50 | 2001 to 2006, 2009 to Present | |
| Mohammad Gholami | 50 | 2001 to 2003, 2004 to Present |
Players in bold are still active in the league.
last update: May 21, 2011
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