Persian Gulf Pro League

Persian Gulf Pro League
لیگ برتر خلیج فارس
Founded 1970 officially
2001 with current format
Country Iran
Confederation AFC
Divisions 1
Number of teams 16
Level on pyramid 1
Relegation to Azadegan League
Domestic cup(s) Hazfi Cup
Iranian Super Cup
International cup(s) AFC Champions League
Current champions Persepolis (10th title)
Most championships Persepolis (10 titles)
TV partners IRIB TV3, Jame Jam 1,
Varzesh, Shoma, Local state channels
Website Iranleague.ir,
2017–18 Persian Gulf Pro League

The Persian Gulf Pro League (PGPL) (Persian: لیگ برتر خلیج فارس‎‎), formerly known as the Iran Pro League (IPL) (Persian: لیگ برتر فوتبال ایران‎‎), is a professional football league competition for clubs at the highest level of the Iranian football league system. It was founded in 1970 as the Takht Jamshid Cup, but the current format was adopted in 2001. Contested by 16 teams, it is ranked by the Asian Football Confederation as the 2nd best league in Asia and the best league in Western Asia.

The Persian Gulf Pro 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. Since the league's creation in 2001, seven different teams have become league champions. Sepahan is the most successful club with five trophies.

History

Iranian League Winners
Seasons Winners Runners-up
1970–71 Taj (Esteghlal) Pas Tehran
1971–72 Persepolis Pas Tehran
1973–74 Persepolis Taj (Esteghlal)
1974–75 Taj (Esteghlal) Persepolis
1975–76 Persepolis Homa
1976–77 Pas Tehran Persepolis
1977–78 Pas Tehran Persepolis
1989–90 Esteghlal Persepolis
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
2001–02 Persepolis Esteghlal
2002–03 Sepahan Pas Tehran
2003–04 Pas Tehran Esteghlal
2004–05 Foolad Zob Ahan
2005–06 Esteghlal Pas Tehran
2006–07 Saipa Esteghlal Ahvaz
2007–08 Persepolis Sepahan
2008–09 Esteghlal Zob Ahan
2009–10 Sepahan Zob Ahan
2010–11 Sepahan Esteghlal
2011–12 Sepahan Tractor Sazi
2012–13 Esteghlal Tractor Sazi
2013–14 Foolad Persepolis
2014–15 Sepahan Tractor Sazi
2015–16 Esteghlal Khuzestan Persepolis
2016–17 Persepolis Esteghlal

Foundation

Before the 1970s, Iran did not have an official national league and most teams competed in their local leagues, the most popular being the Tehran Local League which featured teams like Pas Tehran, Persepolis, and Taj.

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 created as the national league and included teams from all over the country. Pas Tehran and Persepolis were the most successful clubs in the cup's five-year existence, each club winning the cup twice. In 1978, the league was abandoned because of the Iranian Revolution.

Due to the revolution and the Iran–Iraq War, football was no longer a priority. In 1985, the Qods League was created from provincial teams. Tehran A and Esfahan were the most successful teams, each winning the league twice. In spite of many attempts to create a national league, the most important competition in Iran in the 1980s was the Tehran Clubs Cup in which Persepolis dominated.

Iran Pro League

The 2001–02 season saw the introduction of a professional football league in Iran.[1] The first winner of the Iran Pro League was Persepolis, who beat archrival Esteghlal by one point on the final match day. In the 2002–03 season, Sepahan won the league comfortably with seven points separating them and second placed Pas Tehran. In the 2003–04 season, Pas Tehran won their first title after coming in second place the previous year; defending champion Sepahan finished in 6th place. The 2004–05 season was a surprising one as Foolad shockingly won the title, finishing on top by six points. In the 2005–06 season, Tehran club Esteghlal won their first league title, winning on the final day as they finished one point ahead of second placed team Pas Tehran.

Persian Gulf Cup

On August 12, 2006, the Iranian Football Federation decided to change the name of the league once again; it was changed to the Persian Gulf Cup.[2] This was done to promote the name of the Persian Gulf, instead of many variations that some nations and organizations use which Iran disputes. The logo of the league 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 new edition of the league which meant six different teams won the league title in a row. However, Persepolis regained the title after six years in 2008 by a dramatic win against rivals Sepahan in the 96th minute of the final matchday and became the first team to win two titles in the new edition of the league. The next season, Esteghlal did the same thing and won the league for the second time on the final match day.

Sepahan's domestic dominance started in the 2009–10 season, where they won the league comfortably, a feat which they repeated the following season. They also won the 2011–12 edition of the league; they had a more difficult job repeating the glory of the past years, but they won it on the final match day for the third time in a row. They are the first club in the history of the Iran Pro League to win the league title 3 consecutive times. Sepahan's dominance ended in the 2012–13 season, when Esteghlal cruised to a comfortable league victory.

Before the start of the 2012–13 season, the IFF, on the recommendation of Iran national football team manager Carlos Queiroz, announced that for the 2013–14 season the number of the teams would be reduced from 18 to 16, to increase the competitiveness of the league.

The 2013–14 season witnessed the closest title race since the league's inception. Coming into the last match day, 5 teams had the possibility of becoming champions. In the end, Foolad became champions after beating Gostaresh 1–0, while Persepolis finished second, two points behind Foolad. Although Sepahan beat Naft Tehran 1–0 on the final matchday, Naft Tehran finished third ahead of Sepahan because of better goal difference. With Esteghlal's 1–3 loss to Tractor Sazi, Esteghlal finished 5th and missed out on a Champions League spot for the first time in four years.

In the summer of 2014, the league's name was officially changed to Persian Gulf Pro League, and a new logo was made as well.

Current clubs (2017–18)

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order

Team City Venue Capacity
Esteghlal Tehran Azadi 78,116
Esteghlal Khuzestan Ahvaz Ghadir 38,900
Foolad Ahvaz Foolad Arena 27,300
Gostaresh Tabriz Bonyan Diesel 12,000
Naft Tehran Tehran Takhti Tehran 30,122
Padideh Mashhad Imam Reza 27,000
Pars Jonoubi Jam Jam Takhti Jam 10,000
Paykan Tehran Shahr-e Qods 25,000
Persepolis Tehran Azadi 78,116
Saipa Tehran Shahid Dastgerdi 8,250
Sanat Naft Abadan Takhti Abadan 8,000
Sepahan Isfahan Naghsh-e-Jahan 75,000
Sepidrood Rasht Dr. Azodi 11,000
Siah Jamegan Mashhad Samen 35,000
Tractor Sazi Tabriz Yadegar-e Emam 66,833
Zob Ahan Isfahan Foolad Shahr 15,000

Champions

List of champions by season since 2001

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]
2011–12 Sepahan 4 [4]
2012–13 Esteghlal 3 [8]
2013–14 Foolad 2 [2]
2014–15 Sepahan 5 [5]
2015–16 Esteghlal Khuzestan 1 [1]
2016–17 Persepolis 3 [10]

Most successful clubs since 2001 in the Persian Gulf Pro League

Team Winners Runners-up Third Place
Sepahan 5 (2002–03, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15) 1 (2007–08) 1 (2012–13)
Esteghlal 3 (2005–06, 2008–09, 2012–13) 4 (2001–02, 2003–04, 2010–11, 2016–17) 4 (2004–05, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2015–16)
Persepolis 3 (2001–02, 2007–08, 2016–17) 2 (2013–14, 2015–16) 2 (2002–03, 2006–07)
Foolad 2 (2004–05, 2013–14) — 2 (2001–02, 2003–04)
Pas Tehran 1 (2003–04) 2 (2002–03, 2005–06) —
Saipa 1 (2006–07) — 1 (2005–06)
Esteghlal Khuzestan 1 (2015–16) — —
Zob Ahan — 3 (2004–05, 2008–09, 2009–10) 1 (2010–11)
Tractor Sazi — 3 (2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15) 1 (2016–17)
Esteghlal Ahvaz — 1 (2006–07) —
Naft Tehran — — 2 (2013–14, 2014–15)

Competition format and sponsorship

Competition

There are currently 16 clubs in the league,[4] although the competition started in 2001–02 with 14 teams.[5] The season lasts from August to May, with each club playing the others twice, once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents for a total of 30 games for each club, with a total of 240 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. At the end of the season, the three worst teams are relegated directly to the Azadegan League.

In the Azadegan League the top three teams are automatically promoted to the top flight.

In 2012, the league considered reducing the number of teams to 16, for the 2012–13 season. This idea was dismissed for the 2012–13 season, but was adopted for the 2013–14 season.

Qualification for Asian competitions

As of 2008 four teams from Iran qualify for the AFC Asian Champions League annually. This includes the top three teams of the PGPL together with the winner of the Hazfi Cup. If the winner of the Hazfi Cup is also among the three top PGPL teams then the fourth best PGPL team also qualifies.

Sponsorship

Former logo, used from 2006 to 2014

The Persian Gulf Pro League has been sponsored since 2005. There have been four sponsors since the league's formation. In 2014, Irannovin Company became the League's sponsor for a record fee.

According to a November 2012 study, in the 2010–11 season Iran Pro League clubs on average obtained 15% of their income from sponsorship.[6]

Ownership

Media coverage

Channel 3 broadcast two games a week nationally and IRIB 2 broadcast two games a week internationally, 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. Since the 2012–13 season IRIB Varzesh has televised a second game each week nationally, with the provincial channels broadcasting the rest of their local games. Occasionally on important match days, such as the final day, Channel 2 and Shoma broadcast games nationally.

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.[7]

Players

Transfer season

Foreigner cap

Each team is allowed as many foreign players in their squad as they desire, however there is a rule that only permits three foreign players on 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 were penalized one point for fielding four foreigners on one occasion and handed a 3–0 loss. Shortly after the 2011–12 Iran Pro League season finished, the IFF announced that foreign goalkeepers on Iranian teams would be banned from the Azadegan League, Iran Pro League, Hazfi Cup, and Asian Champions League. A few weeks later, the IFF announced that the ban of foreign goalkeepers had been lifted, and that each team would be allowed 4 foreign players on the field including the goalkeeper.

Ranking

As of 2014 it was ranked as the 61st strongest league in the world by the IFFHS,[8] behind the K-League, Saudi Professional League, J.League and the Qatar Stars League. It was also ranked the third best league in Asia and the second best in Western Asia by the Asian Football Confederation in the 2015 AFC Champions League Ranking.

Records

All-time top scorers

All-time League top scorers

last update: May 4, 2017

No. Player Goals Years
1 Iran Reza Enayati1492001–2017
2 Iran Mehdi Rajabzadeh1142001–present
Iran Arash Borhani1142002–2017
4 Iran Fereydoon Fazli852001–2010
5 Iran Edmond Bezik841994–2006
6 Brazil Édinho822008–present
7 Iran Ali Asghar Modirroosta801991–2003
8 Iran Karim Ansarifard772007–2014
9 Iran Jalal Rafkhaei752005–present
10 Iran Ali Daei721994–2007
11 Iran Mohammad Gholami712001–present
12 Iraq Emad Mohammed702005–2012
13 Iran Rasoul Khatibi681997–2010
Iran Reza Sahebi671989–2003
14 Iran Reza Norouzi672007–present
Iran Siavash Akbarpour652004–2015
16 Iran Gholam Hossein Mazloumi631971–1979
17 Iran Mohsen Garousi611989–2002
Iran Mohsen Bayatinia612001–2014
18 Senegal Ibrahima Touré602007–2011
19 Iran Behnam Seraj591996–2004
Iran Faraz Fatemi591997–2011
20 Iran Aziz Espandar581971–1979
Iran Mohammad Momeni581989–2003
Iran Hossein Khatibi581991–2000
Iran Iman Razaghirad582001–2013
21 Iran Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht551998–2014
22 Iran Hadi Asqari522005–2010
Iran Farshad Pious521989–1997
Iran Bahman Tahmasebi521999–2011
23 Iran Samad Marfavi511989–1998
Iran Ali Samereh511999–2012
24 Iran Davoud Haghi502003–2014
Iran Mehdi Taremi562014–
Includes when Azadegan League and Takht Jamshid Cup were Top Division[9]

Players in bold are still active in the league.

Winning managers

last update: April 15, 2017

Season Nationality Winning manager Club
2001–02  Iran Parvin, AliAli Parvin Persepolis
2002–03  Iran Kazemi, FarhadFarhad Kazemi Sepahan
2003–04  Iran Jalali, MajidMajid Jalali Pas Tehran
2004–05  Croatia Mladen Frančić Foolad
2005–06  Iran Ghalenoei, AmirAmir Ghalenoei Esteghlal
2006–07  Iran Daei, AliAli Daei Saipa
2007–08  Iran
 United States		 Ghotbi, AfshinAfshin Ghotbi Persepolis
2008–09  Iran Ghalenoei, AmirAmir Ghalenoei Esteghlal
2009–10  Iran Ghalenoei, AmirAmir Ghalenoei Sepahan
2010–11  Iran Ghalenoei, AmirAmir Ghalenoei Sepahan
2011–12  Croatia Kranjčar, ZlatkoZlatko Kranjčar Sepahan
2012–13  Iran Ghalenoei, AmirAmir Ghalenoei Esteghlal
2013–14  Iran Faraki, HosseinHossein Faraki Foolad
2014–15  Iran Faraki, HosseinHossein Faraki Sepahan
2015–16  Iran Veisi, AbdollahAbdollah Veisi Esteghlal Khuzestan
2016–17  Croatia Ivanković, BrankoBranko Ivanković Persepolis

Multiple winning managers

last update: April 15, 2017

No. Winning manager Club No. titles
1 Iran Amir Ghalenoei Esteghlal, Sepahan 5
2 Iran Hossein Faraki Foolad, Sepahan 2

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ Mehrdad Estiri; Mohammad Haghighi; Reza Mohammadkazemi; Hamzeh Rayej; Mohammad Jahed (2010). "Promotion in Iran's Football Pro-league: Important but Weak!" (PDF). International Journal of Applied Sports Sciences. Korea Institute of Sports Science. 22 (1): 62. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  2. ↑ برنامه‌ي كامل دور رفت ششمين دوره‌ي ليگ برتر فوتبال؛ ليگ برتر به "خليج فارس" تغيير نام داد (in Persian). ISNA. Retrieved 2006-08-14.
  3. ↑ برترين طرح ارائه شده براي ليگ برتر انتخاب شد (in Persian). IRIFF Official Website. Retrieved 2006-11-24.
  4. ↑ "Persian Gulf Cup". Soccerway. Global Sports Media. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  5. ↑ "Iran League Seasons". Persianleague.com. Retrieved 17 December 2011.
  6. ↑ Mahsa Qorbani; Mohammad Javad Sheikh; Meysam Bagheri (November 2012). "A comparative study of how to finance professional football premier leagues in Iran and England" (PDF). Scholarly Journal of Business Administration. 2 (9): 147. Retrieved 12 January 2013.
  7. ↑ http://www.farsnews.com/newstext.php?nn=9004295645
  8. ↑ The World's Strongest National League 2014, IFFHS, 19 January 2015, retrieved 12 July 2015
  9. ↑ شهريار به‌ بزيک، مديرروستا و عنايتى‌ نرسيد على‌ دايى‌ در 72 متوقف‌ شد (in Persian). khabars.net. Archived from the original on 2014-02-01. Retrieved 2007-05-30.
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