Esteghlal Khuzestan F.C.

Esteghlal Khuzestan
استقلال خوزستان
Full name Esteghlal Melli-Sanati Khuzestan Football Club
Founded 3 December 2008 (2008-12-03) (as Esteghlal Jonub)
Ground Ghadir Stadium
Ground Capacity 38,900
Owner Fazel Bakhtiari
Chairman Ali Poorkiani
Manager Sirous Pourmousavi
League Persian Gulf Pro League
2015–16 Persian Gulf Pro League, 1st
Website Club home page

Esteghlal Melli-Sanati Khuzestan Football Club (Persian: باشگاه فوتبال استقلال ملی-صنعتی خوزستان‎‎) commonly known as Esteghlal Khuzestan, is an Iranian football club based in Ahvaz, Iran. They currently compete in the Persian Gulf Pro League after they were promoted from Azadegan League in 2012–13 season.

This football club is different from Esteghlal Ahvaz.[1] In 2011 they bought Esteghlal Jonub's licence to compete in the Azadegan League. They finished 2012–13 season in 2nd place of their group and qualified to the promotion play-off. However, they were awarded the direct promotion IRIFF after group's winner, Shahrdari Tabriz's relegation due to match-fixing. They won the Persian Gulf Pro League title in 2015–16 season.

History

Founding and early years

Esteghlal Khuzestan F.C. was established just before the start of the 2011–2012 season by acquiring the license of Esteghlal Jonub Tehran F.C. who have just been promoted to the Azadegan League (Iran's 1st division). After an average 6th-place finish in the team's inaugural year in the Azadegan League in 2011–2012, the next season (2012–13) turned out to be a different year, with a 2nd-placed finish in group B, the club was promoted to the Iran Pro League for the first time in their history.

Promotion to the Pro League

In Esteghlal Khuzestan's first year in the top flight they finished 12th, escaping relegation play-off by better goal difference. In the Hazfi Cup Esteghlal Khuzestan exited the competition in the Round of 32 after a shock defeat to Azadegan League side Alvand Hamedan. Esteghlal finished the 2014–15 season 14th, meaning they would have to play in a relegation play-off against the winner of the Azadegan League promotion play-off winner. Esteghlal Khuzestan defeated Mes Kerman 3–0 on aggregate meaning they had secured a spot in the 2015–16 Persian Gulf Pro League season.

2015–16 season

Esteghlal Khuzestan players celebrating after winning league title in 2015–16 season

Before the start of the 2015–16 season Esteghlal Khuzestan signed many of Foolad Novin's players and were a major surprise, as they started well in the season. Esteghlal Khuzestan had four consecutive winning streak at the 12th week, which made Esteghlal Khuzestan finished champions of the first half of the season.[2][3] After a great result with Abdollah Veisi, Esteghlal Khuzestan managed to keep their shape at the second half of the season. On January 1, 2016 Esteghlal Khuzestan lost to Persepolis which made the race tighter for first place, and also made Esteghlal Khuzestan fall to second place, Esteghlal became first after 17th week. The head coach Abdollah Veisi later said that our main goal is to take place at AFC Champions League.[4] Esteghlal Khuzestan qualified to the AFC Champions League on 8 May, for the first time in their history. Esteghlal Khuzestan won the league title on 13 May after a 2–0 win over Zob Ahan.

Stadium

Main article: Ghadir Stadium

After the takeover of the club in 2011, the club played its home matches in Ahvaz's Takhti Stadium. After the club promoted to the Iran Pro League, it was decided that club continuing to play at Takthi, while big games like Persepolis, Esteghlal and Foolad playing at newly built Ghadir Stadium. In 2015, the club moved to Ghadir permanently, as city rivals Foolad set to move to its private ground.

Rivals

The team competes in Ahvaz derby against two-times Iran Pro League winner Foolad. The teams play against each other usually two times a year. The first time the teams met each other was in season 2013–14 which Esteghlal Khuzestan lost that game.

The derby became more Serious after Esteghlal Khuzestan finished on top of the league in 2015–16 half season in a big surprise for all teams and the week performance of Foolad. Because of Foolad fans as they were worried about becoming the second team of Ahvaz and since then the derby is more important than it used to be.

Honours

Domestic competitions

League

Cup

Season-by-season

The table below shows the achievements of the club in various competitions.

Season League Position Hazfi Cup Asia Notes
2011–12 Azadegan League 6th 1/16 Final Did not qualify
2012–13 Azadegan League 2nd 1/16 Final Promoted
2013–14 Persian Gulf Cup 12th 1/16 Final
2014–15 Persian Gulf Pro League 14th 1/8 Final Relegation play-off
2015–16 Persian Gulf Pro League 1st 1/8 Final Super Cup
2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League Qualified

Players

First-team squad

Esteghlal Khuzestan in 2015–16 season.

As of August 20, 2016
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Iran GK Goudarz Davoudi U23
2 Iran DF Mohammad Tayyebi (captain)
3 Iran DF Peyman Shirzadi
4 Iran DF Danial Mahini U23
5 Iran DF Aghil Kaabi
6 Iran MF Meysam Doraghi
7 Iran MF Hassan Beyt Saeed
8 Iran DF Ezzatollah Pourghaz
9 Iran FW Farshad Janfaza U23
10 Iran FW Rahim Mehdi Zohaivi
11 Iran MF Mehdi Zobeydi
12 Brazil GK Rafael Roballo
13 Iran MF Sajjad Balegh
14 Iran DF Hossein Baziari U23
17 Iran FW Salman Bahrani
18 Brazil MF Deyvid Sacconi
No. Position Player
19 Iran MF Mohammad Sharifi U17
20 Iran DF Jalal Abdi U23
22 Iran DF Hossein Bahrami
23 Iran MF Farshad Salarvand
24 Iran MF Ali Asghar Ashouri
26 Iran MF Ali Daghagheleh U21
27 Iran MF Hamdollah Ebdam U23
28 Iran DF Bagher Hashemi U23
29 Iran MF Iman Obeydipour U21
30 Iran FW Heysam Hashemizadeh U21
31 Iran MF Mousa Janadeleh U21
32 Iran MF Mostafa Ghanbarizadeh U21
33 Iran GK Ali Akbar Ahaki U23
40 Iran GK Hossein Pour Hamidi U21
45 Iran GK Vahid Sheikhveisi
70 Brazil FW Anderson Aquino

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player
Iran DF Farzad Jafari (at Malavan until 30 May 2017)
Iran FW Ebrahim Salehi (at Fajr Sepasi until 30 May 2017)

For recent transfers, see List of Iranian football transfers summer 2016.

Officials

Sirous Pourmousavi, current head coach of the club

Coaching Staff

Staff[5] Name
Head coach Iran Sirous Pourmousavi
Assistant coach Iran Sirous Nematinejad
Goalkeeping coach Iran Farshad Bakhtiarizadeh
Fitness coach Brazil Rafael Bispo
International manager Iran Behdad Bayat
Doctor Iran Jalal Heydari
Physiotherapist Iran Sadegh Norouzi
Analyzer Iran Habib Eslami
Team Manager Iran Bahman Roshnaei

List of Managers

Period Name G W D L GF GA GD Honours
2011–2013 Iran Majid Bagherinia 52 22 15 15 52 41 +11 Promotion to the Persian Gulf Cup
2013–2016 Iran Abdollah Veisi 132 55 47 30 142 131 +21 Azadegan League
Persian Gulf Pro League
2016– Iran Sirous Pourmousavi 4 1 2 1 7 8 −1

See also

References

  1. ↑ اهواز صاحب دومین استقلال شد/ امتیاز استقلال جنوب به اهواز انتقال یافت (in Persian). Goal.com. 2011-07-31. Retrieved 2013-11-10.
  2. ↑ http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1290187/%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%DA%86%DA%AF%D9%88%D9%86%D9%87-%D9%82%D9%87%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%85-%D9%81%D8%B5%D9%84-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D8%9F
  3. ↑ http://www.jahannews.com/fa/doc/news/462050/%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%B2%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%82%D9%87%D8%B1%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%86%DB%8C%D9%85-%D9%81%D8%B5%D9%84
  4. ↑ http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1314554/%D9%88%DB%8C%D8%B3%DB%8C-%D8%B7%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8-%D9%84%D9%88-%D9%81%D9%88%D9%82-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%A8%D9%88%D8%AF
  5. ↑ http://www.khabaronline.ir/detail/366537/sport/premiere-league
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