Iranian football league system: Difference between revisions

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Revision as of 11:16, 11 April 2023 edit Shahin (talk \| contribs) Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers 11,138 edits →‎League system changes ← Previous edit		Latest revision as of 07:14, 2 June 2024 edit undo Shahin (talk \| contribs) Extended confirmed users, Pending changes reviewers 11,138 edits No edit summary
(20 intermediate revisions by 13 users not shown)
Line 1: ~~{{Use American English\|date = February 2019}}~~ {{Short description\|Football (soccer) league of Iran}} {{Use American English\|date = February 2019}} {{Use dmy dates\|date=March 2015}} {{Infobox league system \| image = \| image_size = 220px \| caption = \| country = Iran \| sport = Association football \| pr = Yes \| federation = [[Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran]] \| confederation = [[Asian Football Confederation\|AFC]] \| top = [[Persian Gulf Pro League\|Pro League]] \| second = [[Azadegan League]] \| cup = {{Unbulleted list\| * [[Iranian Hazfi Cup\|Hazfi Cup (Persian Gulf Cup)]] * [[Iranian Super Cup\|Super Cup (Imam Reza Cup)]] }} }} The '''Iranian football league system''' is a series of interconnected leagues for [[soccer\|football]] clubs in [[Iran]]. ==Structure== The current structure has been in place since 2001. The [[Iran's Premier Football League\|~~Persian Gulf~~ Pro League]] ~~(PGL)~~ is the highest level of club football in Iran. It is also called the [[Persian Gulf Pro League\|Pro League]]. Below it is the [[Azadegan League]], also known as the 1st division and called the [[Azadegan League~~\|League 1~~]], which consists of one ~~twenty~~eighteen-team group. One level further down from that is the [[Iran Football's 2nd Division\|~~2nd~~League ~~division~~3]], also known as a [[League 2 (Iran)\|League 23]] which is made up of 4060 teams evenly distributed into ~~four~~three groups. One step down, and the final nationwide league, is the [[Iran Football's 3rd Division~~\|3rd division]], also known as a [[League 3 (Iran)~~\|League 3]]. This level has ~~five~~six groups and 6096 teams~~. Each groups contains teams that are located in the same area of the nation~~. The final level of the football system consists of 31 [[Provinces of Iran\|provincial]] leagues. Local teams from each province participate in these leagues, and some of the leagues are divided into further divisions. The system works with a promotion-relegation system, meaning that a team from the lowest level of the system can make it to the top level ~~after~~within a number of years. The number of teams in each league often changes from season to season, due to the lack of any professional management in the lower levels of the system. Currently the IPL is the only league that is considered professional, despite many of its rules about club facilities and management being broken. It is not uncommon for teams in the lower levels of the system to change team names because of sponsorship issues or for teams to completely withdraw from a competition. The top four levels of the system are managed by the [[Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran\|Iranian football federation]], while the bottom level leagues are managed by their respective provincial football committee. {\|class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|- !width=5%\| Level !Total clubs (190 in FFIRI Leagues) !colspan="30" width=95%\| League(s) / division(s) \|- \| 1 \|16 \|colspan="30"\| '''[[Persian Gulf Pro League\|Pro League]]'''<br/> ''16 clubs'' – 2 relegations \|- \| 2 \|18 \|colspan="30"\| '''[[Azadegan League]]'''<br/> ''18 clubs'' – 2 promotions, 3 relegations \|- \| 3 \|60 \|colspan="10"\| '''[[League 2 (Iran)\|League 2]] - Group 1'''<br/> ''20 clubs'' – 1 promotion, 2 relegations \|colspan="10"\| '''[[League 2 (Iran)\|League 2]] - Group 2'''<br/> ''20 clubs'' – 1 promotion, 2 relegations \|colspan="10"\| '''[[League 2 (Iran)\|League 2]] - Group 3'''<br/> ''20 clubs'' – 1 promotion, 2 relegations \|- \|4 \|96 \|colspan="5"\| '''[[League 3 (Iran)\|League 3]] - Group 1'''<br/> ''16 clubs'' <br/> 1 promotions, 5.16 relegations \|colspan="5"\| '''[[League 3 (Iran)\|League 3]] - Group 2'''<br/> ''16 clubs'' <br/> 1 promotions, 5.16 relegations \|colspan="5"\| '''[[League 3 (Iran)\|League 3]] - Group 3'''<br/> ''16 clubs'' <br/> 1 promotions, 5.16 relegations \|colspan="5"\| '''[[League 3 (Iran)\|League 3]] - Group 4'''<br/> ''16 clubs'' <br/> 1 promotions, 5.16 relegations \|colspan="5"\| '''[[League 3 (Iran)\|League 3]] - Group 5'''<br/> ''16 clubs'' <br/> 1 promotions, 5.16 relegations \|colspan="5"\| '''[[League 3 (Iran)\|League 3]] - Group 6'''<br/> ''16 clubs'' <br/> 1 promotions, 5.16 relegations \|- \|5 (Provincial) \| \|colspan="32" \| '''Tehran League''' ''16 clubs'' – 2 promotions, 3 relegations<br/> '''Alborz League''' ''12 clubs'' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Ardebil League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Azarbayejan Gharbi League''' ''13 clubs'' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Azarbayejan Sharghi League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Boushehr League''' ''10 clubs'' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Chaharmahal & Bakhtiyari League''' ''8 clubs'' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Fars League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Gilan League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Golestan League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Hamedan League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Hormozgan League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Ilam League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Isfahan League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Kerman League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Kermanshah League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Khorasan Jonoubi League''' ''10 clubs'' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Khorasan Razavi League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Khorasan Shomali League''' ''10 clubs'' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Khouzestan League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Kish League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Kohgiluye & Boyer Ahmad League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Kordestan League''' ''10 clubs'' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Lorestan League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Markazi League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Mazandaran League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Qazvin League''' ''8 clubs'' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Qom League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Semnan League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Sistan & Balouchestan League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Tehran Suburbs League''' ''14 clubs'' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Yazd League''' – 1 promotion<br/> '''Zanjan League''' – 1 promotion<br/> \|- \|6 (Provincial) \| \|colspan="32" \| '''Tehran 1st Division''' ''16 clubs'' – 3 promotions, 3 relegations<br/> \|- \|7 (Provincial) \| \|colspan="32" \| '''Tehran 2nd Division''' ''32 clubs'' – 3 promotions, 16 relegations<br/> \|- \|- \|8 (District) \| \|colspan="32" \| '''Tehran North-West League'''<br/> '''Tehran North-East League'''<br/> '''Tehran South-West League'''<br/> '''Tehran South-East League'''<br/> '''Shemiranat League'''<br/> '''Rey League'''<br/> \|- \|} === League system changes === Line 19 ⟶ 152: !4th tier !5th tier ~~!6th tier~~ \|- \|1970–1972 \|Local League ~~\|align=center\|–~~ \|align=center\|– \|align=center\|– Line 32 ⟶ 163: \|[[Takht Jamshid Cup]] \|[[League 2 (Iran)\|2nd Division]] ~~\|align=center\|–~~ \|align=center\|– \|align=center\|– Line 41 ⟶ 171: \|align=center\|- \|align=center\|- ~~\|align=center\|–~~ \|align=center\|– \|align=center\|– Line 49 ⟶ 178: \|[[League 2 (Iran)\|2nd Division]] \|[[League 3 (Iran)\|3rd Division]] ~~\|align=center\|–~~ \|align=center\|– \|align=center\|– \|- \|2001–Present ~~\|2001–2012~~ \|rowspan=2\|[[Iran Pro League\|Pro League]] \|rowspan=2\|[[Azadegan League]] \|rowspan=2\|[[League 2 (Iran)\|~~2nd~~League ~~Division~~2]] \|rowspan=2\|[[League 3 (Iran)\|~~3rd~~League ~~Division~~3]] \|rowspan=2\|Provincial Leagues ~~\|align=center\|–~~ \|- ~~\|2012–present~~ ~~\|[[League 3 (Iran)\|3rd Division – 2nd Stage]]~~ ~~\|[[League 3 (Iran)\|3rd Division – 1st Stage]]~~ ~~\|Provincial Leagues~~ \|- \|} Line 70 ⟶ 192: ===History=== ===Before 1970=== Before the 1970s, Iran did not have an official national football league. Most clubs participated in championships of their city or province. Therefore, the champion of the [[Tehran Province League\|Tehran Premier League]] was seen as the [[List of Iranian football champions\|Iranian football champion]]. Due to their achievements in the Tehran Premier League, [[Shahin Tehran F.C.\|Shahin Tehran]] and [[Esteghlal F.C.\|Taj]], today known as [[Esteghlal F.C.\|Esteghlal]], were the most popular teams at this time. Also [[Daraei F.C.\|Daraei]] and [[PAS Tehran F.C.\|PAS Tehran]] were successful clubs in [[Tehran\|Tehran's]] own league.<ref>{{cite web\|url=http://takhtejamshidcup.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=501&Itemid=1035 \|title=Football in Iran before 1970 \|website=takhtejamshidcup.com \|access-date=2017-09-23}}</ref> ===Local League=== Line 200 ⟶ 322: Prior to the start of the [[1995–96 Azadegan League]] season, the league changed its format again.<ref name="auto1">{{cite web\|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iran96.html \|title=1995–96 Azadegan League season\|website=[[RSSSF]] \|access-date=2018-01-01}}</ref> 16 teams participated in one group until 1999. [[Persepolis F.C.\|Persepolis]] were the champions in [[1995–96 Azadegan League\|1995–96]],<ref name="auto1"/> [[1996–97 Azadegan League\|1996–97]]<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iran97.html \|title=1996–97 Azadegan League season\|website=[[RSSSF]] \|access-date=2018-01-01}}</ref> and [[1998–99 Azadegan League\|1998–99]],<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iran99.html \|title=1998–99 Azadegan League season\|website=[[RSSSF]] \|access-date=2018-01-01}}</ref> while [[Esteghlal F.C.\|Esteghlal]] became the champion in the [[1997–98 Azadegan League\|1997–98]] season.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iran98.html \|title=1997–98 Azadegan League season\|website=[[RSSSF]] \|access-date=2018-01-01}}</ref> In 1999 the league was reduced to 14 teams. Persepolis won the [[1999–2000 Azadegan League]] season, sitting seven points clear of rival Esteghlal.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iran00.html \|title=1999–2000 Azadegan League season\|website=[[RSSSF]] \|access-date=2018-01-01}}</ref> The [[2000–01 Azadegan League\|2000–01]] season was the last year of the Azadegan League as the top-level football league of Iran. Esteghlal became the champion in a league of 12 teams.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/iran01.html \|title=2000–01 Azadegan League season\|website=[[RSSSF]] \|access-date=2018-01-01}}</ref> ===~~Iran~~ Pro League=== ~~{{main article\|Iran Pro League}}~~ {\| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;margin-left:1em;font-size:90%;float:right" \|+ '''~~Persian Gulf~~ Pro League champions''' ! style="width:75px;"\| Season ! style="width:125px;"\| Champions Line 291 ⟶ 412: \| [[Esteghlal F.C.\|Esteghlal]] \|[[Persepolis F.C.\|Persepolis]] \|- \|[[2022–23 Persian Gulf Pro League\|2022–23]] \|[[Persepolis F.C.\|Persepolis]] \|[[Sepahan S.C.\|Sepahan]] \|- \|[[2023–24 Persian Gulf Pro League\|2023–24]] \|[[Persepolis F.C.\|Persepolis]] \| [[Esteghlal F.C.\|Esteghlal]] \|} The [[IPL 2001/02\|2001–2002]] season saw the beginning of the first professional football league in [[Iran]]. Unfortunately many say that the new league is professional in name only and is missing many of the required components of a pro league. Player salaries have risen significantly and other positives in the league are the emergence of provincial teams and raw talent which every ~~IPL~~Pro League team boasts. Teams like [[Sepahan\|Foolad Sepahan]], [[Foolad FC\|Foolad Khouzestan]], [[Zob Ahan FC]] and [[Esteghlal Ahvaz]] have all shown they can compete, even though they are not based in [[Tehran]]. The league can only continue to get better, and many are hoping this league will help Iran's football, in terms of improving quality and reputation. On 12 August 2006, the Iranian Football Federation decided to change the name of the league once again. The name of the league was initially the '''Persian Gulf Cup~~''' which later changed to the current name '''Persian Gulf Pro League~~'''.<ref>{{cite web \|script-title=fa:برنامه‌ي كامل دور رفت ششمين دوره‌ي ليگ برتر فوتبال؛ ليگ برتر به "خليج فارس" تغيير نام داد \|url=http://www.isna.ir/Main/NewsView.aspx?ID=News-769028&Lang=P Line 309 ⟶ 438: \|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110726185222/http://iriff.ir/news/files/show_news.asp?id=6641&rc=3 \|archive-date=2011-07-26 \|language=fa}}</ref> They continued to get better steady and slowly which made many people criticize that the league is sometimes stepping backwards. [[Saipa F.C.\|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 F.C.\|Persepolis]] regained the title after 6 years by the dramatic win again the rival [[Sepahan F.C.\|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 F.C.\|Esteghlal]] did the same thing and won the league for second time on the final matchday. Then, [[Sepahan F.C.\|Sepahan]] dominated the league by winning the title in three consecutive seasons. Currently [[Sepahan F.C.\|Sepahan]] holds the [[Iran Pro League\|Pro League]] title record with four previous titles and they recently added a fifth to their trophy case with the 2014–15 season championship. ~~\|language=fa}}</ref>~~ They continued to get better steady and slowly which made many people criticize that the league is sometimes stepping backwards. [[Saipa F.C.\|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 F.C.\|Persepolis]] regained the title after 6 years by the dramatic win again the rival [[Sepahan F.C.\|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 F.C.\|Esteghlal]] did the same thing and won the league for second time on the final matchday. Then, [[Sepahan F.C.\|Sepahan]] dominated the league by winning the title in three consecutive seasons. Currently [[Sepahan F.C.\|Sepahan]] holds the [[Iran Pro League]] title record with four previous titles and they recently added a fifth to their trophy case with the 2014–15 season championship. <sub>'''Notes'''<br /> Line 326 ⟶ 454: !Current League \|- \|style="text-align:left;"\|[[Persepolis F.C.\|Persepolis ]]\|\|1416\|\|10\|\|[[Persian Gulf Pro League\|Pro League ]] \|- \|style="text-align:left;"\|[[Esteghlal F.C.\|Esteghlal]]\|\|9\|\|1011\|\|[[Persian Gulf Pro League\|Pro League ]] \|- \|style="text-align:left;"\|[[PAS Tehran F.C.\|Pas Tehran]]\|\|5\|\|5\|\|• \|- \|style="text-align:left;"\|[[Sepahan F.C.\|Sepahan]]\|\|5\|\|34\|\|[[Persian Gulf Pro League\|Pro League]] \|- \|style="text-align:left;"\|[[Saipa F.C.\|Saipa]]\|\|3\|\|0\|\|[[Azadegan League~~\|League 1~~]] \|- \|style="text-align:left;"\|[[Foolad F.C.\|Foolad]]\|\|2\|\|0\|\|[[Persian Gulf Pro League\|Pro League ]] \|- \|style="text-align:left;"\|[[Esteghlal Khuzestan F.C.\|Esteghlal Khuzestan]]\|\|1\|\|0\|\|[[~~Azadegan~~Persian Gulf Pro League\|Pro League 1]] \|- \|style="text-align:left;"\|[[Zob Ahan Esfahan F.C.\|Zob Ahan]]\|\|0\|\|4\|\|[[Persian Gulf Pro League\|Pro League ]] \|- \|style="text-align:left;"\|[[Tractor S.C.\|Tractor]]\|\|0\|\|3\|\|[[Persian Gulf Pro League\|Pro League ]] \|- \|style="text-align:left;"\|[[Bahman F.C.\|Bahman]]\|\|0\|\|2\|\|• Line 360 ⟶ 488: \|- \| colspan="2" align="center" style="background:#efefef" \|1 \| colspan="30" \|'''[[Persian Gulf Pro League\|Pro League]]'''<br />''16 clubs''<br>↓ ''2 teams relegated'' \|- \| colspan="2" align="center" style="background:#efefef" \|2 Line 366 ⟶ 494: \|- \| colspan="2" align="center" style="background:#efefef" \|3 \| colspan="1510" align="center"\|'''[[Iran Football's 2nd Division\|~~2nd~~League ~~Division~~2<br/>Group 1]]'''<br/>''1420 clubs''<br>↑ ''1.5 teams promoted''<br>↓ ''2 teams relegated'' \| colspan="1510" align="center"\|'''[[Iran Football's 2nd Division\|~~2nd~~League ~~Division~~2<br/>Group 2]]'''<br/>''1420 clubs''<br>↑ ''1.5 teams promoted''<br>↓ ''2 teams relegated'' \| colspan="1" align="center"\|'''[[Iran Football's 2nd Division\|League 2<br/>Group 3]]'''<br/>''20 clubs''<br>↑ ''1 teams promoted''<br>↓ ''2 teams relegated'' \|- ~~\| colspan="2" align="center" style="background:#efefef" \|4~~ ~~\| colspan="10" align="center"\|'''[[Iran Football's 3rd Division\|3rd Division 2nd Stage<br/>Group 1]]'''<br/>''10 clubs''<br>↑ ''1/2 teams promoted''<br>↓ ''3/4 teams relegated''~~ ~~\| colspan="10" align="center"\|'''[[Iran Football's 3rd Division\|3rd Division 2nd Stage<br/>Group 2]]'''<br/>''10 clubs''<br>↑ ''1/2 teams promoted''<br>↓ ''3/4 teams relegated''~~ ~~\| colspan="10" align="center"\|'''[[Iran Football's 3rd Division\|3rd Division 2nd Stage<br/>Group 3]]'''<br/>''10 clubs''<br>↑ ''1/2 teams promoted''<br>↓ ''3/4 teams relegated''~~ \|- \| colspan="2" align="center" style="background:#efefef" \|54 \| colspan="65" align="center"\|'''[[Iran Football's 3rd Division\|~~3rd Division 1st~~League ~~Stage~~3<br/>Group 1]]'''<br/>''1316 clubs''<br>↑ ''21 teams promoted''<br>↓ ''85.16 teams relegated'' \| colspan="65" align="center"\|'''[[Iran Football's 3rd Division\|~~3rd Division 1st~~League ~~Stage~~3<br/>Group 2]]'''<br/>''1316 clubs''<br>↑ ''21 teams promoted''<br>↓ ''85.16 teams relegated'' \| colspan="65" align="center"\|'''[[Iran Football's 3rd Division\|~~3rd~~League ~~Division 1st Stage~~3<br/>Group 3]]'''<br/>''1316 clubs''<br>↑ ''21 teams promoted''<br>↓ ''85.16 teams relegated'' \| colspan="65" align="center"\|'''[[Iran Football's 3rd Division\|~~3rd Division 1st~~League ~~Stage~~3<br/>Group 4]]'''<br/>''1316 clubs''<br>↑ ''21 teams promoted''<br>↓ ''85.16 teams relegated'' \| colspan="65" align="center"\|'''[[Iran Football's 3rd Division\|~~3rd Division 1st~~League ~~Stage~~3<br/>Group 5]]'''<br/>''1316 clubs''<br>↑ ''21 teams promoted''<br>↓ ''85.16 teams relegated'' \| colspan="5" align="center"\|'''[[Iran Football's 3rd Division\|League 3<br/>Group 6]]'''<br/>''16 clubs''<br>↑ ''1 teams promoted''<br>↓ ''5.16 teams relegated'' \|- \| colspan="2" align="center" style="background:#efefef" \|65 \| colspan="30" align="center" \|'''Provincial Leagues'''<br />Alborz Province League, [[Ardabil Provincial League]], [[Bushehr Province League]], Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari Province League, [[East Azarbaijan Province League]], Esfahan Province League, Fars Province League, [[Gilan Province League]], [[Golestan Province League]], Hamadan Province League, Hormozgan Province League, Ilam Province League, Kerman Province League, Kermanshah Province League, [[Khuzestan Premier League\|Khuzestan Province League]], Kohgiluyeh and Boyer-Ahmad Province League, Kordestan Province League, Lorestan Province League, Markazi Province League, Mazandaran Province League, North Khorasan Province League, Qazvin Province League, Qom Province League, Razavi Khorasan Province League, Semnan Province League, Sistan and Baluchestan Province League, South Khorasan Province League, [[Tehran Province League]], West Azarbaijan Province League, Yazd Province League, Zanjan Province League<br/>(league organized by provincial committees) \|} ''Note: 3rd division second stagec contains 10 qualified teams from 1st stage, 16 teams which have remained from previous season of 3rd division 2nd stage and 4 relegated teams from previous season of 2nd division (totally 30 teams).'' ===Women's=== Line 397 ⟶ 521: == See also == * [[Persian Gulf Pro League\|Pro League]] * [[Azadegan League]] * [[Iran Football's 2nd Division\|~~2nd~~League ~~Division~~2]] * [[Iran Football's 3rd Division\|~~3rd~~League ~~Division~~3]] * [[League system]] * [[Hazfi Cup\|Persian Gulf Cup]] * [[Iranian Super Cup\|Imam Reza Cup]] * [[Kowsar Women Football League]] * [[Iranian Futsal Super League]]