Club History

Establishment

On 26 September 1945, three Iranian military officers Mirzani, Jananpour and Navab started a sports club on Ferdowsi Street, Tehran. Since the founders of the club were mostly interested in cycling, the club's original name was Docharkheh Savaran (Persian: دوچرخه سواران), meaning 'The Cyclists' in Persian. Docharkheh Savaran football club played its first official match in 1946, and in 1947 was able to win the Tehran Hazfi Cup

Emerging success

In 1949, the club officially changed its name to Taj. The club became the second most loved team in Iran after some years, and were able to make their fans happy by winning numerous league championships, Hazfi Cups and Asian Club Championships. The club has been able to get successful results in the past couple of years and is always looked at as a contender for the league championship. In the past two years it has finished 2nd or 3rd in the league, but Amir Ghalenoei was able to get the team its first championship in the IPL in the 2005-06 season after his third and final year as the manager.

1979 Islamic Revoloution

After 1979 Islamic Revolution in Iran, the club was confiscated by newly established Islamic government and right now is under the control of the Physical Education Organization of Islamic Republic of Iran), a governmental organization, and change its name to Esteghlal , 'Independence' in Persian. Taj: means 'Crown' in Persian, and after the revolution, any sign of the previous monarchist regime was not tolerated.

Tehran Derby

The club's main rival and its opponent in the Tehran Derby is Persepolis F.C. The first derby match between the clubs took place on April 5, 1968 at Amjadieh Stadium. The Azadi Stadium is always sold out when the match takes place. Ali Samereh Scored the earliest goal in Tehran derby for Esteghlal F.C. against Persepolis F.C. which came less than a minute into the game. Since 1995, IRIFF have invited foreign referees to officiate the game to ease fan and player suspicions of referee bias. This occurred after the events of the 38th derby. In the 38th derby (January 11, 1995) Persepolis was leading in the match by a score of 2-0 until the last 10 minutes of the match. Esteghlal scored 2 goals in quick succession, including one which was a penalty. This angered the Persepolis fans and players who felt the referee was biased towards Esteghlal. Persepolis fans stormed the field, and many fights broke out on the pitch between fans and players. After this match it was decided that Iranian referees will no longer be used for the derby. After 13 years of foreign referees the second leg of the 2008-09 season Derby an Iranian ref once again refereed the game. The game ended a draw goals coming from Mojtaba Jabari and Maziar Zare. Over the years Esteghlal has been the more successful team with 20 wins, Persepolis having 16.

AFC Champions League

Esteghlal is the most successful club in Asian Champion's League with 2 champion’s tittle and 2 runner up tied with Al-Hilal Riadh Saudi Arabia.

AFC Champions League 2007

Esteghlal was dropped from the 2007 edition of the Asian Champion's League after the AFC did not receive the club's player list for the tournament in time. Despite efforts by the club management to reverse the decision, AFC upheld its decision and the club's board resigned soon after.

Club Rivalries

Esteghlal Vs Piroozi

Stars of the Current Squad

Vahid Talebloo
Alireza Mansourian
Omid Ravankhah
Mojtaba Jabari
Ali Alizadeh
Siavash Akbarpour
Bijan Koshki

Club Legends

1945s to 1970s

• Heshmat Mohajerani
• Nasser Hejazi
• Mansour Rashidi
• Nasrollah Abdollahi
• Faramarz Zelli
• Kambiz Jamali
• Biouk Jeddikar
• Masoud Moeini
• Jalal Talebi
• Iraj Danaeifard
• Ezzat Janmaleki
• Behtash Fariba
• Ali Jabbari
• Hassan Rowshan
• Hassan Nazari
• Andranik Eskandarian
• Mansour Pourheidari
• Gholam Vafakhah
• Gholam Hossein Mazloomi
• Parviz Ghelichkhani

1980s to 1990s

• Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh
• Mehdi Fonouni Zadeh
• Farshad Falahatzaeh
• Reza Hasanzadeh
• Shahin Bayani
• Reza Nalchegar
• Amir Ghalenoei
• Shahrokh Bayani
• Mirshad Majedi
• Majid Namjoo-Motlagh
• Masoud Ghafourihaye Asl
• Abdolali Changiz
• Samad Marfavi
• Abbas Sarkhab
• Mohsen Garousi
• Reza Ahadi

1990s to 2000s

• Behzad Gholampour
• Parviz Boroumand
• Hadi Tabatabaei
• Javad Zarincheh
• Mehdi Pashazadeh
• Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh
• Mohammad Navazi
• Mahmoud Fekri
• Alireza Mansourian
• Sirous Dinmohammadi
• Dariush Yazdani
• Farhad Majidi
• Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht
• Alireza Akbarpour

2000s to 2010s

• Vahid Talebloo
• Mehdi Hasheminasab
• Mehdi Amirabadi
• Hossein Kazemi
• Mojtaba Jabari
• Siavash Akbarpour
• Ali Samereh
• Reza Enayati
• Fábio Januário
• Pirouz Ghorbani
• Arash Borhani
• Omid Ravankhah

Team Honours

Honours Esteghlal is the most successful club in Asia, having won a total of 10 trophies in Iran and a record 2 winners trophies and 2 runners-up trophies in Asian competitions (tied with. Esteghlal has also earned the distinction of being allowed to wear 2 stars on their jersey representing the fact that they have won 2 Asian Club Championships. Domestic

National Championships
• Winners (5): 1974, 1990, 97-98, 00-01, 05-06, 08-09
• Runner Up (5): 1974, 91-92, 98-99, 01-02, 03-04

Hazfi Cup: 5 record
• Winners (5): 1977, 1996, 2000, 2002, 2008
• Runner Up (2): 1999, 2004 [2]

International
• AFC Champions League: 2 record
• Winners (2): 1970, 90-91
• Runner Up (2) 1991-92, 1998-99

Statistics in IPL
• Seasons in IPL: 8 (all)
• Best position in IPL: First (2008-09)
• Worst position in IPL: 13 (2007-08)
• Most goals scored in a season: 70 (2008-09)
• Most goals scored in a match: 6 - 0 (1 times)
• Most goals conceded in a match: 4 - 1

Statistics in AFC Champions League
• Most goals scored in a match:
• Most goals conceded in a match:

General statistics
• All-time top scorer: Reza Enayati with 41 goals
• Most Appearances:
• Player who has won most titles:

Uniforms

Home: Blue top and Blue shorts
Away: White top and white Shorts

Stadium

The Azadi Stadium is a football stadium in Tehran, Iran. It is the home of Esteghlal F.C., Persepolis F.C. and Team Melli. Work on the grounds started in 1973, it was built to host the 1974 Asian Games in Iran. The football stadium is part of the much larger Azadi Sport Complex. The stadium is the largest stadium in the IPL. Azadi Statium was renovated in 2003, reducing the capacity of the stadium to 100,000. Originally called the Aryamehr Stadium in honor of the Mohammad Reza Pahlavi after 1979 Islamic Revoloution in Iran change its name. In 2004 a large display was added, replacing the original scoreboard. This giant screen with a total area of about 300m² and screen area of 104m² (20m in 7.5m) is one of the biggest in the world.

Sponsors

Kit Manufacturer:
• Uhlsport

Shirt Sponsor:
• Iran MobileMarket
• Belal Electromotors Co.,ltd
• Saipa

Important Links

www.fcesteghlal.ir
www.abieteh.com
www.Esteghlali.tk
www.Esteghlali.com