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The Iran Pro League (IPL) (Persian: لیگ برتر فوتبال ایران, currently known as the Persian Gulf Cup (جام خلیج فارس)) 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.
[edit] History[edit] Pre-1970sBefore the early 1970s Iran did not have an official national league. Most teams would participate in city championships. Taj1 and Persepolis2 had become the two most popular teams in the mid 60s and continue to be in the present. Pas Tehran, Shahin, Taj, Daraei F.C., all won championships in the Tehran local league, during this period. [edit] Takht Jamshid CupMain article: Takht Jamshid Cup In 1972, the Takht Jamshid Cup was created. It was designed to include teams from all over the country, but as usual teams from Tehran dominated, mostly Pas Tehran And Persepolis F.C. winning the final two. The league was in place until the Iranian Revolution took place, and the 1978 season was left uncompleted. [edit] 1980sDue to the revolution and the Iran–Iraq War, football was no longer a priority. Clubs had very little money and due to political reasons team names, management and resources were changed. There was no major league competition during the 1980-89 period, only a few cup competitions and some local city league championships such as the 17th of Shahrivar league and the Qods Cup.In 1985, the Qods League was created which was played among province teams (e.g. Tehran, Esfehan, Azarbaijan Sharghi, etc.). Tehran had two teams (Tehran A and Tehran B). Tehran A won Qods league in 1985 and 1988, whereas Esfahan won it in 1986 and 1987. The most important competition in 80's is Tehran Clubs Cup (league).Persepolis F.C. has most championships in that cup. In 1989 and after the end of war, it was decided to change Qods league format so that it was played among clubs rather than provinces. Thus the fifth Qods league, which was the last one, was played among 22 teams, in two groups of 11. This was the first National league after revolution. Esteghlal won this league (89-90) by beating Perspolis 2-1 in the final match. Esteghlal also won the last Tehran league in which Perspolis and Esteghlal played in 91-92 season. Since then, Esteghlal and Perspolis have only played in the national league, and not in the Tehran league. [edit] Azadegan LeagueIn 1991 the Qods league was renamed the Azadegan League. Named the Azadegan League in honor of Iranian prisoners of war who were released, it began operations in the 1991-92 season. Pas Tehran was its first champion. For the first time in more than ten years Iran finally had a national league again. The number of teams playing in the league varied from year to year. Pas Tehran and Saipa dominated the league in the first four years. Pas Tehran and Esteghlal both were able to capture Asian Club Championships in the early 1990s And Persepolis F.C. celebrates his championship in Asian Cup Winners Cup. By the mid-90s Persepolis and Esteghlal regained their dominant form. The league championship every year between 1995-2001 was either Esteghlal or Persepolis. The two clubs always had the most talented players in Iran, the national team consisted mainly of Persepolis and Esteghlal players, and some of the greatest talents Iranian football has seen were discovered during this period. In those years Persepolis captured 4 championships and esteghlal could only capture two.  [edit] Iran Pro LeagueThe 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 team boasts. Teams like Foolad Sepahan, 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 quality and reputation improve. [edit] Persian Gulf CupOn 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.[1]. This was done to promote the name of the Persian Gulf, instead of the incorrect variations which some nations and organizations use. The league logo was also changed, with the winner being selected from over 130 designs and unveiled on November 14, 2006.[2] They continued to get better steady and slowly which made many people criticise that the league is sometimes stepping backwards. 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. [edit] All-time Premier League standingsSince the 2001-2002 season, IPL/Persian Gulf Cup has had 7 seasons completed. The table below shows all-time statistics of all teams attended in the 7 seasons held.
[edit] Champions
[edit] Competition format and sponsorship[edit] CompetitionThere are 18 clubs in the league. 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. No points are awarded for a loss. 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. [edit] Qualification for Asian competitionsAs 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. [edit] SponsorshipSince the founding of the IPL in 2001 the league has had no private sector sponsorship except for zob ahan fc and saba battery of qom fc, but rather the league has been fully funded by the Iranian government. [edit] Media coverageChannel 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. Clubs do not receive any income whatsoever from TV rights as both the clubs and IRIB are both government-owned, this is often associated with the poor profitability of football clubs in Iran. [edit] Players[edit] Transfer season
[edit] Foreigner capEach 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. [edit] SuspensionsPlayers receive a one match suspension when they receive 3 yellow cards at any point of the season. [edit] Persian Gulf Cup clubs[edit] Seasons in Persian Gulf Cup
The bolded teams compete in Persian Gulf Cup currently. [edit] Persian Gulf Cup members for 2009-2010The following eighteen clubs will be competing in the Persian Gulf Cup during the 2009-10 season. [edit] League championsMain article: Iranian football champions [edit] Local Leagues
[edit] Takht Jamshid Cup
[edit] 1980s1979-1989 Due to Islamic Revolution recovery and Iran-Iraq War, there was no national League competition only Espandi Cup in 1979 and 17th of Shahrivar League. However in this era, there were provincial leagues throughout the country of which Tehran Provincial League was the dominant. [edit] Qods League
[edit] Azadegan League
[edit] IPL
Notes [edit] Total ChampionshipsThe number of national championships that clubs in Iran have attained. (Since 1973)
[edit] RankingMain article: IFFHS The strongest National League in the World The strongest National League in the World 2008:[3]
[edit] Top scorers[edit] All-time top scorers in Iranian Top Divisionlast update: November 28, 2009
[edit] All-time top scorers in Iran Pro League
last update: November 28, 2009
[edit] See also
[edit] Notes
[edit] External links
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