1st Division
دسته اول
Dasthe Aval
crest
Founded1991 (as first tier)
2001 (as second tier)
CountryIran
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams18
Level on pyramid2
Promotion toPersian Gulf Pro League
Relegation toLeague 2
Domestic cup(s)Hazfi Cup
International cup(s)AFC Champions league (through the hazfi cup)
Current championsShams Azar (1st title)
(2022–23)
Most championshipsPersepolis (4 titles)
TV partnersIRIB
Websiteleague1football.ir
Current: 2023–24 Azadegan League

The Azadegan League (Persian: ليگ آزادگان, Lig-e Âzâdegân), also known as League 1 (Persian: لیگ یک, Lig-e Yek), is the second highest division of professional football in Iran. It was the top-level football league in Iran from its foundation in 1991 until 2001, when the Persian Gulf Pro League was established. Each year, the top finishing teams in the Azadegan League are promoted to the Persian Gulf Pro League, and the lowest finishing teams are relegated to League 2.

Since 2016, the league comprises 18 teams. The winner and the runner-up of the Azadegan League are automatically promoted to the Persian Gulf Pro League. The bottom three teams in the league are relegated to League 2. In the past, the format and number of teams were changed for various times.

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. 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 founded as the national league and included teams from all over the country.

1979 Revolution and 1980s

Due to the Islamic Revolution and the Iran–Iraq War, the Takht Jamshid Cup was dissolved and also the lower leagues were unorganized. In 1989 the Qods League was created as the national football league. Esteghlal were the first national champion since PAS Tehran in 1978. After the season the Qods League was not continued.

Establishment as First tier (1991–2001)

Azadegan League champions (First tier)
Season Champions Runners-up
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

In 1991 the Azadegan League was formed as the top flight of Iranian football. The league was named as Azadegan League in honor of the Iranian prisoners of war who were released. Azadegan means the liberated in Persian. The league started with a format of 12 teams in the first season. In the 1992–93 Azadegan League season the league changed its format. 16 clubs participated in two groups of eight teams. PAS Tehran were the champions in both seasons.[1] Esteghlal relegated for the first time in their history in 1993. Before the start of the 1993–94 season, the league changed its format again. 14 teams participated in one group. Saipa won the Azadegan League title, sitting three points of runners-up Persepolis. Only one year later the league format was changed again. 24 clubs participated in two groups of 12 teams. Saipa defended their title in final against Esteghlal.

Prior to the start of the 1995–96 Azadegan League season, the league changed its format again.[2] 16 teams participated in one group until 1999. Persepolis were the champions in 1995–96,[3] 1996–97[4] and 1998–99,[5] while Esteghlal became the champion in the 1997–98 season.[6] In 1999 the league was reduced to 14 teams. Persepolis won the 1999–2000 Azadegan League season, sitting seven points clear of rival Esteghlal.[7] The 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.[8]

Continuance as Second tier (2001–)

Azadegan League champions (Second tier)
Season Champions Runners-up
2001–02 Esteghlal Ahvaz Sanat Naft
2002–03 Shamoushak Pegah
2003–04 Saba Battery Malavan
2004–05 Shahid Ghandi Rah Ahan
2005–06 Mes Kerman Paykan
2006–07 Shirin Faraz Pegah
2007–08 Payam Sepahan Novin
2008–09 Steel Azin Shahin
Tractor
2009–10 Shahrdari Tabriz Sanat Naft
Naft Tehran
2010–11 Damash Mes Sarcheshmeh
2011–12 Paykan Aluminium Hormozgan
2012–13 Gostaresh Foolad PAS Hamedan
Esteghlal Khuzestan
2013–14 Padideh Naft MIS
2014–15 Foolad Novin Siah Jamegan
2015–16 Paykan Machine Sazi
2016–17 Pars Jonoubi Sepidrood
2017–18 Naft MIS Nassaji
2018–19 Gol Gohar Shahin
2019–20 Mes Rafsanjan Aluminium Arak
2020–21 Fajr Sepasi Havadar
2021–22 Malavan Mes Kerman
2022–23 Shams Azar Esteghlal Khuzestan

After the Iran Pro League was established as the professional football league of Iran, Azadegan League was declared as the second-highest professional league in the Iranian football league system. Esteghlal Ahvaz won the 2001–02 Azadegan League season and promoted to Iran Pro League. Also Sanat Naft Abadan promoted to the Iran Pro League. 22 clubs participated in two groups of 11 teams including a final stage for the best four teams. The format was changed into a classic league of 16 teams for the next two seasons. Shamoushak Noshahr became the champion in 2002–03, while Saba Battery won the league title in the 2003–04 season.

Once more the league changed their format in 2004. Between the 2004–05 and 2007–08 Azadegan League season, 24 clubs played in two groups of 12 teams. After Shahid Ghandi winning the league in 2004–05, Mes Kerman became the champion in the 2005–06 season. Sanat Naft Abadan, the third-ranked team in 2004–05, criticized the Iranian Football Federation due to incidents in the final stage. In the 2006–07 Azadegan League season, Pegah and Shirin Faraz became the champions of the league, while Tractor failed once again for promotion. Also, Sanat Naft Abadan promoted automatically to the Persian Gulf Cup because of the 2004–05 Azadegan League promotion controversy.

After Payam Mashhad winning the title in the 2007–08 Azadegan League season, the number of teams was increased to 28 before the start of the 2008–09 season. They played in two groups of 14 teams until 2013. East Azerbaijan's famous club Tractor returned finally back to the Persian Gulf Cup by winning the 2008–09 season alongside Steel Azin. Shahrdari Tabriz and Naft Tehran were the champions in the 2009–10 season, before Damash winning the league in 2010–11. Paykan won the league title 2011–12, while Gostaresh and Esteghlal Khuzestan winning the league one year later. Although Shahrdari Tabriz could win their group, they had to relegate due to match-fixing.

The number of teams was reduced in the next two seasons. 26 clubs participated in 2013–14, while 24 teams played in the 2014–15 season. Padideh won the title in 2013–14 after a victory over Naft Masjed Soleyman in the league final. One season later, Foolad Novin could win the league after they beat Siah Jamegan in final. Due to the fact that Foolad Novin is the reserve team of Foolad Khuzestan, they could not promote to the Persian Gulf Pro League. Instead of Foolad Novin, Esteghlal Ahvaz was allowed to promote.

Since 2015

Pars Jonoubi Jam champions 2016–17

Before the start of the 2015–16 Azadegan League season, they returned to a classic league format. 20 clubs participated in 2015–16, before the number of teams were reduced to 18 one season later. Paykan won the 2015–16 season, sitting seven points clear of Machine Sazi.

Like in the 2016–17 season, Nassaj was also involved in a dramatic season finish in the 2017–18 Azadegan League. At the last matchday, five teams had the chance to promoted. Naft Masjed Soleyman drew 2–2 with Mes Rafsanjan and won the league, while Nassaji defeated Rah Ahan 6–0 in Tehran's Takhti Stadium and became runners-up with 64 points thanks to a better goal difference than Khooneh be Khooneh.[9]

Format

In the past, the format and number of teams were changed for various times. Since 2016, the league comprises 18 teams. Over the course of a season, which runs annually from July to the following May, each team plays twice against the others in the league, once at home and once away, resulting in each team competing in 34 games in total. Three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. The teams are ranked in the league table by points gained, then goal difference, then goals scored and then their head-to-head record for that season. At the end of the season, the top two teams are promoted to the Persian Gulf Pro League and the bottom three teams are relegated to League 2. Furthermore, all teams in the Azadegan League can participate in the Hazfi Cup.

Number of teams Period
12 1991–92, 2000–01
16 (two groups) 1992–93
14 1993–94, 1999–2000
24 (two groups) 1994–95, 2004–05 until 2007–08, 2014–15
16 1995–96 until 1998–99, 2002–03 until 2003–04
22 (two groups) 2001–02
28 (two groups) 2008–09 until 2012–13
26 (two groups) 2013–14
20 2015–16
18 since 2016–17
Logo from 2014

Clubs

Team Location Stadium Capacity
Aluminium Arak Arak Imam Khomeini 15,000
Arman Gohar Sirjan Sirjan TBA TBA
Baadraan Tehran Tehran Kargaran 5,000
Damash Rasht Shahid Dr. Azodi 11,000
Elmoadab Tabriz Tabriz Marzdaran Stadium 5,000
Esteghlal Khuzestan Ahvaz Ghadir 38,900
Fajr Sepasi Shiraz Hafezieh 15,000
Gol Reyhan Alborz Karaj Enghelab 15,000
Khooshe Talaei Saveh Saveh Shahid Chamran 3,000
Malavan Bandar-e Anzali Takhti Anzali 8,000
Mes Kerman Kerman Shahid Bahonar 15,430
Mes Rafsanjan Rafsanjan Shohadaye Noushabad 5,000
Navad Urmia Urmia Shahid Bakeri 15,000
Nirooye Zamini Tehran TBA TBA
Qashqai Shiraz Hafezieh 15,000
Rayka Babol Babol Haft-e Tir 6,000
Sepidrood Rasht Sardar Jangal 15,000
Sorkhpooshan Pakdasht Pakdasht Shahid Dastgerdi 8,250

Champions

Performance in the Azadegan League by club
Team Champions Runners-up
Persepolis 4 (1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000) 3 (1992–93, 1993–94, 2000–01)
Esteghlal 2 (1997–98, 2000–01) 4 (1991–92, 1994–95, 1998–99, 1999–2000)
PAS Tehran 2 (1991–92, 1992–93) 1 (1997–98)
Paykan 2 (2011–12, 2015–16) 1 (2005–06)
Saipa 2 (1993–94, 1994–95) —
Damash 1 (2010–11) 2 (2002–03), (2006–07)
Naft Masjed Soleyman 1 (2017–18) 1 (2013–14)
Mes Kerman 1 (2005–06) 1 (2021–22)
Malavan 1 (2021–22) 1 (2003–04)
Esteghlal Khuzestan 1 (2012–13) 1 (2022–23)
Esteghlal Ahvaz 1 (2001–02) —
Shamoushak Noshahr 1 (2002–03) —
Saba Qom1 1 (2003–04) —
Shahid Ghandi Yazd2 1 (2004–05) —
Rahian Kermanshah3 1 (2006–07) —
Payam Mashhad 1 (2007–08) —
Steel Azin4 1 (2008–09) —
Tractor5 1 (2008–09) —
Naft Tehran 1 (2009–10) —
Shahrdari Tabriz 1 (2009–10) —
Gostaresh Foulad 1 (2012–13) —
Padideh6 1 (2013–14) —
Foolad Novin 1 (2014–15) —
Pars Jonoubi Jam 1 (2016–17) —
Gol Gohar 1 (2018–19) —
Mes Rafsanjan 1 (2019–20) —
Fajr Sepasi 1 (2020–21) —
Shams Azar Qazvin 1 (2022–23) —
Bahman — 2 (1995–96, 1996–97)
Sanat Naft — 2 (2001–02, 2009–10)
Shahin Bushehr — 2 (2008–09, 2018–19)
Rah Ahan — 1 (2004–05)
Sepahan Novin — 1 (2007–08)
Aluminium Hormozgan — 1 (2011–12)
Mes Sarcheshmeh — 1 (2010–11)
PAS Hamedan — 1 (2012–13)
Siah Jamegan — 1 (2014–15)
Machine Sazi — 1 (2015–16)
Sepidrood — 1 (2016–17)
Nassaji Mazandaran — 1 (2017–18)
Aluminium Arak — 1 (2019–20)
Havadar — 1 (2020–21)

Notes:
1 Saba Qom was formerly known as Saba Battery
2 Shahid Ghandi Yazd was known as Tarbiat Yazd between 2006 and 2015
3 Rahian Kermanshah was formerly known as Shirin Faraz
4 Steel Azin was formerly known as Ekbatan
5 Tractor was formerly known as Tractor Sazi
6 Padideh was known as Shahr Khodrou between 2019 and 2021

All-time table

Pos. Club Seasons Matches Win Draw Loss GF GA GD Pts Champions Runners-up Promoted Relegated Best Rank
1Nassaji Mazandaran1 19494172152170526540−14665—1122nd
2Mes Kerman 1338415912699426305+121603112—1st
3Sanat Naft 17417154139124478427+51601—2422nd
4Aluminium Arak2 16436143148145455465−10577—1122nd
5Malavan3 14404143144117401347+5456711221st
6Fajr Sepasi 13390145131114427329+985661—2—1st
7Tractor Sazi 16392143131118448414+3456011111st
8Machine Sazi 17463129146188470616−146533—1242nd
9Mes Rafsanjan 13367133129105430344+865281—1—1st
10Gol Gohar 1233312012192399337+624811—1—1st
11Persepolis 92221227129368167+20143743——1st
12Payam Mashhad4 1230510210697353350+34091—131st
13Esteghlal 92241087739328194+13440124—11st
14PAS Tehran 102509410650304227+7738821——1st
15Damash Gilan5 102631057385290252+3838811321st
16Esteghlal Ahvaz 1333090109131352429−773791—231st
17Iranjavan 1130089103108317347−30370———22nd
18Niroye Zamini 123008992119283333−50359———43rd
19Saipa 92508310661287244+433552——11st
20Sepahan 9236877970250230+20340———13rd
21Rayka Babol6 7238808771243221+22327————5th
28Esteghlal Khuzestan 6186726252202141+61278112—1st
35Kheybar Khorramabad 5172596449189158+31241———14th
41Pars Jonoubi Jam 4134534635130115+152051—1—1st
43Khooshe Talaei 4134494639151125+26193————4th
47Arman Gohar Sirjan 41344939461571570186————3rd
63Chooka Talesh 5142304369130229−99133———36th
65Esteghlal Mollasani 310026472797112-15125————8th
69Shams Azar Qazvin 26632181610459+451141—1—1st
71Shahrdari Astara 31002732417599−24113————11th
77Mes Shahr-e Babak 2662031155443+1191————7th
83Shahrdari Hamedan 2661526254354-1171———110th
95Van Pars Naghsh-e-Jahan 132129113229+345————7th
96Chadormalou Ardakan 132111293231+145————8th
100Darya Babol 132814102625+138————10th
109Khalij Fars Mahshahr 13278172142-2129————15th
127Omid Vahdat Khorasan 1———————————118th
2022–23 Persian Gulf Pro League
2022–23 Azadegan League
Dissolved

Notes:
Only league matches, Play-offs are not included in the all-time table
1 Nassaji Mazandaran was deducted three points in the 2012–13 season
2 Aluminium Arak was formerly known as PAS Arak, Shensa Arak, Hamyari Arak and Shahrdari Arak
3 Malavan was deducted six points in the 2018–19 season
4 Payam Mashhad was deducted three points in the 2010–11 season
5 Damash Gilan was formerly known as Esteghlal Rasht and Pegah Gilan
6 Rayka Babol was formerly known as Khooneh be Khooneh

Attendances

Average league attendances

Season Average Highest attended club Club average Lowest attended club Club average
2008–09 3,075 Tractor 9,385 Niroye Zamini 319
2009–10 2,667 Nassaji Mazandaran 11,833 Foolad Novin 192
2010–11 2,733 Nassaji Mazandaran 12,769 Sanati Kaveh 188
2011–12 2,350 Naft Masjed Soleyman 9,091 Sanati Kaveh 200
2015–16 2,539 Nassaji Mazandaran 8,931 Parseh Tehran 120
2016–17 2,650 Nassaji Mazandaran 10,333 Rah Ahan 188
2017–18 2,287 Nassaji Mazandaran 12,941 Machine Sazi 247

Notes:
Matches with spectator bans are not included in average attendances

Highest attended season matches

Season Home team Score Away team Attendance Date Week Stadium
2008–09Tractor2–0Aluminium Hormozgan20,0008 June 200926Sahand
2009–10Nassaji4–1Damash15,00013 November 20096Vatani
2010–11Gostaresh1–0Aboumoslem30,0009 May 201126Sahand
2011–12Nassaji0–0Naft MIS15,0005 April 201224Vatani
2015–16Machine Sazi3–0Mes Rafsanjan15,50010 May 201637Sahand
2016–17Sepidrood3–2Nassaji20,0001 May 201734Dr. Azodi
2017–18Rah Ahan0–6Nassaji23,00029 April 201834Takhti Tehran

Statistics

Top scorers

SeasonPlayerClubGoals
2005–06 Iran Hossein AbdiSanaye Arak14
2006–07 Iran Farhad KheirkhahSorkhpooshan11
2007–08 Iran Mohammad ParvinSteel Azin15
2008–09 Iran Abbas PorkhosravaniGol Gohar17
2009–10 Iran Ali KarimiShahrdari Tabriz17
2010–11 Iran Afshin ChavoshiDamash13
Iran Mostafa ShojaeiFoolad Natanz13
Iran Moslem FiroozabadiGol Gohar13
2011–12 Iran Bahman TahmasebiAluminum13
2012–13 Iran Mohammad AbbaszadehNassaji17
2013–14 Iran Mokhtar JomehzadehGol Gohar15
2014–15 Iran Issa AlekasirAluminum11
2015–16 Iran Hamid KazemiNassaji16
2016–17 Iran Mohammad AbbaszadehNassaji24
2017–18 Iran Farshid PadashShahrdari Mahshahr17
Iran Shahin MajidiFajr Sepasi17
2018–19 Iran Peyman RanjbariGol Gohar16
Iran Shahriyar MoghanlouPaykan16
2019–20 Iran Hamid KazemiBaadraan17
2020–21 Iran Aref RostamiKheybar Khorramabad17

See also

References

  1. ↑ "List of Iranian football champions". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2011-06-04. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  2. ↑ "1995–96 Azadegan League season". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  3. ↑ "1995–96 Azadegan League season". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2022-09-23. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  4. ↑ "1996–97 Azadegan League season". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2023-02-04. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  5. ↑ "1998–99 Azadegan League season". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  6. ↑ "1997–98 Azadegan League season". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2023-02-03. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  7. ↑ "1999–2000 Azadegan League season". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2022-07-22. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  8. ↑ "2000–01 Azadegan League season". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 2022-08-12. Retrieved 2018-01-01.
  9. ↑ "Naft Masjed Soleyman, Nassaji Mazandaran win promotion to IPL". 29 April 2018. Archived from the original on 30 April 2018. Retrieved 30 April 2018.
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