Country Iran Divisions 1 | Confederation AFC Number of teams 18 (since 2016) | |
 | ||
Founded 1991 officially
2001 with current format Level on pyramid 2 (2001–)
1 (1991–2001) | ||
The Azadegan League (Persian: ليگ آزادگان) (also called League 1) is one of two fully professional football leagues in Iran, and the second-highest professional league in the Iranian football league system after the Persian Gulf Pro League. The top two teams from the group automatically get promoted to the Persian Gulf Pro League. The three worst teams are directly relegated to the 2nd Division.
Contents
- History
- Hazfi Cup
- Format
- All time Azadegan League As second highest Irans football division standings
- Current clubs 201516
- References
In 1991 the league was founded as Iran's top division. But, after the creation of the Persian Gulf Pro League in 2001, the Azadegan League was declared as the second highest football league in the county.
Since the leagues inception as the official second division in 2001, no club has ever won the league title multiple times. Paykan has come the closest to achieving the feat, finishing as runners-up in the 2005–06 season and winning the league in the 2011–12 season.
In the summer of 2015 the format of the league was changed from a two group league to a one group and 20 team league. The format was again changed after the 2015–16 season as the number of teams was reduced to 18.
History
The first national league in Iran after the revolution was founded in 1989 with the name of Qods League. Esteghlal became winners of the first edition of the league.
In 1991, the national league was named to Azadegan League in honor of the Iranian prisoners of war who were released. The number of teams, playing in the league, varied from year to year. Pas and Saipa dominated the league in the first four years. Pas and Esteghlal both were also able to capture Asian Club Championships in the early 1990s. By the mid-90s Persepolis and Esteghlal regained their dominant form and the league champions in the period of 1995-2001 was either Esteghlal or Persepolis.
Until 2001 the league was the highest division football league in Iran, but that changed when the Iranian Football Federation decided to start a professional league. The Persian Gulf Pro League was created and since then, the Azadegan League became the second-highest division in the Iranian football league system.
In the summer of 2015, before the start of the 2015–16 season, the Iranian Football Federation decided to change the format of the league and make a one group, twenty team league, instead of a two group and twenty-four team league.
Hazfi Cup
All teams in the Azadegan League are entered in the Hazfi Cup, if any club from the Azadegan League wins the cup, they participate in the AFC Champions League. Since 2001, when Azadegan League became the second-highest division league, no team from Azadegan League has become Hazfi Cup champion. Gostaresh Foolad is the only club from the Azadegan League that has reached the final of the Hazfi Cup.
Format
The Azadegan League consists of two subdivisions, each having 12 teams. The top teams in each group are automatically promoted to the Persian Gulf Pro League, while the second place teams play each other in a home and away play-off to decide the third and last promotion spot. The eleventh and twelfth placed teams in the groups are automatically relegated to the 2nd division. Sometimes the playoff match format is not used and one match takes place between the teams on a neutral ground instead.
All-time Azadegan League (As second-highest Iran's football division) standings
Since the 2001–02 season, fifteen seasons of the Azadegan League have been completed. The table below shows the total ranking for the all football clubs competing in all 15 seasons. Teams in bold compete in 2016–17 season.
1 Nassaji Mazandaran was docked 3 points in 2012–13 season issued by Iranian Football Federation.
2 Payam Mashhad was docked 3 points in 2010–11 season issued by Iranian Football Federation.
3 Steel Azin was docked 12 points in 2011–12 season issued by FIFA.
4 Badr Hormozgan was docked 6 points in 2013–14 season issued by Iranian Football Federation.