Ground Ghadir Stadium Owner Fazel Bakhtiari League Persian Gulf Pro League Founded 2011 | Ground Capacity 38,900 Chairman Ali Poorkiani Manager Sirous Pourmousavi | |
 | ||
Full name Esteghlal Melli-Sanati Khuzestan Football Club 2015–16 Persian Gulf Pro League, 1st CEO Seyyed Javad Nemati Nejad (2015–) Arenas/Stadiums Ahvaz Ghadir Stadium, Takhti Stadium Ahvaz | ||
Esteghlal Melli-Sanati Khuzestan Football Club (Persian: باشگاه فوتبال استقلال ملی-صنعتی خوزستان) commonly known as Esteghlal Khuzestan, is an Iranian football club based in Ahvaz, Iran. They currently compete in the Persian Gulf Pro League after they were promoted from Azadegan League in 2012–13 season.
Contents
- Founding and early years
- Promotion to the Pro League
- 201516 season
- Stadium
- Rivals
- League
- Cup
- Season by season
- First team squad
- Out on loan
- References
This football club is different from Esteghlal Ahvaz. In 2011 they bought Esteghlal Jonub's licence to compete in the Azadegan League. They finished 2012–13 season in 2nd place of their group and qualified to the promotion play-off. However, they were awarded the direct promotion IRIFF after group's winner, Shahrdari Tabriz's relegation due to match-fixing. They won the Persian Gulf Pro League title in 2015–16 season.
Founding and early years
Esteghlal Khuzestan F.C. was established just before the start of the 2011–2012 season by acquiring the license of Esteghlal Jonub Tehran F.C. who have just been promoted to the Azadegan League (Iran's 1st division). After an average 6th-place finish in the team's inaugural year in the Azadegan League in 2011–2012, the next season (2012–13) turned out to be a different year, with a 2nd-placed finish in group B, the club was promoted to the Iran Pro League for the first time in their history.
Promotion to the Pro League
In Esteghlal Khuzestan's first year in the top flight they finished 12th, escaping relegation play-off by better goal difference. In the Hazfi Cup Esteghlal Khuzestan exited the competition in the Round of 32 after a shock defeat to Azadegan League side Alvand Hamedan. Esteghlal finished the 2014–15 season 14th, meaning they would have to play in a relegation play-off against the winner of the Azadegan League promotion play-off winner. Esteghlal Khuzestan defeated Mes Kerman 3–0 on aggregate meaning they had secured a spot in the 2015–16 Persian Gulf Pro League season.
2015–16 season
Before the start of the 2015–16 season Esteghlal Khuzestan signed many of Foolad Novin's players and were a major surprise, as they started well in the season. Esteghlal Khuzestan had four consecutive winning streak at the 12th week, which made Esteghlal Khuzestan finished champions of the first half of the season. After a great result with Abdollah Veisi, Esteghlal Khuzestan managed to keep their shape at the second half of the season. On January 1, 2016 Esteghlal Khuzestan lost to Persepolis which made the race tighter for first place, and also made Esteghlal Khuzestan fall to second place, Esteghlal became first after 17th week. The head coach Abdollah Veisi later said that our main goal is to take place at AFC Champions League. Esteghlal Khuzestan qualified to the AFC Champions League on 8 May, for the first time in their history. Esteghlal Khuzestan won the league title on 13 May after a 2–0 win over Zob Ahan.
Stadium
After the takeover of the club in 2011, the club played its home matches in Ahvaz's Takhti Stadium. After the club promoted to the Iran Pro League, it was decided that club continuing to play at Takthi, while big games like Persepolis, Esteghlal and Foolad playing at newly built Ghadir Stadium. In 2015, the club moved to Ghadir permanently, as city rivals Foolad set to move to its private ground.
Rivals
The team competes in Ahvaz derby against two-times Iran Pro League winner Foolad. The teams play against each other usually two times a year. The first time the teams met each other was in season 2013–14 which Esteghlal Khuzestan lost that game.
The derby became more Serious after Esteghlal Khuzestan finished on top of the league in 2015–16 half season in a big surprise for all teams and the week performance of Foolad. Because of Foolad fans as they were worried about becoming the second team of Ahvaz and since then the derby is more important than it used to be.
League
Cup
Season-by-season
The table below shows the achievements of the club in various competitions.
First-team squad
As of August 20, 2016
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Out on loan
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
For recent transfers, see List of Iranian football transfers summer 2016.