Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C. facts for kids
| Full name | Esteghlal Ahvaz Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1948 (as Taj Ahvaz Football Club) | ||
| Ground | Takhti Ahvaz | ||
| Capacity | 10,000 | ||
| Owner | Mohammad Maleki | ||
| Chairman | Farshid Faraji | ||
| Head Coach | Ali Khoshzhat | ||
| League | League 3 | ||
| 2019–20 | League 3, Disqualified (relegated) | ||
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Esteghlal Ahvaz Football Club was a football team from Ahvaz, a city in Khuzestan, Iran. The club was first started in 1948 as Taj Ahvaz Football Club.
The team played its home games at the Takhti Ahvaz. This stadium could hold up to 10,000 fans. Mohammad Maleki owned and supported the club.
Contents
Club History
How the Club Started
The club began in 1938 as Taj Ahvaz Football Club. It was founded by Hakim Shoushtari. At that time, it was connected to Taj Tehran, another famous football club.
Early Years (Before 1970)
Before the 1970s, Iran did not have a national football league for all teams. Most clubs played in championships within their own city or province. Taj Ahvaz played in the Khuzestan Premier League during these years.
The 1970s Football Scene
In 1970, the first national league, called the Local League, was created. Taj Ahvaz did well, finishing first in their qualifying group in the 1970–71 season. They ended up in third place after winning a match against Javanan Isfahan.
The club also played in the 1971–72 Local League. Again, they reached the semifinals of their qualifying tournament. They finished third after beating Tractor.
In 1972, the Takht Jamshid Cup became the new national league. Taj Ahvaz was good enough to join in 1973. However, they could not play because of a rule by the Iran Football Federation. The rule said only one team with the same name could be in the league. Since Taj Tehran was already playing, Taj Ahvaz had to stay in the Khuzestan Premier League.
The 1979 Revolution and Name Change
After the Islamic Revolution in Iran, Taj Ahvaz changed its name to Esteghlal Ahvaz Football Club. The word Esteghlal means independence in Persian. This change happened because symbols of the old government were no longer allowed.
The 1980s and 1990s Challenges
The revolution and the Iran–Iraq War caused big changes in Iranian football. The national leagues were stopped or became disorganized. The war greatly affected Ahvaz and Khuzestan. Because of this, people paid less attention to football.
In 1989, the Qods League started as a new national league, but Esteghlal Ahvaz did not take part. In 1991, the Azadegan League became the top football league in Iran. Esteghlal Ahvaz played in this league for eight years. They usually had average results. In the 1997–98 season, they finished 13th and were moved down to Iran Football's 2nd Division.
Success in the 2000s
When the Iran Pro League started as Iran's top professional league, the Azadegan League became the second-highest league. Esteghlal Ahvaz won the 2001–02 Azadegan League season. This win meant they were promoted to the Iran Pro League.
Esteghlal Ahvaz had a strong team and stayed in the Iran Pro League. They finished eighth in the 2003–04 season and even better, fifth, in the 2004–05 season. In the 2006–07 season, they were runners-up, meaning they finished second in the league. They continued to be an average team in the following seasons.
Difficult Years and Relegations
In the 2009–10 Iran Pro League season, Esteghlal Ahvaz finished 18th and was moved down to the Azadegan League. Just one year later, in the 2010–11 season, they were moved down again to League 2 because of many problems within the club.
However, Esteghlal Ahvaz made a comeback in 2012. They won the 2011–12 Iran 2nd Division after beating PAS Novin Hamedan 4–3. This win promoted them back to the Azadegan League. After two average seasons, they were relegated to League 2 again. They lost their play-off match against Shahrdari Tabriz.
Ups and Downs: Promotion and Relegation
Even though Esteghlal Ahvaz was relegated to League 2, they got a chance to play in the 2015–16 Persian Gulf Pro League. This happened because Foolad Novin, the team that was supposed to be promoted, could not join. Foolad Novin was a reserve team for Foolad Khuzestan, and reserve teams are not allowed in the top league.
However, Esteghlal Ahvaz struggled that season. The team was not managed well, and they were relegated back to the Azadegan League before the season even ended. In the 2016–17 Azadegan League season, they had a very poor performance. They did not win a single match and were relegated again to League 2.
Club Stadium
Esteghlal Ahvaz played its home matches at the Takhti Ahvaz. This stadium can hold 10,000 people. It first opened in 1978 and is owned by the Municipality of Ahvaz. The stadium was updated in 2005 and again in 2012. It is also the home stadium for another local team, Shahin Ahvaz.
Esteghlal Ahvaz also played a few matches at Ghadir Stadium during the 2015–16 season, including their Hazfi Cup game.
Club Supporters
During the 1980s, because of the Iran–Iraq War, people in Ahvaz were not very focused on football or the club.
In later years, especially between 2010 and 2015, the club faced challenges with fewer fans attending games. This also led to a drop in the club's popularity.
Sometimes, fans caused problems. For example, in a match against Persepolis in April 2016, some fans threw objects. Because of this, Esteghlal Ahvaz had to play three matches without any spectators allowed.
Club Rivalries
Esteghlal Ahvaz had a main rivalry with Foolad.
The Ahvaz Derby
The biggest and longest-running rivalry for Esteghlal Ahvaz was with Foolad Khuzestan, another major club in Ahvaz. Matches between these two teams were known as the Ahvaz Derby. Even though Foolad was supported more by the Arab community in Ahvaz and Esteghlal Ahvaz by Persians, there was no ethnic tension in their rivalry. As Esteghlal Ahvaz had weaker seasons, the importance of this derby decreased.
Other Rivalries
Esteghlal Ahvaz also had smaller rivalries with other teams in Ahvaz, such as Esteghlal Khuzestan and Shahin Ahvaz.
Club Achievements
Esteghlal Ahvaz won some important titles:
- Persian Gulf Pro League
- Runners-up (1): 2006–07 (Finished second)
- Azadegan League
- Winners (1): 2001–02 (Finished first)
- League 2
- Winners (1): 2011–12 (Finished first)
Images for kids
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Takhti Stadium in Ahvaz, where Esteghlal Ahvaz played home games.
See also
In Spanish: Esteghlal Ahvaz Football Club para niños
