Malavan F.C. facts for kids
 |
|||
| Full name | Malavan Bandar Anzali Football Club | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Ghou-ye Sepid (The White Swan) Malavānān (The Sailors) |
||
| Short name | Malavan | ||
| Founded | 1969 | ||
| Ground | Ghayeghran Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 9,000 | ||
| Chairman | Arash Fahmide | ||
| Manager | Maziar Zare | ||
| League | Persian Gulf Pro League | ||
| 2023–24 | 6th of 16 | ||
|
|
|||
Malavan Bandar Anzali Football Club is a famous football team from Bandar-e Anzali, Iran. People often call them the White Swans or The Sailors. They are known for having some of the most enthusiastic fans in Iranian football.
Malavan is one of the most successful teams in Iran that is not based in the capital city, Tehran. They have won the Hazfi Cup three times and reached the final seven times. Recently, they won Iran's second football league, the Azadegan League. This win helped them return to the top league, the Persian Gulf Pro League, after being in the lower league since 2016.
The club is part of a bigger sports group called Malavan Sport and Cultural Club. The Iranian Navy used to own and support the team.
Contents
History of Malavan Football Club
How the Club Started
The Malavan football team was created in 1968 by Bahman Salehnia. He started it with young athletes from the port city of Anzali. After some time, the Iranian Navy decided to become the team's main supporter and owner.
Early Years and Achievements
Malavan didn't always win the main league title. However, they became known as the best team outside of Tehran. They finished third in the league in 1977 and 1989.
The team has won the Hazfi Cup three times. This is a big knockout competition in Iran. In 1986, Malavan was supposed to play in the Asian Club Championship. But they had to leave the tournament because of the Iran–Iraq War.
Time in the Iran Pro League
In 2003, Malavan moved down to the Azadegan League, which is a lower division. But they quickly bounced back! They were promoted to the Iran Pro League the very next year.
For many years, Malavan was a stable team in the top league. They usually finished in the middle of the table. They even reached the final of the Hazfi Cup in 2011, but they lost to Persepolis. In the 2013–14 season, they had their best-ever finish in the league, coming in 7th place.
Moving Down and Coming Back
In 2015, a famous coach named Amir Ghalenoi joined Malavan. Some well-known players also joined the team. However, Ghalenoi left after only three games. Hamid Estili took over as coach.
On May 13, 2016, Malavan lost a game and was moved down to the Azadegan League again. This was the second time in their history.
For the 2016–17 season, Mohammad Mayeli Kohan became the manager. The team played well and was close to getting promoted. But the coach had some disagreements with the fans. This led many supporters to stop attending games.
Return to the Top League with Maziar Zare
The 2020-2021 season was exciting for Malavan. Two former players, Maziar Zare and Pejman Nouri, returned to the club. Zare became the new head coach, and Nouri became the general manager.
In his first year as coach, Zare led the team to the semi-finals of the domestic cup. Then, in the 2021-2022 season, Zare helped the team win the Azadegan League with a record number of points. This amazing win brought Malavan back to the top league after six years!
El Gilano: The Big Derby Match
The matches between Malavan and other teams from the Gilan region, like Damash or Sepidrood, are called the Gilan Derby or El Gilano. These games are some of the most important and exciting derby matches in Iran.
Malavan has won the most Gilan Derby matches since the Iran Pro League started in 2001. They also hold the record for the biggest win, beating Damash 3–0 in both 2005 and 2013. These derby games are known for their passionate fans and sometimes, unfortunately, for fan disagreements.
Club Honours
Malavan has won several important titles:
National Titles
- Azadegan League
- Winners (1): 2021–22
- Runner-up (1): 2003–04
- Hazfi Cup
- Winners (3): 1975–76, 1986–87, 1990–91
- Runner-up (4): 1987–88, 1988–89, 1991–92, 2010–11
Other Titles
Vahdat Cup
- Third place (1): 1982
RCD Cup
- Runner-up (1): 1974
Club Leadership
Current President
- Arash Fahmide (since 2023)
Current Coaching Staff
- Head coach: Mehdi Tartar
- Assistant coach:
Eurico Pinhal - Goalkeeping coach: Mohammad Ali Hassani Sefat
- Doctor: Babak Sayyad
- Technical director: Ghafour Jahani
- Team manager: Hossein Gholami
See also
In Spanish: Malavan FC para niños
