Malavan F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Malavan Bandar Anzali Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Ghou-ye Sepid (The White Swan) Malavānān (The Sailors) |
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| Short name | Malavan | ||
| Founded | 1969 | ||
| Ground | Ghayeghran Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 9,000 | ||
| Chairman | Ashkan Pourrashid | ||
| Manager | Maziar Zare | ||
| League | Persian Gulf Pro League | ||
| 2024–25 | Persian Gulf Pro League, 7th of 16 | ||
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Malavan Bandar Anzali Football Club is an Iranian football team. They are based in Bandar-e Anzali, a city in Iran. The team recently won Iran's second league, the Azadegan League. This victory helped them return to the top league, the Persian Gulf Pro League.
Malavan is known for having some of the most enthusiastic fans in Iranian football. It is also one of the most successful teams not based in Tehran, the capital city. The club has done very well in the Hazfi Cup, which is a major knockout competition. They have reached the final 7 times and won the cup 3 times. Malavan Football Club is part of a larger sports organization called Malavan Sport and Cultural Club. The Iranian Navy used to own the team.
Contents
Club History
How Malavan Started
The Malavan football team was created in 1968. It was started by Bahman Salehnia and some young athletes from the port city of Anzali. After a while, the Iranian Navy decided to become the team's main supporter and owner.
Early Years and Cup Wins
Malavan did not always have great success in the main league. However, they became the best club not based in Tehran. They finished third in the league in 1977 and 1989. Malavan has won the Hazfi Cup three times. In 1986, Malavan was going to play in the Asian Club Championship. They beat Saunders SC in the first round. But they had to leave the tournament because of the Iran–Iraq War.
Playing in the Iran Pro League
In 2003, Malavan was moved down to the Azadegan League. But they quickly bounced back! They were promoted right away and returned to the Iran Pro League after just one year. Since then, they have been a very steady team in the league. They usually finished in the middle of the table and often gave tough competition to the bigger teams.
In the 2010–11 season, they finished 8th. They also reached the final of the Hazfi Cup that year. However, they lost to Persepolis in the final match. In the 2013–14 Iran Pro League season, Malavan achieved their highest-ever finish. They surprised many by ending up in 7th place.
Moving Down and Back Up
In July 2015, Malavan hired a famous Iranian coach, Amir Ghalenoi. He had won many league titles with other big clubs. Some new players also joined the team. But after only three games, Ghalenoi left the club. He was replaced by Hamid Estili.
On May 13, 2016, Malavan lost a game to Siah Jamegan. This loss meant the club was moved down to the Azadegan League again. This was the second time in their history they were relegated.
Before the 2016–17 season, Mohammad Mayeli Kohan became Malavan's manager. The team played well and was often close to a promotion spot. However, Mayeli Kohan had some disagreements with the fans. This led to many supporters not attending the team's games.
Return to the Top League
The 2020-2021 season saw two former players, Maziar Zare and Pejman Nouri, return to the club. Zare became the new head coach, and Nouri became the general manager. In his first season, Zare led the team to the semi-finals of the domestic cup.
Then, in the 2021-2022 season, Zare guided the team to victory in the 2021–22 Azadegan League. They won with a record number of points! This amazing win brought Malavan back to the top league after six years.
El Gilano: The Big Derby
The matches between Malavan and other teams from the Gilan region, like Damash or Sepidrood, are very special. They are known as the Gilan Derby or El Gilano. These games are some of the most important and exciting matches in Iran.
Malavan holds the record for the most wins in this derby. They have won four times since the Iran Pro League started in 2001. Malavan also has the biggest winning difference. They defeated Damash 3–0 in 2005 and again in 2013. These derby matches are also known for their passionate fans.
Team Achievements
Malavan has won several important titles over the years.
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
Club Leaders
Presidents
Here is a list of the people who have been presidents of Malavan Football Club:
| Name | Years |
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| Rashid Sazmand | 1996–06 |
| Saadollah Pourtahmasbi | 2006–09 |
| Ardeshir Pournemat | 2009–11 |
| Bahman Salehnia | 2011–12 |
| Sadegh Deroudgar | 2012–14 |
| Hossein Gholami | 2014–15 |
| Ahmad Donyamali | 2015–17 |
| Mehran Nasiri | 2017–18 |
| Pejman Nouri | 2019–23 |
| Arash Fahmide | 2023–present |
Coaching Staff
This table shows the current coaching staff for Malavan:
| Position | Name |
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| Head coach |  Maziar Zare |
| Assistant coach |  Eurico Pinhal |
| Goalkeeping coach | Mohammad Ali Hassani Sefat |
| Doctor | Babak Sayyad |
| Technical director | Ghafour Jahani |
| Team manager | Hossein Gholami |
Head Coaches Over Time
Here is a list of all the head coaches Malavan has had since 1968:
| Name | Nationality | Years |
|---|---|---|
| Bahman Salehnia |  |
1968 – 1997 |
| Nosrat Irandoost | |
1997 – 2000 |
| Mohammad Ahmadzadeh | |
2000 – 2002 |
| Bahman Salehnia | |
2002 – 2004 |
| Nosrat Irandoost | |
2004 – 2006 |
| Mohammad Ahmadzadeh | |
2006 – 2010 |
| Farhad Pourgholami | |
2010 – 2012 |
| Mohammad Ahmadzadeh | |
2012 – 2013 |
| Dragan Skočić |  |
2013 – 2014 |
| Nosrat Irandoost | |
2014 |
| Stevan Mojsilović |  |
2014 |
| Firouz Karimi | |
2014 – 2015 |
| Hamid Estili | |
2015 – 2016 |
| Mohammad Ahmadzadeh | |
2016 |
| Mohammad Mayeli Kohan | |
2016 – 2017 |
| Nader Dastneshan | |
2017 – 2018 |
| Farhad Pourgholami | |
2018 |
| Mohammad Ahmadzadeh | |
2018 – 2020 |
| Akbar Misaghian | |
2020 |
| Maziar Zare | |
2020 – 2023 |
| Mehdi Tartar | |
2023 – present |
Team Players
Current Squad
Here are the players currently on Malavan's first team:
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See also
In Spanish: Malavan FC para niños
