Zob Ahan Esfahan F.C. facts for kids
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| Full name | Zob Ahan Esfahan Football Club | ||
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| Nickname(s) | Gandos (The Marsh Crocodiles) | ||
| Short name | Zob Ahan | ||
| Founded | 6 July 1969 | ||
| Ground | Foolad Shahr Stadium | ||
| Capacity | 20,000 | ||
| Owner | Isfahan Steel Company | ||
| Chairman | Nima Nakisa | ||
| Head Coach | Ghasem Haddadifar | ||
| League | Persian Gulf Pro League | ||
| 2024–25 | Persian Gulf Pro League, 6th | ||
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Zob Ahan Esfahan Football Club is an Iranian football team. It is based in Fuladshahr, Iran. The club plays in the Persian Gulf Pro League, which is Iran's top football league.
The team gets its support from the Isfahan Steel Company. This company is also known as Zob Ahan. Zob Ahan's main rival is Sepahan, another team from Isfahan. Sepahan is sponsored by a different steel company.
Zob Ahan also has a basketball team. This team is also sponsored by the same steel company. It is one of the top teams in the Iranian Super League.
In 2010, Zob Ahan reached the final of the 2010 AFC Champions League. They lost 3–1 to a South Korean team, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma.
Zob Ahan has won the Hazfi Cup four times. These wins were in 2002–03, 2008–09, 2014–15, and 2015–16. They were also runners-up once in 2000–01. The club has finished second in the league three times. This happened in 2004–05, 2008–09, and 2009–10. They also won the Iranian Super Cup in 2016.
Contents
Club History: How Zob Ahan Started and Grew
The Beginning (1969–1980)
Mohammad Ali Taghizadeh Farahmand started the club in 1969. Zob Ahan joined the Takht Jamshid Cup in 1973. They finished 10th in their first season. In 1976, they reached the quarterfinals of the Hazfi Cup. Their best finish in the Takht Jamshid Cup was 8th place in 1977–78.
Playing in the Azadegan League (1980–2001)
Zob Ahan has played in Iran's top football league since 1973. The only exception was in 1995, when they played in the second division. After the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the Takht Jamshid Cup stopped. This was because of the Iran–Iraq War. After the war ended, the league started again. It was then called the Azadegan League. Zob Ahan was promoted back to the top division the next year.
Joining the Persian Gulf Pro League (2001–Present)
Zob Ahan has been playing in the IPL since 2001. Their first big win was the Hazfi Cup in 2003. They beat Moghavemat Sepasi in the final. They won the Hazfi Cup again in 2008–09 Hazfi Cup. This time, they beat Rah Ahan.
Zob Ahan first played in the AFC Champions League in 2004. They qualified because they won the 2003 Hazfi Cup. However, they were knocked out in the group stage.
In the 2008–09 season, Zob Ahan almost won their first league title. They were also strong contenders in the 2009–10 season. But they finished second again, six points behind their rivals Sepahan. They also lost the Hazfi Cup in the semi-finals. A second-division team, Gostaresh Foulad, surprisingly beat them 2–0.
Zob Ahan's Journey in the 2010 AFC Champions League
In the 2010 AFC Champions League, Zob Ahan finished first in their group. This group included FC Bunyodkor, Al-Wahda, and Al-Ittihad. Finishing first meant they reached the knockout stages for the first time.
In the Round of 16, they played against fellow Iranian team Mes Kerman. Zob Ahan won 1–0. They then moved to the quarter-finals. There, they faced the defending champions, Pohang Steelers. Zob Ahan won 2–1 at home and drew 1–1 in Korea. This knocked out the champions.
Next, Zob Ahan played against Saudi Arabian team Al Hilal. They won 1–0 at home and 1–0 away. This led them to the Asian Champions League final. They played against Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma. On November 13, 2010, Zob Ahan lost the final 1–3. Even though they were often seen as underdogs, they had a great run. The next year, they reached the quarter-finals again. But they lost to Korean club Suwon Samsung Bluewings.
Tough Times for the Club
After the 2011 Champions League, Zob Ahan finished 6th in the league in 2012. This meant they did not qualify for the Champions League. The next year, the club finished 14th in the league. They barely avoided being moved down to a lower division. Fans started attending fewer games. Zob Ahan had another difficult year in the 2013–14 Iran Pro League season. They finished 13th and changed managers three times. Again, they just managed to avoid relegation.
Coming Back Strong Under New Coaches
In the summer of 2014, Zob Ahan announced Yahya Golmohammadi as their new manager. After a slow start, Zob Ahan went on a six-game unbeaten streak. This moved them to 6th place by week 23. On December 5, 2015, Zob Ahan beat Persepolis 2–1 in the Hazfi Cup semi-final. This sent them to the final for the fourth time.
On May 15, 2015, Zob Ahan drew 0–0 with Padideh. They finished fourth in the league. This meant they returned to the AFC Champions League after five years. Zob Ahan also won their third Hazfi Cup title. They defeated Naft Tehran 3–1 in the final.
On February 23, 2016, Zob Ahan won their first AFC Champions League match since 2011. They beat Lekhwiya of Qatar 1–0. Zob Ahan qualified for the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League on April 20, 2016. They beat Saudi club Al Nassr 3–0. However, Al Ain from the UAE beat Zob Ahan 3–1 overall in the Round of 16.
Zob Ahan reached the final of the 2016 Hazfi Cup again. They played against Esteghlal to defend their title. Zob Ahan won the Hazfi Cup for the fourth time after beating Esteghlal in a penalty shootout. Zob Ahan also won the Iranian Super Cup. They beat Esteghlal Khuzestan 4–2 in extra time. This was the first trophy Zob Ahan won at their home stadium, Foolad Shahr Stadium.
At the start of the 2016–17 season, Golmohammadi was replaced. Assistant coach Mojtaba Hosseini took over. Hosseini led Zob Ahan to the semi-finals of the Hazfi Cup. They lost to Tractor.
Team Colors and Logo
One of Zob Ahan's nicknames is Sabzpoushan, which means "The Greens". This comes from their traditional uniform, which is mostly green. Since the club started, their home kit has included a green shirt. They usually wear black or white shorts and white or yellow socks. White and black colors are also part of their uniform. The away kit is usually white.
Home Stadium
The club's home stadium is Foolad Shahr Stadium. It is located in Fooladshahr, Isfahan. The stadium used to hold 20,000 people. It was updated in 2011 to hold about 30,000 fans. The stadium was built in 1998.
Rivalries: The Esfahan Derby
Zob Ahan is part of the Esfahan derby, also known as the Naghsh-e-Jahan derby. This rivalry dates back to the 1970s. Zob Ahan and Sepahan played against each other in the Takht Jamshid Cup. Their rivalry started again in the 1990s in the Azadegan League. Since then, the two teams have played each other twice every year.
Players of Zob Ahan
Current Team Squad
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Players on Loan
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Retired Jersey Numbers
| No. | Player | Position | Zob Ahan debut | Last match | ref |
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| 30 |  Mehdi Rajabzadeh |
Attacking Midfielder | June 2003 | May 15, 2018 |
On June 18, 2018, the club decided to retire jersey number 30. This was done to honor Mehdi Rajabzadeh.
Club Captains Over Time
| # | Name | Nationality | Years at Zob Ahan | Years as Captain | Jersey Number |
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Rasoul Korbekandi |  |
1969–80 | 1970–80 |
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Mahmood Ebrahimzadeh | |
1976–86 | 1980–86 |
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Rahman Rezaei | |
1996–01 | 1997–00 |
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Ali Akbar Ostad-Asadi | |
1995–03 | 2000–03 |
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Sepehr Heidari | |
2000–07 2012–14 |
2003–07 |
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Mohammad Salsali | |
2004–14 | 2007–14 |
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Mehdi Rajabzadeh | |
2003–07 2010–11 2012–18 |
2014–18 |
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Ghasem Haddadifar | |
2003–2021 | 2018–2021 |
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Masoud Ebrahimzadeh | |
2018–2023 | 2021–2023 |
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Club Officials and Coaches
Current Coaching Staff
| Position | Name |
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| Head coach | Mehdi Tartar |
| Assistant coaches | Hossein Pashaei Mohammad Salsali Mohammad Nouri |
| Goalkeeping coach | Hossein Inanlou |
| Fitness coach | Amir Jamali |
| Analyst | Kianoush Forouzesh |
| Physiotherapist | Abbas Moradi Behzad Moradi |
| Doctor | Amir Hossein Sharifianpour |
| Logistics | Mahmoud Mehruyan |
| Team Manager | Mahmoud Yazdkhasti |
| B team Head Coach | Mehdi Rajabzadeh |
| Media Officer | Ehsan Baeedi |
Club Chairpersons
| Chairperson | Time in Role |
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| Mohammad Mehdi Taghizadeh |
July 1969 – July 1977
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| Mostafa Ghanei |
July 1977 – February 1979
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| Asghar Nilchian |
May 1979 – May 1984
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| Fazollah Omranian |
May 1984 – May 1988
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| Heydar Taheri |
May 1988 – May 1992
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| Nematollah Zargar |
May 1992 – June 1996
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| Alireza Shogi |
June 1996 – June 2004
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| Saeed Azari |
June 2004 – June 2009
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| Asghar Dalili |
June 2009 – August 2011
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| Khosro Ebrahimi |
August 2011 – September 2013
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| Saeed Azari |
September 2013 – August 2019
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| Javad Mohammadi |
August 2019 – January 2020
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| Ahmad Jamshidi |
January 2020 – September 2020
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| Javad Mohammadi |
September 2020 – January 2021
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| Mojtaba Fereydouni |
January 2021 – July 2023
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| Nima Nakisa |
July 2023 – present
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Club Achievements
National Competitions
- First Division / Persian Gulf Pro League
- Runners-up (4 times): 2004–05, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2017–18
- Hazfi Cup
- Winners (4 times): 2002–03, 2008–09, 2014–15, 2015–16
- Runners-up (1 time): 2000–01
- Super Cup
- Winners (1 time): 2016
Asian Competitions
- AFC Champions League Elite
- Runners-up (1 time): 2010
Club Ownership
The Isfahan Steel Company owns Zob Ahan FC. This company was the first steel maker in Iran. It opened in the late 1960s. It is located near Fooladshahr and Zarrinshahr in Isfahan Province.
Zob Ahan-e Esfahan and Iran National (now Iran Khodro) were part of a plan. This plan was to change Iran's economy from mostly farming to more industry. This happened under the government of Amir Abbas Hoveida before the revolution.
See also
In Spanish: Zob Ahan FC para niños
