2012–13 Persian Gulf Cup


The 2012–13 Persian Gulf Cup was the 30th season of Iran's Football League and 12th as Iran Pro League since its establishment in 2001. Sepahan were the 2011–12 [Persian Gulf Cup|defending champions]. The season featured 15 teams from the 2011–12 Persian Gulf Cup and three new teams promoted from the 2011–12 Azadegan League: Paykan as champions, Aluminium Hormozgan and Gahar Zagros. The league started on 19 July 2012 and ended on 10 May 2013. Esteghlal won the Pro League title for the third time in their history.

Events

Competition format

After the 2012–13 Iran Pro League season, it was planned that the number of teams would be reduced from 18 to 16 for the next season, so 4 team was directly relegated to the Azadegan League, while one team was played against the 3rd ranked team from the second division league team in a play-off. 2 teams also are directly promoted from current Azadegan league to the next pro league season and one team played against the 14th placed pro league team in a play-off.

Rules and regulations

The Iranian Football Clubs who participate in 2012–13 Iran Pro League are allowed to have up to maximum 35 players in their player lists, which will be categorized in the following groups:Up to maximum 21 adult playersUp to maximum 6 under-23 players.Up to maximum 5 under-21 players.Up to maximum 3 under-19 players.
Based on the fact that the Season is started from 19 July 2012.

Teams

Stadia and locations

TeamCityVenueCapacity
AluminiumBandar AbbasKhalij Fars15,459
Damash GilanRashtDr. Azodi11,000
EsteghlalTehranAzadi84,412
Fajr SepasiShirazHafezieh
Dastgheib		14,560
7,000
FooladAhvazGhadir50,199
Gahar ZagrosDoroodTakhti Doorood10,052
MalavanAnzaliTakhti Anzali8,000
Mes KermanKermanShahid Bahonar15,430
Naft [Tehran F.C.|Naft Tehran]TehranDastgerdi8,250
PaykanTehranPeykanshahr30,000
PersepolisTehranAzadi84,412
Rah AhanTehranRah Ahan12,922
Saba QomQomYadegar Emam10,610
SaipaKarajEnghelab Karaj30,000
Sanat NaftAbadanTakhti Abadan25,256
SepahanEsfahanFoolad Shahr31,439
Tractor SaziTabrizYadegar-e-Emam66,833
Zob AhanEsfahanFoolad Shahr31,439

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
TeamManagerCaptainKit manufacturerShirt sponsorPast Season
Aluminium

League table


Relegation play-offs

Zob Ahan as 14th-placed team faced play-off winner of 2012–13 Azadegan League, Pas Hamedan in a two-legged play-off.
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'''Zob Ahan won 5–3 on aggregate and retained its Iran Pro League spot for the 2013–14 season.'''

Season statistics

Top goalscorers

Last updated: 10 May 2013
Source:

Clean sheets

PositionPlayerClubClean sheetsGoals conceded
1

Scoring

  • First goal of the season: Mehdi Nazari for Fajr against Zob Ahan
  • Fastest goal of the season: 12 seconds, Gholamreza Rezaei for Persepolis against Fajr Sepasi
  • Latest goal of the season: 96 minutes and 12 seconds, Karim Ansarifard for Persepolis against Zob Ahan
  • Largest winning margin: 6 goals
  • *Persepolis 6–0 Paykan
  • *Fajr 6–0 Aluminium
  • *Zob Ahan 6–0 Sanat Naft
  • Highest scoring game: 8 goals
  • *Damash 5–3 Paykan
  • *Sanat Naft 2–6 Naft Tehran
  • Most goals scored in a match by a single team: 6 goals
  • *Sanat Naft 2–6 Naft Tehran
  • *Fajr 6–1 Damash
  • *Persepolis 6–0 Paykan
  • *Fajr 6–0 Aluminium
  • Most goals scored in a match by a losing team: 3 goals
  • *Damash 5–3 Paykan
  • *Naft Tehran 3–4 Sepahan
  • *Sepahan 4–3 Zob Ahan

Awards

Team of the Season

Goalkeeper: Mehdi Rahmati

Defence: Mehrdad Jama'ati, Pejman Montazeri, Amir Hossein Sadeghi, Khosro Heydari

Midfield: Reza Haghighi, Bakhtiar Rahmani, Moharram Navidkia, Yaghoub Karimi

Attack: Jalal Rafkhaei, Mohammad Reza Khalatbari

Player of the Season

Moharram Navidkia was awarded as the best player of the season among Mehdi Rahmati and Pejman Montazeri became second and third. Saeid Ezzatollahi was also awarded as the best young player of the season and Alireza Jahanbakhsh was ranked second.

Other awards

Amir Ghalenoei was awarded as the best coach of the season, Zlatko Kranjčar becomes second and Hossein Faraki third. Saeid Mozafarizadeh awarded best referee, Fair Play Award was given to the Fajr Sepasi and Esteghlal was the team of the season. Mehdi Mahdavikia, Ali Parvin, Homayoun Behzadi and Ali Jabari were also awarded for their service to the Iranian football.

Attendances

Highest attendances

Notes:
Updated to games played on 10 May 2013. Source:

Team season articles