Persian Gulf Pro League


The Persian Gulf Pro League, formerly known as the Iran Pro League, is a professional association football league in Iran and the highest level of the Iranian [football league system]. It is controlled by the FFIRI and is contested by 16 teams over a 30-matchday period.
Each year, its top team becomes the Iranian football champion, and the two lowest finishers are relegated to the Azadegan League.
Since 2013, the league comprises 16 teams. The winner of the Persian Gulf Pro League along with the Hazfi Cup champion automatically qualify for the AFC Champions League Elite group stages. The third of the Persian Gulf Pro League is qualified for the AFC Champions League Elite Play-off round. The bottom two teams in the league are relegated to Azadegan League. In the past, the format and number of teams were changed for various times.
WWW Official Site

History

At the turn of the millennium, the Iranian Football Federation decided to create a new professional football league. In 2001, the Iran Pro League was founded as the new top-level football league in Iran. After the Iran Pro League was established as the professional football league of Iran, the Azadegan League was declared as the second-highest league in the Iranian football league system. The Iran Pro League comprised 14 clubs until the 2003–04 season.
SeasonChampionsRunners-up
2001–02PersepolisEsteghlal
2002–03SepahanPAS [Tehran F.C.|PAS Tehran]
2003–04PAS TehranEsteghlal
2004–05FooladZob Ahan
2005–06EsteghlalPAS Tehran
2006–07SaipaEsteghlal Ahvaz
2007–08PersepolisSepahan
2008–09EsteghlalZob Ahan
2009–10SepahanZob Ahan
2010–11SepahanEsteghlal
2011–12SepahanTractor
2012–13EsteghlalTractor
2013–14FooladPersepolis
2014–15SepahanTractor
2015–16Esteghlal KhuzestanPersepolis
2016–17PersepolisEsteghlal
2017–18PersepolisZob Ahan
2018–19PersepolisSepahan
2019–20PersepolisEsteghlal
2020–21PersepolisSepahan
2021–22EsteghlalPersepolis
2022–23PersepolisSepahan
2023–24PersepolisEsteghlal
2024–25TractorSepahan
-Tractor-

The first winner of the Iran Pro League was Persepolis, who beat Esteghlal by one point on the final match day. Esteghlal Rasht and East Azerbaijan's club Tractor had been relegated to the Azadegan League. Tractor took eight years to return to Iran's highest division
The runner-up of the 2002–03 season, PAS Tehran, became the Iranian football champion of the 2003–04 Iran Pro League. It was the last Iranian championship for PAS Tehran. PAS Tehran's professional football team was dissolved in 2007.
In 2004, the number of teams was increased from 14 to 16 teams. Foolad of Ahvaz became the first champion from Khuzestan Province. In the 2005–06 Iran Pro League Esteghlal celebrated their first championship since 2001. Shamoushak Noshahr and Shahid Ghandi relegated to Azadegan League.

Persian Gulf Cup

On 12 August 2006, the Iranian Football Federation decided to give the league another name. Since then, the league had been primarily known in Iran as Persian Gulf Cup. The Football Federation decided this to promote the Persian naming. The name of the Persian Gulf has been disputed by some Arab countries since the 1960s due to political and ethnic differences between Iran and Arab countries. The football Federation decided also to change the logo of the league. The final logo was selected from over 130 designs and unveiled on 14 November 2006. Saipa won the 2006–07 Persian Gulf Cup. Until 2007, six different teams won the league title successively. A foreign player became the league's top goal scorer. Nigerian striker Daniel Olerum scored 17 goals in 27 matches for Aboomoslem. The winner of only two seasons before, Foolad, had to relegated to Azadegan League.
Before the start of the 2007–08 season the number of teams was increased from 16 to 18 teams. The professional football team of PAS Tehran was also dissolved before the start of the season. Instead of PAS Tehran a new club was founded in Hamadan and named PAS Hamedan. In 2008, Saba Battery was also moved from Tehran to Qom. Since then, the club is known as Saba Qom. The championship of the 2007–08 season was decided on the last matchday. Persepolis defeated Sepahan. Sanat Naft and Shirin Faraz relegated to Azadegan League. The next season was dominated by Esteghlal and the two surprising teams Zob Ahan and Mes Kerman. Zob Ahan was the leading team after 75 minutes on matchday 34, before they lost their match against Foolad due to three conceded goals in the last 15 minutes with 1–4. Payam Mashhad had to relegated alongside Bargh Shiraz and Damash.
The 2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup was dominated by the two Isfahan based clubs Sepahan and Zob Ahan. Ultimately Sepahan won the league. Sepahan repeated their success by winning the 2010–11 and 2011–12 Persian Gulf Cup. Esteghlal won the 2012–13 Persian Gulf Cup and became for the eight time in their history the Iranian champion.
The League was scaled down from 18 to 16 teams before the beginning of the next season. Foolad won the 2013–14 Persian Gulf Cup. Foolad saved their championship after they defeated Gostaresh Foulad away.

Persian Gulf Pro League

The league changed its name from Persian Gulf Cup to Persian Gulf Pro League in 2014. The Iranian Football Federation decided also to change the logos of the Persian Gulf Pro League and of the Azadegan League. The 2014–15 Persian Gulf Pro League was embossed by a championship battle between Sepahan, Tractor and Naft Tehran. Furthermore, there were strange events in the stadium, including a lot of misinformation and disturbed telecommunication. Although Sepahan secured their title with a 2–0 victory over Saipa, thousands of Tractor supporters celebrated on the pitch, believing that they won the league for the first time in club's history.
Also the 2015–16 Persian Gulf Pro League was not decided until the last matchday. Esteghlal Khuzestan won the league in front of Persepolis and Esteghlal. Persepolis missed their opportunity winning the league after eight years. However, Persepolis dominated the next season and won the 2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League. Persepolis football team claimed the Iran Professional League and repeated the title in 2017-18 Season. The Following Season Persepolis again were champion for three times in a row.

Format

In the past, the number of teams was changed at various times. Since 2013, the league comprises 16 teams. Over the course of a season, which runs annually from July to the following May, each team plays twice against the others in the league, once at home and once away, resulting in each team competing in 30 games in total. Three points are awarded for a win, one for a draw and zero for a loss. The teams are ranked in the league table by points gained, then goal difference, then goals scored and then their head-to-head record for that season.
At the end of the season, the club with the most points becomes the Iranian champion. Currently, the Champions, the Runners Up and the Hazfi Cup champions qualify automatically for the group phase of the AFC Champions League, while the third-place team enters the AFC Champions League at the Play-off round. The bottom two teams are relegated to Azadegan League. Furthermore, all teams in the Persian Gulf Pro League can participate in the Hazfi Cup.
Number of teamsPeriod
142001–02 until 2003–04
162004–05 until 2006–07, since 2013–14
182007–08 until 2012–13

Clubs (2024–25)

TeamLocationStadiumCapacity
AluminiumArakImam Khomeini12,500
ChadormaluYazdShahid Nasiri15,000
EsteghlalTehranAzadi78,116
Esteghlal KhuzestanAhvazGhadir38,900
FooladAhvazFoolad Arena30,655
Gol Gohar SirjanSirjanQassem Soleimani8,000
HavadarTehranShahid Dastgerdi8,250
KheybarKhorramabadTakhti10,000
MalavanBandar-e AnzaliSirous Ghayeghran9,000
Mes RafsanjanRafsanjanShohadaye Mes10,000
Nassaji MazandaranGhaemshahrVatani27,700
PersepolisTehranAzadi78,116
SepahanIsfahanNaghsh-e-Jahan75,000
Shams AzarQazvinSardar Azadegan15,000
TractorTabrizYadegar-e Emam66,833
Zob AhanFooladshahrFooladshahr20,000

Champions

Persian Gulf Pro League
ClubWinnersRunners-upWinning seasons
Persepolis932001–02, 2007–08, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023–24
Sepahan552002–03, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15
Esteghlal462005–06, 2008–09, 2012–13, 2021–22
Foolad202004–05, 2013–14
Tractor132024–25
PAS Tehran122003–04
Saipa102006–07
Esteghlal Khuzestan102015–16
Zob Ahan04–
Esteghlal Ahvaz01–

Total
ClubWinnersRunners-upWinning seasons
Persepolis 20px16101971–72, 1973–74, 1975–76, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2007–08, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023–24
Esteghlal9111970–71, 1974–75, 1989–90, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2012–13, 2021–22
PAS Tehran551976–77, 1977–78, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2003–04
Sepahan552002–03, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15
Saipa301993–94, 1994–95, 2006–07
Foolad202004–05, 2013–14
Tractor132024–25
Esteghlal Khuzestan102015–16
Zob Ahan04–
Bahman02–
Homa01–
Esteghlal Ahvaz01–

All-time Pro League table

ClubSeasonsMatches PlayedWinsDrawsLossesGoal DifferencePointsRelegated
1Persepolis247323702221401046637+409133293332118212001–022001–021st
2Esteghlal247323642351331065635+430132746811119212001–022001–021st
3Sepahan247323442341541072662+4101266553231115202001–022001–021st
4Zob Ahan24732269251212849738+11110584131718172001–022001–022nd
5Foolad23698263239196775696+7910282322247152001–022008–0911st
6Tractor17522228163131689504+185847131521110142001–022009-1011st
7Saipa20612186217209660701−4177511112362001–022020–2111st
8Paykan19578162188228572694−12264712582001–022025–2645th
9Malavan17526146177203488601−1136152352001–022022–2326th
10Saba Qom/Saba Battery13414128159127468459+95431221362004–052016–1713rd
11Rah Ahan11354119114121432422104712005–062015–1618th
12Fajr Sepasi13398103146149357434−774551112001–022025–2624th
13Sanat Naft12372102114156371478−107420112002–032023–2437th
14Mes Kerman92948910996332329+3376111132006–072022–2313rd
15Naft Tehran8252918873286258+2836123252010–112017–1813rd
16Aboomoslem9270839097296304−8339121142001–022009–1014th
17Esteghlal Ahvaz92748078116327402−7531811122002–032015–1622nd
18Shahr Khodro8240748086218245−2730211122014–152021–2214th
19PAS Tehran6168725937263181+822751211452001–022006–071st
20Esteghlal Khuzestan8240579192224292−6826211122013–142023–2411st
21Bargh Shiraz8236607898252335−83258112001–022008–0917th
22Gol Gohar6180656253189174+15257121142019–202019–204th
23Damash/Pegah/Esteghlal Rasht82485681111227344−1172492001–022013–1447th
24Nassaji7210458382178238−602182018–192024–2519th
25Mes Rafsanjan5150475251148149−11931122020–212020–215th
26Aluminium Arak5150406842122135−13188222020–212020–217th
27Gostaresh Foolad5150396051147161−141772013–142017–188th
28PAS Hamedan4136384850143165−22162112007–082010–1115th
29Naft Masjed Soleyman6180277578116216−1001562014–152022–2328th
30Shahin Bushehr4132274857124175−511292009–102019–20213th
31Havadar412025435290155−651182021–222024–25111th
32Pars Jonoubi Jam3902238308287−5104112017–182019–2015th
33Machine Sazi412017396484163−79902016–172020–21211th
34Steel Azin26819232685112−2780112009–102010–1115th
35Shamoushak38616264466118−52742003–042005–06114th
36Siah Jamegan39015274864117−53722015–162017–18113th
37Shahrdari Tabriz2681429257998−19712010–112011–12112th
38Sepidrood2601117324892−44502017–182018–19113th
39Shams Azar2601817255876−18712023–242023–248th
40Aluminium Hormozgan134714132640−14352012–132012–13115th
41Payam13498173352−19352008–092008–09116th
42Chadormalou130810122228−6342024–252024–2510th
43Kheybar13089132431−7332024–252024–2511th
44Mes Sarcheshmeh13459202354−31242011–122011–12118th
45Shirin Faraz134312192559−34212007–082007–08118th
46Shahid Ghandi13047192143−22192005–062005–06116th
47Gahar Zagros134310212459−35192012–132012–13118th

2025–26 Persian Gulf Pro League
2025–26 Azadegan League
Lower leagues
Defunct teams
Founding members

Source:

Notes:
Only league matches; play-offs are not included in the all-time table.

Attendances

Average league attendances

Notes:
Matches with spectator bans are not included in average attendances.
The official game reports can be found under the match schedule on iranleague.ir. The viewer numbers are noted in these. This results in average attendance.

Records

All-Time Persian Gulf League Top Scorers

No.PlayerGoalsAppsGPGRYears
1

All-time top appearances in Iran league

NoPlayerAppearanceYears
1 Jalal Hosseini4922002–2022
2

Broadcasting and sponsorship

Broadcasting

The state-owned television channel IRIB has the broadcasting rights for the most matches of the Persian Gulf Pro League, Azadegan League and Hazfi Cup. Each match of Esteghlal and Persepolis is broadcasting by IRIB TV3, IRIB's channel.
After the 1979 revolution, the right to broadcast the Iranian leagues was exclusively given to IRIB. The organization broadcast matches throughout the decades in SD 240p and below, drawing criticism from the sports media. It was announced in 2024 that the image quality will be upgraded to HD in the coming years.

Sponsorship

The Persian Gulf Pro League has been sponsored since 2005. There have been four sponsors since the league's formation.
  • 2001–2005: no sponsor
  • 2005–2007: Zamzam
  • 2007–2009: Padideh
  • 2009–2014: Irancell
  • 2014–2016: Sun Star
  • 2016–present: Fanap

Awards

Trophy

The league championship trophy is made up of two parts, the main part is shiny Chrome and the smaller part shiny golden in color. The sides of the trophy are taken from the armour of two Persian Achaemenid soldiers. This trophy also has references to the Persian Gulf. Every season, a new copy of this trophy, which takes about one and a half months to make, is made by artisans to be presented to the champions. Medals are also distributed. The medals and the championship trophy are made of brass metal, the medals and the championship trophy are both gold plated.