Iran's Premier League

Football is by far Iran's most popular sport.

There are presently (2008) 18 football teams in Iran's Premier League (IPL) - the top level of professional soccer in the country. The second level of Iranian soccer is the Azadegan League and at the moment 3 clubs are relegated and promoted between the top two tiers.

The Iranian soccer season begins in August and runs until May, similar to the season in Europe. Attendances vary from crowds of over 100,000 spectators for a Persepolis v Esteghlal Tehran derby to less than 500 fans for some provincial teams.

Tehran

Tehran's top clubs are Persepolis, Esteghlal and Rah Ahan.

Persepolis claim to be the rop club in Tehran and indeed the whole country with a fan base estimated at over 30 million. Also known as Pirouzi (Victory), the Reds have won a record number of domestic championships and share a firece rivalry with Esteghlal. The team's home stadium is Azadi Stadium, which they share with Esteghlal.

Esteghlal, (The Blues) are the capital's other big club with millions of fans across the nation. The team was founded in 1945 and won two Asian club championships in 1970 and 1991.

Rah Ahan are the third of the capital's clubs and were founded in 1946 by rhe national railway. There are rumours the club may leave the capital to escape from the shadow of the big two.

West of Tehran

Peykan and Saipa are the two IPL clubs located just west of the capital in Qazvin and Karaj.

Peykan are named after an Iran Khodro car of their backers but have yet to really motor up the IPL.

Saipa, also sponsored by an Iranian car manufacturer, have enjoyed more success with 3 league titles, the latest until the management of Iran soccer great Ali Daei in 2007.

Ahvaz

The western city of Ahvaz had two clubs in 2008.

Foolad Khuzestan are backed by local industry and recently bought up the franchise of Sephan Novin to escape from the second level.

Esteghlal Ahvaz play at the 30,000 capacity Takhti Stadium and are a privately owned club. The owner Ali Shafizadeh is based in Dubai.

Shiraz

The two teams who play their football in the southern city of Shiraz are Bargh Shiraz and Sepazi Shiraz.

Bargh Shiraz were founded in 1946, enjoy only modest support and have one Iranian Cup success to their credit so far in their history.

Sepasi Shiraz began life in 1988 as a Basij team named after an Iran-Iraq war martyr called Sepasi. Many of the team's young players are undergoing their two-year military service. The team won the domestic Hazfi Cup to everyone's surprise in 2001.

Mashhad

This eastern, religious city has two teams: Aboomoslem and Payam Mashhad.

Aboomoslem are the big club in the city but have yet to win major honors. The team is sponsored by car makers Iran Khodro.

Payam Mashhad live in the shadows of their bigger and more well-supported neighbors.

Kerman

Mes Kerman are the only IPL team in the south eastern city of Kerman and only came in to existence in 1998.

Caspian Sea Coast

The Caspian Sea Coast, north west of Tehran has two teams: Malavan and Pegah Gilan.

Malavan are based in Bandar-e Anzali, have a reputation for unearthing home-grown talent and are nicknamed the "White Swans." The team is backed by the Iranian Navy.

Pegah Gilan were based in the nearby city of Rasht and after financial difficultes may be reborn as Damash Gilan.

Hamadan

Hamadan is home to Hamadan (Hamedan) Pas, who left Tehran to base in this western city in 2007.

PAS Hamedan, the team in green and white, were hit by a doping scandal in 2008 and docked points.

Qom

Saba Qom are another team that has relocated from Tehran, this time to the religious city of Qom.

Saba Battery, as their name suggests, are sponsored by a wealthy, government-owned battery firm and won the Hazfi Cup in 2005.

Esfahan

Esfahan (Isfahan) is the other big footballing city outside of Tehran and has two teams: Sepahan and Zob Ahan.

Sepahan are a rising power of Iranian soccer and broke the capital's monopoly on titles when the team won the league in 2003. The club appeared in the 2007 World Club Cup after it finished as runners-up in that season's Asian Champion's League. The club is owned by steel company Mobarakeh Steel.

Zob Ahan are also owned by a steel company, Esfahan Steel Company, and are a steady, well-run club in the IPL.

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