Persian Gulf Pro League
Template:Short description Template:About Template:Infobox football league The Persian Gulf Pro League (Template:Langx, Lig-e Bartar-e Xalij-e Fârs), formerly known as the Iran Premier League (Template:Langx, Lig-e bartar-e Irân), 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.
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.<ref name="auto">Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref name="auto"/> The Iran Pro League comprised 14 clubs until the 2003–04 season.
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 (today known as Tarbiat Yazd) relegated to Azadegan League.
Persian Gulf Cup
Template:See also On 12 August 2006, the Iranian Football Federation decided to give the league another name.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Since then, the league had been primarily known in Iran as Persian Gulf Cup (PGC). 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.
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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 (today known as Rahian Kermanshah) 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.<ref>Template:Cite webTemplate:Cbignore</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Persepolis football team claimed the Iran Professional League (IPL) 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 teams | Period |
|---|---|
| 14 | 2001–02 until 2003–04 |
| 16 | 2004–05 until 2006–07, since 2013–14 |
| 18 | 2007–08 until 2012–13 |
Logo
Ranking
Template:Updated<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
| Ranking | Member association Template:Small |
Club points | Total | 2026–27 Competition | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Template:Nowrap | 2023–24 | Template:Abbr | Template:Abbr | 2016 Template:Small |
2017 Template:Small |
2018 Template:Small |
2019 Template:Small |
2021 Template:Small |
2022 Template:Small |
2023–24 Template:Small |
2024–25 Template:Small |
ACL Elite | ACL Two | Challenge | ||
| 1 | 1 | Template:Same position — | W 1 | Template:Flagicon Saudi Arabia Template:Small | 9.500 | 18.600 | 10.000 | 26.350 | 20.950 | 19.075 | 27.100 | 34.542 | 119.957 | 3+0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 2 | 2 | Template:Same position — | E 1 | Template:Flagicon Japan Template:Small | 10.500 | 21.850 | 13.850 | 21.800 | 17.875 | 20.088 | 21.350 | 27.970 | 107.663 | 3+0 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 3 | 3 | Template:Same position — | E 2 | Template:Flagicon South Korea Template:Small | 20.750 | 9.950 | 18.350 | 13.600 | 22.750 | 15.800 | 22.350 | 14.762 | 90.982 | 2+1 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 4 | 4 | Template:Same position — | W 2 | Template:Flagicon United Arab Emirates Template:Small | 18.000 | 11.350 | 8.100 | 7.633 | 14.400 | 8.083 | 25.500 | 16.400 | 74.466 | 2+1 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 5 | 5 | Template:Same position — | W 3 | Template:Flagicon Qatar Template:Small | 22.000 | 13.400 | 19.850 | 15.900 | 7.300 | 13.500 | 8.100 | 14.701 | 69.326 | 2+1 | 1+0 | 0 |
| 6 | 6 | Template:Same position — | W 4 | Template:Flagicon Iran Template:Small | 13.000 | 16.200 | 18.850 | 11.500 | 14.225 | 13.250 | 9.300 | 13.274 | 68.907 | 1+1 | 1+0 | 0 |
Clubs (2024–25)
| Team | Location | Stadium | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aluminium | Arak | Imam Khomeini | 12,500 |
| Chadormalu | Yazd | Shahid Nasiri | 15,000 |
| Esteghlal | Tehran | Azadi | 78,116 |
| Esteghlal Khuzestan | Ahvaz | Ghadir | 38,900 |
| Foolad | Foolad Arena | 30,655 | |
| Gol Gohar Sirjan | Sirjan | Qassem Soleimani | 8,000 |
| Havadar | Tehran | Shahid Dastgerdi | 8,250 |
| Kheybar | Khorramabad | Takhti | 10,000 |
| Malavan | Bandar-e Anzali | Sirous Ghayeghran | 9,000 |
| Mes Rafsanjan | Rafsanjan | Shohadaye Mes | 10,000 |
| Nassaji Mazandaran | Ghaemshahr | Vatani | 27,700 |
| Persepolis | Tehran | Azadi | 78,116 |
| Sepahan | Isfahan | Naghsh-e-Jahan | 75,000 |
| Shams Azar | Qazvin | Sardar Azadegan | 15,000 |
| Tractor | Tabriz | Yadegar-e Emam | 66,833 |
| Zob Ahan | Fooladshahr | Fooladshahr | 20,000 |
Champions
Persian Gulf Pro League
Total
All-time Pro League table
| 2025–26 Persian Gulf Pro League | |
| 2025–26 Azadegan League | |
| Lower leagues | |
| Defunct teams | |
| Founding members |
Source: iplstats.com
Notes:
Only league matches; play-offs are not included in the all-time table.
Attendances
Average league attendances
| Season | Average | Highest attended club | Club average | Lowest attended club | Club average |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | 9,179 | Esteghlal | 33,467 | Shamoushak Noshahr | 3,542 |
| 2006–07 | 10,119 | 35,000 | Rah Ahan | 4,073 | |
| 2007–08 | 11,235 | Persepolis | 60,000 | 2,647 | |
| 2008–09 | 8,954 | 40,688 | PAS Hamedan | 3,706 | |
| 2009–10 | 12,298 | Tractor | 57,647 | Paykan | 2,313 |
| 2010–11 | 9,383 | 42,000 | 1,941 | ||
| 2011–12 | 9,488 | 39,533 | Mes Sarcheshmeh | 1,706 | |
| 2012–13 | 7,964 | Esteghlal | 34,250 | Rah Ahan | 1,942 |
| 2013–14 | 7,631 | Persepolis | 29,467 | 1,664 | |
| 2014–15 | 6,921<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Tractor | 27,488 | Saba Qom | 1,365 |
| 2015–16 | 8,048<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Persepolis | 47,036 | Naft Tehran | 1,594 |
| 2016–17 | 8,086<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 48,567 | Gostaresh Foulad | 1,018 | |
| 2017–18 | 9,060<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | 39,786 | 817 | ||
| 2018–19 | 12,212<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Tractor | 46,963 | Esteghlal Khuzestan | 1,507 |
| 2019–20 | 8,629 | Persepolis | 27,556 | Machine Sazi | 840 |
| 2020–21 | No spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran<ref name="irna.ir">Template:Cite web</ref> | ||||
| 2021–22 | 10,572 | Esteghlal | 37,400 | Paykan | 100 |
| 2022–23 | 9,515 | Tractor | 33,375 | Havadar | 157 |
| 2023–24 | 10,824 | Esteghlal | 34,150 | 200 | |
| 2024–25 | 8,733 | Tractor | 44,071 | 1,400 | |
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.
Highest attended season matches
| Season | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance | Date | Week | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005–06 | Esteghlal | 4–1 | Bargh Shiraz | 100,000 | Template:Start date | 30 | Azadi |
| 2006–07 | Persepolis | 2–1 | Esteghlal | 95,000 | Template:Start date | 8 | |
| 2007–08 | Sepahan | 110,000 | Template:Start date | 34 | |||
| 2008–09 | 2–0 | Damash | 90,000 | Template:Start date | 8 | ||
| 1–1 | Esteghlal | Template:Start date | 9 | ||||
| Esteghlal | Persepolis | Template:Start date | 26 | ||||
| 2009–10 | Tractor | 0–0 | Moghavemat | 95,000 | Template:Start date | 24 | Sahand |
| 2010–11 | Esteghlal | 1–0 | Persepolis | 100,000 | Template:Start date | 11 | Azadi |
| 2011–12 | Persepolis | 0–2 | Esteghlal | Template:Start date | 7 | ||
| 2012–13 | Esteghlal | 0–0 | Persepolis | Template:Start date | 23 | ||
| 1–2 | Damash | Template:Start date | 34 | ||||
| 2013–14 | 0–0 | Persepolis | Template:Start date | 8 | |||
| 2014–15 | Tractor | 3–3 | Naft Tehran | 80,000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Start date | 30 | Sahand |
| 2015–16 | Persepolis | 4–2 | Esteghlal | 100,000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Start date | 26 | Azadi |
| 2016–17 | 4–0 | Shahr Khodro | 80,000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Start date | 28 | ||
| 2017–18 | Esteghlal | 1–0 | Persepolis | 100,000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Start date | 25 | |
| 2018–19 | Persepolis | 0–0 | Sepahan | 90,000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Start date | 27 | |
| 2019–20 | Tractor | 2–4 | Esteghlal | 80,000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Start date | 9 | Sahand |
| 2020–21 | No spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran<ref name="irna.ir"/> | ||||||
| 2021–22 | Esteghlal | 0–0 | Naft MIS | 85,000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Start date | 30 | Azadi |
| 2022–23 | Tractor | 1–0 | Sepahan | 70,000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Start date | 25 | Sahand |
| Sepahan | 1–1 | Malavan | 70,000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Start date | 27 | Naghsh-e Jahan | |
| 2023–24 | Tractor | 0–1 | Persepolis | 80,000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Start date | 2 | Sahand |
| Tractor | 0–0 | Sepahan | 80,000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Start date | 16 | ||
| 2024–25 | Tractor | 1–1 | Persepolis | 90,000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Start date | 2 | |
| Tractor | 2–1 | Esteghlal | 90,000<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> | Template:Start date | 25 | ||
Records
All-Time Persian Gulf League Top Scorers
| No. | Player | Goals | Apps | GPGR | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Template:Flagicon Reza Enayati | 147 | 358 | 0.41 | 2001–2017 |
| 2 | Template:Flagicon Mehdi Rajabzadeh | 116 | 405 | 0.28 | 2001–2018 |
| 3 | Template:Flagicon Arash Borhani | 115 | 339 | 0.33 | 2002–2017 |
| 4 | Template:Flagicon Chimba | 103 | 330 | 0.31 | 2012–Present |
| 5 | Template:Flagicon Fereydoon Fazli | 85 | 178 | 0.47 | 2001–2010 |
| 6 | Template:Flagicon Édinho | 82 | 182 | 0.45 | 2008–2017 |
| 7 | Template:Flagicon Sajjad Shahbazzadeh | 81 | 334 | 0.24 | 2010–present |
| 8 | Template:Flagicon Jalal Rafkhaei | 79 | 308 | 0.25 | 2005–
2016 |
| 9 | Template:Flagicon Mohammad Reza Khalatbari | 79 | 431 | 0.18 | 2003–2023 |
| 10 | Template:Flagicon Karim Ansarifard | 77 | 182 | 0.42 | 2007–
2014 |
Players in bold are still active in the league.
*GPGR: Goals Per Game Ratio
All-time top appearances in Iran league
| No | Player | Appearance | Years |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Iran Jalal Hosseini | 492<ref name=":0">Template:Cite web</ref> | 2002–2022 |
| 2 | Template:Flagicon Mehdi Rahmati | 482<ref name=":0" /> | 2001–2020 |
| 3 | Template:Flagicon Ebrahim Sadeghi | 438<ref name=":0" /> | 2001–2017 |
| 4 | Template:Flagicon Mohammadreza Khalatbari | 431 | 2003–2023 |
| 5 | Template:Flagicon Mehdi Rajabzadeh | 381<ref name=":0" /> | 2001–2018 |
| 6 | Template:Flagicon Morteza Asadi | 380<ref name=":0" /> | 2005–2018 |
| 7 | Template:Flagicon Amir Hossein Sadeghi | 379<ref name=":0" /> | 2003–2018 |
| 8 | Template:Flagicon Mohsen Bengar | 372<ref name=":0" /> | |
| 9 | Template:Flagicon Khosro Heydari | 370<ref name=":0" /> | 2002–2019 |
| 10 | Template:Flagicon Mohammad Nouri | 369<ref name=":0" /> | 2005–2021 |
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It was announced in 2024 that the image quality will be upgraded to HD in the coming years.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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
Ownership
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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 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.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
See also
- Football in Iran
- Iranian football league system
- League 2
- League 3
- Iranian Super Cup
- Hazfi Cup
- Azadegan League
Notes
References
External links
- Persian Gulf Pro League – official website (archived)
- Persian Gulf Pro League at Soccerway.com
- List of Iran all-time top scorers at RSSSF
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