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Foolad F.C.

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Foolad Khuzestan Football Club (, Bāshgāh-e Futbāl-e Fulād-e Khuzestān) is an Iranian professional football club based in Ahvaz, Khuzestan, that plays in Persian Gulf Pro League.[1] The club was founded in 1971 and is owned by Foolad Khuzestan Company.

Foolad
فولاد
Full nameFoolad Khuzestan Football Club
Nickname(s)Foolad Mardaan (Men of Steel)
Founded2 March 1971; 53 years ago (1971-03-02)
GroundFoolad Arena
Capacity30,655
OwnerFoolad Khuzestan Company
ChairmanHoushang Nasirzadeh
Head CoachYahya Golmohammadi
LeaguePersian Gulf Pro League
2023–24Persian Gulf Pro League, 11th
Websitehttp://www.fooladfc.ir/
Current season

The club has won Iran Pro League twice, including a championship in the lower division, Azadegan League. In the 2004–05 season, Foolad became the champion of the fourth newly founded Iran Pro League (IPL), gaining a total of 64 points over 30 league matches. After several seasons, Foolad lost many of its key players through transfers and internal problems and also displayed a poor performance in the 2006 AFC Champions League. The club was subsequently relegated to the Azadegan League, second highest division in Iran at the end of 2006–07. However, Foolad was able to return to the IPL starting from the next season, 2008–09 Iran Pro League. Foolad won its second championship in 2013–14 season. The club also won their first Hazfi Cup title in the 2020–21 season.

Foolad's home kit is red and yellow shirts, with the same color for shorts, accompanied by red socks. The colors used in clothing are derived from the symbol of the club.[2]

Club history

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Establishment and first years (1971–1995)

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Foolad Khuzestan Football Club was founded on 2 March 1971 in Ahwaz, Iran by at that time, President of the Foolad Khuzestan Company Ali Akbar Davar. Foolad was a team that no one knew anything about until the dissolution of Jonoub Ahwaz in 1996. Foolad won the Ahwaz City Championship in 1991 and entered the 2nd division of the Khuzestan football league two years later. Foolad won the first group in its debut season and was promoted to the Ahwaz's first league which they won in their debut season as well. This meant they would be promoted to the Khuzestan Provincial Leagues.

Road to the Highest Division (1995–2001)

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In 1995, which was Foolad's second year in the Khuzestan's Second Division, they became provincial champions. That same year Jonoub Ahvaz, was contracted and Foolad took their place in Iran Football's 2nd Division. In 1996, with Homayoun Shahrokhinejad as manager, the team was promoted to the 1st division.

Frančić era (2004–2006)

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The team was eventually bought by the Ahwaz Steel Mill. The team was finally able to win the IPL in the 2004–05 season but due to some ensuing internal problems and coaching difficulties could not perform well in the 2006 Asian Champions League.

ACL and relegation (2006–2007)

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After a mediocre 2005–06, Foolad started the 2006–07 season with former Iranian national team coach Mohammad Mayeli Kohan, but he resigned halfway through the season as Foolad had achieved poor results. Youth club coach Nenad Nikolić temporarily replaced him and soon after Portuguese manager Augusto Inácio was named head coach. Foolad went through a terrible 2006–07 season finishing 15th and being relegated to the lower Azadegan League.

Return to First Division and Jalali years (2007–2012)

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Foolad start the 2007–08 season at Azadegan League and won the playoff spot despite their strong leadership until the last weeks. In the playoff, they drew with Payam Mashhad in a two-leg matches and missed the promotion via away goal. A few weeks later they bought the right to play in Persian Gulf Cup from Sepahan Novin and promoted to IPL. Then Majid Jalali was announced as the club's head coach with signing a three years contract where they had an average season with ending the season in the 7th place.

On September 1, 2009, Seifollah Dehkordi was elected as the club's president after previous president Masoud Rezaeian resigned from his position. After the election of Dehkordi, Majid Jalali left the club despite good results. Luka Bonačić was named as Jalali's successor but he could not please the club as he was not able to win a single match in first eight weeks and the club decided to bring Majid Jalali back where they finished the league 10th. At the Jalali's final year as Foolad manager, the club ended the season at the 14th place, the worst since their promotion back to the league.

League success under Faraki (2012–2014)

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Foolad players celebrating winning their second IPL title in 2014

After Jalali's contract was not renewed, Naft Tehran manager Hossein Faraki was named as the club's new head coach. He led Foolad to the 4th rank in his first season as the club's manager, gaining an AFC Champions League spot for the second time in the Foolad's history. In the 2013–14 Iran Pro League season, Faraki led the club to their second Iran Pro League title, his team finished with 57 points. They finished 2 points clear of second place Persepolis. Five days later, Foolad advanced to the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League for the first time after they defeated El-Jaish of Qatar. Foolad lost to Al Sadd on away goals.

On 23 May 2014, Faraki resigned as the manager of the club, due to knee problems, despite two good seasons with Foolad. Dragan Skočić was named as his successor.

Reserve team

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Main article: Foolad Novin F.C.
See also: Foolad Yazd F.C.

Foolad Novin is the reserve side of Foolad. In 2014 they were promoted to the Azadegan League for the second time in their history. Foolad Yazd is not Foolad's reserve team, but is a feeder club, they also compete in the Azadegan League.

Youth academy

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Main article: Foolad Youth Academy

In April 1999, Foolad formed a youth academy.

Kit

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Three Foolad players (Arash Afshin, Bakhtiar Rahmani and Chimba) wear the shirts for 2012–13 season

The name and symbol of the club adapted from its founder and owner company, Foolad. Its symbol means that is related to steel production process. The club's logo repeatedly changed but the overall layout is preserved. After Foolad's league title in 2006, club added a golden star above the team logo etched into the club's shirt, but this was not accepted by the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation. So there is not any star on the club's official logo.

Foolad began playing in red, yellow and black, but then changed the yellow to white since 1999. The kit has been made by Nike until 2002. Then Merooj and Daei Sport were the club's kit manufacturers. Uhlsport is the current kit manufacturers, made the kits from past four years. The club currently doesn't have any official sponsor as the club's company name is inserted on the shirts.

Years Manufacturers Sponsors
2001–02 Daei None
2002–03
2003–04 O'GENERAL
2004–05 None
2005–06
2006–07 Tefal*
2007–08 None
2008–09 Merooj

Jundishapur University

2009–10 Daei None
2010–11
2011–12 uhlsport
2012–13
2013–14 KSC
2014–15
2015–16
2016–17
2017–18
2018–19
2019–20
2020–21 Merooj Tak Makaron
2021–22 Merooj KSC
2022–23 Merooj KSC
  •  – Tefal was the sponsor of the team in only some matches not full season.

Rivals

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The team competes in Ahvaz derby against Esteghlal Khuzestan which is a new born club. The first time the teams met each other was in season 2013–14 which Esteghlal Khuzestan lost that game.

Players

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First-team squad

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As of 18 September 2024

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   UZB Utkir Yusupov
2 DF   IRN Mojtaba Najjarian
3 FW   IRN Sasan Ansari (Captain)
5 DF   MLI Moussa Coulibaly
6 DF   IRN Ali Nemati
7 FW   IRN Mohammad Javad Mohammadi
8 MF   IRN Hamid Bou Hamdan
9 MF   IRN Ehsan Pahlevan
10 MF   IRN Sina Moridi
11 FW   IRN Mohammad Reza Soleimani
14 MF   IRN Mohammad Abbasi
17 MF   IRN Amirmasoud Sarabadani
18 MF   IRN Ali Kolahkaj
19 DF   IRN Mohammad Khademi Monfared
22 GK   IRN Alireza Nazi
No. Pos. Nation Player
23 MF   IRN Shahin Tavakoli
24 DF   IRN Behnam Teymourian
26 DF   IRN Mohammadali Kazemi
27 MF   IRN Ali Asghar Aarabi
29 FW   BRA Chimba (Vice Captain)
30 DF   IRN Arash Akbarzadeh
33 DF   IRN Amirhossein Neshatjoo
44 DF   IRN Ali Hassani
49 GK   IRN Adib Zarei
66 MF   IRN Amin Saedi
70 MF   IRN Yousef Mazrae
77 MF   IRN Mohammadreza Keshavarzi
79 MF   IRN Sina Asadbeigi
83 MF   IRN Amin Moradi
84 GK   IRN Hossein Kazeminia
88 MF   IRN Alireza BaviehU23
90 MF   IRN Mohammad Askari
99 FW   IRN Amin Ghaseminejad

For recent transfers, see List of Iranian football transfers summer 2023.

Out on loan

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— DF   IRN Sina Shahabbasi (at Fajr Sepasi until 30 June 2025)

Notable players

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Players on international cups

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Personnel

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Current technical staff

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See also: List of Foolad F.C. managers
Name Position
Head Coach   Juan Ignacio Martínez
Assistant coaches   Mohammad Khoramgah
  Hossein Kazemi
  Ahmad Aleneme
Goalkeeping coaches   Nader Ghobeishavi
Athletic coach   Alireza Ahmedaei
Fitness coach   Mehrdad Bakhtiyarzadeh
Team doctor   Akbar Moradi
Physiotherapist   Payam Ahmadi
Masseurs   Behnam Taghizadeh
  Iman Saeedi
Media officer   Soheil Ehyaei
Team manager   Mohammad Alavi

Management

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Position Staff
President Hamidreza Shabani
Board of Directors Habibollah Rezaei
Board of Directors Hamidreza Radkia
Board of Directors Mohammad Rouzbehani
Board of Directors Omid Ahmadi

Recent seasons

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The table below chronicles the achievements of Foolad in various competitions since 1990.

Year Division Position Hazfi Cup ACL
1990–91 Ahwaz city league 1 1st Not held did not qualify
1991–92 Provincial league 3 7th
1992–93 Provincial league 3 1st
1993–94 Provincial league 2 1st
1994–95 Provincial league 1 1st
1995–96 Iran 2nd Division 7th
1996–97 Iran 2nd Division 2rd
1997–98 Azadegan League 10th
1998–99 Azadegan League 7th
1999–00 Azadegan League 10th
2000–01 Azadegan League 8th 1/8 Final
2001–02 Pro League 3rd Quarter-final
2002–03 Pro League 7th 1/8 Final
2003–04 Pro League 3rd 1/8 Final
2004–05 Pro League 1st 1/16 Final
2005–06 Pro League 8th 1/16 Final Group Stage
2006–07 Pro League 15th 1/8 Final did not qualify
2007–08 Azadegan League 1st Semi-final
2008–09 Pro League 7th Quarter-final
2009–10 Pro League 10th 1/16 Final
2010–11 Pro League 6th Semi-final
2011–12 Pro League 14th Quarter-final
2012–13 Pro League 4th 1/16 Final
2013–14 Pro League 1st Semi-final Round of 16
2014–15 Pro League 5th Round of 32 Group Stage
2015–16 Pro League 12th Round of 16 did not qualify
2016–17 Pro League 10th Round of 16
2017–18 Pro League 7th Round of 32
2018–19 Pro League 8th Round of 8
2019–20 Pro League 3rd Round of 32
2020–21 Pro League 6th Champions Group Stage
2021–22 Pro League 5th Round of 16 Round of 16
2022–23 Pro League 7th Round of 16 Quarter-final

Stadium information

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Main article: Foolad Arena
See also: Ghadir Stadium
 
Foolad Arena

The club plays their home games at the newly built 30,655-seat Foolad Arena in northern Ahvaz since 2019. Before this, the club played originally at the Takhti Stadium until 2012 and Ghadir Stadium from 2012 until 2019.

Honours

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Domestic

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Records and statistics

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All Top scorers

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As of 14 NOVEMBER 2023

# Name Goals Position
1 Luciano Pereira 76 Forward
2 Sasan Ansari 46 Forward
3 Reza Norouzi 36 Forward
4 Bakhtiar Rahmani 30 Midfielder
5 Arash Afshin 29 Forward
6 Iman Mobali 26 Midfielder
7 Esmaeil Sharifat 24 Midfielder
8 Behnam Seraj 21 Forward
9 Ahmad Momenzadeh 18 Forward
10 Ayanda Patosi 18 Midfielder

All Top Appearances

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# Name Apps Position
1 Sasan Ansari 287 Forward
2 Ayoub Vali 253 Defender
3 Bakhtiar Rahmani 209 Midfielder
4 Luciano Pereira 208 Forward
5 Esmaeil Sharifat 191 Winger
6 Ebrahim Mirzapour 179 Goalkeeper
7 Mehrdad Jama'ati 174 Left back
8 Abdollah Karami 160 Defender
9 Ahmad Abdollahzadeh 155 Midfielder
10 Mohammad Abshak 134 Defensive midfielder
Arash Afshin 134 Striker

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Team info – Foolad F.C. Khuzestan". us.Soccerway.com. Archived from the original on 17 February 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  2. ^ "خبرگزاری مشرق". mashreghnews.ir. Archived from the original on 2013-06-07. Retrieved 2013-05-14.
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