Esteghlal Football Club (استقلال ; commonly known as Esteghlal, is the oldest Iranian professional football club based in Tehran that competes in the Persian Gulf Pro League. The club was founded in 1945 as 'The Cyclists' and was known as Tâj between 1949 and 1979. This club is also known as the giant of Asia. AFC has given this title to this great club. The club is part of the multisport club Esteghlal Athletic and Cultural Company of Iran They were the first team to reach 1,000 points in Persian Gulf Pro League.
Nasser Hejazi, nicknamed "the legendary Iranian goalkeeper", was an Iranian football player and coach who most notably played for Esteghlal (Taj).
Khodadad Azizi is an Iranian football coach and former player who played as a striker.
Persepolis Football Club is an Iranian professional football club based in Tehran that competes in the Persian Gulf Pro League. Persepolis F.C. is the football club of the multisport Persepolis Athletic and Cultural Club. The club was owned by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports until April 2024 when, due to Asian Football Confederation licensing regulations, an 85% majority ownership stake was transferred to a consortium of six Iranian banks. Ten percent of the club's share is publicly available on the Tehran Stock Exchange.
Ruy Ramos, formerly Ruy Gonçalves Ramos Sobrinho until he obtained Japanese citizenship, is a former football player and manager, originally from Brazil, who spent his career in Japan and played for the Japan national team as a midfielder. Ramos is currently active as a television personality and tarento, represented with Irving.
Ahmadreza Abedzadeh is an Iranian former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He played for Esteghlal, Sepahan, Persepolis and the Iranian national team. He made 78 appearances for Iran, and played for his country at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
Hamid Reza Estili is an Iranian football coach and former player. Estili was a member of the Iran national team and is mostly remembered for his memorable goal and goal celebration against the United States at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
Winfried "Winnie" Schäfer is a German football manager and former player.
Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh is an Iranian football coach and former player. A centre-back, he played for many teams like Esteghlal, Foolad, Saba Qom, Erzurumspor, Estehglal Khuzestan and the Iran national team. He is the current interim manager of Esteghlal.
Javad Zarincheh is a former Iranian football player, coach and a football administrator. He is currently team manager of Esteghlal. He played for the Iran national football team and was a participant at the 1998 FIFA World Cup.
Alireza Mansourian is an Iranian football coach and retired player.
Ardeshir "Amir" Ghalenoei is an Iranian football coach and former player who currently manages Iran national football team. He has been the most successful coach in the Iran Pro League and managed several clubs, including Esteghlal, Mes Kerman, Sepahan S.C. and Tractor, with two of which he won a total of five championships and two Hazfi Cup titles. He was also the head coach of Iran national football team from August 2006 to July 2007 where he managed the team for the 2007 AFC Asian Cup where Iran was eliminated in the quarter-finals.
Farhad Majidi is an Iranian football coach and former player who most recently managed Al-Ittihad Kalba.
Seyed Jalal Talebi is a retired Iranian football player and manager.
Farshad Pious is an Iranian retired footballer who played as a forward for a number of clubs in Iran, most notably Persepolis, as well as the Iran national team. He is regarded as one of the best players in the history of Iranian football. He helped Persepolis win their only ever Asian Cup Winners' Cup in 1991 and also led them to a runners-up finish the following year. Pious was named the Iranian Football League top scorer on seven occasions. He is also Persepolis' greatest ever scorer with 153 goals in 211 games.
Mansour Pourheidari was an Iranian football player, coach and manager.
Firouz Karimi is an Iranian football coach and former player.
Mohammad Mayeli Kohan is an Iranian football coach and former player. He recently managed Malavan in Azadegan League.
The Iran national beach soccer team represents Iran in international beach soccer competitions and is controlled by the IFF, the governing body for football in Iran.
Behzad Dadashzadeh, born June 22, 1971, is a retired Iranian football player and now manager. He was a midfielder for a number of clubs, most notably Persepolis F.C. and Esteghlal F.C. as well as the Iran national football team.
