Ali Daei is an Iranian football manager and former professional footballer. A striker, he was the captain of the Iranian national team between 2000 and 2006. He played in the German Bundesliga for Arminia Bielefeld, Bayern Munich and Hertha Berlin. He is regarded as one of the greatest Iranian footballers of all time as well as one of the greatest footballers from Asia.
Mohammad Ali Karimi is an Iranian football coach and former professional footballer. During his professional football career, he has played as a playmaker in the Iran Pro League, UAE Pro League, Qatar Stars League and Bundesliga. Karimi has scored 38 goals in 127 matches for the Iran national team. In 2004, he was recognized as the best scorer of the AFC Asian Cup and received the Asian Footballer of the Year award in the same year. He announced his retirement at the end of the 2013–14 season and, on 11 April 2014, played the final game of his 18-year career.
Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan Sport Club, commonly known as Sepahan, is an Iranian sports club based in Isfahan. It is best known for their football section that play in the Persian Gulf Pro League, the highest tier of Iranian football league system.
The Persian Gulf Pro League, formerly known as the Iran Premier League, is the top men's professional football division of the Iranian football league system. It is controlled by the FFIRI and is contested by 16 teams over a 30-matchday period.
Esteghlal Football Club (Persian: باشگاه فوتبال استقلال; commonly known as Esteghlal, is an 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. 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.
The Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran is the governing body for football in Iran. It was founded in 1920. The federation has been a member of FIFA since 1948 and a member of the Asian Football Confederation since 1958.
Yahya Golmohammadi is an Iranian former footballer and coach who currently coaches Persian Gulf Pro League club Foolad. He is one of only eleven Iranians to score in a World Cup and he is the oldest player to score on his first World Cup start, doing so for Iran in 2006 against Mexico. His position was usually the central defender. He was a member of Iranian national football team and played most of his career in Persepolis. He previously managed some big clubs in Iran, including: Persepolis, Naft Tehran, Zob Ahan, Tractor Sazi and Padideh.
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.
Mojtaba Jabbari is a retired Iranian football player who played mostly for Esteghlal and the Iranian national team as an attacking midfielder.
Hadi Anvar Aghily is a former Iranian professional footballer who played as a centre-back. Known for his toughness, positioning and intelligent movement, he was nominated for the Asian Player of The Year award twice in 2009 and 2011.
PAS Hamedan Football Club is an Iranian football club based in Hamedan, Iran and compete in the Azadegan League. The club was formed after the dissolution of Pas Tehran in 2007.
Parviz Mazloomi is a former Iranian footballer who is the team manager of the Esteghlal. He played for Esteghlal and Tractor Sazi in the 1970s and 1980s. He also managed many clubs such as Saba Battery, Sanat Naft, Aboumoslem, Mes Kerman and Esteghlal. He was also head coach of Iran B team in 2007 West Asian Football Federation Championship which won the title.
Ehsan Hajsafi, nicknamed the Persian cheetah, is an Iranian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for Greek Super League club AEK Athens and captains the Iran national team.
The use of performance-enhancing drugs in association football occurred over many decades since the 1940s at least. The high amount of money and media attention in this sport causes a lot of pressure, especially for the managers, which is the reason why there are also cases of unusual drug use like cocaine. A famous example is the case of Diego Maradona and his ban from 1990-91 Serie A by using cocaine during a match. Maradona was banned again three years later for using ephedrine during the 1994 FIFA World Cup.
Mohammad Reza Khalatbari is an Iranian former professional footballer. During his professional football career, he has played as an attacking midfielder, Winger and Forward in the Persian Gulf Pro League, UAE Pro League and Qatar Stars League. Khalatbari has scored 5 goals in 60 matches for the Iran national football team.
Mehdi Tartar is an Iranian association football coach and former player who currently manages Gol Gohar in Persian Gulf Pro League.
Omid Ebrahimi is an Iranian footballer who plays for Al-Shamal and Iran’s National Team as a defensive midfielder.
Reza Haghighi is an Iranian footballer who plays as a defender for Sefid Jamegan.
The 2014 Hazfi Cup Final was the 27th final since 1975. The match was between Mes Kerman and Tractor which Tractor won the match 1–0, with Saeid Daghighi scored in the 51st minute. Tractor qualified for the group stage of the 2015 AFC Champions League as the winner of the tournament.
The 2023–24 season is Sepahan's 70th season in existence, and their 43rd consecutive season in the top flight of Iranian football. It is also the club's 23rd consecutive season in the Persian Gulf Pro League. The club will compete in the Persian Gulf Pro League, Hazfi Cup and AFC Champions League.
