Persian Gulf Pro League

Persian Gulf Pro League
لیگ برتر خلیج فارس

Organising body	Football League Organization
Founded	2 November 2001; 23 years ago
Country	Iran
Confederation	AFC
Number of teams	16
Level on pyramid	1
Relegation to	Azadegan League
Domestic cup(s)	Hazfi Cup Iranian Super Cup
International cup(s)	AFC Champions League Elite AFC Champions League Two
Current champions	Persepolis (16th title) (2023–24)
Most championships	Persepolis (16 titles)
Most appearances	Jalal Hosseini (494)
Top goalscorer	Reza Enayati (149 goals)
TV partners	IRIB TV3 IRIB Varzesh Jame Jam TV IRIB Provincial Channels Iraqiya Sports
Website	IranLeague.ir
Current: 2024–25 Persian Gulf Pro League

The Persian Gulf Pro League (Persian: لیگ برتر خلیج فارس, Lig-e Bartar-e Xalij-e Fârs), formerly known as the Iran Premier League (Persian: لیگ برتر ایران, Lig-e bartar-e Irân), 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.

Each year, its top team becomes the Iranian football champion, and the two lowest finishers are relegated to 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

To 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.^[1] After the Iran Pro League was established as the professional football league of Iran, Azadegan League was declared as the second-highest league in the Iranian football league system.^[1] The Iran Pro League comprised 14 clubs until the 2003–04 season.

**Persian Gulf Pro League champions**
Season	Champions	Runners-up
2001–02	Persepolis	Esteghlal
2002–03	Sepahan	PAS Tehran
2003–04	PAS Tehran	Esteghlal
2004–05	Foolad	Zob Ahan
2005–06	Esteghlal	PAS Tehran
2006–07	Saipa	Esteghlal Ahvaz
2007–08	Persepolis	Sepahan
2008–09	Esteghlal	Zob Ahan
2009–10	Sepahan	Zob Ahan
2010–11		Esteghlal
2011–12		Tractor
2012–13	Esteghlal	Tractor
2013–14	Foolad	Persepolis
2014–15	Sepahan	Tractor
2015–16	Esteghlal Khuzestan	Persepolis
2016–17	Persepolis	Esteghlal
2017–18		Zob Ahan
2018–19		Sepahan
2019–20		Esteghlal
2020–21		Sepahan
2021–22	Esteghlal	Persepolis
2022–23	Persepolis	Sepahan
2023–24	Persepolis	Esteghlal

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

On 12 August 2006, the Iranian Football Federation decided to give the league another name.^[2] 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.^[3] 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.

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.^[4]^[5]

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.^[6] 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.^[7] 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

Updated on 7 December 2021.(Source)

Ranking				Member Association	Club Points					100%
2021^[8]	2020^[9]	Mvmt	Region	Member Association	2018^[10]	2019^[11]	2020^[a]	2021^[12]	Total	100%
1	3	+2	1 (W)	Saudi Arabia	10.000	26.350	0.000	20.950	57.300	100.000
2	6	+4	1 (E)	South Korea	18.350	13.600		22.750	54.700	95.462
3	2	–1	2 (E)	Japan	13.850	21.800		17.875	53.525	93.412
4	5	+1	2 (W)	Iran	18.850	11.500		14.225	44.575	77.792
5	4	–1	3 (W)	Qatar	19.850	15.900		7.300	43.050	75.131
6	10	+4	4 (W)	Uzbekistan	9.400	9.000		18.671	37.071	64.696

Clubs (2023–24)

Esteghlal Ahvaz
Esteghlal Khuzestan
Foolad

Aboomoslem
Shahr Khodro
Payam
Siah Jamegan

Gostaresh Foulad
Machine Sazi
Shahrdari Tabriz
Tractor

Greater Tehran

Greater Tehran teams:
Esteghlal
Havadar
Naft Tehran
PAS Tehran
Paykan
Persepolis
Rah Ahan
Saipa
Steel Azin

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Locations of all 45 current and former Persian Gulf Pro League teams

Team	Location	Stadium	Capacity
Aluminium	Arak	Imam Khomeini	12,500
Esteghlal	Tehran	Azadi	78,116
Esteghlal Khuzestan	Ahvaz	Ghadir	38,900
Foolad	Ahvaz	Foolad Arena	30,655
Gol Gohar Sirjan	Sirjan	Qassem Soleimani	8,000
Havadar	Tehran	Shahid Dastgerdi	8,250
Malavan	Bandar-e Anzali	Sirous Ghayeghran	8,000
Mes Rafsanjan	Rafsanjan	Shohadaye Mes	10,000
Nassaji Mazandaran	Ghaemshahr	Vatani	27,700
Paykan	Shahr-e Qods	Shahr-e Qods	18,000
Persepolis	Tehran	Azadi	78,116
Sanat Naft	Abadan	Takhti Abadan	8,000
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

Club	Winners	Runners-up	Winning seasons
Persepolis	9	3	2001–02, 2007–08, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023–24
Sepahan	5	4	2002–03, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15
Esteghlal	4	6	2005–06, 2008–09, 2012–13, 2021–22
Foolad	2	0	2004–05, 2013–14
PAS Tehran	1	2	2003–04
Saipa		0	2006–07
Esteghlal Khuzestan		0	2015–16
Zob Ahan	0	4	–
Tractor		3
Esteghlal Ahvaz		1

Total

Club	Winners	Runners-up	Winning seasons
Persepolis	16	10	1971–72, 1973–74, 1975–76, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2007–08, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023–24
Esteghlal	9	11	1970–71, 1974–75, 1989–90, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2012–13, 2021–22
PAS Tehran	5	5	1976–77, 1977–78, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2003–04
Sepahan	5	4	2002–03, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15
Saipa	3	0	1993–94, 1994–95, 2006–07
Foolad	2	0	2004–05, 2013–14
Esteghlal Khuzestan	1	0	2015–16
Zob Ahan	0	4	–
Tractor		3
Bahman		2
Homa		1
Esteghlal Ahvaz		1

All-time Pro League table

Pos.	Club	Seasons	Matches Played	Wins	Draws	Losses	GF	GA	Goal Difference	Points	1st	2nd	3rd	4th	5th	6th	7th	T4	T7	Debut	Since/Last App.	Relegated	Best Pos.
1	Esteghlal¹	23	702	357	222	123	1035	602	+433	1292	4	6	8	1	1	1	—	19	21	2001–02	2001–02	—	1st
2	Persepolis² ³ ⁴			352	216	134	1002	617	+385	1259	9	3	2	3	2	—	1	17	20			—	1st
3	Sepahan⁵			328	222	152	1024	641	+383	1203	5	4	3	2	3	1		14	19			—	1st
4	Zob Ahan⁶			259	239	204	817	710	+107	1015	—	4	1	3	1	6		8	16			—	2nd
5	Foolad	22	668	248	231	189	739	666	+73	975	2	—	3	1	2	2	4	6	14		2008–09	1	1st
6	Tractor⁷	16	492	207	158	127	632	485	+147	778	—	3	1	5	2	1	1	9	13		2009-10	1	2nd
7	Saipa	20	612	186	217	209	660	701	−41	775	1	—	1	1	—	1	2	3	6		2020–21	1	1st
8	Paykan	19	578	162	188	228	572	694	−122	647	—	—	—	—	1	2	5	—	8		2016–17	4	5th
9	Saba Qom/Saba Battery	13	414	128	159	127	468	459	+9	543	—	—	1	2	—	2	1	3	6	2004–05	2016–17	1	3rd
10	Malavan⁸	15	466	126	157	183	424	542	−118	534	—	—	—	—	—	1	2	—	3	2001–02	2022–23	2	7th
11	Fajr Sepasi	13	398	103	146	149	357	434	−77	455	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	1	1		2013–14	2	4th
12	Rah Ahan	11	354	107	114	133	406	421	-15	435	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—		2015–16	1	8th
13	Sanat Naft	12	372	102	114	156	371	478	−107	420	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	1	2002–03	2016–17	3	7th
14	Mes Kerman	9	294	89	109	96	332	329	+3	376	—	—	1	—	—	1	1	1	3	2006–07	2022–23	1	3rd
15	Naft Tehran	8	252	91	88	73	286	258	+28	361	—	—	2	—	3	—	—	2	5	2010–11	2017–18		3rd
16	Aboomoslem	9	270	83	90	97	296	304	−8	339	—	—	—	1	2	1	—	1	4	2001–02	2009–10		4th
17	Esteghlal Ahvaz	9	274	80	78	116	327	402	−75	318	—	1	—	—	1	—	—		2	2002–03	2015–16	2	2nd
18	Shahr Khodro¹⁵	8	240	74	80	86	218	245	−27	294	—	—	—	1	—	1	—		2	2014–15	2021–22	1	4th
19	PAS Tehran⁹	6	168	72	59	37	263	181	+82	274	1	2	—	1	—	1	—	4	5	2001–02	2006–07	—	1st
20	Bargh	8	236	60	78	98	252	335	−83	258	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	1		2008–09	1	7th
21	Damash/Pegah/Esteghlal Rasht¹⁰	8	248	56	81	111	227	344	−117	248	—	—	—	—	—	—	1	—	1		2013–14	4	7th
22	Esteghlal Khuzestan¹⁶	6	180	45	68	67	174	220	−46	197	1	—	—	—	—	—	1	1	2	2013–14	2023–24	1	1st
23	Gostaresh Foolad	5	150	39	60	51	147	161	−14	177	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2013–14	2017–18	—	8th
24	Gol Gohar	4	120	45	39	36	137	130	+73	174	—	—	—	1	1	1	—	1	3	2019–20	2019–20	—	4th
25	Nassaji	5	150	35	61	54	136	174	−38	166	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2018–19	2018–19	—	9th
26	PAS Hamedan	4	136	38	48	50	143	165	−22	162	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	1	2007–08	2010–11	1	5th
27	Naft Masjed Soleyman	6	180	27	75	78	116	216	−100	156	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2014–15	2022–23	1	8th
28	Mes Rafsanjan	3	90	33	31	26	92	74	+18	130	—	—	—	—	1	1	—	—	2	2020–21	2020–21	—	5th
29	Shahin Bushehr	4	132	27	48	57	124	175	−51	129	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2009–10	2019–20	2	13th
30	Aluminium Arak	3	90	23	45	22	65	71	−6	114	—	—	—	—	—	—	2	—	2	2020–21	2020–21	—	8th
31	Pars Jonoubi Jam	3	90	22	38	30	82	87	−5	104	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	1	2017–18	2019–20	1	5th
32	Machine Sazi	4	120	17	39	64	84	163	−79	90	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2016–17	2020–21	2	11th
33	Steel Azin¹¹	2	68	19	23	26	85	112	−27	80	—	—	—	—	1	—	—	—	1	2009–10	2010–11	1	5th
34	Shamoushak	3	86	16	26	44	66	118	−52	74	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2003–04	2005–06		14th
35	Siah Jamegan	3	90	15	27	48	64	117	−53	72	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2015–16	2017–18		13th
36	Shahrdari Tabriz	2	68	14	29	25	79	98	−19	71	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2010–11	2011–12		12th
37	Havadar		60	15	22	23	42	25	−17	67	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2021–22	2021–22	—	11th
38	Sepidrood		60	11	17	32	48	92	−44	50	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2017–18	2018–19	1	13th
39	Shams Azar¹⁷	1	30	11	9	10	35	35	0	39	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2023–24	2023–24		7th
40	Aluminium Hormozgan		34	7	14	13	26	40	−14	35	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2012-13	2012–13		15th
41	Payam		34	9	8	17	33	52	−19	35	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2008–09	2008–09		16th
42	Mes Sarcheshmeh		34	5	9	20	23	54	−31	24	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2011–12	2011–12		18th
43	Shirin Faraz¹²		34	3	12	19	25	59	−34	21	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2007–08	2007–08		18th
44	Shahid Ghandi¹³		30	4	7	19	21	43	−22	19	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2005–06	2005–06		16th
45	Gahar Zagros¹⁴		34	3	10	21	24	59	−35	19	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2012–13	2012–13		18th

	2023–24 Persian Gulf Pro League
	2023–24 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.
¹ Esteghlal was deducted one point in the 2013–14 season.
² Persepolis was deducted six points in the 2005–06 season.
³ Persepolis was deducted six points in the 2007–08 season.
⁴ Persepolis was deducted one point in the 2013–14 season.
⁵ Sepahan was deducted three points in the 2007–08 season.
⁶ Zob Ahan was deducted one point in the 2005–06 season.
⁷ Tractor was deducted one point in the 2013–14 season.
⁸ Malavan was deducted one point in the 2013–14 season.
⁹ PAS Tehran was deducted one point in the 2006–07 season.
¹⁰ Damash was deducted one point in the 2013–14 season.
¹¹ Steel Azin was formerly known as Ekbatan.
¹² Rahian Kermanshah was formerly known as Shirin Faraz.
¹³ Tarbiat Yazd was formerly known as Shahid Ghandi.
¹⁴ Gahar Zagros was formerly known as Damash Lorestan.
¹⁵ Shahr Khodro was deducted six points in the 2017–18 season.
¹⁶ Esteghlal Khuzestan was deducted six points in the 2018–19 season.
¹⁷ Shams Azar was deducted three points in the 2023–24 season.

Attendances

Average league attendances

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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	Esteghlal	35,000	Rah Ahan	4,073
2007–08	11,235	Persepolis	60,000	Rah Ahan	2,647
2008–09	8,954	Persepolis	40,688	PAS Hamedan	3,706
2009–10	12,298	Tractor	57,647	Paykan	2,313
2010–11	9,383		42,000	Paykan	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	Rah Ahan	1,664
2014–15	6,921^[13]	Tractor	27,488	Saba Qom	1,365
2015–16	8,048^[14]	Persepolis	47,036	Naft Tehran	1,594
2016–17	8,086^[15]		48,567	Gostaresh Foulad	1,018
2017–18	9,060^[16]		39,786	Gostaresh Foulad	817
2018–19	12,212^[17]	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^[18]
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	Havadar	200

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	21 April 2006 (2006-04-21)	30	Azadi
2006–07	Persepolis	2–1	Esteghlal	95,000	3 November 2006 (2006-11-03)	8
2007–08		2–1	Sepahan	110,000	17 May 2008 (2008-05-17)	34
2008–09		2–0	Damash	90,000	25 September 2008 (2008-09-25)	8
		1–1	Esteghlal		3 October 2008 (2008-10-03)	9
	Esteghlal	1–1	Persepolis		13 February 2009 (2009-02-13)	26
2009–10	Tractor	0–0	Moghavemat	95,000	22 January 2010 (2010-01-22)	24	Sahand
2010–11	Esteghlal	1–0	Persepolis	100,000	15 October 2010 (2010-10-15)	11	Azadi
2011–12	Persepolis	0–2	Esteghlal		16 September 2011 (2011-09-16)	7
2012–13	Esteghlal	0–0	Persepolis		25 January 2013 (2013-01-25)	23
2012–13		1–2	Damash		10 May 2013 (2013-05-10)	34
2013–14		0–0	Persepolis		6 September 2013 (2013-09-06)	8
2014–15	Tractor	3–3	Naft Tehran	80,000^[19]	15 May 2015 (2015-05-15)	30	Sahand
2015–16	Persepolis	4–2	Esteghlal	100,000^[20]	15 April 2016 (2016-04-15)	26	Azadi
2016–17	Persepolis	4–0	Shahr Khodro	80,000^[21]	19 April 2017 (2017-04-19)	28
2017–18	Esteghlal	1–0	Persepolis	100,000^[22]	1 March 2018 (2018-03-01)	25
2018–19	Persepolis	0–0	Sepahan	90,000^[23]	26 April 2019 (2019-04-26)	27
2019–20	Tractor	2–4	Esteghlal	80,000^[24]	1 November 2019 (2019-11-01)	9	Sahand
2020–21	No spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran^[25]
2021–22	Esteghlal	0–0	Naft MIS	85,000^[26]	30 May 2022 (2022-05-30)	30	Azadi
2022–23	Tractor	1–0	Sepahan	70,000^[27]	7 April 2023 (2023-04-07)	25	Sahand
2022–23	Sepahan	1–1	Malavan	70,000^[28]	24 April 2023 (2023-04-24)	27	Naghsh-e Jahan
2023–24	Tractor	0–1	Persepolis	80,000^[29]	16 August 2023 (2023-08-16)	2	Sahand
2023–24	Tractor	0–0	Sepahan	80,000^[30]	3 April 2024 (2024-04-03)	16	Sahand

Records

All-Time Persian Gulf League Top Scorers

As of 1 June 2024

No.	Player	Goals	Apps	GPGR	Years
1	Reza Enayati	147	358	0.41	2001- 2017
2	Mehdi Rajabzadeh	116	381	0.30	2001- 2018
3	Arash Borhani	115	339	0.33	2002- 2017
4	Luciano Chimba	115	325	0.35	2012-Present
5	Fereydoon Fazli	85	178	0.47	2001–2010
6	Édinho	82	183	0.44	2008- 2017
7	Jalal Rafkhaei	79	308	0.25	2005- 2016
8	Mohammad Reza Khalatbari	79	428	0.18	2003–2023
9	Karim Ansarifard	77	182	0.42	2007- 2014
10	Mohammad Ghazi	76	340	0.22	2004-Present

Players in bold are still active in the league.

*GPGR: Goals Per Game Ratio

All-time top appearances in Iran league

As of 31 July 2023


No	Player	Appearance	Years
1	Jalal Hosseini	492^[31]	2002–2022
2	Mehdi Rahmati	482^[31]	2001–2020
3	Ebrahim Sadeghi	438^[31]	2001–2017
4	Mohammadreza Khalatbari	428	2003–2023
5	Mehdi Rajabzadeh	381^[31]	2001–2018
6	Morteza Asadi	380^[31]	2005–2018
7	Amir Hossein Sadeghi	379^[31]	2003–2018
8	Mohsen Bengar	372^[31]	2003–2018
9	Khosro Heydari	370^[31]	2002–2019
10	Mohammad Nouri	369^[31]	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.^[32] It was announced in 2024 that the image quality will be upgraded to HD in the coming years.^[33]

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.^[34] 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.^[35]

Notes

^ The 2020 season did not award points for the ranking because of the cancellation of 2020 AFC Cup due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

References

^ ^a ^b "Foundation of the Iran Pro League". iranleague.ir. Archived from the original on 2018-09-10. Retrieved 2017-09-23.
^ "Error" برنامه‌ي كامل دور رفت ششمين دوره‌ي ليگ برتر فوتبال؛ ليگ برتر به "خليج فارس" تغيير نام داد (in Persian). ISNA. Archived from the original on 2012-02-12. Retrieved 2006-08-14.
^ "Iriff.ir" برترين طرح ارائه شده براي ليگ برتر انتخاب شد (in Persian). IRIFF Official Website. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2006-11-24.
^ Hurrey, Adam (18 May 2015). "Iranian side mistakenly celebrate winning the league title". Archived from the original on 2022-01-12 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
^ "Sepahan Wins Iran Professional League - Tasnim News Agency". Archived from the original on 2017-09-20. Retrieved 2017-09-22.
^ "Esteghlal Khuzestan crowned IPL champion, Malavan and Rah Ahan relegated(VIDEO)". Archived from the original on 2018-01-03. Retrieved 2018-01-02.
^ "Persepolis Crowned Champion of Persian Gulf Pro League 2016/17". 19 April 2017. Archived from the original on 20 August 2018. Retrieved 2 January 2018.
^ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking 2021". Archived from the original on 2021-09-02. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
^ "AFC Club Competitions Ranking 2020". Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
^ "AFC Country Points 2018". Archived from the original on 2022-01-18. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
^ "AFC Country Points 2019". Archived from the original on 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
^ "AFC Country Points 2021". Archived from the original on 2022-10-06. Retrieved 2022-06-18.
^ "سازمان لیگ فوتبال ایران". Archived from the original on 2015-05-30.
^ "سازمان لیگ فوتبال ایران". Archived from the original on 2016-06-26.
^ "سازمان لیگ فوتبال ایران". Archived from the original on 2017-06-04.
^ "سازمان لیگ فوتبال ایران". Archived from the original on 2018-06-02.
^ "سازمان لیگ فوتبال ایران". Archived from the original on 2019-05-31.
^ "ورزشگاه آزادی برای برگزاری دیدار بدون تماشاگر آماده است". 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
^ "سازمان لیگ فوتبال ایران". Archived from the original on 2016-05-03.
^ "سازمان لیگ فوتبال ایران". Archived from the original on 2016-07-06.
^ "سازمان لیگ فوتبال ایران". Archived from the original on 2017-06-02.
^ "Fußball: Winfried Schäfer gewinnt prestigeträchtiges Teheran-Derby". Archived from the original on 2018-03-02. Retrieved 2018-03-22.
^ "سازمان لیگ فوتبال ایران". Archived from the original on 2019-06-05.
^ "باخت ناباورانه تراکتور مقابل دیدگان ۸۰ هزار هوادار! / شاهکار استراماچونی در تبریز با هتریک دیاباته". Archived from the original on 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2022-06-01.
^ "ورزشگاه آزادی برای برگزاری دیدار بدون تماشاگر آماده است". 20 November 2020. Archived from the original on 4 April 2023. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
^ "به جای مانده از جشن قهرمانی استقلال؛ اوج بی برنامگی و بی نظمی در آزادی+تصاویر و فیلم". 31 May 2022. Archived from the original on 13 September 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2022.
^ سهند استادیوم در آستانه انفجار! (عکس). Archived from the original on 2023-09-13. Retrieved 2023-05-29.
^ "سپاهان صدر جدول را از دست داد/ ملوان به داد پرسپولیس رسید!". 24 April 2023. Archived from the original on 13 September 2023. Retrieved 29 May 2023.
^ https://www.farsnews.ir/azarbaijan-sharghi/news/14020525000966
^ https://farsnews.ir/farhadfarhadpour/1712166066670358620
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ "مهدی - جلال؛ جنگ سیدها ابدی است!". Varzesh3 (in Persian). 2020-04-10. Archived from the original on 2021-06-15. Retrieved 2021-06-15.
^ "وعده‌های مکرر مسئولان صداوسیما برای بهبود کیفیت تصاویر فوتبال/ تلویزیون و پخش زنده با مخاطبان مظلومی که راه چاره ندارند!". www.khabarvarzeshi.com (in Persian). 2023-04-09. Retrieved 2024-05-24.
^ "واحدهای سیار برای پخش HD لیگ برتر!". ورزش سه (in Persian). Retrieved 2024-05-24.
^ "جام ۲۰ میلیونی لیگ برتر از جنس طلا و کروم!". ورزش سه (in Persian). Retrieved 2024-05-24.
^ kayhanvarzeshi.ir. "مشخصات مدال ها و جام قهرمانی لیگ برتر". fa (in Persian). Retrieved 2024-05-24.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Persian Gulf Pro League.

Persian Gulf Pro League – official website (archived)
Persian Gulf Pro League at Soccerway.com
List of Iran all-time top scorers at RSSSF

v t e Persian Gulf Pro League
2022–23 teams	Aluminium Arak Esteghlal Foolad Gol Gohar Havadar Malavan Mes Kerman Mes Rafsanjan Naft Masjed Soleyman Nassaji Paykan Persepolis Sanat Naft Sepahan Tractor Zob Ahan
Former teams	Aboumoslem Aluminium Hormozgan Bargh Shiraz Damash Esteghlal Ahvaz Esteghlal Rasht Fajr Gahar Zagros Gostaresh Machine Sazi Mes Sarcheshmeh Naft Tehran Pars Jam PAS Hamedan Pas Tehran Payam Mashhad Pegah Gilan Rah Ahan Saba Sepidrood Saipa Siah Jamegan Shahin Bushehr Shahrdari Tabriz Shahr Khodro Shamoushak Shirin Faraz Steel Azin Tarbiat Yazd
Competition	Champions Iranian league system
Statistics and awards	Winning managers Managers Top scorers all-time by season Football Awards
Associated competitions	Hazfi Cup Iranian Super Cup Azadegan League League 2 League 3
List of transfers	summer 2012 winter 2012–13 summer 2013 winter 2013–14 summer 2014 winter 2014–15 summer 2015 winter 2015–16 summer 2016 winter 2016–17 summer 2017 winter 2017–18 summer 2018 winter 2018–19 summer 2019 winter 2019–20 summer 2020 Winter 2020–21 Summer 2021 Winter 2021–22 Summer 2022 Winter 2022–23 Summer 2023

v t e Persian Gulf Pro League seasons
2001–02 2002–03 2003–04 2004–05 2005–06 2006–07 2007–08 2008–09 2009–10 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 2021–22 2022–23 2023–24 2024–25

v t e Football in Iran
League competitions	Persian Gulf Pro League Azadegan League League 2 League 3 Provincial Leagues Ardabil Provincial League Bushehr Province League East Azarbaijan Province League Gilan Province League Golestan Province League Khuzestan Premier League Tehran Province League Kowsar league (women's) Futsal Beach soccer
Cup competitions	Hazfi Cup Super Cup
Defunct competitions	Takht Jamshid Cup
National teams	Men's B-team Women's M U-23 M U-20 W U-20 M U-17 W U-17 M Futsal W Futsal M U-20 Futsal M Beach
Lists and categories	League system Champions List of clubs List of venues Managers List of managers League winners Cup winners football award winners List of highest payments Top goalscorers all-time by season Clubs in the AFC Champions League
Records List of clubs List of venues International players Men Women

v t e Iranian football league champions
16 titles	Persepolis 1971–72, 1973–74, 1975–76, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2007–08, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023–24
9 titles	Esteghlal 1970–71, 1974–75, 1989–90, 1997–98, 2000–01, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2012–13, 2021–22
5 titles	Pas Tehran 1976–77, 1977–78, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2003–04 Sepahan 2002–03, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15
3 titles	Saipa 1993–94, 1994–95, 2006–07
2 titles	Foolad 2004–05, 2013–14
1 title	Esteghlal Khuzestan 2015–16

v t e Top-level football leagues of Asia (AFC)
Current	Afghanistan Australia Bahrain Bangladesh Bhutan Brunei Cambodia China East Timor Guam Hong Kong India Indonesia Iran Iraq Japan Jordan Kuwait Kyrgyzstan Laos Lebanon Macau Malaysia Maldives Mongolia Myanmar Nepal North Korea Northern Mariana Islands^† Oman Pakistan Palestine Gaza Strip West Bank Philippines Qatar Saudi Arabia Singapore South Korea Sri Lanka Syria Taiwan Tajikistan Thailand Turkmenistan United Arab Emirates Uzbekistan Vietnam Yemen
Defunct	North Vietnam South Vietnam South Yemen
^† Associated members

v t e Iranian Sport leagues
Basketball	Men Super League 1st Division Women Super League 1st Division
Football	Men Pro League Azadegan League 2nd Division 3rd Division Provincial Leagues Women Pro League 1st Division
Futsal	Men Super League 1st Division 2nd Division Women Premier League
Handball	Men Super League 1st Division Women Premier League
Volleyball	Men Super League 1st Division Women Super League
Water polo	Super League
Wrestling	Premier League

v t e Persian Gulf region (Iran and Arab states of the Persian Gulf)
Persian Gulf naming dispute
Geography	Arabian Peninsula Arabian-Persian Gulf Coastal Plain Desert Arabian plate Arabian Sea Bahmanshir Clarence Strait (Iran) Dez River Diyala River Eurasian plate Gulf of Bahrain Gulf of Oman Gulf of Oman desert and semi-desert Gulf of Salwah Karun Khersan River Haffar Indian Ocean Iranian plate Makran Trench Mesopotamian Marshes Persian Gulf Basin Persis Shadegan Ponds Shatt al-Arab South Iran Nubo–Sindian desert and semi-desert Strait of Hormuz Tigris–Euphrates river system Zagros fold and thrust belt
Places	Al Khaleej Road Ferdowsi Gas Field Fort Nossa Senhora da Conceição Harireh Mangrove forests of Qeshm Persian Gulf Airport Persian Gulf Bridge Persian Gulf Complex Persian Gulf Highway Persian Gulf Residential Complex South Pars/North Dome Gas-Condensate field
Islands	List of islands in the Persian Gulf Bahrain Al Dar Island Amwaj Islands Bahrain Island Diyar Al Muharraq Hawar Islands Jidda Island Muharraq Island Nabih Saleh Sitra Umm an Nasan Umm as Sabaan Iran Abadan Island Abu Musa Buneh Island Dara Island Farsi Island Greater and Lesser Tunbs Hendurabi Island Hengam Island Hormuz Island Jazireh-ye Shif Kharg Island Kish Island Larak Island Lavan Island Minu Island Naaz islands Nakhiloo Island Ommolkorm Island Qeshm Island Shidvar Island Sirri Island Kuwait Bubiyan Island Failaka Island Kubbar Island Miskan Island Qaruh Island Umm al Maradim Island Umm an Namil Island Warbah Island Oman Quoin Island (Persian Gulf) Saudi Arabia Arabi Island Tarout Island United Arab Emirates Abu al Abyad Al-Aryam Island Al Futaisi Al Lulu Island Al Maryah Island Al Reem Island Bluewaters Island Burj Al Arab Dalma Das Island Dubai Islands Jazirat Badiyah Marawah Island Marsa Al Arab Palm Jebel Ali Palm Jumeirah Saadiyat Island Sir Abu Nu'ayr Sir Bani Yas The World (archipelago) Yas Island Zirku Island
Ports	Khasab Liyan Bahraini ports Mina Salman Iranian ports Arvandkenar Bandar Abbas Bandar Deylam Bandar-e Emam Khomeyni Bandar Khamir Bandar Lengeh Bandar-e Mahshahr Bandar Siraf Bushehr Chabahar Port Dargahan Jask Kish Laft Port Emam Khomeyni Qeshm Suza Iraqi ports Abu Flous Port Al Başrah Oil Terminal Al-Faw Khor Al Amaya Oil Terminal Qatar ports Hamad Port Saudi ports King Abdul Aziz Port Tanajib Emirati ports Al Hamriya Port Khor Fakkan Port of Jebel Ali Port Saeed
History of region	Achaemenid inscription in the Kharg Island Portuguese conquest of Hormuz Ottoman campaign against Hormuz Siege of Bahrain Anglo-Persian capture of Hormuz Action of 1 February 1625 Battle off Hormuz (1625) 1717 Omani invasion of Bahrain Afsharid conquests in the Persian Gulf and Oman Persian Gulf Residency Bani Utbah invasion of Bahrain Persian Gulf campaign of 1809 Senior Naval Officer, Persian Gulf Persian Gulf campaign of 1819 General Maritime Treaty of 1820 Persian Corridor Persian Gulf Command Joint Operation Arvand Seizure of Abu Musa and the Greater and Lesser Tunbs 1974–75 Shatt al-Arab conflict Iran–Iraq War Tanker war Operation Earnest Will Bridgeton incident Gulf War Gulf War oil spill Draining of the Mesopotamian Marshes 2007 Iranian arrest of Royal Navy personnel 2011–2012 Strait of Hormuz dispute 2016 U.S.–Iran naval incident May 2019 Gulf of Oman incident June 2019 Gulf of Oman incident 2019 Iranian shoot-down of American drone Territorial disputes in the Persian Gulf
Sports	Al-Khaleej FC Arab Gulf Cup Football Federation Arabian Gulf Cup Arabian Gulf Rugby Football Union Arabian Gulf rugby sevens team Arabian Gulf rugby union team GCC Club Cup GCC Futsal Cup Khor Fakkan Club Persian Gulf Pro League UAE League Cup UAE Pro League UAE Pro League Committee UAE Super Cup
Organizations	Airlines Gulf Air Gulf Aviation Gulf Traveller Kish Air Qeshm Air SaudiGulf Airlines Akhbar Al Khaleej Al Khaleej (newspaper) Arabian Gulf Oil Company Arabian Gulf University Dar Al Khaleej Gulf Cooperation Council Gulf Daily News Gulf Medical University Gulf News Gulf Today Gulf University, Bahrain Gulf University for Science and Technology Gulftainer Khaleej Times Khaleeji Commercial Bank Organisation of Islamic Cooperation Persian Gulf International Education Center Persian Gulf Online Organization Persian Gulf Studies Center Persian Gulf University Sharmin and Bijan Mossavar-Rahmani Center for Iran and Persian Gulf Studies
Wildlife	Arabian carpetshark Arecaceae Avicennia marina Blacktip tope Booted warbler Cheekspot blenny Collared kingfisher Dugong Greater flamingo Greater lizardfish Hawksbill sea turtle Humpback whale Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin Minke whale Omura's whale Orca Pita skate Porites nodifera Rhizophora mucronata Slender whiting Smoothtooth blacktip shark Xenisthmus balius
Related	2010 Islamic Solidarity Games Arabization Bandar (port) Bandari music Christianity in Eastern Arabia Culture of Eastern Arabia Gargee'an Eastern Arabian cuisine Environmental impact of the Gulf wars Gulf and Kuwait Medal Gulf Arabic Bahraini Gulf Arabic Bahrani Arabic Kuwaiti Arabic Gulf Medal Gulf rupee Gulf War syndrome Habbān Iran Historical Sovereignty over the Tunbs and BuMusa Islands IRIS Khalij-e Fars Khaleeji (currency) Khalij (album) Khaliji (music) Kuwaiti Persian List of Gulf War military equipment Map of Iran in Afsharid Era Media coverage of the Gulf War Ney-anbān Organization of United States Naval Aviation Units in the Gulf War Persian Gulf (horse) Persian Gulf (missile) Persian Gulf Inferno Persian Gulf National Day Persian Gulf Veterans National Medal Piracy in the Persian Gulf Project Loghman Rationale for the Gulf War The National (Abu Dhabi)
Bahrain Iran Iraq Kuwait Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia United Arab Emirates

History

Persian Gulf Cup

Persian Gulf Pro League

Format

Logo

Ranking

Clubs (2023–24)

Champions

All-time Pro League table

Attendances

Average league attendances

Highest attended season matches

Records

All-Time Persian Gulf League Top Scorers

All-time top appearances in Iran league

Broadcasting and sponsorship

Broadcasting

Sponsorship

Ownership

Awards

Trophy

See also

Notes

References

External links