The 2013–14 Persian Gulf Cup (also known as Iran Pro League) was the 31st season of Iran's Football League and 13th as Iran Pro League since its establishment in 2001. Esteghlal were the defending champions. The season featured 14 teams from the 2012–13 Persian Gulf Cup and two new teams promoted from the 2012–13 Azadegan League: Esteghlal Khuzestan and Gostaresh both as champions. The league started on 24 July 2013 and ended on 11 April 2014. Foolad won the Pro League title for the second time in their history (total second Iranian title). Tractor Sazi's Karim Ansarifard's was the top scorer with 14 goals.
 | |
| Season | 2013–14 |
|---|---|
| Champions | Foolad 2nd Pro League title 2nd Iranian title |
| Relegated | Fajr Sepasi Damash Mes Kerman |
| Champions League | Foolad Persepolis Naft Tehran Tractor Sazi (Hazfi Cup champions) |
| Matches played | 240 |
| Goals scored | 504 (2.1 per match) |
| Top goalscorer | Karim Ansarifard (14 goals) |
| Best goalkeeper | Nilson Corrêa Júnior (18 clean sheets) |
| Biggest home win | Gostaresh 5–0 Rah Ahan (11 January 2014) |
| Biggest away win | Mes Kerman 0–6 Persepolis (13 December 2013) |
| Highest scoring | Fajr Sepasi 2–4 Esteghlal (6 August 2013) Zob Ahan 2–4 Tractor Sazi (6 August 2013) Esteghlal Khuzestan 2–4 Naft Tehran (16 August 2013) Damash 5–1 Zob Ahan (24 October 2013) Mes Kerman 0–6 Persepolis (13 December 2013) Saipa 3–3 Tractor Sazi (11 January 2014) Malavan 4–2 Esteghlal (19 February 2014) |
| Longest winning run | 5 matches Esteghlal Foolad Malavan |
| Longest unbeaten run | 17 matches Esteghlal |
| Longest winless run | 15 matches Mes Kerman |
| Longest losing run | 6 matches Damash |
| Highest attendance | 100,000 Esteghlal – Persepolis (6 September 2013) |
| Lowest attendance | 0 (spectator ban) Sepahan – Foolad (25 July 2013) Rah Ahan – Saipa (5 December 2013) Foolad – Saba Qom (13 December 2013) |
| Total attendance | 1,815,825 |
| Average attendance | 7,631 |
← 2012–13 2014–15 → | |
Changes edit
Number of the teams edit
2013–14 Iran Pro League were the first season since 2006 that 16 teams participated in the competition. In the previous season, 18 teams participated in the league.
Rules and regulations edit
The Iranian football clubs who participate in 2013–14 Iran Pro League were allowed to have up to maximum 38 players (including up to maximum 4 non-Iranian players) in their player lists, which will be categorized in the following groups:[1]
- Up to maximum 21 adult (without any age limit) players
- Up to maximum 9 under-23 players (i.e. the player whose birth is after 21 March 1990).
- Up to maximum 5 under-21 players (i.e. the player whose birth is after 1 January 1993).
- Up to maximum 3 under-19 players (i.e. the player whose birth is after 1 January 1995).
Teams edit
Stadia and locations edit
Locations of clubs in 2013–14 Iran Pro League
| Team | City | Venue | Capacity |
|---|---|---|---|
| Damash Gilan | Rasht | Dr. Azodi | 11,000 |
| Esteghlal | Tehran | Azadi | 84,412 |
| Esteghlal Khuzestan | Ahvaz | Ghadir Takhti Ahvaz |
38,900 15,000 |
| Fajr Sepasi | Shiraz | Hafezieh | 14,000 |
| Foolad Khuzestan | Ahvaz | Ghadir | 38,900 |
| Gostaresh | Tabriz | Sahand Gostaresh Foolad |
66,833 12,000 |
| Malavan | Anzali | Takhti Anzali | 8,000 |
| Mes Kerman | Kerman | Shahid Bahonar | 15,430 |
| Naft Tehran | Tehran | Takhti Tehran Dastgerdi |
30,122 8,250 |
| Persepolis | Tehran | Azadi | 84,412 |
| Rah Ahan | Tehran | Takhti Tehran Rah Ahan |
30,122 12,000 |
| Saba Qom | Qom | Yadegar Emam | 10,610 |
| Saipa | Karaj | Enghelab Karaj | 15,000 |
| Sepahan | Esfahan | Foolad Shahr | 15,000 |
| Tractor Sazi | Tabriz | Sahand | 66,833 |
| Zob Ahan | Esfahan | Foolad Shahr | 15,000 |
Number of teams by region edit
| Region | Number of teams | Teams | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tehran | 4 | Esteghlal, Naft Tehran, Persepolis, Rah Ahan |
| 2 | Khuzestan | 2 | Esteghlal Khuzestan, Foolad |
| 3 | East Azerbaijan | 2 | Gostaresh, Tractor Sazi |
| 4 | Esfahan | 2 | Sepahan, Zob Ahan |
| 5 | Gilan | 2 | Damash, Malavan |
| 6 | Kerman | 1 | Mes Kerman |
| 7 | Qom | 1 | Saba Qom |
| 8 | Alborz | 1 | Saipa |
| 9 | Fars | 1 | Fajr |
Personnel and kits edit
This section needs expansion with: – Prose containing any permanent captain changes. You can help by adding to it. (May 2012) |
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Managerial changes edit
Before the start of the season edit
| Team | Outgoing head coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming head coach | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Persepolis |  Yahya Golmohammadi
|
End of caretaker spell | 11 May 2013 | Pre-season | Ali Daei
|
1 June 2013 |
| Saipa | Mojtaba Taghavi
|
End of contract | 11 May 2013 |  Engin Firat
|
1 June 2013 | |
| Malavan | Mohammad Ahmadzadeh
|
Sacked | 26 May 2013 |  Dragan Skočić
|
1 June 2013 | |
| Naft Tehran | Mansour Ebrahimzadeh
|
Mutual consent | 31 May 2013 | Yahya Golmohammadi
|
1 June 2013 | |
| Rah Ahan | Ali Daei
|
Signed by Persepolis | 31 May 2013 | Mansour Ebrahimzadeh
|
1 June 2013 | |
| Fajr Sepasi | Mahmoud Yavari
|
Resigned | 31 May 2013 | Gholam Peyrovani
|
1 June 2013 | |
| Saba Qom | Samad Marfavi
|
End of contract | 31 May 2013 | Mohammad Mayeli Kohan
|
1 June 2013 | |
| Mes Kerman | Luka Bonačić
|
Sacked | 2 June 2013 | Mahmoud Yavari
|
25 July 2013 | |
| Zob Ahan | Farhad Kazemi
|
End of contract | 25 June 2013 | Luka Bonačić
|
30 June 2013 |
During the season edit
| Team | Outgoing head coach | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming head coach | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fajr Sepasi | Gholam Peyrovani
|
Resigned | 7 September 2013 | 15th | Mahmoud Yavari
|
15 September 2013 |
| Mes Kerman | Mahmoud Yavari
|
14 September 2013 | 16th | Parviz Mazloomi
|
18 September 2013 | |
| Saba Qom | Mohammad Mayeli Kohan
|
Sacked | 11 November 2013 | 12th | Samad Marfavi
|
11 November 2013 |
| Zob Ahan | Luka Bonačić
|
Mutual consent | 1 January 2014 | 14th | Mojtaba Taghavi
|
1 January 2014 |
| Gostaresh | Rasoul Khatibi
|
Resigned | 1 January 2014 | 11th | Mehdi Tartar
|
1 January 2014 |
| Tractor Sazi | Majid Jalali
|
Sacked | 19 January 2014 | 6th |  Toni
|
28 January 2014 |
| Mes Kerman | Parviz Mazloomi
|
Resigned | 22 January 2014 | 16th | Luka Bonačić
|
23 January 2014 |
| Damash | Afshin Nazemi
|
Sacked | 26 January 2014 | 12th | Ali Nazarmohammadi
|
26 January 2014 |
| Zob Ahan | Mojtaba Taghavi
|
25 February 2014 | 15th | Firouz Karimi
|
25 February 2014 | |
| Tractor Sazi | Toni
|
Mutual consent | 29 April 2014 | 6th, post-season | Rasoul Khatibi
|
31 May 2014 |
Foreign Players edit
League table edit
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Foolad (C) | 30 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 36 | 24 | +12 | 57 | Qualification for the 2015 AFC Champions League group stage |
| 2 | Persepolis | 30 | 16 | 8 | 6 | 34 | 15 | +19 | 55[a] | |
| 3 | Naft Tehran | 30 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 39 | 23 | +16 | 54 | Qualification for the 2015 AFC Champions League qualifying play-off |
| 4 | Sepahan | 30 | 14 | 12 | 4 | 36 | 20 | +16 | 54 | |
| 5 | Esteghlal | 30 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 34 | 25 | +9 | 53[a] | |
| 6 | Tractor Sazi | 30 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 39 | 33 | +6 | 45[a] | Qualification for the 2015 AFC Champions League group stage[b] |
| 7 | Malavan | 30 | 13 | 6 | 11 | 40 | 33 | +7 | 44[a] | |
| 8 | Saipa | 30 | 7 | 14 | 9 | 26 | 31 | −5 | 35 | |
| 9 | Saba Qom | 30 | 8 | 9 | 13 | 32 | 38 | −6 | 33 | |
| 10 | Gostaresh | 30 | 7 | 11 | 12 | 31 | 34 | −3 | 32 | |
| 11 | Rah Ahan | 30 | 7 | 10 | 13 | 25 | 34 | −9 | 31 | |
| 12 | Est. Khuzestan | 30 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 26 | 37 | −11 | 29 | |
| 13 | Zob Ahan | 30 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 24 | 36 | −12 | 29 | |
| 14 | Fajr Sepasi (R) | 30 | 6 | 11 | 13 | 20 | 34 | −14 | 29 | Qualification to relegation play-offs |
| 15 | Damash (R) | 30 | 5 | 12 | 13 | 30 | 40 | −10 | 26[a] | Relegation to 2014–15 Azadegan League |
| 16 | Mes Kerman (R) | 30 | 1 | 19 | 10 | 21 | 36 | −15 | 22 |
Updated to match(es) played on 11 April 2014. Source: FIFA.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
- ^ a b c d e Esteghlal, Malavan, Damash, Persepolis and Tractor Sazi were deducted 1 point due to poor fan behavior in their home matches.
- ^ Tractor Sazi secured qualification for the 2015 AFC Champions League through winning the 2013–14 Hazfi Cup.
Results edit
Positions by round edit
| Leader | |
| 2015 AFC Champions League | |
| Relegation to Play-offs Qualification | |
| Relegation to 2014–15 Azadegan League |
Source: FIFA.com (in English)
Clubs season-progress edit
Relegation play-offs edit
Fajr Sepasi as 14th-placed team faced play-off winner of 2013–14 Azadegan League, Paykan in a two-legged play-off.
| Fajr Sepasi | 0 – 0 | Paykan |
|---|---|---|
| Report |
| Paykan | 1 – 0 | Fajr Sepasi |
|---|---|---|
Halafi  71' |
Report |
Paykan won 1–0 on aggregate and promoted to the next season of Iran Pro League, Fajr Sepasi also relegated to the Azadegan League.
Season statistics edit
Top goalscorers edit
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| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Karim Ansarifard
|
Tractor Sazi | 14 |
| 2 | Reza Enayati
|
Saba Qom | 13 |
| 3 | Mehrdad Bayrami
|
Gostaresh | 12 |
| 4 | Mehdi Daghagheleh
|
Malavan | 11 |
| Reza Norouzi
|
Naft Tehran | ||
| 5 |  Chimba
|
Foolad | 9 |
| Jalal Rafkhaei
|
Malavan | ||
| Mehdi Rajabzadeh
|
Zob Ahan | ||
| Sajjad Shahbazzadeh
|
Saipa | ||
| 8 | Edinho
|
Mes Kerman | 8 |
| Amin Motevaselzadeh
|
Damash Gilan | ||
| Mehdi Sharifi
|
Sepahan | ||
| 10 | Mohammad Ghazi
|
Esteghlal | 7 |
| Farid Karimi
|
Saba Qom | ||
| Total goals (Including technical loses) | 504 | ||
| Total games | 239 | ||
| Average per game | 2.11 | ||
Last updated: 11 April 2014
Source: FIFA.com
Clean sheets edit
| Rank | Player | Club | Clean sheets | Goals conceded | Match played |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nilson
|
Persepolis | 18 | 15 | 30 |
| 2 | Rahman Ahmadi
|
Sepahan | 15 | 16 | 27 |
| 3 | Mehdi Rahmati
|
Esteghlal | 14 | 25 | 30 |
| 4 | Sosha Makani
|
Foolad | 13 | 14 | 20 |
| 5 | Alireza Beiranvand
|
Naft Tehran | 12 | 12 | 21 |
| 6 | Hamed Fallahzadeh
|
Rah Ahan | 11 | 23 | 22 |
| 7 | Mohammad Bagher Sadeghi
|
Saipa | 9 | 30 | 26 |
| 8 | Mohsen Foroozan
|
Gostaresh Foolad | 8 | 30 | 25 |
Last Update: 11 April 2014
Scoring edit
- First goal of the season: Adel Kolahkaj for Esteghlal Khuzestan against Zob Ahan (24 July 2013)
- Fastest goal of the season: 17 seconds, Kaveh Rezaei for Saipa against Mes Kerman (4 January 2014)
- Latest goal of the season: 95 minutes and 12 seconds, Ali Karimi for Tractor Sazi against Mes Kerman (24 December 2013)
- Largest winning margin: 6 goals
- Mes Kerman 0–6 Persepolis (13 December 2013)
- Highest scoring game: 6 goals
- Fajr 2–4 Esteghlal (6 August 2013)
- Zob Ahan 2–4 Tractor Sazi (6 August 2013)
- Esteghlal Khuzestan 2–4 Naft Tehran (16 August 2013)
- Damash 5–1 Zob Ahan (24 October 2013)
- Mes Kerman 0–6 Persepolis (13 December 2013)
- Saipa 3–3 Tractor Sazi (11 January 2014)
- Malavan 4–2 Esteghlal (19 February 2014)
- Most goals scored in a match by a single team: 6 goals
- Mes Kerman 0–6 Persepolis (13 December 2013)
- Most goals scored in a match by a losing team: 2 goals
- Fajr 2–4 Esteghlal (6 August 2013)
- Zob Ahan 2–4 Tractor Sazi (6 August 2013)
- Esteghlal Khuzestan 2–4 Naft Tehran (16 August 2013)
- Foolad 3–2 Esteghlal Khuzestan (23 August 2013)
- Zob Ahan 3–2 Naft Tehran (31 August 2013)
- Esteghlal Khuzestan 3–2 Rah Ahan (17 October 2013)
- Saba Qom 3–2 Damash (26 January 2014)
- Malavan 4–2 Esteghlal (19 February 2014)
Awards edit
Team of the Season edit
Goalkeeper: Nilson Corrêa Júnior (Persepolis)
Defence: Vahid Amiri (Naft), Jalal Hosseini (Persepolis), Hanif Omranzadeh (Esteghlal), Ali Hamoudi (Sepahan)
Midfield: Bakhtiar Rahmani (Foolad), Andranik Teymourian (Esteghlal), Amir Hossein Feshangchi (Malavan), Payam Sadeghian (Perspolis), Esmaeil Sharifat (Foolad)
Attack: Karim Ansarifard (Tractor Sazi)
Player of the Season edit
Andranik Teymourian was awarded as the best player of the season among Payam Sadeghian became second. Mohammad Abbaszadeh was also awarded as the best young player of the season.
Other awards edit
Hossein Faraki was awarded as the best coach of the season.
Attendances edit
Average home attendances edit
| Pos | Team | Total | High | Low | Average | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Persepolis | 442,000 | 95,000 | 10,000 | 29,467 | +35.6% |
| 2 | Tractor Sazi | 325,005 | 62,000 | 800 | 21,667 | −9.9% |
| 3 | Esteghlal | 296,500 | 100,000 | 500 | 19,767 | −42.3% |
| 4 | Foolad | 126,500 | 49,500 | 0 | 9,036 | +67.0% |
| 5 | Damash | 94,000 | 15,000 | 2,000 | 6,267 | −6.9% |
| 6 | Sepahan | 67,200 | 12,000 | 0 | 4,800 | +20.9% |
| 7 | Malavan | 66,500 | 12,000 | 1,000 | 4,433 | −26.1% |
| 8 | Mes Kerman | 61,120 | 12,000 | 1,000 | 4,075 | +6.6% |
| 9 | Est. Khuzestan | 59,250 | 10,000 | 500 | 3,950 | n/a |
| 10 | Fajr Sepasi | 56,900 | 14,000 | 1,000 | 3,793 | −22.4% |
| 11 | Gostaresh | 43,500 | 12,000 | 300 | 2,900 | n/a |
| 12 | Zob Ahan | 42,700 | 10,000 | 1,000 | 2,847 | +34.4% |
| 13 | Saba Qom | 41,150 | 12,000 | 500 | 2,743 | +1.4% |
| 14 | Saipa | 35,600 | 12,000 | 100 | 2,373 | −49.9% |
| 15 | Naft Tehran | 34,660 | 15,000 | 60 | 2,311 | −10.7% |
| 16 | Rah Ahan | 23,300 | 8,000 | 0 | 1,664 | −14.3% |
| League total | 1,815,825 | 100,000 | 0 | 7,631 | −4.2% |
Updated to games played on 11 April 2014
Source: Iranleague.ir
Notes:
Matches with spectator bans are not included in average attendances
Esteghlal Khuzestan and Gostaresh played last season in Azadegan League
Highest attendances edit
| Rank | Home team | Score | Away team | Attendance | Date | Week | Stadium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Esteghlal | 0–0 | Persepolis | 100,000 | 6 September 2013 | 8 | Azadi |
| 2 | Persepolis | 0–0 | Esteghlal | 95,000 | 17 January 2014 | 23 | Azadi |
| 3 | Esteghlal | 1–2 | Sepahan | 65,000 | 1 August 2013 | 2 | Azadi |
| 4 | Tractor Sazi | 1–1 | Esteghlal | 62,000 | 8 November 2013 | 15 | Sahand |
| 5 | Persepolis | 1–0 | Tractor Sazi | 50,000 | 24 July 2013 | 1 | Azadi |
| Tractor Sazi | 0–0 | Mes Kerman | 50,000 | 16 August 2013 | 5 | Sahand | |
| Esteghlal | 1–3 | Tractor Sazi | 50,000 | 11 April 2014 | 30 | Azadi | |
| 8 | Foolad | 0–1 | Esteghlal | 49,500 | 6 April 2014 | 29 | Ghadir |
| 9 | Tractor Sazi | 2–2 | Foolad | 45,000 | 19 October 2013 | 13 | Sahand |
| Tractor Sazi | 1–0 | Persepolis | 45,000 | 29 November 2013 | 16 | Sahand |
Notes:
Updated to games played on 11 April 2014. Source: Iranleague.ir
See also edit
- 2013–14 Hazfi Cup
- 2013–14 Azadegan League
- 2013–14 Iran Football's 2nd Division
- 2013–14 Iran Football's 3rd Division
- 2013–14 Iranian Futsal Super League
- Team season articles
References edit
- ^ "آیین نامه نقل و انتقالات لیگ برتر فصل ۹۲-۱۳۹۱" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2013-12-24. Retrieved 2013-04-17.