Foolad F.C.

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. The club was founded in 1971 and is owned by Foolad Khuzestan Company.

Foolad Khuzestan Football Club is considered the fourth-best club in the history of Iranian football, following Esteghlal, Persepolis, and Sepahan. Foolad secured its first Iranian league title in 2004 during the third season of the Persian Gulf Pro League.

Foolad ranks as the fourth most decorated club in Iran; the club's major honors include two Persian Gulf Pro League titles (2004–05 and 2013–14 seasons), one Hazfi Cup title (2020–21), one Iranian Super Cup title (2021) and one runner-up finish (2005), as well as two Hazfi Cup runner-up finishes (1993 and 1996). The team has finished third in the league four times and boasts a record that includes six appearances in the AFC Champions League (Asia's top-tier competition) and one appearance in the Asian Cup Winners' Cup (Asia's second-tier competition, 1994–95 season).

The club has won Iran Pro League twice, as well as 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 the 2013–14 season. The club also won their first Hazfi Cup title in the 2020–21 season.

To date, two Foolad players—Reza Norouzi and Chimba—have finished as the top scorers of the Iranian football Premier League. Foolad has reached the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League. Despite deserving a spot in the final, the team lost 1–0 to Al-Hilal in the Asian semi-finals.

Club history

Establishment and first years (1971–1995) 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) 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) 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) 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) 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)

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

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

In April 1999, Foolad formed a youth academy.

Kit

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.

YearsManufacturersSponsors2001–02 DaeiNone2002–032003–04O'GENERAL2004–05None2005–062006–07 Tefal*2007–08None2008–09MeroojJundishapur University2009–10DaeiNone2010–112011–12uhlsport2012–132013–14KSC2014–152015–162016–172017–182018–192019–202020–21MeroojTak Makaron2021–22MeroojKSC2022–23MeroojKSC

– Tefal was the sponsor of the team in only some matches not full season.

Rivals 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 First-team squad

Out on loan

Notable players

Players on international cups

2002 Asian Games Yahya Golmohammadi Jalal Kameli-Mofrad Iman Mobali Ali Badavi Ebrahim Mirzapour

2004 AFC Asian Cup Hossein Kaebi Jalal Kameli-Mofrad Iman Mobali Ali Badavi Ebrahim Mirzapour Mohammad Alavi

2006 FIFA World Cup Hossein Kaebi Ebrahim Mirzapour

2006 Asian Games Pejman Montazeri Adel Kolahkaj

2010 Asian Games Arash Afshin

2011 AFC Asian Cup Arash Afshin Reza Norouzi

2014 FIFA World Cup Bakhtiar Rahmani

2014 Asian Games Yousef Vakia

2015 AFC Asian Cup Soroush Rafiei

2026 FIFA World Cup Ramin Rezaeian Ali Nemati

Personnel

Current technical staff

NamePosition Head coach Hamid MotahariCoach Assistant coaches Ahmad Alenemeh Reza Norouzi Mostafa Sadaqat Goalkeeping coaches Welesley Neneca Athletic coach Alireza Ahmedaei Fitness coach Mehrdad Bakhtiyarzadeh Team doctor Akbar Moradi Physiotherapist Payam Ahmadi Masseurs Behnam Taghizadeh Iman Saeedi Media officer Mohsen Qobaei Team manager Hamidreza Garshasbi Last updated: 2025 Source: Coaching staff

Management PositionStaffPresidentHamidreza GarshasbiBoard of DirectorsMansour GhanbarzadehBoard of DirectorsMassoud RezaianBoard of DirectorsMorteza KhakbazanBoard of DirectorsMehdi Amini Last updated: 2025 Dsamber 18 Source: Board of Directors

Recent seasons

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

Year Division Position Hazfi Cup ACL1990–91Ahwaz city league 1 1stNot helddid not qualify1991–92Provincial league 37th 1992–93Provincial league 3 1st1993–94Provincial league 2 1st1994–95Provincial league 1 1st1995–96Iran 2nd Division7th 1996–97Iran 2nd Division2rd1997–98Azadegan League10th1998–99Azadegan League7th1999–00Azadegan League10th2000–01Azadegan League8th1/8 Final2001–02Pro League3rdQuarter-final2002–03Pro League7th1/8 Final2003–04Pro League3rd1/8 Final2004–05Pro League1st1/16 Final2005–06Pro League8th1/16 FinalGroup Stage2006–07Pro League15th1/8 Finaldid not qualify2007–08Azadegan League1stSemi-final2008–09Pro League7thQuarter-final2009–10Pro League10th1/16 Final2010–11Pro League6thSemi-final2011–12Pro League14thQuarter-final2012–13Pro League4th1/16 Final2013–14Pro League1stSemi-finalRound of 162014–15Pro League5thRound of 32Group Stage2015–16Pro League12thRound of 16did not qualify2016–17 Pro League10thRound of 162017–18Pro League7thRound of 322018–19 Pro League8thRound of 82019–20Pro League3rdRound of 322020–21Pro League6thChampionsGroup Stage2021–22Pro League5thRound of 16Round of 162022–23Pro League7thRound of 16Quarter-final

Stadium information

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

Domestic Persian Gulf Pro League: Winners (2): 2004–05, 2013–14 Hazfi Cup: Winners (1): 2020–21 Iranian Super Cup: Winners (1): 2021

Records and statistics All Top scorers

As of 31 May 2025 +#NameGoalsPosition1Luciano Pereira76Forward2Sasan Ansari53Forward3Reza Norouzi36Forward4Bakhtiar Rahmani30Midfielder5Arash Afshin29Forward6Iman Mobali26Midfielder7Esmaeil Sharifat24Midfielder8Behnam Seraj21Forward9Ahmad Momenzadeh18Forward10Ayanda Patosi18Midfielder

All Top Appearances #NameAppsPosition1Sasan Ansari414Forward2Ayoub Vali253Defender3Luciano Pereira224Forward4Bakhtiar Rahmani209Midfielder5Esmaeil Sharifat191Winger6Ebrahim Mirzapour179Goalkeeper7Mehrdad Jama'ati174Left back8Abdollah Karami160Defender9Ahmad Abdollahzadeh155Midfielder10Mojtaba Najjarian154Defender

Foolad F.C.

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