Esteghlal Khuzestan F.C.

Esteghlal Khuzestan F.C. was established just before the start of the 2011–2012 season by acquiring the license of Esteghlal Jonub Tehran F.C. who has just been promoted to the Azadegan League (Iran's 1st division). After an average 6th-place finish in the team's inaugural year in the Azadegan League in 2011–2012, the next season (2012–13) turned out to be a different year, with a 2nd-placed finish in group B, the club was promoted to the Iran Pro League for the first time in their history.

In Esteghlal Khuzestan's first year in the top flight, it finished 12th, escaping relegation play-off by better goal difference. In the Hazfi Cup Esteghlal Khuzestan exited the competition in the Round of 32 after a shock defeat to Azadegan League side Alvand Hamedan. Esteghlal finished the 2014–15 season 14th, meaning it would have to play in a relegation play-off against the winner of the Azadegan League promotion play-off winner. Esteghlal Khuzestan defeated Mes Kerman 3–0 on aggregate meaning it had secured a spot in the 2015–16 Persian Gulf Pro League season.

Esteghlal Khuzestan players celebrating after winning league title in 2015–16 season

Before the start of the 2015–16 season Esteghlal Khuzestan signed many of Foolad Novin's players and was a major surprise, as it started well in the season. Esteghlal Khuzestan had four consecutive winning streak at the 12th week, which made Esteghlal Khuzestan finished champion of the first half of the season.[2][3] After a great result with Abdollah Veisi, Esteghlal Khuzestan managed to keep its shape at the second half of the season. On January 1, 2016, Esteghlal Khuzestan lost to Persepolis which made the race tighter for first place, and also made Esteghlal Khuzestan fall to second place, Esteghlal became first after 17th week. The head coach Abdollah Veisi later said that their main goal was to take place at AFC Champions League.[4] Esteghlal Khuzestan qualified to the AFC Champions League on 8 May, for the first time in its history. Esteghlal Khuzestan won the league title on 13 May after a 2–0 win over Zob Ahan.

Following a poor start to the following season, 6 points were deduced from Esteghlal Khuzestan by FIFA. Dariush Yazdi was sacked and Karim Boostani replaced the coach. Results ultimately did not improve under Boostani and he was replaced with Mohammad Alavi. Esteghlal Khuzestan were relegated from the Persian Gulf Pro League to Azadegan League on 3 May 2019, after a 4–2 loss to Esteghlal.

• Persian Gulf Pro League:
  • Winners (1): 2015–16
• Azadegan League:
  • Winners (1): 2012–13

• Super Cup
  • Runners-up (1): 2016

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK  IRN Mohammadreza Ghavidel 2 DF  IRN Jalal Abdi 3 MF  IRN Alireza Daghagheleh 4 DF  IRN Mohammad Bakhtiari 6 MF  IRN Hossein Bahrami 7 MF  IRN Milad Safaei 8 MF  IRN Masoud Asadi 9 FW  IRN Ramin Davoodi 10 FW  IRN Farshad Janfaza (Captain) 14 DF  IRN Mohanad Heydari 15 FW  IRN Amir Hossein Navaei

No. Pos. Nation Player 17 MF  IRN Behrouz Barani 21 FW  IRN Amirmohammad Mohkamkar 23 DF  IRN Hassan Moavei 28 DF  IRN Ali Khanifar 36 DF  IRN Behrouz Afshar 40 DF  IRN Ali Helichi 66 MF  IRN Ali Badavi 77 FW  IRN Hassan Nemati 78 MF  IRN Reza Marvani

For recent transfers, see List of Iranian football transfers winter 2018–19.