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 Pro League (Persian: لیگ برتر ایران, Lig-e bartar-e Irân), is the highest division of professional football in Iran. It is the top-level football league in Iran since its foundation. Each year, its top team becomes the Iranian football champion, and the two lowest finishers are relegated to Azadegan League.

Persian Gulf Pro League
لیگ برتر خلیج فارس
crest
Organising bodyFootball League Organization
Founded2 November 2001; 21 years ago
CountryIran
ConfederationAFC
Number of teams16
Level on pyramid1
Relegation toAzadegan League
Domestic cup(s)Hazfi Cup
Iranian Super Cup
International cup(s)AFC Champions League
Current championsPersepolis (15th title)
(2022–23)
Most championshipsPersepolis (15 titles)
Most appearancesJalal Hosseini (494)
Top goalscorerReza Enayati (149 goals)
TV partners
Iraqiya Sports
WebsiteIranLeague.ir
Current: 2023–24 Persian Gulf Pro League

Since 2013, the league comprises 16 teams. The winner and runner-up of the Persian Gulf Pro League along with the Hazfi Cup champion are automatically qualified for the AFC Champions League group stages. The third of the Persian Gulf Pro League is qualified for the AFC Champions League 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. Persepolis is the most successful club with eight titles since the new format (15 in total).

History
See also: Iranian football league system

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] With the foundation of the Iran Pro League also professional football was finally established in Iran. 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 Sepahan Esteghlal
2011–12 Sepahan Tractor
2012–13 Esteghlal Tractor
2013–14 Foolad Persepolis
2014–15 Sepahan Tractor
2015–16 Esteghlal Khuzestan Persepolis
2016–17 Persepolis Esteghlal
2017–18 Persepolis Zob Ahan
2018–19 Persepolis Sepahan
2019–20 Persepolis Esteghlal
2020–21 Persepolis Sepahan
2021–22 Esteghlal Persepolis
2022–23 Persepolis Sepahan

The first winner of the Iran Pro League was Persepolis, who beat archrival Esteghlal by one point on the final match day. Esteghlal Tehran was the leading team after 25 matchdays, but they lost their last match away against Malavan 0–1, while Persepolis could beat Fajr Sepasi with the same score at home. Esteghlal Rasht and East Azerbaijan's famous club Tractor had been relegated to the Azadegan League. Tractor took eight years to return to Iran's highest division. The first top goal scorer of the Iran Pro League was Reza Enayati of Aboomoslem with 17 goals. The next season was won by Sepahan, the most supported team of Isfahan. Sepahan was the first Iranian football champion based outside of the capital Tehran. At the end of the season three traditional teams were relegated to Azadegan League: Aboomoslem, Malavan and Sanat Naft Abadan.

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 as one of the most successful Iranian football clubs of all time. PAS Tehran's professional football team was dissolved in 2007. Ali Daei, who returned to Persepolis, became the top goal scorer with 16 goals. The 2003–04 season was the last edition of the league with 14 teams.

In 2004, the number of teams was increased from 14 to 16 teams. Foolad of Ahvaz became the first champion from Khuzestan Province after winning the 2004–05 Iran Pro League six points ahead of Zob Ahan. Reza Enayati of Esteghlal became the league's top goal scorer for the second time in his career after scoring 20 goals in 24 matches. He repeated his success with 21 goals in the 2005–06 Iran Pro League when Esteghlal celebrated their first championship since 2001. They defeated Bargh Shiraz in front of over 100,000 fans at Azadi 4–1 and won the league one point ahead of PAS Tehran. Shamoushak Noshahr and Shahid Ghandi (today known as Tarbiat Yazd) relegated to Azadegan League.

Persian Gulf Cup
See also: Persian Gulf naming dispute

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] Under the leadership of Iranian football legend Ali Daei, Saipa won the 2006–07 Persian Gulf Cup two points ahead of Esteghlal Ahvaz. Until 2007 six different teams won the league title successively. For the first time in history, 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.

Persepolis players celebrating winning 2017–18 season

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. This was part of the strategy by the Iranian Football Federation to locate more teams in cities outside of Tehran. 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 in front of an incredible crowd of 110,000 fans at Azadi by the final score of 2–1. Sepehr Heidari scored the decisive goal in a dramatic match in the sixth minute of additional time. Sanat Naft and Shirin Faraz (today known as Rahian Kermanshah) relegated to Azadegan League. The next season was dominated by Persepolis archrival 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. In the meantime, Esteghlal saved their 1–0 lead against Payam Mashhad and won the league due to better goal difference. Last but not least, 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 six points before Zob Ahan. Sepahan Iraqi striker Emad Mohammed became the second foreign player, who won the league's top goal scorer award. He scored 19 goals, one more than his teammate Ibrahima Touré. Sepahan repeated their success by winning the 2010–11 and 2011–12 Persian Gulf Cup. For the first time in history of Iranian football a team became the Iranian champion three times in a row. Esteghlal broke Sepahan's success finally in 2013. Esteghlal won the 2012–13 Persian Gulf Cup and became for the eight time in their history the Iranian champion. During an exciting championship battle between Esteghlal and Sepahan, they faced each other in Tehran's Azadi Stadium on week 32. Moharram Navidkia scored the opening goal for Sepahan, however, Esteghlal equalized in the 94th minute due to an own goal by Sepahan defender Mohsen Irannejad. On week 33 Sepahan lost their away game against Damash 1–2, while Esteghlal could beat Foolad in Ahvaz with 1–0 and became the 2013 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 after an exciting, though a very defensive season at the same time. At the end, Foolad ranged just 36 goals for the title. On the last matchday four other teams, Esteghlal, Naft Tehran, Persepolis and Sepahan, had the chance to win the championship alongside Foolad. While Esteghlal were defeated by Tractor at home with 1–3 and lost their AFC Champions League spot, Persepolis won their away game against Esteghlal Khuzestan with 1–0. Sepahan and Naft Tehran faced each other directly. Also Sepahan lost their AFC Champions League spot although they won the match with 1–0. Both teams had the same goal difference but Naft Tehran scored more goals in the season. Finally Foolad saved their championship after they defeated Gostaresh Foulad away by a goal of Mehrdad Jama'ati.

Persian Gulf Pro League
Esteghlal Khuzestan celebrate their championship in 2016.

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 an exciting championship battle between Sepahan, Tractor and Naft Tehran. Tractor was ahead of their opponents Naft Tehran on goal difference, and a point of Sepahan. Tractor and Naft Tehran faced each other at Sahand, while Sepahan had to play Saipa at home. Tractor were in front 3–1 after an hour thanks to goals from Brazilian striker Edinho, Andranik Teymourian and Farid Karimi. But, then the game started to turn worse for Tractor. A very controversial red card for national team captain Andranik Teymourian and two goals by the visitors destroyed Tractor dreams. 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. Thanks to two goals from Rahim Zahivi at the last matchday against Zob Ahan, the Ahvaz based team Esteghlal Khuzestan won the league sensational in front of Persepolis and Esteghlal.[6] Persepolis missed their big opportunity winning the league after eight years. They were shocked on matchday 28 as they lost their match against Naft Tehran 0–2 at a packed Azadi. However, Persepolis dominated the next season and won the 2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League clear before Esteghlal and Tractor.[7] Persepolis football team claimed the Iran Professional League (IPL) with three games to spare 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 since 2014–present

Ranking
Main article: AFC Club Competitions Ranking

Updated on 7 December 2021.(Source)

Ranking Member Association Club Points 100%
2021[8] 2020[9]MvmtRegion 2018[10] 2019[11] 2020[lower-alpha 1] 2021[12] Total
1 3Rise +21 (W)Saudi Arabia Saudi Arabia 10.000 26.350 0.000 20.950 57.300 100.000
2 6Rise +41 (E)South Korea South Korea 18.350 13.600 0.000 22.750 54.700 95.462
3 2Fall -12 (E)Japan Japan 13.850 21.800 0.000 17.875 53.525 93.412
4 5Rise +12 (W)Iran Iran 18.850 11.500 0.000 14.225 44.575 77.792
5 4Fall -13 (W)Qatar Qatar 19.850 15.900 0.000 7.300 43.050 75.131
6 10Rise +44 (W)Uzbekistan Uzbekistan 9.400 9.000 0.000 18.671 37.071 64.696

Clubs (2022–23)
Locations of all 45 current and former Persian Gulf Pro League teams
Team Location Stadium Capacity
Aluminium Arak Arak Imam Khomeini 15,000
Esteghlal Tehran Azadi 78,116
Foolad Ahvaz Foolad Arena 30,655
Gol Gohar Sirjan Sirjan Shahid Qasem Soleimani 8,000
Havadar Karaj Enghelab Stadium 8,250
Malavan Bandar-e Anzali Sirous Ghayeghran 8,000
Mes Kerman Kerman Shohadaye Mes Kerman 30,000
Mes Rafsanjan Rafsanjan Shohadaye Mes 10,000
Naft Masjed Soleyman Masjed Soleyman Behnam Mohammadi 8,000
Nassaji Mazandaran Mashhad Imam Reza 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
Tractor Tabriz Yadegar-e Emam 66,833
Zob Ahan Fooladshahr Fooladshahr 20,000

Champions
See also: List of Iranian football champions

Persian Gulf Pro League

Club Winners Runners-up Winning seasons
Persepolis
8
3
 2001–02, 2007–08, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2020–21, 2022–23
Sepahan
5
4
 2002–03, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15
Esteghlal
4
5
 2005–06, 2008–09, 2012–13, 2021–22
Foolad
2
0
 2004–05, 2013–14
PAS Tehran
1
2
 2003–04
Saipa
1
0
 2006–07
Esteghlal Khuzestan
1
0
 2015–16
Zob Ahan
0
4
 –
Tractor
0
3
 –
Esteghlal Ahvaz
0
1
 –

Total

Club Winners Runners-up Winning seasons
Persepolis

15
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
Esteghlal
9
10
 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
0
3
 –
Bahman
0
2
 –
Homa
0
1
 –
Esteghlal Ahvaz
0
1
 –

All-time Pro League table
Pos. Club Seasons Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts 1st 2nd 3rd 4th 5th 6th 7th T4 T7 Debut Since/Last App. Relegated Best
Pos.
1Esteghlal1 22672337213122992587+4051223458111—18202001–022001–02—1st
2Persepolis2 3 4 22672332208132957599+358119183232—116192001–022001–02—1st
3Sepahan5 22672310216146970619+3511143542231113182001–022001–02—1st
4Zob Ahan6 22672249229194788680+108978—414—619162001–022001–02—2nd
5Foolad 21638241223174719626+939462—312236132001–022008–0911st
6Rah Ahan 1546223014686864439+425836—————————2001–022015–1612nd
7Saipa 20612186217209660701−417751—11—12342001–022020–2111st
8Tractor7 15462191152119590463+127724—3132127122001–022009–1012nd
9Paykan 18550157175218544660−116646————125082001–022016–1745th
10Saba Qom/Saba Battery 13414128159127468459+9543——12—21362004–052016–1713rd
11Malavan8 15466126157183424542−118534——————2022001–022022–2327th
12Fajr Sepasi 13400103147150357434−77456———1———112001–022013–1424th
13Sanat Naft 12374102116156371478−107422——————1—12002–032016–1737th
14Mes Kerman 92948910996332329+3376——1——11132006–072022–2313rd
15Naft Tehran 8252918873286258+28361——2—3——252010–112017–1813rd
16Aboomoslem 9270839097296304−8339———121—142001–022009–1014th
17Esteghlal Ahvaz 92748078116327402−75318—1——1——122002–032015–1622nd
18Shahr Khodro15 8240748086218245−27294———1—1—122014–152021–2214th
19PAS Tehran9 6168725937263181+8227412—1—1—452001–022006–07—1st
20Bargh 8236607898252335−83258——————1—12001–022008–0917th
21Damash/Pegah/Esteghlal Rasht10 82485681111227344−117248——————1—12001–022013–1447th
22Esteghlal Khuzestan16 6180456867174220−461971——————112013–142023–2411st
23Gostaresh Foolad 5150396051147161−14177—————————2013–142017–18—8th
24Gol Gohar 4120453936137130+73174———111—132019–202019–20—4th
25Nassaji 5150356154136174−38166—————————2018–192018–19—9th
26PAS Hamedan 4136384850143165−22162————1———12007–082010–1115th
27Naft Masjed Soleyman 6180277578116216−100156—————————2014–152022–2318th
28Mes Rafsanjan 3903331269274+18130————11——22020–212020–21—5th
29Shahin Bushehr 4132274857124175−51129—————————2009–102019–20213th
30Aluminium Arak 3902345226571−6114——————1—12020–212020–21—8th
31Pars Jonoubi Jam 3902238308287−5104————1——112017–182019–2015th
32Machine Sazi 412017396484163−7990—————————2016–172020–21211th
33Steel Azin11 26819232685112−2780————1———12009–102010–1115th
34Shamoushak 38616264466118−5274—————————2003–042005–06114th
35Siah Jamegan 39015274864117−5372—————————2015–162017–18113th
36Shahrdari Tabriz 2681429257998−1971—————————2010–112011–12112th
37Havadar 2601522234225−1767—————————2021–222021–22—11th
38Sepidrood 2601117324892−4450—————————2017–182018–19113th
39Aluminium Hormozgan 134714132640−1435—————————2012–132012–13115th
40Payam 13498173352−1935—————————2008–092008–09116th
41Mes Sarcheshmeh 13459202354−3124—————————2011–122011–12118th
42Shirin Faraz12 134312192559−3421—————————2007–082007–08118th
43Shahid Ghandi13 13047192143−2219—————————2005–062005–06116th
44Gahar Zagros14 134310212459−3519—————————2012–132012–13118th
45Shams Azar17 00000000−6—————————2023–242023–24——
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 six points in the 2023–24 season.

Attendances

Average league attendances
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 Tractor 42,000 Paykan 1,941
2011–12 9,488 Tractor 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] Persepolis 48,567 Gostaresh Foulad 1,018
2017–18 9,060[16] Persepolis 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

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
2005–06Esteghlal4–1Bargh Shiraz100,00021 April 2006 (2006-04-21)30Azadi
2006–07Persepolis2–1Esteghlal95,0003 November 2006 (2006-11-03)8Azadi
2007–08Persepolis2–1Sepahan110,00017 May 2008 (2008-05-17)34Azadi
2008–09Persepolis2–0Damash90,00025 September 2008 (2008-09-25)8Azadi
Persepolis1–1Esteghlal90,0003 October 2008 (2008-10-03)9Azadi
Esteghlal1–1Persepolis90,00013 February 2009 (2009-02-13)26Azadi
2009–10Tractor0–0Moghavemat95,00022 January 2010 (2010-01-22)24Sahand
2010–11Esteghlal1–0Persepolis100,00015 October 2010 (2010-10-15)11Azadi
2011–12Persepolis0–2Esteghlal100,00016 September 2011 (2011-09-16)7Azadi
2012–13Esteghlal0–0Persepolis100,00025 January 2013 (2013-01-25)23Azadi
Esteghlal1–2Damash100,00010 May 2013 (2013-05-10)34Azadi
2013–14Esteghlal0–0Persepolis100,0006 September 2013 (2013-09-06)8Azadi
2014–15Tractor3–3Naft Tehran80,000[19]15 May 2015 (2015-05-15)30Sahand
2015–16Persepolis4–2Esteghlal100,000[20]15 April 2016 (2016-04-15)26Azadi
2016–17Persepolis4–0Shahr Khodro80,000[21]19 April 2017 (2017-04-19)28Azadi
2017–18Esteghlal1–0Persepolis100,000[22]1 March 2018 (2018-03-01)25Azadi
2018–19Persepolis0–0Sepahan90,000[23]26 April 2019 (2019-04-26)27Azadi
2019–20Tractor2–4Esteghlal80,000[24]1 November 2019 (2019-11-01)9Sahand
2020–21No spectators due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Iran[25]
2021–22Esteghlal0–0Naft MIS85,000[26]30 May 2022 (2022-05-30)30Azadi
2022–23Tractor1–0Sepahan70,000[27]7 April 2023 (2023-04-07)25Sahand
Sepahan1–1Malavan70,000[28]24 April 2023 (2023-04-24)27Naghsh-e Jahan

Records

All-Time Persian Gulf League Top Scorers
See also: List of Iranian club football top goal scorers, List of IPL all-time top goal scorers, and Iranian Football League § All-time League top scorers
As of 30 June 2022
No. Player Goals Apps GPGR Years
1 Iran Reza Enayati147 358 0.412001- 2017
2 Iran Mehdi Rajabzadeh116 381 0.302001- 2018
3 Iran Arash Borhani115 339 0.332002- 2017
4 Brazil Luciano Periera95 265 0.352012-Present
5 Iran Fereydoon Fazli85 178 0.472001–2010
6 Brazil Édinho82 183 0.442008-

2017

7 Iran Jalal Rafkhaei79 308 0.252005-

2016

8 Iran Mohammad Reza Khalatbari79 426 0.182004-Present
9 Iran Karim Ansarifard77 182 0.422007-

2014

10 Iran Mohammad Ghazi 76 340 0.222004-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 2021
No Player Appearance Years
1 Iran Jalal Hosseini 492[29] 2002–2022
2 Iran Mehdi Rahmati 482[29] 2001–2020
3 Iran Ebrahim Sadeghi 438[29] 2001–2017
4 Iran Mohammadreza Khalatbari 407 2003- present
5 Iran Mehdi Rajabzadeh 381[29] 2001–2018
6 Iran Morteza Asadi 380[29] 2005–2018
7 Iran Amir Hossein Sadeghi 379[29] 2003–2018
8 Iran Mohsen Bengar 372[29] 2003–2018
9 Iran Khosro Heydari 370[29] 2002–2019
10 Iran Mohammad Nouri 369[29] 2005–2021

Broadcasting and sponsorship

Broadcasting
Channel iranian
Logo of IRIB TV3, the league's important TV partner

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 popular channel. In addition to that Esteghlal and Persepolis playing not at the same time with the exception of the Sorkhabi derby and the last two matchdays of each season. IRIB Varzesh shows other important matches, while the remaining games are shown on IRIB regional channels. Furthermore, Navad, a popular weekly football program broadcast by IRIB TV3, shows highlights of all Persian Gulf Pro League and Azadegan League matches.

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
Main article: List of Iranian football club owners § Persian Gulf Pro League

See also

Notes
  1. 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
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