The 2012–13 Persian Gulf Cup (also known as Iran Pro League) was the 30th season of Iran's Football League and 12th as

Iran Pro League The Persian Gulf Pro League (, ''Lig-e Bartar-e Xalij-e Fârs''), formerly known as the Iran Premier League (, ''Lig-e bartar-e Irân''), is a professional association football league in Iran and the highest level of the Iranian football league s ...

since its establishment in 2001.

Sepahan Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan Sport Club (, ''Bâšgâh-e Farhangi-Varzeši-ye Fulâd-e Mobârake-ye Sepâhân''), commonly known as Sepahan, is an Iranian sports club based in Isfahan. It is best known for their football section that play in the P ...

were the defending champions. The season featured 15 teams from the

2011–12 Persian Gulf Cup The 2011–12 Persian Gulf Cup (also known as Iran Pro League) was the 29th season of Iran's Football League and 11th as Iran Pro League since its establishment in 2001. Sepahan were the defending champions. The season featured 15 teams from th ...

and three new teams promoted from the

2011–12 Azadegan League The 2011–12 Azadegan League was the 21st season of the Azadegan League and 11th as the second highest division since its establishment in 1991. The season featured 21 teams from the 2010–11 Azadegan League, three new teams relegated from the ...

Paykan The Paykan ( meaning ''Arrow'') is the first Iranian-made car produced by Iran Khodro, between 1967 and 2005. The car, formerly called "Iran National", is a licensed version of the British Rootes Arrow (Hillman Hunter) and was very popular i ...

as champions, Aluminium Hormozgan and Gahar Zagros. The league started on 19 July 2012 and ended on 10 May 2013. Esteghlal won the Pro League title for the third time in their history (total eighth Iranian title).

Events

Competition format

After the 2012–13 Iran Pro League season, it was planned that the number of teams would be reduced from 18 to 16 for the next season, so 4 team was directly relegated to the

Azadegan League The Azadegan League (, ''Lig-e Âzâdegân''), also known as League 1 (, ''Lig-e Yek''), is the second highest division of professional football in Iran. It was the top-level football league in Iran from its foundation in 1991 until 2001, when t ...

, while one team was played against the 3rd ranked team from the second division league team in a play-off. 2 teams also are directly promoted from

current Currents, Current or The Current may refer to: Science and technology * Current (fluid), the flow of a liquid or a gas ** Air current, a flow of air ** Ocean current, a current in the ocean *** Rip current, a kind of water current ** Current (hydr ...

Azadegan league to the next pro league season and one team played against the 14th placed pro league team in a play-off.

Rules and regulations

The Iranian Football Clubs who participate in 2012–13 Iran Pro League are allowed to have up to maximum 35 players (including up to maximum 4 non-Iranian players) in their player lists, which will be categorized in the following groups: * ''Up to maximum 21 adult (over 23-year-old) players'' * ''Up to maximum 6 under-23 players (i.e. the player whose birth is after 19 July 1989).'' * ''Up to maximum 5 under-21 players (i.e. the player whose birth is after 19 July 1991).'' * ''Up to maximum 3 under-19 players (i.e. the player whose birth is after 19 July 1993).'' Based on the fact that the Season is started from 19 July 2012.

Teams

Stadia and locations

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under

FIFA The Fédération Internationale de Football Association (), more commonly known by its acronym FIFA ( ), is the international self-regulatory governing body of association football, beach soccer, and futsal. It was founded on 21 May 1904 to o ...

eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality. ;Notes # Esteghlal's captain was

Mehdi Rahmati Seyed Mehdi Rahmati Oskuei (; born February 3, 1983) is an Iranian football coach and former player who currently manages Shams Azar F.C. in the Persian Gulf Pro League. He played for the Iran national team between 2004 and 2013. Club career ...

before

Farhad Majidi Farhad Majidi (; born 3 June 1976) is an Iranian football coach and former player who most recently managed Al Bataeh Club. He mostly played as attacking midfielder for Esteghlal when he was a football player. He scored 2 important goal for A ...

rejoins to the team. # Reza Haghighi was the captain of

Fajr Sepasi Fajr Shahid Sepasi Shiraz Football Club (, ''Bashgah-e Futbal-e Fajr-e Sepasi-ye Shiraz''), commonly known as Fajr Sepasi Shiraz, or Fajr Sepasi, is an Iranian football club based in Shiraz, Fars, that competes in the Azadegan League. The club wa ...

until his transfer to the

Persepolis Persepolis (; ; ) was the ceremonial capital of the Achaemenid Empire (). It is situated in the plains of Marvdasht, encircled by the southern Zagros mountains, Fars province of Iran. It is one of the key Iranian cultural heritage sites and ...

. # From 19 January 2013 to 18 March 2013, Ali Firouzi and from 18 March 2013, Saeed Salamaat were the caretaker head coaches of Sanat Naft due to Casimiro's illness.

Managerial changes

Before the start of the season

In season

Foreign players

League table

Results

Positions by round

Clubs season-progress

Relegation play-offs

Zob Ahan as 14th-placed team faced play-off winner of

2012–13 Azadegan League The 2012–13 Azadegan League was the 22nd season of the Azadegan League and 12th as the second highest division since its establishment in 1991. The season featured 19 teams from the 2011–12 Azadegan League, three new teams relegated from the ...

Pas Hamedan PAS Hamedan Football Club (, ''Bashgag-e Futbal-e Pas Hemidan'') is an Iranian football club based in Hamedan, Iran and compete in the Azadegan League. The club was formed after the dissolution of Pas Tehran in 2007. History Establishment PAS H ...

in a two-legged play-off. ---- Zob Ahan won 5–3 on aggregate and retained its Iran Pro League spot for the 2013–14 season.

Season statistics

Top goalscorers

Last updated: 10 May 2013
Source
IPL Stats

Clean sheets

Last Update: 10 May 2013

Scoring

*First goal of the season: Mehdi Nazari for Fajr against Zob Ahan (''19 July 2012'') *Fastest goal of the season: 12 seconds,

Gholamreza Rezaei Gholamreza Rezaei (, born 6 August 1984 in Shiraz, Iran) is a retired Iranian football player who last played for Sepidrood as a forward in the Iran Pro League. Club career Early years He started his career in Fajr Sepasi in his hometown, Shi ...

for Persepolis against Fajr Sepasi (''30 December 2012'') *Latest goal of the season: 96 minutes and 12 seconds,

Karim Ansarifard Karim Adil Ansarifard (; born 3 April 1990) is an Iranian professional footballer who plays as a forward for the Iran national team. His playing style and ability have drawn comparisons to Ali Daei (the coach who scouted him) and he has been n ...

for Persepolis against Zob Ahan (''19 November 2012'') *Largest winning margin: 6 goals **Persepolis 6–0 Paykan (''31 October 2012'') **Fajr 6–0 Aluminium (''1 March 2013'') **Zob Ahan 6–0 Sanat Naft (''5 May 2013'') *Highest scoring game: 8 goals **Damash 5–3 Paykan (''31 July 2012'') **Sanat Naft 2–6 Naft Tehran (''6 August 2012'') *Most goals scored in a match by a single team: 6 goals **Sanat Naft 2–6 Naft Tehran (''18 August 2012'') **Fajr 6–1 Damash (''15 September 2012'') **Persepolis 6–0 Paykan (''31 October 2012'') **Fajr 6–0 Aluminium (''1 March 2013'') *Most goals scored in a match by a losing team: 3 goals **Damash 5–3 Paykan (''31 July 2012'') **Naft Tehran 3–4 Sepahan (''30 October 2012'') **Sepahan 4–3 Zob Ahan (''13 January 2013'')

Hat-tricks

Awards

Team of the Season

Goalkeeper:

(Esteghlal)
Defence: Mehrdad Jama'ati (Foolad),

Pejman Montazeri Pejman Montazeri (, born 6 September 1983) is an Iranian former Association football, footballer who plays as a Defender (association football), defender. Club career Foolad He was one of the exceptionally talented players in the Foolad F.C., F ...

(Esteghlal),

Amir Hossein Sadeghi Amir Hossein Sadeghi (, born September 6, 1981) is an Iranian former association football, football player who played in the Iran's Premier Football League throughout his career. He played as a defender (association football), defender, usually a ...

(Esteghlal),

Khosro Heydari Khosro Heydari (, born September 14, 1983) is a retired Iranian association football, football player who mostly played as a Defender (association football), defender for Esteghlal F.C., Esteghlal. Club career After his excellent performances fo ...

(Esteghlal)
Midfield: Reza Haghighi (Perspolis),

Bakhtiar Rahmani Bakhtiar Rahmani (; born 23 September 1991) is an Iranian Kurdish Association football, footballer. Early life Rahmani was born in Sarpol-e Zahab. Club career Foolad Rahmani has played his entire career for Foolad F.C., Foolad. After the rele ...

(Foolad),

Moharram Navidkia Moharram Navidkia (, born 1 November 1982 in Isfahan, Iran) is an Iranian retired footballer, who last coached Mes Rafsanjan in Persian Gulf Pro League. He played for the club for 18 years and was its captain. He usually played as a midfielde ...

(Sepahan),

Yaghoub Karimi Yaghoub Karimi (; August 31, 1991) is an Iranian football midfielder. Club career Pas He joined Pas in the summer 2003 from the youth academy. He played five seasons for Pas youth team. Esteghlal In summer 2009, Karimi joined Esteghlal. He ...

(Naft.t)
Attack: Jalal Rafkhaei (Malavan), Mohammad Reza Khalatbari (Sepahan)

Player of the Season

was awarded as the best player of the season among

and

became second and third.

Saeid Ezzatollahi Saeid Ezatolahi Afagh (; born 1 October 1996) is an Iranian professional association football, footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for club Shabab Al Ahli Club, Shabab Al Ahli in UAE Pro League and the Iran national football team, Ira ...

was also awarded as the best young player of the season and

Alireza Jahanbakhsh Alireza Jahanbakhsh (, ; born 11 August 1993) is an Iranian professional Association football, footballer who plays as a Midfielder#Winger, right winger and Midfielder, attacking midfielder for Dutch Eredivisie club SC Heerenveen and captain (ass ...

was ranked second.

Other awards

Amir Ghalenoei Ardeshir "Amir" Ghalenoei (; born 22 November 1963) is an Iranian association football, football coach and former player who currently manages Iran national football team. He has been the most successful coach in the Iran Pro League and managed se ...

was awarded as the best coach of the season,

Zlatko Kranjčar Zlatko "Cico" Kranjčar (; 15 November 1956 – 1 March 2021) was a Croatian professional Association football, football Manager (association football), manager and Football player, player. Kranjčar started his career as a player with GNK Dinam ...

becomes second and Hossein Faraki third. Saeid Mozafarizadeh awarded best referee, Fair Play Award was given to the

and Esteghlal was the team of the season.

Mehdi Mahdavikia Mehdi Mahdavikia (; born 24 July 1977) is an Iranian professional association football, football coach and former player usually played as a winger (association football), right winger or right back. He was at Hamburger SV as a youth coach, and ...

Ali Parvin Ali Parvin (; born 25 September 1947) is a retired Iranian association football, football player and coach. He is among the most prominent Iran, Iranian footballers. He played for the Iran national football team. During his career, he played as ...

Homayoun Behzadi Homayoun Behzadi (‎; 20 June 1942 – 22 January 2016) was an Iranian footballer and coach. He usually played as a striker. Early life He was born on 4 January 1942 in Khorramabad, Lorestan province. Behzadi first broke into the Shahin si ...

and Ali Jabari were also awarded for their service to the Iranian football.

Attendances

Average home attendances

Highest attendances

Notes:
Updated to games played on 10 May 2013. Source
Iranleague.ir
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References

https://web.archive.org/web/20150621212129/http://www.guilaneno.com/%D8%B5%D9%81%D8%AD%D9%87%20%D9%86%D8%AE%D8%B3%D8%AA

External links

Iran Premier League 2014-2015

* ttps://int.soccerway.com/national/iran/premier-league/2011-2012/regular-season/ 2012–13 Persian Gulf Cup at Soccerway {{DEFAULTSORT:2012-13 Iran Pro League Persian Gulf Pro League seasons

Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) and also known as Persia, is a country in West Asia. It borders Iraq to the west, Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Armenia to the northwest, the Caspian Sea to the north, Turkmenistan to the nort ...