Iranian football's 2nd division () is the third-highest
football
Football is a family of team sports that involve, to varying degrees, kick (football), kicking a football (ball), ball to score a goal (sports), goal. Unqualified, football (word), the word ''football'' generally means the form of football t ...
division overall in the
Iranian football league system
The Iranian football league system is a series of interconnected leagues for soccer, football clubs in Iran.
Structure
The current structure has been in place since 2001. The Iran's Premier Football League, Pro League is the highest level of cl ...
. Before 2001, the 2nd division league was the second-highest division in the national football league system. However, it was changed to third-highest division when Iran's football structure officially became professional.
The league consists of two, 14-team groups who play each other twice in a home and away format. The first- and second-placed teams in each group are automatically promoted 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 ...
. The bottom two teams in both groups are automatically relegated to the
3rd division.
If teams in the promotion or relegation spots are tied in terms of points, a home and away series will be played. The team with the best aggregate score will either avoid relegation or win promotion.
Sometimes these rules are not followed exactly. For example in the 2005–06 season, Deihim Ahvaz should have been relegated, but Nozhan Mazandaran despite finishing ahead of Deihim, were relegated instead because of the club's poor financial situation. Additionally the number of teams in each group was increased from twelve to fourteen this season.
Format
* 12 clubs: 2002–2003
* 24 clubs: 2003–2004
* 20 clubs: 2004–2005
* 24 clubs: 2005–2006
* 28 clubs: 2006–2008
* 36 clubs: 2008–2010
* 32 clubs: 2010–2011
* 28 clubs: 2011–2014
* 40 clubs: 2014–2016
* 37 clubs: 2016–2017
* 33 clubs: 2017–2018
* 26 clubs: 2018–2019
* 28 clubs: 2019–
League champions
As Iran's second-highest football division, 1972–1979
*
1972–73:
Taj Ahvaz
*
1973–74:
Sepahan
*
1974–75:
Tractor
A tractor is an engineering vehicle specifically designed to deliver a high tractive effort (or torque) at slow speeds, for the purposes of hauling a Trailer (vehicle), trailer or machinery such as that used in agriculture, mining or constructio ...
*
1975–76:
Machine Sazi
*
1976–77:
Rah Ahan
*
1977–78:
Aboomoslem
Football Club Abu Muslim (, ''Bashgah-e Futbal-e Abumislâm-e Xorasan''), commonly known as Abu Muslim, is an Iranian football club based in Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan, that competes in the League 3. The club was founded in 1970 and is named aft ...
*
1978–79: did not finish
As Iran's second-highest football division, 1990–2001
*
1990–91:
Malavan (A),
Aboomoslem
Football Club Abu Muslim (, ''Bashgah-e Futbal-e Abumislâm-e Xorasan''), commonly known as Abu Muslim, is an Iranian football club based in Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan, that competes in the League 3. The club was founded in 1970 and is named aft ...
(B), Taam Esfehan (C),
Esteghlal Ahvaz (D)
*
1991–92:
Bargh Shiraz
*
1992–93:
Chooka Anzali
*
1993–94:
Naft Ghaemshahr
*
1994–95:
Bahman Karaj
*
1995–96:
Payam Mashhad (A) and
Sanat Naft Abadan (B)
*
1996–97:
Fajr Sepasi
*
1997–98:
Malavan
*
1998–99:
Bahman Karaj
*
1999–00:
Bargh Shiraz
*
2000–01:
Aboomoslem
Football Club Abu Muslim (, ''Bashgah-e Futbal-e Abumislâm-e Xorasan''), commonly known as Abu Muslim, is an Iranian football club based in Mashhad, Razavi Khorasan, that competes in the League 3. The club was founded in 1970 and is named aft ...
As Iran's third-highest football division, 2001—Present
*
2001–02: -
*
2002–03:
Shahid Ghandi
*
2003–04:
Sanati Kaveh (National Group) and
Pasargad Tehran (Region Groups/North) and
Deyhim Ahvaz (Region Groups/South)
*
2004–05:
Shahrdari Langarudn (A) and
Pegah Khozestan (B)
*
2005–06: Pegah Tehran (A) and
Etka Gorgan (B)
*
2006–07:
Sepahan Novin (A) and
Bargh Tehran (B)
*
2007–08:
Aluminium Hormozgan
*
2008–09:
Sanati Kaveh (A) and
Mes Sarcheshmeh (B)
*
2009–10:
Sepidrood Rasht
*
2010–11:
Esteghlal Jonub
*
2011–12:
Esteghlal Ahvaz
*
2012–13:
Naft Gachsaran (A) and
Siah Jamegan (B)
*
2013–14:
Shahrdari Ardabil (A) and
Etka Gorgan (B)
*
2014–15:
Aluminium Arak
*
2015–16:
Oxin Alborz (A) and
Sepidrood Rasht (B)
*
2016–17:
Shahrdari Tabriz
Shahrdari Tabriz Cultural and Athletic Club (, ''Bashgah-e Futbal-e Vârzeshi-ye Shiherdari Tebriz'') was an Iranian sports club most widely known for its professional football team based in Tabriz, Iran.
Shahrdari Tabriz also has futsal, basket ...
(A) and
Shahrdari Mahshahr (B)
*
2017–18:
Karoon Arvand Khorramshahr (A) and
Shahin Bushehr (B)
*
2018–19:
Khooshe Talaee
*
2019–20:
Chooka Talesh
*
2020–21:
Mes Shahr-e Babak
*
2021–22:
Chooka Talesh
*
2022–23:
Naft va Gaz Gachsaran
*
2023-24:
Nirooye Zamini Tehran
See also
*
IPL
*
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 ...
*
Iran Football's 3rd Division
*
Iranian Super Cup
The Iranian Super Cup (Persian language, Persian: سوپر جام ایران, ''Super Jam-e 'Iran'') is an Iranian association football trophy awarded to the winner of a match between the Persian Gulf Pro League's season champion and the winner of ...
*
Hazfi Cup
Hazfi Cup (, ) formerly known as Pahlavi Cup () is an Iranian knockout football competition held annually by the Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran.
The Iranian Football League, Iranian football league was not held during the 1980s, h ...
*
Iranian Futsal Super League
*
Iran Futsal's 1st Division
*
Iran Futsal's 2nd Division
References
External links
League 2 Iran Results, Fixtures, Standings, Players ...Unofficial Fans Site .
{{Iranian Sport leagues
3
Third-level football leagues in Asia
Sports leagues established in 1972
1972 establishments in Iran
Professional sports leagues in Iran