# Machine Sazi F.C.

Machine Sazi Tabriz Football Club (Persian: باشگاه فوتبال ماشین‌سازی تبریز, Bashgah-e Futbal-e Mashinsazi-ye Tebriz) more commonly known as Machine Sazi was an Iranian professional football club based in Tabriz, East Azarbaijan, Iran competing in the Azadegan League.

## Club history
### Establishment

In 1969, Machine Sazi Tabriz Industrial Group decided to create a new football team by the name of Machine Sazi. Machine Sazi Tabriz football club played its first official match in 1970.
In 1973, the Takht Jamshid Cup was established. The Takht Jamshid Cup, was Iran's first ever nationwide football league and Machine Sazi entered the league in its first year of establishment in 1973. The club participated in Takht Jamshid Cup between 1973 and 1977.

### Post Revolution
#### 1980s

Like most sporting clubs in Iran, the Revolution and the Iran–Iraq War severely limited the team's activities. From 1979 to 1980 the club participated in almost no meaningful competitions.
In 1980 the Tabriz Football League and Tabriz Hazfi Cup was established. Machine Sazi participated in the Tabriz Football League and Tabriz Hazfi Cup between 1980 and 1988. Machine Sazi was the most successful Tabriz Football League club, winning seven championship titles and finishing two times as runners-up. The club also won the Tabriz Hazfi Cup six times. After the war the local and provincial leagues were scrapped in favor of nationwide leagues.

#### 1990s

After the war, the Azadegan League was established as Iran's national league. Machine Sazi was promoted to the Azadegan League in 1994. They stayed in the Azadegan League for two seasons and the club finished 8th the following year. But, in 1997 the club was relegated to the 2nd Division. Machine Sazi played in the 2nd Division between 1997 and 2001 until the Iran Pro League was formed.

#### 2000s

With the launch of Iran Pro League in 2001, Machine Sazi were placed into the Azadegan League. After a 3rd-place finish in the new Azadegan League's inaugural season, Machine Sazi had a string of mid table finishes. In the 2007–08 season the club finished 11th in the Azadegan League and was relegated to 2nd Division but following the Iranian Football Federations' decision to increase the number of teams in the league to 28, Machine Sazi remained in the Azadegan League.
The club had a mixed start to the 2008–09 season in the Azadegan League. 2008 heralded major changes for Machine Sazi, as the terrible state of the club's finances was revealed; they were unable to pay wages and had massive debts. After a drop in form, recording 10 losses in 12 matches, Asghar Etebari was sacked as manager and was replaced by Sirous Bayrami. In March 2008 Javad Shahlaei resigned as chairman and Farhad Sedaghat was elected chairman by the club council. Seyed Javad Mousavi was brought in as the new club manager. Machine Sazi finished 13th in the 2008–09 Azadegan League season. Thus, being relegated to 2nd Division.

#### Dabiri Takeover

On 25 April 2009 the club was bought by businessman Shahram Dabiri. After a year in the 2nd Division, Machine Sazi bought the licence of a club in the Azadegan League and was allowed to compete in the 2010–11 edition of the league. Following a 3rd-place finish in 2012 which almost brought the club back to the Iran Pro League, the club was again relegated to the 2nd Division in 2013. Machine Sazi escaped relegation to the 3rd Division the following year via a relegation play–off.

### Persian Gulf Pro League

Following Machine Sazi's dismal 2013–14 season the team was taken over by the Municipality of Tabriz.
In June 2015 Machine Sazi replaced Shahrdari Tabriz in the 2015–16 Azadegan League as East Azerbaijan's representative. In winter of 2016 Rasoul Khatibi was named head coach of Machine Sazi and the club began the push for promotion to the Persian Gulf Pro League. On 10 May 2016 after a 3–0 win against Mes Rafsanjan, Machine Sazi confirmed their promotion to the Persian Gulf Pro League after a 19-year absence from the top flight of Iranian football. Machine Sazi managed to draw 1–1 with Esteghlal at the Azadi Stadium in week 5.
Khatibi was fired midway through the season for Machine's bad performances and was replaced with Farhad Kazemi. Machine Sazi finished the season in last place and were relegated to the Azadegan League once again. In the season of 2018–19, the club replaced the Gostaresh Foulad and returned to the top flight.

## Players
### First Team Squad

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 | Mohammad Bagher Sadeghi |
| 2 | DF | IRN | Fardin Abedini |
| 3 | DF | IRN | Ali Jalilzadeh |
| 4 | DF | IRN | Meysam Bagheri |
| 5 | DF | IRN | Bahman Kamel |
| 6 | DF | IRN | Mohammad Rasoul Goudarzi |
| 7 | MF | IRN | Babak Alizadeh |
| 8 | MF | IRN | Amir Shahsavari |
| 9 | FW | IRN | Mohammad Hossein Bayrami |
| 10 | FW | IRN | Zabihollah Kohkan |
| 11 | FW | IRN | Akbar Khodadadeh |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 13 | GK | IRN | Aliraza Jafarpour |
| 14 | MF | IRN | Amirreza Bakhshi |
| 15 | DF | IRN | Majid Eydi |
| 16 | MF | IRN | Alireza Nadimi |
| 17 | FW | IRN | Fardin Seyfipour |
| 18 | FW | IRN | Mohammad Aboutorabi |
| 19 | DF | IRN | Amirreza Najafizadeh |
| 20 | MF | IRN | Meysam Namvar |
| 21 | GK | IRN | Amir Faal |
| 22 | GK | IRN | Erfan Akrami |
| 23 | MF | IRN | Sadigh Barani |
For recent transfers, see List of Iranian football transfers winter 2022-23.

## League and domestic cup history

| Season | League | Pos. | Pl. | W | D | L | GS | GA | P | Hazfi Cup | Notes |
| 1971–72 | Local League | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 3 | not held | 3rd place(Region A) |
| 1973–74 | Takht Jamshid Cup | 12 | 22 | 1 | 5 | 16 | 11 | 48 | 8 | not held | Relegated |
| 1974–75 | 2nd Division | 6 | 22 | 8 | 5 | 10 | 30 | 29 | 29 | not held | |
| 1975–76 | 2nd Division | 1 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 4 | 11 | 1/8 finals | Promoted |
| 1976–77 | Takht Jamshid Cup | 9 | 30 | 8 | 16 | 6 | 23 | 23 | 32 | 1/16 finals | |
| 1977–78 | Takht Jamshid Cup | 10 | 30 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 20 | 23 | 28 | not held | |
| 1978–79 | Takht Jamshid Cup | 11 | 12 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 12 | not held | until week 12 |
| 1980–81 | Tabriz Football League | 2 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 1 | 19 | 10 | 14 | not held | |
| 1981–82 | Tabriz Football League | 1 | 10 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 19 | 5 | 18 | not held | |
| 1982–83 | Tabriz Football League | 3 | 11 | 4 | 4 | 3 | 17 | 6 | 12 | not held | |
| 1983–84 | Tabriz Football League | 2 | 10 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 12 | 6 | 15 | not held | |
| 1984–85 | Tabriz Football League | 1 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 29 | 10 | 21 | not held | |
| 1985–86 | Tabriz Football League | 1 | 20 | 16 | 1 | 4 | 39 | 30 | 49 | not held | |
| 1986–87 | Tabriz Football League | 1 | 20 | 17 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 15 | 53 | Third Round | |
| 1987–88 | Tabriz Football League | 1 | 20 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 34 | 26 | 51 | 1/8 finals | |
| 1988–89 | Tabriz Football League | 1 | 20 | 14 | 1 | 5 | 28 | 28 | 43 | 1/16 finals | |
| 1989–90 | Qods League | 6 | 20 | 7 | 7 | 6 | 19 | 18 | 21 | 1/16 finals | |
| 1990–91 | 2nd Division | 4 | 14 | 7 | 4 | 3 | 20 | 10 | 18 | Third Round | |
| 1991–92 | 2nd Division | 8 | 24 | 4 | 7 | 13 | 22 | 23 | 19 | not held | |
| 1992–93 | 2nd Division | 7 | 26 | 9 | 11 | 6 | 27 | 20 | 29 | not held | |
| 1993–94 | 2nd Division | 2 | 26 | 12 | 11 | 3 | 40 | 20 | 35 | 1/32 finals | Promoted |
| 1994–95 | Azadegan League | 3 | 22 | 9 | 7 | 6 | 27 | 26 | 25 | 1/16 finals | |
| 1995–96 | Azadegan League | 8 | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 35 | 38 | 41 | 1/8 finals | |
| 1996–97 | Azadegan League | 13 | 30 | 10 | 5 | 15 | 30 | 52 | 35 | 1/16 finals | Relegated |
| 1997–98 | 2nd Division | 5 | 18 | 7 | 6 | 5 | 19 | 12 | 27 | not held | |
| 1998–99 | 2nd Division | 7 | 16 | 5 | 4 | 7 | 19 | 17 | 19 | 1/32 finals | |
| 1999–00 | 2nd Division | 9 | 34 | 8 | 12 | 14 | 35 | 55 | 36 | Second Round | |
| 2000–01 | 2nd Division | 5 | 34 | 12 | 10 | 12 | 45 | 50 | 46 | 1/16finals | |
| 2001–02 | Azadegan League | 3 | 20 | 9 | 5 | 6 | 28 | 19 | 32 | 1/16 finals | |
| 2002–03 | Azadegan League | 9 | 30 | 9 | 11 | 10 | 40 | 39 | 38 | Second Round | |
| 2003–04 | Azadegan League | 7 | 30 | 11 | 8 | 11 | 34 | 32 | 41 | Third Round | |
| 2004–05 | Azadegan League | 9 | 22 | 6 | 8 | 8 | 18 | 21 | 24 | Third Round | Group B |
| 2005–06 | Azadegan League | 9 | 22 | 6 | 7 | 9 | 21 | 36 | 25 | First Round | Group B |
| 2006–07 | Azadegan League | 8 | 22 | 5 | 11 | 6 | 12 | 15 | 25 | Second Round | Group A |
| 2007–08 | Azadegan League | 11 | 22 | 3 | 12 | 7 | 15 | 25 | 21 | Second Round | Group B |
| 2008–09 | Azadegan League | 13 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 16 | 21 | 49 | 20 | Second Round | Relegated |
| 2009–10 | 2nd Division | 4 | 16 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 22 | 19 | 20 | First Round | Replaced |
| 2010–11 | Azadegan League | 12 | 26 | 7 | 10 | 9 | 30 | 36 | 31 | 1/16 Final | |
| 2011–12 | Azadegan League | 3 | 26 | 11 | 8 | 7 | 32 | 25 | 41 | 1/8 Final | |
| 2012–13 | Azadegan League | 14 | 26 | 3 | 4 | 19 | 18 | 47 | 13 | First Round | Relegated |
| 2013–14 | 2nd Division | 11 | 24 | 6 | 5 | 13 | 26 | 33 | 23 | Round of 32 | |
| 2014–15 | 2nd Division | 7 | 18 | 5 | 9 | 4 | 20 | 19 | 24 | Third Round | Replaced |
| 2015–16 | Azadegan League | 2 | 38 | 16 | 15 | 7 | 53 | 36 | 63 | Did not enter | Promoted |
| 2016–17 | Persian Gulf Pro League | 16 | 30 | 3 | 7 | 20 | 18 | 45 | 16 | Round of 16 | Relegated |
| 2017–18 | Azadegan League | 15 | 8 | 13 | 13 | 27 | 32 | 37 | 34 | Second Round | Replaced |
| 2018–19 | Persian Gulf Pro League | 13 | 30 | 4 | 17 | 9 | 19 | 26 | 29 | Quarter-Final | |
| 2019–20 | Persian Gulf Pro League | 11 | 30 | 8 | 7 | 15 | 28 | 40 | 31 | Round of 32 | |
| 2020–21 | Persian Gulf Pro League | 16 | 30 | 2 | 8 | 20 | 19 | 52 | 14 | Round of 32 | Relegated |

## Club stadium

Before the construction of Sahand Stadium, Machine Sazi played all of its matches at Bagh Shomal Stadium, which currently has a capacity of 25,000. They occasionally play big games at Sahand Stadium. Football academy and training ground of Machine sazi is Marzdaran Stadium.

## Club colors

| White | Green |

### Kit evolution
## Club managers
### Managerial history

| Name | Period |
| Mohammad Ranjbar | 1972–73 |
| Ali Hashemi | 1973–77 |
| Garnik Mehrabian | 1978–80 |
| Hossein Fekri | 1980–83 |
| Ali Shirdel | 1983–88 |
| Yaghob Zeynali | 1988–89 |
| Hesam Golzar | 1989–90 |
| Biyok Sabaghi | 1990–91 |
| Asif Namazov | 1991–92 |
| Rahim Mehnamaye Aghdam | 1994–95 |
| Nasser Hejazi | 1995–96 |
| Adrian Szabo | 1996–97 |
| Hamid Nadimian | |
| Majid Jahanpour | 2001–02 |
| Asghar Etebari | 2002–03 |
| Nasser Hejazi | 2003 |
| Vagif Sadygov | 2003 |
| Boyukagha Hajiyev | 2003–04 |
| Gholamhossein Karimpour | 2004–05 |
| Ahad Sheykhlari | 2005–06 |
| Gholamreza Baghabadi | July 2006 – July 7 |
| Ali Nikbakht | July 2007 – Feb 08 |
| Gholamreza Baghabadi | Feb 2008 – June 8 |
| Asghar Etebari | July 2008 – Jan 09 |
| Sirous Bayrami | Jan 2009 – April 9 |
| Seyed Javad Mousavi | April 2009 – Oct 10 |
| Ahad Sheykhlari | Oct 2010 – Sept 10 |
| Ayyoub Zolfaghari | Sept 2010 – Dec 10 |
| Zoran Smilevski | Dec 2010 – June 11 |
| Rasoul Khatibi | June 2011 – July 12 |
| Nasser Ebrahimi | Aug 2012 – Sept 12 |
| Alireza Akbarpour | Sept 2012 – Nov 12 |
| Asghar Etebari | Nov 2012 – Jan 13 |
| Hossein Khatibi | Jan 2013 – March 13 |
| Vali Hatami | March 2013 – Aug 13 |
| Amir Dadash Ziaee | Aug 2013 – Sept 13 |
| Seyed Javad Mousavi | Sept 2013 |
| Saeed Parkhideh | Sept 2013 – Oct 13 |
| Seyed Reza Sadat | Oct 2013 – Jan 14 |
| Omid Tayeri | Jan 2014 – Feb 14 |
| Amin Haml Abadi | Feb 2014 – March 14 |
| Younes Bahonar | March 2014 – April 14 |
| Amir Dadashziaei | April 2014 – Sept 14 |
| Gholamreza Baghabadi | Sept 2014 – June 15 |
| Nader Dastneshan | June 2015 – Nov 15 |
| Rasoul Khatibi | Nov 2015– Dec 16 |
| Farhad Kazemi | Dec 2016– Jul 17 |
| Rasoul Khatibi | Jul 2017– Dec 17 |
| Firouz Karimi | Jul 2018– Aug 18 |
| Mohammad Reza Mohajeri | Aug 2018– Jan 19 |
| Rasoul Khatibi | Jan 2019- Jun 19 |
| Ahad Sheykhlari | Jun 2019- Feb 20 |
| Human Afazeli | Feb 2020- Aug 20 |
| Vahid Bayatloo | Aug 2020-May 2021 |
| Alireza Akbarpour | May 2021- |
mohanmad saeid akhbari 2020

### Current coaching staff

| Position | Name |
| Head coach | Alireza Akbarpour |
| Assistant managers | Gholamreza Baghabadi Naser farshbaf Adel Baba Pour |
| Goalkeeping coach | Davood faal |
| Fitness coach | Hamidreza joudaki |
| Analyzer | Bakhtiar Hosseinzadeh |
| Team manager | Mohammad Pirozram |

## Honours

* Azadegan League
** Runners-up (1): 2015–16