# Foolad F.C.

Foolad Khuzestan Football Club (, Bāshgāh-e Futbāl-e Fulād-e Khuzestān) is an Iranian professional football club based in Ahvaz, Khuzestan, that plays in Persian Gulf Pro League. The club was founded in 1971 and is owned by Foolad Khuzestan Company.
The club has won Iran Pro League twice, including a championship in the lower division, Azadegan League. In the 2004–05 season, Foolad became the champion of the fourth newly founded Iran Pro League (IPL), gaining a total of 64 points over 30 league matches. After several seasons, Foolad lost many of its key players through transfers and internal problems and also displayed a poor performance in the 2006 AFC Champions League. The club was subsequently relegated to the Azadegan League, second highest division in Iran at the end of 2006–07. However, Foolad was able to return to the IPL starting from the next season, 2008–09 Iran Pro League. Foolad won its second championship in 2013–14 season. The club also won their first Hazfi Cup title in the 2020–21 season.
Foolad's home kit is red and yellow shirts, with the same color for shorts, accompanied by red socks. The colors used in clothing are derived from the symbol of the club.

## Club history
### Establishment and first years (1971–1995)

Foolad Khuzestan Football Club was founded on 2 March 1971 in Ahwaz, Iran by at that time, President of the Foolad Khuzestan Company Ali Akbar Davar. Foolad was a team that no one knew anything about until the dissolution of Jonoub Ahwaz in 1996. Foolad won the Ahwaz City Championship in 1991 and entered the 2nd division of the Khuzestan football league two years later. Foolad won the first group in its debut season and was promoted to the Ahwaz's first league which they won in their debut season as well. This meant they would be promoted to the Khuzestan Provincial Leagues.

### Road to the Highest Division (1995–2001)

In 1995, which was Foolad's second year in the Khuzestan's Second Division, they became provincial champions. That same year Jonoub Ahvaz, was contracted and Foolad took their place in Iran Football's 2nd Division. In 1996, with Homayoun Shahrokhinejad as manager, the team was promoted to the 1st division.

### Frančić era (2004–2006)

The team was eventually bought by the Ahwaz Steel Mill. The team was finally able to win the IPL in the 2004–05 season but due to some ensuing internal problems and coaching difficulties could not perform well in the 2006 Asian Champions League.

### ACL and relegation (2006–2007)

After a mediocre 2005–06, Foolad started the 2006–07 season with former Iranian national team coach Mohammad Mayeli Kohan, but he resigned halfway through the season as Foolad had achieved poor results. Youth club coach Nenad Nikolić temporarily replaced him and soon after Portuguese manager Augusto Inácio was named head coach. Foolad went through a terrible 2006–07 season finishing 15th and being relegated to the lower Azadegan League.

### Return to First Division and Jalali years (2007–2012)

Foolad start the 2007–08 season at Azadegan League and won the playoff spot despite their strong leadership until the last weeks. In the playoff, they drew with Payam Mashhad in a two-leg matches and missed the promotion via away goal. A few weeks later they bought the right to play in Persian Gulf Cup from Sepahan Novin and promoted to IPL. Then Majid Jalali was announced as the club's head coach with signing a three years contract where they had an average season with ending the season in the 7th place.
On September 1, 2009, Seifollah Dehkordi was elected as the club's president after previous president Masoud Rezaeian resigned from his position. After the election of Dehkordi, Majid Jalali left the club despite good results. Luka Bonačić was named as Jalali's successor but he could not please the club as he was not able to win a single match in first eight weeks and the club decided to bring Majid Jalali back where they finished the league 10th. At the Jalali's final year as Foolad manager, the club ended the season at the 14th place, the worst since their promotion back to the league.

### League success under Faraki (2012–2014)

After Jalali's contract was not renewed, Naft Tehran manager Hossein Faraki was named as the club's new head coach. He led Foolad to the 4th rank in his first season as the club's manager, gaining an AFC Champions League spot for the second time in the Foolad's history. In the 2013–14 Iran Pro League season, Faraki led the club to their second Iran Pro League title, his team finished with 57 points. They finished 2 points clear of second place Persepolis. Five days later, Foolad advanced to the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League for the first time after they defeated El-Jaish of Qatar. Foolad lost to Al Sadd on away goals.
On 23 May 2014, Faraki resigned as the manager of the club, due to knee problems, despite two good seasons with Foolad. Dragan Skočić was named as his successor.

## Reserve team

Foolad Novin is the reserve side of Foolad. In 2014 they were promoted to the Azadegan League for the second time in their history. Foolad Yazd is not Foolad's reserve team, but is a feeder club, they also compete in the Azadegan League.

## Youth academy

In April 1999, Foolad formed a youth academy.

## Kit

The name and symbol of the club adapted from its founder and owner company, Foolad. Its symbol means that is related to steel production process. The club's logo repeatedly changed but the overall layout is preserved. After Foolad's league title in 2006, club added a golden star above the team logo etched into the club's shirt, but this was not accepted by the Islamic Republic of Iran Football Federation. So there is not any star on the club's official logo.
Foolad began playing in red, yellow and black, but then changed the yellow to white since 1999. The kit has been made by Nike until 2002. Then Merooj and Daei Sport were the club's kit manufacturers. Uhlsport is the current kit manufacturers, made the kits from past four years. The club currently doesn't have any official sponsor as the club's company name is inserted on the shirts.
| Years | Manufacturers | Sponsors |
| 2001–02 | Daei | None |
| 2002–03 | Daei | None |
| 2003–04 | Daei | O'GENERAL |
| 2004–05 | Daei | None |
| 2005–06 | Daei | None |
| 2006–07 | Daei | Tefal* |
| 2007–08 | Daei | None |
| 2008–09 | Merooj | Jundishapur University |
| 2009–10 | Daei | None |
| 2010–11 | Daei | None |
| 2011–12 | uhlsport | None |
| 2012–13 | uhlsport | None |
| 2013–14 | uhlsport | KSC |
| 2014–15 | uhlsport | KSC |
| 2015–16 | uhlsport | KSC |
| 2016–17 | uhlsport | KSC |
| 2017–18 | uhlsport | KSC |
| 2018–19 | uhlsport | KSC |
| 2019–20 | uhlsport | KSC |
| 2020–21 | Merooj | Tak Makaron |
| 2021–22 | Merooj | KSC |
| 2022–23 | Merooj | KSC |
* – Tefal was the sponsor of the team in only some matches not full season.

## Rivals

The team competes in Ahvaz derby against Esteghlal Khuzestan which is a new born club. The first time the teams met each other was in season 2013–14 which Esteghlal Khuzestan lost that game.

## Players
### First-team squad

    As of 18 September 2024
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | UZB | Utkir Yusupov |
| 2 | DF | IRN | Mojtaba Najjarian |
| 3 | FW | IRN | Sasan Ansari (Captain) |
| 5 | DF | MLI | Moussa Coulibaly |
| 6 | DF | IRN | Ali Nemati |
| 7 | FW | IRN | Mohammad Javad Mohammadi |
| 8 | MF | IRN | Hamid Bou Hamdan |
| 9 | MF | IRN | Ehsan Pahlevan |
| 10 | MF | IRN | Sina Moridi |
| 11 | FW | IRN | Mohammad Reza Soleimani |
| 14 | MF | IRN | Mohammad Abbasi |
| 17 | MF | IRN | Amirmasoud Sarabadani |
| 18 | MF | IRN | Ali Kolahkaj |
| 19 | FW | ARG | Gustavo Blanco |
| 22 | GK | IRN | Alireza Nazi |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 23 | MF | IRN | Shahin Tavakoli |
| 24 | DF | IRN | Behnam Teymourian |
| 26 | DF | IRN | Mohammadali Kazemi |
| 27 | MF | IRN | Ali Asghar Aarabi |
| 29 | FW | BRA | Chimba (Vice Captain) |
| 30 | DF | IRN | Arash Akbarzadeh |
| 33 | DF | IRN | Amirhossein Neshatjoo |
| 44 | DF | IRN | Ali Hassani |
| 49 | GK | IRN | Adib Zarei |
| 66 | MF | IRN | Amin Saedi |
| 70 | MF | IRN | Yousef Mazrae |
| 77 | MF | IRN | Mohammadreza Keshavarzi |
| 79 | MF | IRN | Sina Asadbeigi |
| 83 | MF | IRN | Amin Moradi |
| 84 | GK | IRN | Hossein Kazeminia |
| 88 | MF | IRN | Alireza Bavieh$^{U23}$ |
| 90 | MF | IRN | Mohammad Askari |
| 99 | FW | IRN | Amin Ghaseminejad |
For recent transfers, see List of Iranian football transfers summer 2023.

### Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | IRN | Sina Shahabbasi (at Fajr Sepasi until 30 June 2025) |

## Personnel
### Current technical staff

| Name | Position |
| Head Coach | Juan Ignacio Martínez |
| Assistant coaches | Mohammad Khoramgah Hossein Kazemi Ahmad Aleneme |
| Goalkeeping coaches | Nader Ghobeishavi |
| Athletic coach | Alireza Ahmedaei |
| Fitness coach | Mehrdad Bakhtiyarzadeh |
| Team doctor | Akbar Moradi |
| Physiotherapist | Payam Ahmadi |
| Masseurs | Behnam Taghizadeh Iman Saeedi |
| Media officer | Soheil Ehyaei |
| Team manager | Mohammad Alavi |
* Last updated: 11 August 2022
* Source: Coaching staff

### Management

| Position | Staff |
| President | Hamidreza Shabani |
| Board of Directors | Habibollah Rezaei |
| Board of Directors | Hamidreza Radkia |
| Board of Directors | Mohammad Rouzbehani |
| Board of Directors | Omid Ahmadi |
* Last updated: 15 March 2023
* Source: Board of Directors

## Recent seasons

The table below chronicles the achievements of Foolad in various competitions since 1990.
| Year | Division | Position | Hazfi Cup | ACL |
| 1990–91 | Ahwaz city league 1 | 1st | Not held | did not qualify |
| 1991–92 | Provincial league 3 | 7th | Not held | did not qualify |
| 1992–93 | Provincial league 3 | 1st | Not held | did not qualify |
| 1993–94 | Provincial league 2 | 1st | Not held | did not qualify |
| 1994–95 | Provincial league 1 | 1st | Not held | did not qualify |
| 1995–96 | Iran 2nd Division | 7th | Not held | did not qualify |
| 1996–97 | Iran 2nd Division | 2rd | Not held | did not qualify |
| 1997–98 | Azadegan League | 10th | Not held | did not qualify |
| 1998–99 | Azadegan League | 7th | Not held | did not qualify |
| 1999–00 | Azadegan League | 10th | Not held | did not qualify |
| 2000–01 | Azadegan League | 8th | 1/8 Final | did not qualify |
| 2001–02 | Pro League | 3rd | Quarter-final | did not qualify |
| 2002–03 | Pro League | 7th | 1/8 Final | did not qualify |
| 2003–04 | Pro League | 3rd | 1/8 Final | did not qualify |
| 2004–05 | Pro League | 1st | 1/16 Final | |
| 2005–06 | Pro League | 8th | 1/16 Final | Group Stage |
| 2006–07 | Pro League | 15th | 1/8 Final | did not qualify |
| 2007–08 | Azadegan League | 1st | Semi-final | did not qualify |
| 2008–09 | Pro League | 7th | Quarter-final | did not qualify |
| 2009–10 | Pro League | 10th | 1/16 Final | did not qualify |
| 2010–11 | Pro League | 6th | Semi-final | did not qualify |
| 2011–12 | Pro League | 14th | Quarter-final | did not qualify |
| 2012–13 | Pro League | 4th | 1/16 Final | did not qualify |
| 2013–14 | Pro League | 1st | Semi-final | Round of 16 |
| 2014–15 | Pro League | 5th | Round of 32 | Group Stage |
| 2015–16 | Pro League | 12th | Round of 16 | did not qualify |
| 2016–17 | Pro League | 10th | Round of 16 | did not qualify |
| 2017–18 | Pro League | 7th | Round of 32 | did not qualify |
| 2018–19 | Pro League | 8th | Round of 8 | did not qualify |
| 2019–20 | Pro League | 3rd | Round of 32 | did not qualify |
| 2020–21 | Pro League | 6th | Champions | Group Stage |
| 2021–22 | Pro League | 5th | Round of 16 | Round of 16 |
| 2022–23 | Pro League | 7th | Round of 16 | Quarter-final |

## Stadium information

The club plays their home games at the newly built 30,655-seat Foolad Arena in northern Ahvaz since 2019. Before this, the club played originally at the Takhti Stadium until 2012 and Ghadir Stadium from 2012 until 2019.

## Honours
### Domestic

* Persian Gulf Pro League:
** Winners (2): 2004–05, 2013–14
* Hazfi Cup:
** Winners (2): 2020–21
* Iranian Super Cup:
** Winners (1): 2021

## Records and statistics
### All Top scorers

As of 14 NOVEMBER 2023
| # | Name | Goals | Position |
| 1 | Luciano Pereira | 76 | Forward |
| 2 | Sasan Ansari | 49 | Forward |
| 3 | Reza Norouzi | 36 | Forward |
| 4 | Bakhtiar Rahmani | 30 | Midfielder |
| 5 | Arash Afshin | 29 | Forward |
| 6 | Iman Mobali | 26 | Midfielder |
| 7 | Esmaeil Sharifat | 24 | Midfielder |
| 8 | Behnam Seraj | 21 | Forward |
| 9 | Ahmad Momenzadeh | 18 | Forward |
| 10 | Ayanda Patosi | 18 | Midfielder |

### All Top Appearances

| # | Name | Apps | Position |
| 1 | Sasan Ansari | 309 | Forward |
| 2 | Ayoub Vali | 253 | Defender |
| 3 | Luciano Pereira | 224 | Forward |
| 4 | Bakhtiar Rahmani | 209 | Midfielder |
| 5 | Esmaeil Sharifat | 191 | Winger |
| 6 | Ebrahim Mirzapour | 179 | Goalkeeper |
| 7 | Mehrdad Jama'ati | 174 | Left back |
| 8 | Abdollah Karami | 160 | Defender |
| 9 | Ahmad Abdollahzadeh | 155 | Midfielder |
| 10 | Mojtaba Najjarian | 154 | Defender |