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 the Persian Gulf Pro League was established.
Azadegan League operates on a system of promotion and relegation. Each year, the top finishing teams in the Azadegan League are promoted to the Persian Gulf Pro League, and the lowest finishing teams are relegated to League 2.
Since 2016, the league comprises 18 teams. The winner and the runner-up of the Azadegan League are automatically promoted to the Persian Gulf Pro League. The bottom three teams in the league are relegated to League 2. In the past, the format and number of teams were changed for various times.
+ Azadegan League champions (First tier) ! style="width:75px;" | Season ! style="width:125px;" | Champions ! style="width:125px;" | Runners-up |
1991–92 | PAS Tehran | Esteghlal | |
1992–93 | PAS Tehran | Persepolis | |
1993–94 | Saipa | Persepolis | |
1994–95 | Saipa | Esteghlal | |
1995–96 | Persepolis | Bahman | |
1996–97 | Persepolis | Bahman | |
1997–98 | Esteghlal | PAS Tehran | |
1998–99 | Persepolis | Esteghlal | |
1999–2000 | Persepolis | Esteghlal | |
2000–01 | Esteghlal | Persepolis | |
Prior to the start of the 1995–96 Azadegan League season, the league changed its format again. 16 teams participated in one group until 1999. Persepolis were the champions in 1995–96, 1996–97 and 1998–99, while Esteghlal became the champion in the 1997–98 season. In 1999 the league was reduced to 14 teams. Persepolis won the 1999–2000 Azadegan League season, sitting seven points clear of rival Esteghlal. The 2000–01 season was the last year of the Azadegan League as the top-level football league of Iran. Esteghlal became the champion in a league of 12 teams.
+ Azadegan League champions (Second tier) ! style="width:75px;" | Season ! style="width:140px;" | Champions ! style="width:110px;" | Runners-up |
2001–02 | Esteghlal Ahvaz | Sanat Naft | |
2002–03 | Shamoushak | Pegah | |
2003–04 | Saba Battery | Malavan | |
2004–05 | Shahid Ghandi | Rah Ahan | |
2005–06 | Mes Kerman | Paykan | |
2006–07 | Shirin Faraz | Pegah | |
2007–08 | Payam | Sepahan Novin | |
2008–09 | Steel Azin | Shahin | |
Tractor | |||
2009–10 | Shahrdari Tabriz | Sanat Naft | |
Naft Tehran | |||
2010–11 | Damash | Mes Sarcheshmeh | |
2011–12 | Paykan | Aluminium Hormozgan | |
2012–13 | Gostaresh Foolad | PAS Hamedan | |
Esteghlal Khuzestan | |||
2013–14 | Padideh | Naft MIS | |
2014–15 | Foolad Novin | Siah Jamegan | |
2015–16 | Paykan | Machine Sazi | |
2016–17 | Pars Jonoubi | Sepidrood | |
2017–18 | Naft MIS | Nassaji | |
2018–19 | Gol Gohar | Shahin | |
2019–20 | Mes Rafsanjan | Aluminium Arak | |
2020–21 | Fajr Sepasi | Havadar | |
2021–22 | Malavan | Mes Kerman | |
2022–23 | Shams Azar | Esteghlal Khuzestan | |
2023–24 | Kheybar | Chadormalou | |
2024–25 | Fajr Sepasi | Paykan |
Once more the league changed their format in 2004. Between the 2004–05 and 2007–08 Azadegan League season, 24 clubs played in two groups of 12 teams. After Shahid Ghandi winning the league in 2004–05, Mes Kerman became the champion in the 2005–06 season. Sanat Naft Abadan, the third-ranked team in 2004–05, criticized the Iranian Football Federation due to incidents in the final stage. In the 2006–07 Azadegan League season, Pegah and Shirin Faraz became the champions of the league, while Tractor failed once again for promotion. Also, Sanat Naft Abadan promoted automatically to the Persian Gulf Cup because of the 2004–05 Azadegan League promotion controversy.
After Payam Mashhad winning the title in the 2007–08 Azadegan League season, the number of teams was increased to 28 before the start of the 2008–09 season. They played in two groups of 14 teams until 2013. East Azerbaijan club Tractor returned finally back to the Persian Gulf Cup by winning the 2008–09 season alongside Steel Azin. Shahrdari Tabriz and Naft Tehran were the champions in the 2009–10 season, before Damash winning the league in 2010–11. Paykan won the league title 2011–12, while Gostaresh and Esteghlal Khuzestan winning the league one year later. Although Shahrdari Tabriz could win their group, they had to relegate due to match-fixing.
The number of teams was reduced in the next two seasons. 26 clubs participated in 2013–14, while 24 teams played in the 2014–15 season. Padideh won the title in 2013–14 after a victory over Naft Masjed Soleyman in the league final. One season later, Foolad Novin could win the league after they beat Siah Jamegan in final. Due to the fact that Foolad Novin is the reserve team of Foolad Khuzestan, they could not promote to the Persian Gulf Pro League. Instead of Foolad Novin, Esteghlal Ahvaz was allowed to promote.
Like in the 2016–17 season, Nassaj was also involved in a dramatic season finish in the 2017–18 Azadegan League. At the last matchday, five teams had the chance to promoted. Naft Masjed Soleyman drew 2–2 with Mes Rafsanjan and won the league, while Nassaji defeated Rah Ahan 6–0 in Tehran's Takhti Stadium and became runners-up with 64 points thanks to a better goal difference than Khooneh be Khooneh.
12 | 1991–92, 2000–01 |
16 (two groups) | 1992–93 |
14 | 1993–94, 1999–2000 |
24 (two groups) | 1994–95, 2004–05 until 2007–08, 2014–15 |
16 | 1995–96 until 1998–99, 2002–03 until 2003–04 |
22 (two groups) | 2001–02 |
28 (two groups) | 2008–09 until 2012–13 |
26 (two groups) | 2013–14 |
20 | 2015–16 |
18 | since 2016–17 |
Aluminium Arak | Arak | Imam Khomeini | 15,000 |
Arman Gohar Sirjan | Sirjan | TBA | TBA |
Baadraan Tehran | Tehran | Kargaran Stadium | 5,000 |
Damash | Rasht | Shahid Dr. Azodi | 11,000 |
Elmoadab Tabriz | Tabriz | Marzdaran Stadium | 5,000 |
Esteghlal Khuzestan | Ahvaz | Ghadir Stadium | 38,900 |
Fajr Sepasi | Shiraz | Hafezieh Stadium | 15,000 |
Gol Reyhan Alborz | Karaj | Enghelab Stadium | 15,000 |
Khooshe Talaei Saveh | Saveh | Shahid Chamran | 3,000 |
Malavan | Bandar-e Anzali | Takhti Anzali | 8,000 |
Mes Kerman | Kerman | Shahid Bahonar | 15,430 |
Mes Rafsanjan | Rafsanjan | Shohadaye Noushabad | 5,000 |
Navad Urmia | Urmia | Shahid Bakeri | 15,000 |
Nirooye Zamini | Tehran | TBA | TBA |
Qashqai | Shiraz | Hafezieh Stadium | 15,000 |
Rayka Babol | Babol | Haft-e Tir | 6,000 |
Sepidrood | Rasht | Sardar Jangal | 15,000 |
Sorkhpooshan Pakdasht | Pakdasht | Shahid Dastgerdi | 8,250 |
+ Performance in the Azadegan League by club | ||
Persepolis | 4 (1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000) | 3 (1992–93, 1993–94, 2000–01) |
Esteghlal | 2 (1997–98, 2000–01) | 4 (1991–92, 1994–95, 1998–99, 1999–2000) |
Paykan | 2 (2011–12, 2015–16) | 2 (2005–06, 2024–25) |
PAS Tehran | 2 (1991–92, 1992–93) | 1 (1997–98) |
Fajr Sepasi | 2 (2020–21, 2024–25) | |
Saipa | 2 (1993–94, 1994–95) | |
Damash | 1 (2010–11) | 2 (2002–03), (2006–07) |
Naft Masjed Soleyman | 1 (2017–18) | 1 (2013–14) |
Mes Kerman | 1 (2005–06) | 1 (2021–22) |
Malavan | 1 (2021–22) | 1 (2003–04) |
Esteghlal Khuzestan | 1 (2012–13) | 1 (2022–23) |
Esteghlal Ahvaz | 1 (2001–02) | |
Shamoushak Noshahr | 1 (2002–03) | |
Saba Qom1 | 1 (2003–04) | |
Shahid Ghandi Yazd2 | 1 (2004–05) | |
Rahian Kermanshah3 | 1 (2006–07) | |
Payam Mashhad | 1 (2007–08) | |
Steel Azin4 | 1 (2008–09) | |
Tractor5 | 1 (2008–09) | |
Naft Tehran | 1 (2009–10) | |
Shahrdari Tabriz | 1 (2009–10) | |
Gostaresh Foulad | 1 (2012–13) | |
Padideh6 | 1 (2013–14) | |
Foolad Novin | 1 (2014–15) | |
Pars Jonoubi Jam | 1 (2016–17) | |
Gol Gohar | 1 (2018–19) | |
Mes Rafsanjan | 1 (2019–20) | |
Shams Azar Qazvin | 1 (2022–23) | |
Bahman | 2 (1995–96, 1996–97) | |
Sanat Naft | 2 (2001–02, 2009–10) | |
Shahin Bushehr | 2 (2008–09, 2018–19) | |
Rah Ahan | 1 (2004–05) | |
Sepahan Novin | 1 (2007–08) | |
Aluminium Hormozgan | 1 (2011–12) | |
Mes Sarcheshmeh | 1 (2010–11) | |
PAS Hamedan | 1 (2012–13) | |
Siah Jamegan | 1 (2014–15) | |
Machine Sazi | 1 (2015–16) | |
Sepidrood | 1 (2016–17) | |
Nassaji Mazandaran | 1 (2017–18) | |
Aluminium Arak | 1 (2019–20) | |
Havadar | 1 (2020–21) | |
+ Performance in the Azadegan League by club | ||
Persepolis | 4 (1995–96, 1996–97, 1998–99, 1999–2000) | 3 (1992–93, 1993–94, 2000–01) |
Esteghlal | 2 (1997–98, 2000–01) | 4 (1991–92, 1994–95, 1998–99, 1999–2000) |
PAS Tehran | 2 (1991–92, 1992–93) | 1 (1997–98) |
Saipa | 2 (1993–94, 1994–95) | |
Bahman | 2 (1995–96, 1996–97) | |
+ Performance in the Azadegan League by club | ||
Paykan | 2 (2011–12, 2015–16) | 1 (2005–06) |
Damash | 1 (2010–11) | 2 (2002–03), (2006–07) |
Naft Masjed Soleyman | 1 (2017–18) | 1 (2013–14) |
Mes Kerman | 1 (2005–06) | 1 (2021–22) |
Malavan | 1 (2021–22) | 1 (2003–04) |
Esteghlal Khuzestan | 1 (2012–13) | 1 (2022–23) |
Esteghlal Ahvaz | 1 (2001–02) | |
Shamoushak Noshahr | 1 (2002–03) | |
Saba Qom1 | 1 (2003–04) | |
Shahid Ghandi Yazd2 | 1 (2004–05) | |
Rahian Kermanshah3 | 1 (2006–07) | |
Payam Mashhad | 1 (2007–08) | |
Steel Azin4 | 1 (2008–09) | |
Tractor5 | 1 (2008–09) | |
Naft Tehran | 1 (2009–10) | |
Shahrdari Tabriz | 1 (2009–10) | |
Gostaresh Foulad | 1 (2012–13) | |
Padideh6 | 1 (2013–14) | |
Foolad Novin | 1 (2014–15) | |
Pars Jonoubi Jam | 1 (2016–17) | |
Gol Gohar | 1 (2018–19) | |
Mes Rafsanjan | 1 (2019–20) | |
Fajr Sepasi | 1 (2020–21) | |
Shams Azar Qazvin | 1 (2022–23) | |
Sanat Naft | 2 (2001–02, 2009–10) | |
Shahin Bushehr | 2 (2008–09, 2018–19) | |
Rah Ahan | 1 (2004–05) | |
Sepahan Novin | 1 (2007–08) | |
Aluminium Hormozgan | 1 (2011–12) | |
Mes Sarcheshmeh | 1 (2010–11) | |
PAS Hamedan | 1 (2012–13) | |
Siah Jamegan | 1 (2014–15) | |
Machine Sazi | 1 (2015–16) | |
Sepidrood | 1 (2016–17) | |
Nassaji Mazandaran | 1 (2017–18) | |
Aluminium Arak | 1 (2019–20) | |
Havadar | 1 (2020–21) | |
Nassaji Mazandaran1 | 2nd |
Mes Kerman | 1st |
Sanat Naft | 2nd |
Aluminium Arak2 | 2nd |
Malavan3 | 1st |
Fajr Sepasi | 1st |
Tractor Sazi | 1st |
Machine Sazi | 2nd |
Mes Rafsanjan | 1st |
Gol Gohar | 1st |
Persepolis | 1st |
Payam Mashhad4 | 1st |
Esteghlal | 1st |
PAS Tehran | 1st |
Damash Gilan5 | 1st |
Esteghlal Ahvaz | 1st |
Iranjavan | 2nd |
Niroye Zamini | 3rd |
Saipa | 1st |
Sepahan | 3rd |
Rayka Babol6 | 5th |
Esteghlal Khuzestan | 1st |
Kheybar Khorramabad | 4th |
Pars Jonoubi Jam | 1st |
Khooshe Talaei | 4th |
Arman Gohar Sirjan | 3rd |
Chooka Talesh | 6th |
Esteghlal Mollasani | |
Shams Azar Qazvin | 1st |
Shahrdari Astara | 11th |
Mes Shahr-e Babak | 7th |
Shahrdari Hamedan | |
Van Pars Naghsh-e-Jahan | 7th |
Chadormalou Ardakan | 8th |
Darya Babol | 10th |
Khalij Fars Mahshahr | |
Omid Vahdat Khorasan | 18th |
2022–23 Persian Gulf Pro League |
2022–23 Azadegan League |
Dissolved |
2008–09 | 3,075 | Tractor | 9,385 | Niroye Zamini | 319 |
2009–10 | 2,667 | Nassaji Mazandaran | 11,833 | Foolad Novin | 192 |
2010–11 | 2,733 | Nassaji Mazandaran | 12,769 | Sanati Kaveh | 188 |
2011–12 | 2,350 | Naft Masjed Soleyman | 9,091 | Sanati Kaveh | 200 |
2015–16 | 2,539 | Nassaji Mazandaran | 8,931 | Parseh Tehran | 120 |
2016–17 | 2,650 | Nassaji Mazandaran | 10,333 | Rah Ahan | 188 |
2017–18 | 2,287 | Nassaji Mazandaran | 12,941 | Machine Sazi | 247 |
Sahand |
Vatani Stadium |
Sahand |
Vatani Stadium |
Sahand |
Dr. Azodi |
Takhti Tehran |
2005–06 | 14 |
2006–07 | 11 |
2007–08 | 15 |
2008–09 | 17 |
2009–10 | 17 |
2010–11 | 13 |
13 | |
13 | |
2011–12 | 13 |
2012–13 | 17 |
2013–14 | 15 |
2014–15 | 11 |
2015–16 | 16 |
2016–17 | 24 |
2017–18 | 17 |
17 | |
2018–19 | 16 |
16 | |
2019–20 | 17 |
2020–21 | 17 |
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