Esteghlal F.C.

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2022}} {{more citations needed|date=November 2023|talk=MCN Nov 2023}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Esteghlal | image = Esteghlal F.C. Logo.svg | image_size = 180px | fullname = Esteghlal Football Club | nickname = ''Capital Blues''{{br}}''Blue Boys''{{br}}''Tâj''{{br}}''SS''{{br}}''2 Stars''{{br}}''Asia Blues''{{br}}''Giant of Asia'' | founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1945|09|26}} as ''Docharkheh Savaran Football Club'' | dissolved = | ground = [[Azadi Stadium]] | capacity = 78,116<ref name="capacity">{{cite web|url=https://footballi.net/news/r/922845/%DA%A9%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%B4-%D8%B8%D8%B1%D9%81%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A2%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C|title=22|work=varzesh3.com|access-date=30 December 2019|archive-date=13 July 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190713164730/https://footballi.net/news/r/922845/%DA%A9%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%B4-%D8%B8%D8%B1%D9%81%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A2%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%B9%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%D8%B3%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C}}</ref> | owner = Esteghlal of Iran Athletic and Cultural Company [[Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries]] 85% [[:fa:فهرست صنایع پتروشیمی ایران|PPC]]: 20% [[:fa:پتروشیمی بوعلی سینا|BSPC]]: 20% [[Bandar Imam Petrochemical Company|BIPC]]: 20% [[:fa:پتروشیمی شهید تندگویان|STPC]]: 20% [[Persian Gulf Petrochemical Industries|PGPIC]]: 8.54% Public Shareholders: 11.46% - [[Iran Fara Bourse|IFB]]: [http://www.tsetmc.com/Loader.aspx?ParTree=151311&i=22259718159702272# ESLP1]) | chrtitle = President | chairman = Ali Tajernia (acting) | mgrtitle = | manager = [[Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh]] | league = [[Persian Gulf Pro League]] | season = [[2024–25 Persian Gulf Pro League|2024–25]] | position = Persian Gulf Pro League, 9th | pattern_la1 = _whiteshoulders | pattern_b1 = _whitecollarplain | pattern_ra1 = _whiteshoulders | pattern_sh1 = _whitesides | pattern_so1 = _whitestripe | leftarm1 = 1034A6 | body1 = 1034A6 | rightarm1 = 1034A6 | shorts1 = 1034A6 | socks1 = 1034A6 | pattern_la2 = _blueshoulders | pattern_b2 = _collarblue | pattern_ra2 = _blueshoulders | pattern_sh2 = _bluesides | pattern_so2 = _bluestripe2 | leftarm2 = FFFFFF | body2 = FFFFFF | rightarm2 = FFFFFF | shorts2 = FFFFFF | socks2 = FFFFFF | pattern_la3 = | pattern_b3 = | pattern_ra3 = | pattern_sh3 = | pattern_so3 = | leftarm3 = | body3 = | rightarm3 = | shorts3 = | socks3 = | current = 2025–26 Esteghlal F.C. season | website = {{URL|https://fcesteghlal.ir/}} }} {{Esteghlal F.C. sections}} '''Esteghlal Football Club''' ({{langx|fa|باشگاه فوتبال استقلال|Bâšgâh-e Futbâl-e Esteqlâl}}, 'Esteghlal' meaning 'The Independence') is an [[Iran]]ian professional [[association football|football]] club based in [[Tehran]] that competes in the [[Persian Gulf Pro League]]. The club was founded in 1945 as '''The Cyclists''' ({{lang|fa|دوچرخه‌سواران}}, Dočarxe-Savârân) and was known as '''Tâj''' ({{lang|fa|تاج}}; meaning 'The Crown') between 1949 and 1979. The club is part of the [[multisport club]] Esteghlal Athletic and Cultural Company of Iran. They were the first team to reach 1,000 points in the Persian Gulf Pro League.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |url=https://www.varzesh3.com/news/1647118/%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%85-1000-%D8%AA%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AE-%D9%84%DB%8C%DA%AF |title=1000 points |access-date=28 February 2021 |archive-date=7 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230207065302/https://www.varzesh3.com/news/1647118/%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%85-1000-%D8%AA%D8%A7%DB%8C%DB%8C-%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AE-%D9%84%DB%8C%DA%AF |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=":1">[http://www.bankvarzesh.com/fa/mobile/news/620711/AFC:-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%8C-%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%A7-%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%B4-%D8%A7%D8%B2-1000-%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%AA%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B2-%D8%B9%DA%A9%D8%B3 +1000 points]{{dead link|date=May 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.irna.ir/news/83537842/%D8%B1%DA%A9%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%B2%D8%B1%DA%AF-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B4%D8%A8%DB%8C-%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B4-%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%85-%DB%B1%DB%B0%DB%B0%DB%B0-%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%AA%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C |title=+1000 points |access-date=28 February 2021 |archive-date=4 November 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191104222946/https://www.irna.ir/news/83537842/%D8%B1%DA%A9%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D8%A8%D8%B2%D8%B1%DA%AF-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%B4%D8%A8%DB%8C-%D9%81%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B4-%D9%86%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%84%DB%8C%D9%86-%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%85-%DB%B1%DB%B0%DB%B0%DB%B0-%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%AA%DB%8C%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C |url-status=live }}</ref> Esteghlal has won 39 official and regional trophies making them Iran's most decorated and most successful football club. The club has won 19 national titles which are 10 Iranian leagues, a record of 8 Hazfi cups and an Iranian Super Cup. Esteghlal has won 13 Tehran league (previously known as Tehran clubs championship) and 4 Tehran Hazfi cup and 1 Tehran Super cup making them most successful club in Tehran football history. Esteghlal's international titles are 2 championship in [[AFC Champions League Elite]] (previously known as Asian clubs championship) making them Iran's most successful club in Asian football and third in AFC champions league.[[:fa:باشگاه_فوتبال_استقلال_تهران#%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA|[4]]][https://pgpic.ir/en/About-us/Subsidiaries/Service-Companies/esteghlal-iran-cultural-and-athletic-company <nowiki>[6]</nowiki>][https://www.espn.co.uk/football/story/_/id/37433651/esteghlal-five-best-moments <nowiki>[7]</nowiki>]

After the [[1979 revolution]], the club's women's teams were dissolved and the progress of women's football in Iran was tied to [[Islamic republic|new regime politics]]. Since the [[1973–74 Takht Jamshid Cup|1973–74 season]], Esteghlal has played its home games at the [[Azadi Stadium|Azadi]], which has a [[seating capacity]] of 78,116,<ref name="capacity"/> though it can hold more people during important matches. Esteghlal set an attendance record for an [[AFC Champions League|Asian Club Championship]] match in [[1998–99 Asian Club Championship|1999]] when 121,000 supporters watched their final against [[Júbilo Iwata]] in Tehran.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.varzesh11.com/fa/soccer_classic/matches/show/%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84_%D9%88_%D8%AD%D8%B3%D8%B1%D8%AA_%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87_%D8%B3%D9%88%D9%85%D8%9B_%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C_%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%8A%DB%8C_%D9%87%D8%A7_%D8%AF%D8%B1_%D8%AA%D9%87%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/118959|website=www.varzesh11.com|access-date=6 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190119174545/https://www.fifa.com/news/esteghlal-the-iranian-crown-1101649|url-status=dead|archive-date=19 January 2019|trans-title=Esteghlal the Iranian Crown|publisher=FIFA | title= در تهران {{!}} ورزش 11 }}</ref>

==History==

=== 1945–69: early years, The Crown === [[File:Docharkhesavaran 1325.jpg|thumb|Docharkheh Savaran (Taj) Team in 1946|alt=]] [[File:Ali Danaeifard.jpg|thumb|[[Ali Danaeifard]], club player and manager from 1946 until 1969]] On 20 September 1945, some young athletes and students including a 23-year-old military officer Parviz Khosravani (first manager of the club), Asghar Navaab (Bicycle Mechanic), Enayat Jananpour (National Sports Organisation staff member), Mirzaee (carpenter) and Khashaaei (bank guard) established a sports club on Ferdowsi Street, Tehran. Since the founders of the club were mostly interested in cycling, the club's original name was ''Docharkheh Savaran'' ({{langx|fa|دوچرخه سواران}}; meaning 'The Cyclists'), in 1945. Esteghlal football club played its first official match in 1946.

In the first year, the 1946 season, they stood in second place of [[Tehran Football League]] and [[Tehran Hazfi Cup]]. The 1947 season ended with the first ever Esteghlal's cup, after victories to reach the [[Tehran Hazfi Cup]]. Docharkhe Savaran founders and players agreed with the rename of the club to ''Taj'' ({{langx|fa|تاج}}; meaning 'The Crown'), in 1949.

From the beginning Taj or Docharkeh Savaran competed in the Tehran Local League, which at the time was the highest ranked league in Iran. On 6 March 1950, Taj played its first official game in [[Amjadieh Stadium]] against [[Shahin F.C.|Shahin]]; Taj managed a 1–0 win.

Taj won seven first titles in the 1950s and 1960s; 1949–1950, 1951–1952, 1957–1958 and the three consecutive championships in 1959–1960, 1960–1961 and 1961–1962 (in the following years Taj added its first titles from the [[Tehran Provincial League]] and the [[Tehran Hazfi Cup]]) and again in 1963–1964 season.

Taj also won four [[Tehran Hazfi Cup]] in 1947, 1951, 1958 and 1959. The most successful club in Iran between that years, so far than other great teams like [[Daraei F.C.|Daraei]] with three first titles and [[Shahin Tehran F.C.|Shahin]] with two first titles and four-second place.<ref>{{cite web|title=۱۳۸۳ هفته نامه کیهان ورزشی شماره ۲۵۲۳ فروردین|url=http://opac.nlai.ir/opac-prod/bibliographic/1697639|publisher=kayhan.ir|access-date=11 September 2017|archive-date=6 August 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170806142006/http://opac.nlai.ir/opac-prod/bibliographic/1697639|url-status=dead}}</ref> The first national cup was obtained in 1957 National Football League after victory against Tabriz team by three goals. Taj represented Tehran's football in those games which were played in Bagh-e-Homayun ground.

[[File:Büyük Jeddikar.jpg|thumb|[[Büyük Jeddikar]] is known for being the first footballer in Iranian football history to be transferred from an Iranian club TAJ (Esteghlal) to a foreign club in 1957.]] Tehran old derby was a sensitive match which played between TAJ and [[Shahin Tehran F.C.|Shahin]] in mid century, until 1967.

=== 1970–78: champion of Asia and Iran === The 1970 Asian Club Championship was the 3rd edition of the annual Asian club football competition hosted by [[Asian Football Confederation]]. Seven clubs from seven countries competed in the tournament. The tournament was held in Tehran, Iran in April. The clubs were split in two groups and the group winners and runners-up advanced to semi-finals.

TAJ defeated [[Hapoel Tel Aviv F.C.|Hapoel Tel Aviv]] of Israel 2–1 in the final to win its first ever [[Asian Club Championship]] and started new era in Iranian football with announced of professionalisation of football in Iran.Club Legend [[Ali Jabbari]](King Ali) was the Star and Captain of the Team.

[[File:Taj1970.jpg|thumb|right|TAJ squad in 1970 as national and continental champions]] This year had another honour for TAJ, the first Iranian national league title: [[1970–71 Local League]] under management of [[Zdravko Rajkov|Rajkov]]. TAJ defeated [[PAS Tehran F.C.|PAS]] 2–1 in final match. TAJ have reached to third place of [[1971 Asian Champion Club Tournament|1971 Asian Club Championship]], a year after the first Asian Cup of club. They were defeated [[Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corps|ROK Army]] of Korea 3–2 in Third place match.

TAJ stood at second place in the 1973–74 league, with only two points less than Persepolis. [[Gholam Hossein Mazloumi]] was the top scorer of the league, with 15 goals. TAJ reached the 1974–75 [[Takht Jamshid Cup]] the next year, the second official [[Iranian Football League]] for Club. Mazloumi was still the best scorer. Social tensions came to the club, a rebellion against the system which named revolution in next years.

=== 1979–2001: revolution and post-revolution === After the 1979 [[Iranian Revolution|Islamic Revolution]] in Iran, the club was taken over by the newly established [[Islamic Republic of Iran|Islamic government]] and put under the control of the Physical Education Organization of the [[Islamic republic]] of Iran ({{langx|fa|سازمان تربیت بدنی جمهوری اسلامی ايران}}), a governmental organisation, and changed its name to Esteghlal (Persian: {{lang|fa|استقلال}}), 'Independence' in Persian; Taj ({{lang|fa|تاج }}) means 'Crown' in Persian. All players not swearing allegiance to the new Islamic government were arrested, brutally beaten and executed by Iran's [[Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps|Revolutionary Guard Corps]]. After the revolution, any sign of the previous monarchist regime was not tolerated.

During the 1980s, Esteghlal won the Tehran Football League twice. The [[1989–90 Qods League|1989–90]] season was a memorable one for Esteghlal. The club finished 1st in Group B of the Qods League and advanced to the semi-finals. Esteghlal defeated [[Malavan F.C.|Malavan]] 4–0 on aggregate to advance to the final against the rival: [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]. Esteghlal defeated Persepolis 2–1 to win the Qods League. In the following season, Esteghlal made it to the final of the Hazfi Cup only to lose to Malavan on penalties.

1990–91 Esteghlal won the Asian Club Championship for the 2nd time defeating Chinese club [[Liaoning F.C.|Liaoning]] 2–1. In the next year Esteghlal reached the [[1991 Asian Club Championship]] final match again and lost in penalties to [[Al-Hilal FC]]. Esteghlal once again reached the final of the Asian Club Championship in 1999, this time losing to Japanese club [[Júbilo Iwata]] 1–2 in Tehran.

=== 2001–present: Iran Pro League Era ===

2001 marked the first year of the newly founded [[Iran Pro League]]. Going into the final day, Esteghlal was on top of the league's table; however, with an Esteghlal loss and a Persepolis win, Persepolis was crowned as the league's inaugural champion. However, the [[2001–02 Hazfi Cup]] provided some consolation for Esteghlal as they beat [[Fajr Sepasi F.C.|Fajr Sepasi]] 4–3 on aggregate to win the cup. The [[2002–03 Iran Pro League|2002–03]] season was one of the worst years in club history, as they finished 9th and were eliminated in the group stage of the [[AFC Champions League]].

In July 2003, [[Amir Ghalenoi]] was appointed manager of Esteghlal. In his first year, Esteghlal finished runner-up in the league behind the champion [[PAS Tehran F.C.|Pas Tehran]]. Ghalenoi also made it to the final of the Hazfi Cup losing 2–5 on aggregate to [[Sepahan F.C.|Sepahan]]. His second season proved to be less successful as Esteghlal finished 3rd and failed to qualify to the AFC Champions League. However, the [[2005–06 Iran Pro League|2005–06]] season Esteghlal were crowned champions of the Iran Pro League for the first time in the Pro League era.

In 2006 after the departure of Amir Ghalenoi, his assistant and youth team coach [[Samad Marfavi]] took over the head-coaching job. Esteghlal had a disappointing season, finishing fourth, thus failing to secure a spot in the AFC Champions League, as well as only reaching the Round of 16 in the Hazfi Cup with a shock defeat by [[Fajr Sepasi F.C.|Fajr Sepasi]]. After Marfavi's departure in August 2007, [[Nasser Hejazi]] took over; but after only 14 games and 4 defeats, Hejazi was fired as manager in November 2007. [[Firouz Karimi]] was hired as the temporary head coach for the remainder of the season; he did not fare much better than Hejazi and the team finished 13th in the league, its lowest finish ever. Firouz Karimi was fired in May 2008 and Amir Ghalenoi was hired again in July 2008. He regrouped the team and the Hazfi Cup proved to be a valuable consolation, as Esteghlal became champions after defeating [[Pegah Gilan F.C.|Pegah Gilan]] 3–1 on aggregate, thus securing a Champions League spot after a two-year absence. During Ghalenoi's first full and only season in his second stint with Esteghlal, he led the team to an Iran Pro League championship, finishing ahead of [[Zob Ahan Isfahan F.C.|Zob Ahan]] on goal difference. However, after a group stage exit in the AFC Champions League, Ghalenoi resigned.

[[Samad Marfavi]] took the reins of Esteghlal for a second time; Marfavi led the team to a 3rd place league finish in the [[2009–10 Esteghlal F.C. season|2009–10]] season and also led the team to the Round of 16 of the AFC Champions League, losing to [[Al Shabab FC (Riyadh)|Al Shabab]] of Saudi Arabia 2–3 on aggregate. In the spring of 2010, Marfavi extended his contract for another year, but strangely a few days later he resigned. This time Esteghlal turned to [[Parviz Mazloumi]], a former Esteghlal player in the 1980s. During his 2-year tenure with Esteghlal, he led the team to 2nd and 3rd place league finishes, as well as a Hazfi Cup trophy in [[2011–12 Hazfi Cup|2012]]. After a 0–2 loss to fellow countrymen [[Sepahan F.C.|Sepahan]] in the Round 16 of the AFC Champions League, Mazloumi was sacked by the club and Amir Ghalenoi took the reins of Esteghlal for a third time.

The new era started for Esteghlal. Ghalenoi had no trouble leading Esteghlal to a league victory in his [[2012–13 Esteghlal F.C. season|first season back]]. The team also made it to the semi-finals of the Hazfi Cup which they eventually lost to [[Sepahan F.C.|Sepahan]]. The year was also marked by advancing to the AFC Champions League semi-finals where they met Korean side [[FC Seoul]]. After a 0–2 away loss in the first leg, Esteghlal faced an uphill task; they returned to [[Azadi Stadium]] but eventually lost to FC Seoul 2–4 on aggregate.

The [[2013–14 Esteghlal F.C. season|next season]] however was a disappointing one for Ghalenoi and his team. With a chance to win the league on the final match day, Esteghlal lost 1–3 to [[Tractor Sazi Tabriz F.C.|Tractor Sazi]] and dropped to 5th place, and out of a champions league slot. Esteghlal also faced a shock defeat at the hands of [[Sanat Mes Kerman F.C.|Mes Kerman]] in the Hazfi Cup semi-finals. To top off Esteghlal's horrendous year, the team failed to reach the AFC Champions League knock-out stage, finishing 3rd in its group.

After Esteghlal's defeat to [[Zob Ahan F.C.|Zob Ahan]] in the Hazfi Cup final on 29 May 2016, [[Parviz Mazloomi]] was fired and replaced by former player and [[Naft Tehran F.C.|Naft Tehran]]'s head coach [[Alireza Mansourian]] on 1 June 2016. Esteghlal started the season poorly and were knocked out of the Hazfi Cup in the Quarter-finals by [[Naft Tehran F.C.|Naft Tehran]]. The club was also issued a transfer ban for the 2017 winter period for outstanding debts to [[Adil Chihi]]. On 7 February 2017, Esteghlal defeated Qatari club [[Al Sadd SC|Al Sadd]] on penalties to advance to the [[2017 AFC Champions League]] group stage. Esteghlal was defeated by Al Ain 6–1 on quarter final of [[2017 AFC Champions League]] and was eliminated. Mansourian was the head coach of Esteghlal until 7th week of 2017–18 season of Persian Gulf Pro League. Mansourian resigned after accumulating only 5 points in 7 matches and standing on 16th position. German coach [[Winfried Schäfer]] was appointed as new manager of Esteghlal Tehran on 1 October 2017, replacing [[Alireza Mansourian]]. He was fired in the spring of 2019 and [[Farhad Majidi]] replaced him, but was fired at the end of the season.

In June 2019, Italian coach [[Andrea Stramaccioni]] was appointed as Esteghlal's coach, but he later left the club in December 2019 due to financial insolvency.<ref>{{cite news |title=Andrea Stramaccioni cancels contract with Esteghlal |url=https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/442819/Andrea-Stramaccioni-cancels-contract-with-Esteghlal |access-date=11 December 2019 |work=Tehran Times |date=8 December 2019 |archive-date=11 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191211104315/https://www.tehrantimes.com/news/442819/Andrea-Stramaccioni-cancels-contract-with-Esteghlal |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2022 women attended an Iranian domestic league football match in the Azadi Stadium for the first time since the 1979 Islamic revolution.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022-08-26 |title=Iran: Women attend first league match for 40 years |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-middle-east-62678408 |access-date=2026-03-08 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref>

==Crest and symbols and estate== Unveiled in 1946, Docharkhehsavaran's first [[Crest (sports)|crest]] featured a blue cyclist cycling. In 1950 following change of club's name the crest changed to two interlocking rings on both sides of Pahlavi crown.

Before the revolution, the Taj sports complex had 5 sports clubs in Tehran and 66 clubs in the cities. Taj also had clubs in Turkey (under the name of Tajspor club) and Qatar. Taj clubs in Tehran include Taj Central Palace on Baharestan Street, Pele Sports Club on Nizam Abad Street, Taj Women's Club on Los Angeles Street (now Hijab), Taj Tennis Club on Pahlavi Street (now Veli Asr) and Reza Pahlavi club was in Naziabad. Taj also had two sports stores in Tehran on Shahreza and Baharestan streets. With the Iranian revolution and on 28 February, the Taj Central Palace and other places belonging to the Taj Club were taken over by the Revolutionary Committees.

The sports facilities were given to the Physical Training Organization and the administrative facilities or other services such as the sports store of the club were handed over to organizations such as the Islamic Propaganda Organization. Esteghlal Club's efforts to reclaim these places have not been successful so far.

==Colours== Esteghlal wore blue shirts from the beginning with white or blue shorts and socks. The second colour of the club is white.

===Historical kits=== {| class="wikitable sortable" ! colspan="3" style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; text-align:center;" |Historical kits of Esteghlal |- | {{football kit | | | pattern_la = | pattern_so =_whitetops | pattern_b = _bluecollar_trineck | pattern_ra = | leftarm = 003cc3 | body = 003cc3 | rightarm = 003cc3 | shorts = ffffff | socks = 003cc3 | title = 1945 The First Kit (was founded in 1945) }} | {{football kit | align = | pattern_la = | pattern_b = | pattern_ra = | pattern_so =_whitetops | leftarm = d1f1ff | body = d1f1ff | rightarm = d1f1ff | shorts = 000000 | socks = 000000 | title = [[1970 Asian Champion Club Tournament|1970 1st Asian Championship title]] }} | {{football kit | | | pattern_la =_blue_hoops| | pattern_so = | pattern_b = _gre1997h | pattern_ra =_blue_hoops| | pattern_sh=_blue_stripes| | leftarm = ffffff | body = 0000CD | rightarm = ffffff | shorts = ffffff | socks = 0000CD |title = [[1990–91 Asian Club Championship|1991 2nd Asian Championship title]]}} |}

==Rivalries==

===Tehran derby=== {{Main|Tehran derby}} {{Hatnote|Other important rivalries: [[Esteghlal–Sepahan rivalry]]}}

The club's biggest rival and its opponent in the [[Tehran derby]] is [[Persepolis FC|Persepolis]]. The first derby match between the clubs took place on 5 April 1968, at [[Shiroudi Stadium|Amjadieh Stadium]].

In 1995, [[IRIFF]] began to invite foreign [[Referee (association football)|referees]] to officiate the derby to ease fans' and players' suspicions of referee bias. This occurred after the events of the 38th derby (20 January 1995) in which Persepolis was leading by a score of 2–0 until the 79th minute when Esteghlal scored two goals within 8 minutes to erase the deficit; the 1st goal was scored from the penalty spot which angered the Persepolis fans and players who felt the referee was biased towards Esteghlal. Persepolis fans stormed the field in the 88th minute and fights broke out on the pitch between fans and players. Following the match, it was decided that Iranian referees would no longer be used for the derby. After 14 years of foreign referees, the second leg of the [[2008–09 Persian Gulf Cup|2008–09]] season saw an Iranian once again refereeing the derby. The game ended in a draw.

==Supporters== [[File:Esteghlal FC vs Havadar FC, 20 October 2023 - 29.jpg|thumb|220x220px|After half a century of [[Football in Iran|banning women from entering stadiums in Iran]], female Esteghlal fans were able to enter the stadium for the first time in 2022.<ref name=":0" />]] Esteghlal is one of the most supported teams in [[Football in Iran|Iran]] and [[Asia]]. The club is based in Tehran and is popular in all parts of the country. Esteghlal also has a fan base in the United States, Europe and [[Persian Gulf]] countries.{{citation needed|date=November 2023}} The match between Esteghlal and Jubilo Iwata in the [[1998–99 Asian Club Championship]] final with 125,000 spectators is known as the most watched match in Asia, which was played at Azadi Stadium.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Foot culture: the finals with the biggest attendance |url=https://en.cfmontreal.com/news/foot-culture-finals-biggest-attendance |access-date=2024-04-28 |website=CF Montréal |language=en}}</ref>

After the [[Iranian revolution|1979 revolution]], female fans were banned from entering stadiums in Iran. Finally, with international efforts, this ban was lifted in 2022 and female Esteghlal fans entered the stadiums in this year for the first time.<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=فشار فیفا برای حضور تماشاگران زن در همه بازی‌های فوتبال – DW – ۱۳۹۸/۱۱/۲۸ |url=https://www.dw.com/fa-ir/%D9%81%DB%8C%D9%81%D8%A7-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%87%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AD%D8%B6%D9%88%D8%B1-%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B4%D8%A7%DA%AF%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B2%D9%86-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%87%D9%85%D9%87-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B2%DB%8C%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B4%D8%AF/a-52409060 |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=dw.com |language=fa}}</ref>

==Grounds== {{Main|Azadi Stadium}}

[[Azadi Stadium]] is Iran's [[national stadium]] and the largest in the country. Azadi Stadium officially had a capacity of 100,000 people at the beginning<ref name="azadi">{{cite web |url=http://www.azadisportcomplex.com/place.asp |title=Azadi Sport Complex [www.AzadiSportComplex.com] |publisher=Azadisportcomplex.com |date=3 April 2001 |access-date=13 October 2013 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130522084723/http://www.azadisportcomplex.com/place.asp |archive-date=22 May 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_menu/stadium_list/100000.shtml |title=Stadium List :: 100 000+ Stadiums |publisher=World Stadiums |access-date=13 October 2013 |archive-date=5 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110605134734/http://www.worldstadiums.com/stadium_menu/stadium_list/100000.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref> and was built to host the [[1974 Asian Games]]. The stadium is part of the much larger Azadi Sports Complex and is surrounded by a rowing river, football training pitches, a weightlifting complex, swimming facilities and indoor volleyball and futsal courts, among many other amenities. Today, Azadi Stadium has a capacity of 78,116 after renovations in 2016.<ref name="Isna.ir">{{cite web |url=http://news.msy.gov.ir/sis_announcements/1556300-%D8%AF%DA%A9%D8%AA%D8%B1-%DA%AF%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B2%DB%8C-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A2%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D9%BE%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%AF-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A2%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%88%D8%A7%DA%AF%D8%B0%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B9%D9%86%D8%A7-%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF.html/ |title=دکتر گودرزی:ورزشگاه آزادی تا پایان مردادماه آماده می شود |publisher=msy.gov.ir |date=22 May 2016 |access-date=1 August 2016 |archive-date=1 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160801201837/http://news.msy.gov.ir/sis_announcements/1556300-%D8%AF%DA%A9%D8%AA%D8%B1-%DA%AF%D9%88%D8%AF%D8%B1%D8%B2%DB%8C-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A2%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D9%BE%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86-%D9%85%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%85%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A2%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%B4%D9%88%D8%AF-%D9%88%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A2%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%DB%8C-%D9%86%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D9%88%D8%A7%DA%AF%D8%B0%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C-%D9%85%D8%B9%D9%86%D8%A7-%D9%86%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF.html/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

Esteghlal's home stadium is ''Azadi'' ({{langx|fa|ورزشگاه آزادی}}), a football stadium in [[Tehran]], Iran. The stadium's former name was Aryamehr Stadium which was changed after the [[Iranian Revolution]]. Prior to the construction of ''Azadi'', Esteghlal used to play their games at [[Shahid Shiroudi Stadium|Amjadieh Stadium]].

==Players== {{Main|List of Esteghlal F.C. players}}

===Current squad=== :''See also'': ''[[2025–26 Esteghlal F.C. season]]'' {{Updated|30 January 2026}}  {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=1|nat=ESP|pos=GK|name=[[Antonio Adán]]}} {{Fs player|no=2|nat=IRN|pos=DF|name=[[Saleh Hardani]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|Vice Captain]]}} {{Fs player|no=3|nat=IRN|pos=DF|name=[[Armin Sohrabian]]}} {{Fs player|no=4|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Rouzbeh Cheshmi]]|other=[[Captain (association football)#captain|captain]]}} {{Fs player|no=5|nat=UZB|pos=DF|name=[[Rustam Ashurmatov]]}} {{Fs player|no=7|nat=IRN|pos=FW|name=[[Mohammad Reza Azadi]]}} {{Fs player|no=8|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Amirmohammad Razzaghinia]] '''U21'''}} {{Fs player|no=9|nat=HAI|pos=FW|name=[[Duckens Nazon]]}} {{Fs player|no=10|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Ramin Rezaeian]]}} {{Fs player|no=11|nat=IRN|pos=FW|name=[[Saeid Saharkhizan]] '''U23'''}} {{Fs player|no=12|nat=MLI|pos=FW|name=[[Moussa Djenepo]]}} {{Fs player|no=13|nat=IRN|pos=DF|name=[[Saman Touranian]] '''U25'''}} {{Fs player|no=15|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Abolfazl Zamani]] '''U21'''}} {{Fs player|no=17|nat=MAR|pos=FW|name=[[Munir El Haddadi]]}} {{fs player|no=18|nat=IRN|pos=DF|name=[[Abolfazl Zoleykhaei]] '''U21'''}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=19|nat=IRN|pos=DF|name=[[Saman Fallah]] '''U25'''}} {{Fs player|no=20|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Alireza Koushki]]}} {{Fs player|no=23|nat=IRN|pos=DF|name=[[Aref Aghasi]]}} {{Fs player|no=27|nat=IRN|pos=DF|name=[[Hossein Goudarzi]]}} {{Fs player|no=33|nat=IRN|pos=DF|name=[[Abolfazl Jalali]]}} {{Fs player|no=55|nat=IRN|pos=DF|name=[[Aref Gholami]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|3rd Captain]]}} {{Fs player|no=60|nat=IRN|pos=GK|name=[[Seyed Aria Hosseinifar]] '''U21'''}} {{fs player|no=70|nat=ALB|pos=MF|name=[[Jasir Asani]]}} {{Fs player|no=76|nat=IRN|pos=GK|name=[[Habib Far Abbasi]]}} {{Fs player|no=77|nat=UZB|pos=MF|name=[[Jaloliddin Masharipov]] '''INJ'''}} {{Fs player|no=80|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Mohammad Hossein Eslami]] '''U25'''}} {{Fs player|no=87|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Esmaeil Gholizadeh]] '''U21'''}} {{Fs player|no=88|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Mehran Ahmadi (footballer)|Mehran Ahmadi]]}} {{Fs end}} * '''U19''' = Under 19 year player. '''U21''' = Under 21 year player. '''U23''' = Under 23 year player. '''U25''' = Under 25 year quota. '''INJ''' = Out of main squad due to injury.

===Reserve Squad=== {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=66|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Zargham Saadavi]] '''U19'''}} {{Fs player|no=93|nat=IRN|pos=FW|name=[[Hesam Eskandari]] '''U23'''}} {{Fs end}}

===Out on loan=== {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=10|nat=IRN|pos=DF|name=[[Ramin Rezaeian]]|other=at [[Foolad F.C.|Foolad]] until 30 June 2026}} {{Fs player|no=16|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Abbas Sharafi]] '''U25'''|other=at [[Fajr Sepasi F.C.|Fajr Sepasi]] until 1 January 2027}} {{Fs player|no=26|nat=KGZ|pos=FW|name=[[Joel Kojo]]|other=at [[FC Neftchi Fergana|Neftchi Fergana]] until 30 June 2026}} {{fs player|no=28|nat=IRN|pos=FW|name=[[Mojtaba Hasheminasab]] '''U21'''|other=at [[Shahrdari Noshahr F.C.|Shahrdari Noshahr]] until 30 June 2026}} {{Fs end}}

===Club captains=== Esteghlal captains since 1990. {| class="wikitable" |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; | # ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; |Name ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; |Captaincy |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; | {{center|1}} |''{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Shahin Bayani]]'' | 1990–1992 |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; | {{center|2}} |''{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Amir Ghalenoei]]'' | 1992–1997 |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; | {{center|3}} |''{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Javad Zarincheh]]'' | 1997–2000 |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; | {{center|4}} |''{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Mehdi Pashazadeh]]'' | 2000–2003 |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; | {{center|5}} |''{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Mahmoud Fekri]]'' | 2003–2007 |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; | {{center|6}} |''{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Alireza Mansourian]]'' | 2007–2008 |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; | {{center|7}} |''{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Farhad Majidi]]'' | 2008–2013 |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; | {{center|8}} |''{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Mehdi Rahmati]]'' | 2013–2014 2015–2019 |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; | {{center|9}} |''{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Amir Hossein Sadeghi]]'' | 2014–2015 |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; | {{center|10}} |''{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Reza Enayati]]'' | 2015 |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; | {{center|11}} |''{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Voria Ghafouri]]'' | 2019–2022 |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; | {{center|12}} |''{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Hossein Hosseini (footballer, born 1992)|Hossein Hosseini]]'' | 2022–2025 |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; | {{center|13}} |''{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Rouzbeh Cheshmi]]'' | 2025– |}

==Personnel==

===Club managers=== {{Main|List of Esteghlal F.C. managers}}

====Current technical staff==== {| class="wikitable" |- ! Position ! Name |- | '''Head coach''' | '''''{{flagicon|IRN}}''''' [[Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh]] |- | rowspan="2" |'''''Assistant coach''''' | '''''{{flagicon|IRN}}''''' [[Milad Meydavoudi]] |- | ''{{flagicon|TUR}}'' [[Özcan Bizati]] |- | '''Goalkeeper coach''' | '''''{{flagicon|IRN}}''''' [[Behzad Gholampour]] |- | '''Fitness coach''' | '''''{{flagicon|IRN}}''''' Salar Amini |- | '''Chief Analyst''' | {{flagicon|IRN}} Nima Dehghan |- | '''Team Manager''' | ''{{flagicon|IRN}}'' [[Bijan Taheri]] |- | rowspan="3" | '''Technical Director''' | '''''{{flagicon|IRN}}''''' [[Behtash Fariba]] |- |'''''{{flagicon|IRN}}''''' [[Majid Namjoo-Motlagh|Majid Namjoo Motlagh]] |- |'''''{{flagicon|IRN}}''''' [[Reza Hassanzadeh (footballer, born 1964)|Reza Hassanzadeh]] |- |'''Advisor''' |'''''{{flagicon|NED}}''''' [[Clarence Seedorf]] |- | '''Academy manager''' | {{flagicon|IRN}} Alireza Asadi |- | '''U19 manager''' | {{flagicon|IRN}} [[Hashem Beikzadeh]] |- | '''U15 manager''' | {{flagicon|IRN}} Naser Ebadi |- | '''U12 manager''' | {{flagicon|IRN}} Ramin Mohammadnezhad |}

====Notable managers====

''Only managers who have won official trophies are listed.''

'''Key'''

{| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Name !Official Trophies |- !colspan="2"|Domestic |- | PGPL | [[Iranian football league system|Iranian league]] (Persian Gulf Pro League) |- | HC | [[Hazfi Cup]] |- | ISC | [[Iranian Super Cup]] |- | ICC | [[Iran Football championship cup|Iran championship cup]] |- | TPL | [[Tehran Province League]] |- | THC | Tehran Hazfi Cup |- | TSC | Tehran Super Cup |- ! colspan="3" |Continental |- | ACL | [[AFC Champions League]] |- |} [[File:Zdravko Rajkov 2.jpg|thumb|[[Zdravko Rajkov]] was Esteghlal's first international coach.]] {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! rowspan="3" |Name ! rowspan="3" |Nat. ! rowspan="3" |Period ! colspan="9" |Official Trophies |- ! rowspan="2" |Total ! colspan="7" |Domestic ! Continental |- ! PGPL ! HC ! ISC ! ICC ! TPL ! THC ! TSC ! ACL |- | style="text-align:left;" |''[[Ali Danaeifard]]'' | rowspan="2" |{{flagicon|Iran}} |1946–1953 1954–1967 1968–1970 1976 |13 | colspan="3" |0 |1 |8 |4 | rowspan="5" |0 |0 |- | style="text-align:left;" |''[[Mansour Pourheidari]]'' | 1979 1981 1983–1984 1985–1986 1986–1988 1989–1992 1995–1996 2000–2002 2003 |8 |2 |2 | rowspan="9" |0 | rowspan="11" |0 |3 | rowspan="11" |0 |1 |- | style="text-align:left;" |[[Zdravko Rajkov]] |{{flagicon|YUG}} | 1969–1971 1971–1976 |5 |2 |0 |2 |1 |- | style="text-align:left;" |''[[Amir Ghalenoei]]'' |{{flagicon|Iran}} |2003–2006 2008–2009 2012–2015 |5 |3 |2 | rowspan="9" |0 | rowspan="9" |0 |- | style="text-align:left;" |[[Vladimir Đekić]] |{{flagicon|GER}} | 1976–1979 |1 | rowspan="2" |0 |1 |- | style="text-align:left;" |[[Reza Naalchegar]] | rowspan="3" |{{flagicon|Iran}} |1994 1994 |1 | rowspan="2" |0 |1 |- | style="text-align:left;" |''[[Nasser Hejazi]]'' | 1996–1999 |1 |1 | rowspan="6" |0 |- | style="text-align:left;" |''[[Parviz Mazloumi]]'' |2010–2012 2015–2016 |1 | rowspan="2" |0 |1 |- | style="text-align:left;" |''[[Winfried Schäfer]]'' |{{flagicon|Germany}} |2017–2019 |1 |1 |- | style="text-align:left;" |''[[Farhad Majidi]]'' |{{flagicon|Iran}} |2019–2020 2021–2022 |1 |1 | rowspan="2" |0 |- | style="text-align:left;" |''[[Ricardo Sá Pinto]]'' |{{flagicon|Portugal}} |2022–2023 |1 | rowspan="2" |0 |1 |- | style="text-align:left;" |[[Mojtaba Jabbari]] |{{flagicon|Iran}} |2025 |1 |1 |0 |- |''[[Ricardo Sá Pinto]]'' |{{flagicon|Portugal}} |2025–2026 | | | | | | | | | |- |''[[Sohrab Bakhtiarizadeh]]'' |{{flagicon|Iran}} |2025-2025 2026– | | | | | | | | | |}

===Chairmen=== {{Main|List of Esteghlal F.C. chairmen}}

[[File:سپهبد پرویز خسروانی.png|thumb|Parviz Khosravani, the founder and the first chairman of the club]]

====Current management board==== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; |Chairman || {{flagicon|Iran}} Ali Tajernia (acting) |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; |Board president || {{flagicon|Iran}} Ali Tajernia |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; |Other board members || {{flagicon|Iran}} Mojtaba Fereydouni {{flagicon|Iran}} Farideh Shojaei {{flagicon|Iran}} Mahmoudreza Babaei |}

====Notable Chairmen==== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; |Chairman ! style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; |Tenure |- |{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Enayatollah Atashi]] (acting) |April 1979 – May 1979 |- |{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Nader Faryadshiran]] |June 1985 – September 1985 |- |{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Ali Agha-Mohammadi]] |June 1989 – September 1989 |- |- |''{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Ali Fathollahzadeh]]'' |28 October 1996 – 20 May 2003,<ref>{{Cite web|date=21 May 2003|title=علي فتح‌الله‌زاده: شرمنده هواداران شدم، استعفا دادم فقط 45 درصد از برنامه‌هايم تحقق يافت هيچگاه حمايت‌ها با خواسته‌ها مطابقت نداشت|url=https://www.isna.ir/news/8202-12771/%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87-%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%A7-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%85-%D9%81%D9%82%D8%B7-45|access-date=16 February 2021|website=ایسنا|language=fa|archive-date=19 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201019160146/https://www.isna.ir/news/8202-12771/%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%8A-%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%B4%D8%B1%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%87-%D9%87%D9%88%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B4%D8%AF%D9%85-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B9%D9%81%D8%A7-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%85-%D9%81%D9%82%D8%B7-45|url-status=live}}</ref> 30 April 2007 – 17 September 2008, 9 June 2010 – 17 May 2014,<ref>{{Cite web|date=9 June 2010|title=فتح الله زاده سرپرست باشگاه استقلال شد|url=https://www.mehrnews.com/news/1097430/%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B4%D8%AF|access-date=16 February 2021|website=خبرگزاری مهر {{!}} اخبار ایران و جهان {{!}} Mehr News Agency|language=fa|archive-date=20 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201020180508/https://www.mehrnews.com/news/1097430/%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AD-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%84%D9%87-%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87-%D8%B3%D8%B1%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%B3%D8%AA-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B4%DA%AF%D8%A7%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B4%D8%AF|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=17 May 2014|title=خدا را شکر افشارزاده مدیرعاملی را قبول کرد/ می‌خواهم یکسال استراحت کنم|url=https://www.mehrnews.com/news/2292775/%D8%AE%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%B4%DA%A9%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87-%D9%85%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%84-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%85-%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA|access-date=16 February 2021|website=خبرگزاری مهر {{!}} اخبار ایران و جهان {{!}} Mehr News Agency|language=fa|archive-date=17 July 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200717202919/https://www.mehrnews.com/news/2292775/%D8%AE%D8%AF%D8%A7-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%B4%DA%A9%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%B4%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%B2%D8%A7%D8%AF%D9%87-%D9%85%D8%AF%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%84%DB%8C-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D9%82%D8%A8%D9%88%D9%84-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D9%85%DB%8C-%D8%AE%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%87%D9%85-%DB%8C%DA%A9%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AD%D8%AA|url-status=live}}</ref> 26 February 2020 – 20 March 2020 |- |{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Amir Reza Vaezi-Ashtiani]] |20 September 2008 – 31 May 2010 |- |''{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Mostafa Ajorlu]]'' |24 September 2021 – 15 October 2022 |- |}

==Honours== {{Main|List of Esteghlal F.C. honours}}

Esteghlal has won 39 championship titles in provincial, national and continental cups.<ref name=":14">{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223041400/http://fcesteghlal.ir/Page.aspx?id=27|url=http://fcesteghlal.ir/Page.aspx?id=27|archive-date=23 February 2012|title=دربارهٔ باشگاه|publisher=fcesteghlal|date=23 February 2012}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://esteghlaljavan.ir/?cat=108|title=تاریخچه استقلال|date=25 December 2017|publisher=esteghlaljavan|archive-date=27 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171227123523/http://esteghlaljavan.ir/?cat=108}}</ref> {| class="wikitable sortable" ! colspan="6" style="background:#0000FF; color:#FFFFFF; {{box-shadow border|a|black|1px}}; text-align:center;" |Esteghlal F.C. official honours<ref>{{cite web|publisher=rsssf|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180310071012/http://www.rsssf.com/miscellaneous/torre-asia-best.html|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/torre-asia-best.html|archive-date=10 March 2018|url-status=live|title=The best clubs of Asia|date=21 December 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://fcesteghlal.ir/honors|publisher=fcesteghlal|date=17 March 2020|title=افتخارات و جام‌های استقلال ایران در طول تاریخ/سایت رسمی باشگاه استقلال ایران|archive-date=29 October 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201029130119/https://fcesteghlal.ir/honors}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/irantehrancuphist.html | title=Iran - List of Tehran Hazfi Cup Winners | access-date=2 February 2023 | archive-date=7 December 2022 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221207191755/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/irantehrancuphist.html | url-status=live }}</ref> |- !colspan="2" |Type !Competition !Titles !Seasons |- !rowspan="8" |Domestic !rowspan="5" |National |- ![[Iranian football league system|League]] |'''10''' |[[Iran Football championship cup#Winners|1957]], [[1970–71 Local League|1970–71]], [[1974–75 Takht Jamshid Cup|1974–75]], [[Qods League|1989–90]], [[1997–98 Azadegan League|1997–98]], [[2000–01 Azadegan League|2000–01]], [[2005–06 Iran Pro League|2005–06]], [[2008–09 Persian Gulf Cup|2008–09]], [[2012–13 Persian Gulf Cup|2012–13]], [[2021–22 Persian Gulf Pro League|2021–22]] |- ![[Hazfi Cup]] |bgcolor="gold" |'''8''' |[[Hazfi Cup|1976–77]], [[Hazfi Cup|1995–96]], [[1999–2000 Hazfi Cup|1999–2000]], [[2001–02 Hazfi Cup|2001–02]], [[2007–08 Hazfi Cup|2007–08]], [[2011–12 Hazfi Cup|2011–12]], [[2017–18 Hazfi Cup|2017–18]], [[2024–25 Hazfi Cup|2024–25]] |- ![[Iranian Super Cup|Super Cup]] |'''1''' |[[2022 Iranian Super Cup|2022]] |- !rowspan="3" |Provincial (High Level) ![[Tehran Province League|Tehran League]] |bgcolor="gold" |'''13''' |1949–50, 1952–53, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1968–69, 1970–1971, 1972–73, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1991–92 |- !Tehran Hazfi Cup |'''4''' |1946–47, 1950–51, 1958–59, 1960–61 |- !Tehran Super Cup |bgcolor="gold" |'''1*''' |1994 |- !colspan="2"|Continental ![[AFC Champions League]] |bgcolor="silver" |'''2**''' |[[1970 Asian Club Championship|1970]], [[1990-91 Asian Club Championship|1990–91]] |- |} * {{legend|gold|record}} * {{legend|gold|* shared record}} * {{legend|silver|** Iran record}}

===Domestic===

====League==== [[File:قهرمانی استقلال.jpg|thumb|Esteghlal were crowned champions ending the [[2021-22 Persian Gulf Pro League]] season without a single defeat – the first Iranian team ever to do so in a 30-game league season.]] [[File:Taj 1970 Championship.jpg|thumb|Taj championship in the [[1970 Asian Champion Club Tournament|1970 AFC Champions League]], first Asian title for an Iranian club.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/ascup70.html|title=Asian Club Competitions 1970|website=[[RSSSF]]|first=Enda|last=Mulcahy|access-date=2 March 2022|archive-date=27 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220927153506/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesa/ascup70.html|url-status=live}}</ref>]] [[File:Taj SC Museum 1970s.jpg|thumb|The Taj Club Museum, which was looted by Islamic marauding revolutionaries after the [[1979 revolution]]. Most of the museum's trophies were won by the club's football team.]]

* '''[[Iranian football league system|Iran League]]'''

: '''{{Gold1}} Winners (9):''' [[1970–71 Local League|1970–71]], [[1974–75 Takht Jamshid Cup|1974–75]], [[Qods League|1989–90]], [[1997–98 Azadegan League|1997–98]], [[2000–01 Azadegan League|2000–01]], [[2005–06 Iran Pro League|2005–06]], [[2008–09 Persian Gulf Cup|2008–09]], [[2012–13 Persian Gulf Cup|2012–13]], [[2021–22 Persian Gulf Pro League|2021–22]] : {{Silver2}} Runners-up (11): [[1973–74 Takht Jamshid Cup|1973–74]], [[1991–92 Azadegan League|1991–92]], [[1994–95 Azadegan League|1994–95]], [[1998–99 Azadegan League|1998–99]], [[Azadegan League (1999–2000)|1999–2000]], [[2001–02 Iran Pro League|2001–02]], [[2003–04 Iran Pro League|2003–04]], [[2010–11 Persian Gulf Cup|2010–11]], [[2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro League|2016–17]], [[2019–20 Persian Gulf Pro League|2019–20]], [[2023–24 Persian Gulf Pro League|2023–24]] :* '''[[Iran Championship Cup]] (The first season of the Iranian League)''' : '''{{Gold1}} Winners (1):''' 1957

====Cups==== *'''[[Hazfi Cup]] (record)''' :'''{{Gold1}} Winners (8):''' [[Hazfi Cup|1976–77]], [[Hazfi Cup|1995–96]], [[1999–2000 Hazfi Cup|1999–2000]], [[2001–02 Hazfi Cup|2001–02]], [[2007–08 Hazfi Cup|2007–08]], [[2011–12 Hazfi Cup|2011–12]], [[2017–18 Hazfi Cup|2017–18]], [[2024–25 Hazfi Cup|2024–25]] :{{Silver2}} Runners-up (7): [[Hazfi Cup|1989–90]], [[1998–99 Hazfi Cup|1998–99]], [[2003–04 Hazfi Cup|2003–04]], [[2015–16 Hazfi Cup|2015–16]], [[2019–20 Hazfi Cup|2019–20]], [[2020–21 Hazfi Cup|2020–21]], [[2022 Hazfi Cup final|2022–2023]]

*'''[[Iranian Super Cup|Super Cup]]''' :'''{{Gold1}} Winners (1):''' [[2022 Iranian Super Cup|2022]] :{{Silver2}} Runners-up (1): [[2018 Iranian Super Cup|2018]]

====Provincial==== *'''[[Tehran Province League|Tehran League]] (record)''' :'''{{Gold1}} Winners (13):''' 1949–50, 1952–53, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1968–69, 1970–1971, 1972–73, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1991–92 :{{Silver2}} Runners-up (7): 1946–47, 1951–52, 1958–59, 1969–70, 1982–83, 1989–90, 1990–91 *'''Tehran Hazfi Cup''' :'''{{Gold1}} Winners (4):''' 1946–47, 1950–51, 1958–59, 1960–61 :{{Silver2}} Runners-up (3): 1945–46, 1957–58, 1969–70 *'''Tehran Super Cup (shared record)''' :'''{{Gold1}} Winners (1):''' 1994

=== Continental ===

* '''[[AFC Champions League Elite]] (Iran record)'''

: '''{{Gold1}} Winners (2):''' [[1970 Asian Club Championship|1970]], [[1990-91 Asian Club Championship|1990–91]] : {{Silver2}} Runners-up (2): [[1991 Asian Club Championship|1991]], [[1998-99 Asian Club Championship|1998–99]] : {{Bronze3}} Third place (2): [[1971 Asian Club Championship|1971]], [[2001–02 Asian Club Championship|2001–02]]

* '''[[Asian Cup Winners' Cup]]'''

: Fourth place (2): [[1996–97 Asian Cup Winners' Cup|1996]], [[2000–01 Asian Cup Winners' Cup|2000–01]]

===Doubles and Treble=== Esteghlal has achieved the [[Double (association football)|Double]] on 5 occasions in its history:

* '''Iran League''' and '''Tehran League''' ** 1957–58 Season ** 1970–71 Season * '''Tehran League''' and '''Tehran Hazfi Cup''' ** 1958–59 Season ** 1960–61 Season * '''AFC Champions League''' and '''Tehran League''' ** 1990–91 Season

Esteghlal has achieved the [[Treble (association football)|Treble]] on 1 occasions in its history:

* '''AFC Champions League''' and '''Iran League''' and '''Tehran League''' ** 1970–71 Season

===Minor Tournaments===

====International==== *{{flagicon|IND}} '''[[DCM Trophy]]''' **Winners (4): 1969, 1970, 1971, 1989<ref>{{Cite web|first=Majumdar|last=Raunak|title=The DCM Trophy- Oldest Indian Tournament with International Exposure|url=https://www.chaseyoursport.com/Indian-Football/DCM-Trophy-in-India/819|date=31 May 2019|access-date=4 December 2021|website=chaseyoursport.com|publisher=Chase Your Sport|language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210703131553/https://www.chaseyoursport.com/Indian-Football/DCM-Trophy-in-India/819|archive-date=3 July 2021|url-status=dead}}</ref> *{{flagicon|IND}} '''[[Bordoloi Trophy]]''' **Winners (1): 1989<ref>{{Cite web|first=Chaudhuri|last=Arunava|url=http://www.indianfootball.de/data/bordoloitrophy.html|title=List of Winners/Runners-Up of the Bordoloi Trophy|website=indianfootball.de|publisher=Indian Football Network|access-date=1 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211006210335/http://www.indianfootball.de/data/bordoloitrophy.html|archive-date=6 October 2021|url-status=dead}}</ref> *{{flagicon|QTR}} '''Qatar Independence Cup''' **Winners (1): 1991 *{{flagicon|TKM}} '''[[Turkmenistan President's Cup]]''' **Winners (1): 1998{{Citation needed|date=March 2024}} *{{flagicon|IRN}} '''Caspian International Cup''' **Winners (1): 1998

==Statistics and records== {{Main|List of Esteghlal F.C. records and statistics}}

[[File:Arash borhanii.jpg|thumb|[[Arash Borhani]] is Esteghlal's all-time leading goalscorer with 108 goals in all competitions. He scored a poker at 13–0 victory against [[Zoratkaran Parsabad Ardabil F.C.]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=استقلال،ذرت کاران را در هم کوبید |url=https://www.varzesh3.com/news/18842/%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%D9%82%D9%84%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B0%D8%B1%D8%AA-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D9%87%D9%85-%DA%A9%D9%88%D8%A8%DB%8C%D8%AF |access-date=2023-11-17 |website=ورزش سه |language=fa}}</ref>]]

=== Official Matches ===

* Most goals scored in a match: ** '''18''' – 0 (1 time) ('''Iran record)''' ** '''13''' – 0 (1 time) ** '''13''' – 1 (1 time) ** '''11''' – 0 (2 times) ** '''11''' – 1 (1 time) ** '''10''' – 0 (4 times) ** '''10''' – 1 (1 time) ** '''9''' – 0 (4 times) ** '''9''' – 1 (1 time) ** '''8''' – 0 (3 times) ** '''8''' – 1 (3 times) ** '''7''' – 0 (8 times) ** '''7''' – 1 (3 times) ** '''6''' – 0 (11 times) ** '''6''' – 1 (6 times) ** '''6''' – 2 (2 times) ** '''6''' – 3 (1 time) ** '''5''' – 0 (25 times) ** '''5''' – 1 (14 times) ** '''5''' – 2 (5 times) ** '''5''' – 3 (2 times) * Most goals conceded in a match: ** '''7''' – 1 (1 time) * Player with a most goal in a single match: **[[Ali Jabbari]] with 5 goals (3 time) **[[Arash Borhani]] with 5 goals **[[Ali Jabbari]] with 4 goals (2 time) **[[Gholamhossein Farzami]] with 4 goals (2 time) **[[Alireza Akbarpour]] with 4 goals (2 time) **[[Dariush Mostafavi]] with 4 goals **[[Gholam Hossein Mazloumi|Gholamhossein Mazloumi]] with 4 goals **[[jafar Mokhtarifar]] with 4 goals **[[Samad Marfavi]] with 4 goals **[[Adel Hardani]] with 4 goals **[[Farhad Majidi]] with 4 goals **[[Dariush Yazdani]] with 4 goals **[[Mehdi Seyed-Salehi|Mahdi Seyed-Salehi]] with 4 goals

=== Statistics in [[Persian Gulf Pro League|PGPL]] === * Seasons in [[Persian Gulf Pro League|PGPL]]: '''24''' (all) ('''record''') * Best position in [[Iran's Premier Football League|PGPL]]: '''First''' ([[Iran Premier League (2005-2006)|2005–06]], [[IPL 2008/09|2008–2009]], [[2012–13 Iran Pro League|2012–13]], [[Iran Pro League|2021-22]]) * Worst position in [[Iran's Premier Football League|PGPL]]: '''13''' ([[Persian Gulf Cup 2007-08|2007–08]]) * Most Points scored in a season: '''68''' ([[Iran Pro League|2021-22]]) ('''record''') * Fewest losses in a season: '''0 Loss''' ([[Iran Pro League|2021-22]]) ('''record''') * Most goals scored in a season: '''70''' ([[Persian Gulf Cup 2008-09|2008–09]]) ('''record''') * Most goals scored in a match: **'''7''' – 1 (1 time) **'''6''' – 0 (1 time) **'''6''' – 1 (1 time) **'''6''' – 2 (1 time) **'''5''' – 0 (5 time) **'''5''' – 1 (2 time) **'''5''' – 2 (1 time) **'''4''' – 0 (8 time) **'''4''' – 1 (10 time) **'''4''' – 2 (6 time) **'''4''' – 3 (2 time) * Most goals conceded in a match: 4 – '''1''' (3 times) * Player with a most goal in a single match: **[[Alireza Akbarpour]] with 4 goals **''[[Reza Enayati]] with 3 goals (2 time)'' **''[[Arash Borhani]] with 3 goals'' **[[Siavash Akbarpour]] with 3 goals **[[Mohsen Karimi]] with 3 goals **''[[Cheick Diabaté (footballer, born 1988)|Cheick Diabaté]] with 3 goals'' **''[[Mehdi Ghayedi|Mahdi Ghayedi]] with 3 goals''

===Statistics in ACC/ACL/ACWC=== * Most goals scored in a match: **'''8''' – 0 (1 time) **'''7''' – 0 (1 time) **'''5''' – 0 (2 time) **'''5''' – 2 (2 time) **'''5''' – 3 (1 time) **'''4''' – 0 (1 time) **'''4''' – 2 (2 time) **'''4''' – 3 (1 time) **'''3''' – 0 (13 time) **'''3''' – 1 (3 time) **'''3''' – 2 (1 time) * Most goals conceded in a match: 1 – '''6''' (1 time) * Player with the most goals in a single match: ** ''[[Farhad Majidi]] with 4 goals'' ** [[Ali Jabari]] with 3 goals ** ''[[Farhad Majidi]] with 3 goals'' ** [[Ali Latifi]] with 3 goals ** ''[[Mame Thiam]] with 3 goals''

===Statistics in Hazfi Cup=== * Most goals scored in a match: ** '''13''' – 0 (1 time) ** '''10''' – 1 (1 time) ** '''9''' – 0 (1 time) ** '''8''' – 1 (2 time) ** '''6''' – 0 (2 time) ** '''5''' – 0 (4 time) ** '''5''' – 1 (1 time) ** '''5''' – 2 (1 time) ** '''5''' – 3 (1 time) * Most goals conceded in a match: 0 – '''3''' (1 time) * Player with the most goals in a single match: **''[[Arash Borhani]] with 5 goals'' **[[Alireza Akbarpour]] with 4 goals **[[Adel Hardani]] with 4 goals **[[Dariush Yazdani]] with 4 goals **[[Mehdi Seyed-Salehi]] with 4 goals

===Season-by-season=== {{For|details on seasons|List of Esteghlal F.C. seasons}}

== Esteghlal W.F.C. == {{Main|Esteghlal Women F.C.}}

[[File:Zanan Italia1.jpg|thumb|Friendly match of Taj F.C. Women's Football team and selected team of Italian women footballers in 1970]] Esteghlal was the first club in Iran that established a team for women's football. To reach this goal the club has made some Camps for training players.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://farhangestanefootball.ir/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AE%DA%86%D9%87-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/|title=تاریخچه فوتبال زنان در ایران|date=4 January 2017|work=farhangestanefootball.ir|access-date=4 January 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181109070356/http://farhangestanefootball.ir/%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%B1%DB%8C%D8%AE%DA%86%D9%87-%D9%81%D9%88%D8%AA%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%B2%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%86/|archive-date=9 November 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://iranwire.com/fa/blogs/846/6994|title=فوتبال زنان ایران؛ آغاز، فراموشی و احیای دوباره|work=iranwire.com|access-date=4 January 2017|archive-date=25 February 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210225162717/https://iranwire.com/fa/blogs/846/6994|url-status=live}}</ref>

The first attempts to launch women's football in Iran began in the late 1960s. In 1969, with the increase in the number of women interested in football in Iran, the Football Federation sent several women to FIFA training courses. During the trip, Iranian coaches were able to watch matches of Asian women's soccer teams such as South Korea, India and Singapore, held at the venue. Iranian football authorities then decided to form women's soccer teams at the club level. Esteghlal F.C. (TAJ) was the first Iranian club to establish a women's soccer training class and set up its own women's team.

The women's team which competed in the [[Kowsar Women Football League]] was dissolved in 2016 due to financial issues.

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== {{commons category|Esteghlal FC}} * {{Official website|http://fcesteghlal.ir}} * {{Instagram|esteghlal.fc.official}} * {{commons category-inline}}

{{s-start}} {{s-ach|ach}} {{succession box|title=[[Asian Champions League#Asian Champions Cup & Champions League Finals|Asian Champions League]]|before=[[Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C.|Maccabi Tel Aviv]] {{flagicon|Israel}}|after=[[Maccabi Tel Aviv F.C.|Maccabi Tel Aviv]] {{flagicon|Israel}}|years=[[Asian Club Championship 1970|1970]]}} {{succession box|title=[[Asian Champions League#Asian Champions Cup & Champions League Finals|Asian Champions League]]|before=[[Liaoning Hongyun|Liaoning FC]] {{flagicon|China}}|after=[[Al-Hilal FC|Al-Hilal]] {{flagicon|Saudi Arabia}}|years=[[1990–91 Asian Club Championship|1990–91]]}} {{s-end}}

{{Esteghlal F.C.}} {{Navboxes |title=Esteghlal related articles |bg = #0000FF |fg = #FFFFFF |bordercolor = black |list1 = {{Esteghlal F.C. squad}} {{Esteghlal F.C. managers}} {{Esteghlal F.C. chairmen}} {{Esteghlal F.C. matches}} {{Esteghlal F.C. seasons}} }} {{AFC Champions League winners}} {{Iranian football league champions}} {{Persian Gulf Pro League}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Esteghlal F.C.}} [[Category:Esteghlal F.C.| ]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 1945]] [[Category:Football clubs in Iran]] [[Category:1945 establishments in Iran]] [[Category:AFC Champions League Elite winning clubs]]