{{Short description|Iranian football club}} {{infobox football club | clubname = Gostaresh Foulad<br/>{{Nobold|{{lang|fa|گسترش فولاد}}}} | image = | image_size = 180px | fullname = Gostaresh Foulad Tabriz Football Club | nickname = | founded = 2008 | dissolved = 2018 | ground = [[Bonyan Diesel Stadium]] | capacity = 12,000 | owner = | chairman = | manager = | league = [[Persian Gulf Pro League]] | season = [[2017–18 Persian Gulf Pro League|2017–18]] | position = Persian Gulf Pro League, 9th | current = |pattern_la1=|pattern_b1=_yellowstripes|pattern_ra1=| |leftarm1=133882|body1=133882|rightarm1=133882|shorts1=133882|socks1=133882 |pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=|pattern_ra2=| |leftarm2=FFFFFF|body2=FFFFFF|rightarm2=FFFFFF|shorts2=133882|socks2=133882 | website = http://www.gftclub.ir/ }} '''Gostaresh Foulad Tabriz Football Club''' ({{langx|fa|باشگاه فوتبال گسترش فولاد تبریز}}, ''Bashgah-e Futbal-e Gâsteresh Fulâd Tebriz'') was an Iranian [[Football (soccer)|football]] club based in [[Tabriz]], [[Iran]]. The club was founded in 2008. They were promoted to [[Persian Gulf Pro League]] in the [[2012–13 Azadegan League|2012–13]] season. In 2018, the club's ownership was moved to Amir Hossein Alagheband and the club moved to [[Urmia]]. Gostaresh Foolad also had a [[Gostaresh Foolad Tabriz FSC|futsal]] team in the senior, under 22's, under 19's, under 17's, and under 15's levels.

==History==

===Establishment=== Formed in 2008, Gostaresh took over the licence of [[Niroye Zamini F.C.|Niroye Zamini]] when they ran into financial difficulties. Gostaresh had played the previous season in [[Iran Football's 3rd Division]], placing first overall.

===Azadegan League=== While providing limited results in the club's inaugural season in the [[Azadegan League]], Gostaresh found success in the [[Hazfi Cup]].

The team reached the finals by securing a 2–0 victory over [[Persian Gulf Pro League]] side [[Zob Ahan F.C.|Zob Ahan]]<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/1277/west-asia/2010/04/24/1892607/iran-gostaresh-stun-zob-ahan-to-earn-dream-final-against |title=Iran: Gostaresh Stun Zob Ahan To Earn Dream Final Against Persepolis |publisher=Goal.com |date=2010-04-24 |access-date=2013-11-10}}</ref> The victory sealed Gostaresh a meeting with Asian powerhouse [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]] in the [[2010 Hazfi Cup Final|Hazfi Cup final]].<ref name="autogenerated1"/> Clearly outmatched, Gostaresh lost the home leg 1–0 from a goal by [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]] forward [[Sheys Rezaei]], who scored in the 12th minute.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.persianleague.com/index.php/the-news/1-latest-news/5522-persepolis-reaching-for-hazfi-cup-title-video |title=Persepolis reaching for Hazfi Cup title [VIDEO |publisher=PersianLeague.com |date=2010-05-12 |access-date=2013-11-10}}</ref> In the second leg at [[Azadi Stadium]] in [[Tehran]], gostaresh lost 3–1 for a total aggregate loss of 4 goals to 1, giving [[Persepolis]] the [[2010 Hazfi Cup Final|Hazfi Cup]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.persianleague.com/index.php/the-news/1-latest-news/5536-persepolis-wins-cup-elimination-final |title=Persepolis wins cup elimination final [VIDEO |publisher=PersianLeague.com |date=2010-05-24 |access-date=2013-11-10}}</ref>

In the 2011–2012 season [[Luka Bonacic]] took over the club's managerial role, at the end of the year Gostaresh was tied for second place and a shot at promotion, but goal difference dropped them to third, and hopes of promotion were destroyed on the final day.

The 2012–2013 season saw the introduction of [[Rasoul Khatibi]], his tactics seemed to work and Gostaresh easily clinched automatic promotion to the [[Iran Pro League]]

===Persian Gulf Pro League=== Gostaresh Foolad play in the 2013–14 [[Iran Pro League]] season. They lost in the round of 16 of the Hazfi Cup to [[Azadegan League]] side [[Sanat Naft Abadan F.C.|Sanat Naft Abadan]]. In their first year in the league, Gostaresh finished 10th.

After a bad start to the 2014–15 season [[Mehdi Tartar]] was fired as head coach of the club and replaced by [[Faraz Kamalvand]], finishing in 11th place.

Under Faraz Kamalvand Gostaresh had one of their best ever seasons in the 2015–16 season, finishing in ninth place. The club finished a best ever 8th place in the 2016–17 season. However shortly after, [[Faraz Kamalvand]] resigned and signed with [[Sanat Naft Abadan F.C.|Sanat Naft Abadan]].

==Stadium== [[Bonyan Diesel Stadium]] is Gostaresh Foolad's main stadium with the capacity of 12,000. The stadium and its complex includes two grass pitches.

==Kit== Since the club's establishment in 2008, the teams has worn an all blue home kit with an all white away kit, corresponding with the club's logo. From 2008 to 2014, Gostaresh's kit sponsor was German company [[Uhlsport]] who also supplied the [[Iran national football team]] and a large number of other Iranian clubs. Starting in the summer of 2014, the club switched to Spanish company [[Kelme (company)|Kelme]]. After only one season with Kelme, Gostaresh once again switched sponsors and chose Iranian based company [[Merooj]].

==Season-by-season== [[File:Gostaresh foolad team.jpg|thumb|310px|Gostaresh Foulad in 2015.]] The table below chronicles the achievements of Gostaresh Foolad F.C. in various competitions since 2009. {| border="1" cellpadding="2" style="border-collapse:collapse; text-align:center; font-size:normal;" |- style="background:#f0f6fa;" !Season ! League ! Position ![[Hazfi Cup]] ! Notes |- |[[Iran Football's 3rd Division 2008-2009|2008–09]] |[[Iran Football's 3rd Division|3rd Division]] |bgcolor=gold|1st |''did not qualify'' | style="background:#9f6;"|Promoted |- |[[Azadegan League 2009-10|2009–10]] | rowspan="4" |[[Azadegan League]] |8th | style="background:silver;"|Final | |- |[[2010–11 Azadegan League|2010–11]] |3rd |3rd Round | |- |[[2011–12 Azadegan League|2011–12]] |9th |Round of 32 | |- |[[2012–13 Azadegan League|2012–13]] |bgcolor=gold|1st |''did not qualify'' | style="background:#9f6;"|Promoted |- |[[2013–14 Iran Pro League|2013–14]] | rowspan="5" |[[Persian Gulf Cup|Persian Gulf Pro League]] |10th |Round of 16 | |- |[[2014–15 Iran Pro League|2014–15]] |11th |Round of 16 | |- ||[[2015–16 Iran Pro League|2015–16]] |9th |Round of 16 | |- ||[[2016–17 Iran Pro League|2016–17]] |8th |Quarterfinals | |- |[[2017–18 Persian Gulf Pro League|2017–18]] |9th |Quarterfinals | |}

==International friendlies== Since its establishment Gostaresh has played a number of European friendlies. Their biggest result came on 3 July 2016 after defeating Turkish runners up [[Fenerbahçe S.K. (football)|Fenerbahçe]].

{{legend2|#CCFFCC|Win|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|#FFFFCC|Draw|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|#FFCCCC|Loss|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend2|#CCCCCC|Postponed|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{football box collapsible |date = '''Date''' |round = '''Round''' |team1 = Home |score = Score |team2 = Away |location = '''Location''' }} {{football box collapsible |nobars = 1 |round = |date = {{Start date|2016|1|8|df=y}} |time = |team1 = {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Eskişehirspor]] |score = 0–2 |report = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://m.ligtv.com.tr/mac-merkezi/eskisehirspor-gostaresh?id=111152004|title = Futbol ve Spor Haberleri &#124; Maç ��zetleri &#124; Canlı Maç Sonuçları}}</ref> |team2 = [[Gostaresh Foolad F.C.|Gostaresh Foolad]] |goals1 = |goals2 = [[Mohammad Ebrahimi|Ebrahimi]] {{goal|}} <br> [[Mohammad Ebrahimi|Ebrahimi]] {{goal|}} |stadium = |location = [[Turkey]] |attendance = |referee = |result = w }} {{football box collapsible |nobars = 1 |round = |date = {{Start date|2016|1|13|df=y}} |time = |team1 = {{flagicon|Germany}} [[Hannover 96]] |score = 2–0 |report = |team2 = [[Gostaresh Foolad F.C.|Gostaresh Foolad]] |goals1 = |goals2 = |stadium = |location = [[Turkey]] |attendance = |referee = |result = L }} {{football box collapsible |nobars = 1 |round = |date = {{Start date|2016|7|3|df=y}} |time = |team1 = {{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Fenerbahçe S.K. (football)|Fenerbahçe]] |score = 0–3 |report = <ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.varzesh3.com/news/1338396/%D9%BE%DB%8C%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%B2%DB%8C-%D9%BE%D8%B1-%DA%AF%D9%84-%DA%AF%D8%B3%D8%AA%D8%B1%D8%B4-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B1-%D9%81%D9%86%D8%B1%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%BA%DA%86%D9%87|title=پیروزی پر گل گسترش برابر فنرباغچه}}</ref> |team2 = [[Gostaresh Foolad F.C.|Gostaresh Foolad]] |goals1 = |goals2 = [[Dariush Shojaeian|Shojaeian]] {{goal|}} <br> [[Yousef Seyedi|Seyedi]] {{goal|}}<br> [[Yousef Seyedi|Seyedi]] {{goal|}} |stadium = |location = [[Turkey]] |attendance = |referee = |result = w }} {{football box collapsible |nobars = 1 |round = |date = {{Start date|2016|7|7|df=y}} |time = |team1 = [[Gostaresh Foolad F.C.|Gostaresh Foolad]] |score = 0–0 |report = |team2 = {{flagicon|ROM}} [[FC Voluntari|Voluntari]] |goals1 = |goals2 = |stadium = |location = [[Turkey]] |attendance = |referee = |result = D }} {{football box collapsible |nobars = 1 |round = |date = {{Start date|2017|7|8|df=y}} |time = |team1 = {{flagicon|TUR}} [[Beşiktaş J.K.|Beşiktaş U23]] |score = 0–2 |report = |team2 = [[Gostaresh Foolad F.C.|Gostaresh Foolad]] |goals1 = |goals2 = |stadium = |location = [[Turkey]] |attendance = |referee = |result = W }}

==Head coaches== {|style="border:1px solid #aaa;padding:4px;" ! |- ! Manager ! Years |- |{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Hossein Khatibi]]||Jan 2009&nbsp;– Mar 2010 |- |{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Farhad Kazemi]]||Mar 2010&nbsp;– Dec 2010 |- |{{flagicon|Croatia}} [[Luka Bonačić]]||Dec 15, 2010&nbsp;– Jun 25, 2011 |- |{{flagicon|Turkey}} [[Engin Firat]]||Jul 1, 2011&nbsp;– Sep 30, 2011 |- |{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Mohammad Hossein Ziaei]]||Oct 2011&nbsp;– Feb 2012 |- |{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Hadi Bargizar]]||Feb 2012&nbsp;– Jul 2012 |- |{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Rasoul Khatibi]]||Jul 1, 2012&nbsp;– Jan 2, 2014 |- |{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Mehdi Tartar]]||Jan 2, 2014&nbsp;– Oct 3, 2014 |- |{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Faraz Kamalvand]]||Oct 4, 2014&nbsp;–May 4, 2017 |- |{{flagicon|Croatia}} [[Luka Bonačić]]||May 10, 2017&nbsp;–Sep 29, 2017 |- |{{flagicon|Iran}} [[Firouz Karimi]]||Sep 29, 2017&nbsp;–Jul 1, 2018 |}

==Achievements== *'''[[Hazfi Cup]]''' **Runners-up (1): ''[[2009–10 Hazfi Cup|2009–10]]''

*'''[[Azadegan League]]''' **Winner (1): ''[[2012–13 Azadegan League|2012–13]]''

*'''[[Azadegan League|League 3]]''' **Winner (1): ''[[Iran Football's 3rd Division|2008–09]]''

*'''[[Persian Gulf Pro League]]''' :Fair play Team of the Year: [[2014–15 Iran Pro League|2014–15]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://khabaronline.ir/detail/439605/sport/premiere-league|title = تیم "ف-ک" تیم اخلاق لیگ شد!|date = 25 July 2015}}</ref>

===Unofficial titles=== * '''MDS Cup''': **Winners (1): 2016

==Asian clubs ranking== {{updated|12 February 2017}}.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://footballdatabase.com/ranking/asia/2|title=Asia Football / Soccer Clubs Ranking |website=FootballDatabase}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |- ! Current Rank !! Country !! Team |- | 81|| {{flagicon|IRN}} || '''Gostaresh Foulad''' |- | 82|| {{flagicon|KOR}} || [[Gwangju FC]] |- | 83|| {{flagicon|JPN}} || [[Vegalta Sendai]] |- | 84|| {{flagicon|IDN}} || [[Persib Bandung]] |- | 85|| {{flagicon|AUS}} || [[Adelaide United]] |}

==See also== * [[Gostaresh Foolad Tabriz FSC]]

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * {{official website|https://web.archive.org/web/20130305111005/http://gftclub.ir/}} {{in lang|fa}} (archived 5 March 2013)

{{Persian Gulf Pro League}} {{Hazfi Cup}} {{Football in Iran}}

[[Category:Football clubs in Iran]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 2008]] [[Category:Sport in Tabriz]]