{{About|the men's football club based in Iran|the women's team|Malavan W.F.C.}} {{More citations needed|date=May 2024}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Infobox football club | clubname = Malavan<br>ملوان | image = Malavan F.C. Logo.svg | upright = 0.8 | fullname = Malavan Bandar Anzali Football Club | nickname = ''Ghou-ye Sepid'' (The White Swan)<br>''Malavānān'' (The Sailors) | short name = Malavan | founded = {{Start date and age|df=yes|1969}} | dissolved = | ground = [[Sirous Ghayeghran Stadium|Ghayeghran Stadium]] | capacity = 9,000<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.irna.ir/news/82031060 |title=مدیرعامل ملوان:ورزشگاه تختی انزلی ظرفیت هواداران پرشور را ندارد |date=11 April 2016 |access-date=29 October 2023 |archive-date=29 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231029224546/https://www.irna.ir/news/82031060 |url-status=live }}</ref> | owner = | chairman = Ashkan Pourrashid | manager = [[Maziar Zare]] | league = [[Persian Gulf Pro League]] | season = [[2024-25 Persian Gulf Pro League|2024–25]] | current = 2023–24 Persian Gulf Pro League | position = Persian Gulf Pro League, 7th of 16 | pattern_la1 = | pattern_b1 = _Malawan | pattern_ra1 = | leftarm1 = FFFFFF | body1 = 0A0AB6 | rightarm1 = FFFFFF | shorts1 = 0A0AB6 | socks1 = FFFFFF | pattern_la2 = | pattern_b2 = _Malawan2 | pattern_ra2 = | leftarm2 = 0A0AB6 | body2 = 0A0AB6 | rightarm2 = 0A0AB6 | shorts2 = FFFFFF | socks2 = 0A0AB6 | website = http://malavanfc.com }}
'''Malavan Bandar Anzali Football Club''' ({{langx|fa|باشگاه فوتبال ملوان بندر انزلى}}, ''Bāšgāh-e Futbāl-e Malavān-e Bandar-e Anzali'') is an Iranian [[Football (soccer)|football]] club based in [[Bandar-e Anzali]], [[Iran]]. It won Iran's second league, the [[Azadegan League]] and came back to [[Persian Gulf Pro League]] after being relegated in the [[2015–16 Persian Gulf Pro League|2015–16 season]]. The team is known for having some of the most passionate fans in [[Iran]]ian [[soccer|football]], and is one of the country's most successful teams based outside [[Tehran]]. It is one of the most successful Iranian teams in the [[Hazfi Cup]], reaching the final 7 times and winning 3 titles.
The club forms the [[Association football|football]] part of the [[multisport club|multisport]] Malavan Sport and Cultural Club. Malavan was previously owned by the Iranian Navy.
==History==
===Establishment=== [[Bahman Salehnia]] created the team in 1968 along with some young athletes from the port city of Anzali. After some time, the [[Iranian Navy]] decided to become the team's main sponsor and owner.
===Early years===
The club never really had great success in the league but they were able to become the best non-[[Tehran]] based club and finishing third in the 1977 and 1989. Malavan has won the [[Hazfi Cup]] on 3 occasions. In 1986 Malavan participated in [[Asian Club Championship 1987|Asian Club Championship]] but after beating Saunders SC in first round they withdrew from tournament due to the [[Iran–Iraq War]].
===Iran Pro League=== In 2003 Malavan was relegated to the [[Azadegan League]], they only stayed one year in the lower league as they were immediately promoted back to the [[Iran Pro League]]. Since then, they have been one of the most stable teams of the league in recent years where they only had few coaches during their history and always finished in mid table and challenge the big teams. They finished 12th in the 2008–09 and 2009–10 season. In 2010–11 season they finished 8th and reached the final of [[Hazfi Cup]] but lost to [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]. In the 2013–14 [[Iran Pro League]] season Malavan achieved a surprising 7th-place finish in the league, their highest ever.
===Relegation=== In July 2015 Malavan hired famous Iranian coach [[Amir Ghalenoi]] who had won several league titles with [[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal]] and [[Sepahan F.C.|Sepahan]]. Player such as [[Arash Afshin]], [[Hossein Mahini]] and [[Shahab Karami]] joined the squad to serve their conscription period. In Ghalenoi's first game in charge, Malavan defeated the [[Hazfi Cup]] holders, [[Zob Ahan F.C.|Zob Ahan]] 1–0. After only three games Ghalenoi left the club and was replaced by former [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]] manager [[Hamid Estili]].
On 13 May 2016 after a 2–0 loss to [[Siah Jamegan Khorasan F.C.|Siah Jamegan]], who were behind Malavan before the match started, the clubs was relegated to the [[Azadegan League]] for the second time in their history.
Before the start of the 2016–17 season it was announced that controversial manager [[Mohammad Mayeli Kohan]] had been named Malavan's manager. Despite achieving good results and being in or near a promotion spot the entire season, Mayeli Kohan was involved in several confrontations with the supporters, which led to many supporters boycotting the team's games.
===Return to Pro League with Zare=== 2020-2021 season marked the return of two retired homegrown players, [[Maziar Zare]] and [[Pejman Nouri]], the former as the new head coach and the latter as the general manager of the club. In his first season, [[Maziar Zare|Zare]] lead the team to the semi-final of [[2021 Hazfi Cup|the domestic cup]], despite failing to win promotion. In the 2021-2022 season, Zare led the team back to the Pro League by winning the [[2021–22 Azadegan League|Azadegan League]] with record points, marking the return of Malavan to the top flight after six years.
==El Gilano== {{Main|El Gilano}}
The match between Malavan and [[S.C. Damash|Damash]] or [[Sepidrood F.C.|Sepidrood]] is known as the ''Gilan Derby'' or ''El Gilano''. This match is one of Iran's most important and heated derby's. Malavan hold the record for most wins in the derby with four since the start of the [[Iran Pro League]] in 2001. Malavan also holds the largest margin of victory when they defeated Damash 3–0 in 2005 and again in 2013. The derby is also known for its fan violence.[[File:Malavan & Esteghlal semi-final in 2010–11 Hazfi Cup.jpg|thumb|right|Fans of Malavan in play of Malavan & [[Esteghlal F.C.|Esteghlal]] semi-final in [[2010–11 Hazfi Cup]]]]
==Season-by-season== The table below chronicles the achievements of Malavan in various competitions since the beginning of [[Iran Pro League|Iranian Pro league]] in 2001. {| class="wikitable" ! Year ! Division ! Position ! Hazfi Cup |- style="text-align:center;" | [[2001–02 Iran Pro League|2001–02]] | [[Iran Pro League|Pro League]] | 12th | Quarter-finals |- style="text-align:center;" | [[2002–03 Iran Pro League|2002–03]] | [[Iran Pro League|Pro League]] | 14th [[File:Arrow-down.gif|Relegated to the Azadegan League]] | Round of 16 |- style="text-align:center;" | [[2003–04 Iran Pro League|2003–04]] | [[Azadegan League]] | 2nd [[File:Arrow-up.gif|Promoted to the Iran Pro League]] | Quarter-finals |- style="text-align:center;" | [[2004–05 Iran Pro League|2004–05]] | [[Iran Pro League|Pro League]] | 7th | Quarter-finals |- style="text-align:center;" | [[2005–06 Iran Pro League|2005–06]] | [[Iran Pro League|Pro League]] | 11th | Quarter-finals |- style="text-align:center;" | [[2006–07 Persian Gulf Cup|2006–07]] | [[Iran Pro League|Pro League]] | 14th | Quarter-finals |- style="text-align:center;" | [[2007–08 Persian Gulf Cup|2007–08]] | [[Iran Pro League|Pro League]] | 16th | Round of 16 |- style="text-align:center;" | [[2008–09 Persian Gulf Cup|2008–09]] | [[Iran Pro League|Pro League]] | 12th | Quarter-finals |- style="text-align:center;" |[[2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup|2009–10]] | [[Iran Pro League|Pro League]] | 12th | Quarter-finals |- style="text-align:center;" | [[2010–11 Persian Gulf Cup|2010–11]] | [[Iran Pro League|Pro League]] | 8th | style="background:silver;"|Final |- style="text-align:center;" | [[2011–12 Persian Gulf Cup|2011–12]] | [[Iran Pro League|Pro League]] | 15th | Fourth Round |- style="text-align:center;" | [[2012–13 Persian Gulf Cup|2012–13]] | [[Iran Pro League|Pro League]] | 13th | Round of 16 |- style="text-align:center;" | [[2013–14 Persian Gulf Cup|2013–14]] | [[Iran Pro League|Pro League]] | 7th | Quarter-finals |- style="text-align:center;" | [[2014–15 Persian Gulf Cup|2014–15]] | [[Iran Pro League|Pro League]] | 13th | Round of 16 |- style="text-align:center;" |[[2015–16 Persian Gulf Pro League|2015–16]] | [[Iran Pro League|Pro League]] | 14th[[File:Arrow-down.gif|Relegated to the Azadegan League]] | Quarter-finals |- style="text-align:center;" |[[2016–17 Azadegan League|2016–17]] | [[Azadegan League]] | 4th | Quarter-finals |- style="text-align:center;" |[[2017–18 Azadegan League|2017–18]] | [[Azadegan League]] | 6th | Quarter-finals |- style="text-align:center;" |[[2018–19 Azadegan League|2018–19]] |[[Azadegan League]] |11th |Fourth Round |- style="text-align:center;" |[[2019–20 Azadegan League|2019–20]] |[[Azadegan League]] |15th |Third Round |- style="text-align:center;" |[[2020–21 Azadegan League|2020–21]] |[[Azadegan League]] |11th |Semi-finals |- style="text-align:center;" |[[2021–22 Azadegan League|2021–22]] |[[Azadegan League]] |'''1st [[File:Arrow-up.gif|Promoted to the Iran Pro League]]''' |Third Round |- style="text-align:center;" |[[2022–23 Persian Gulf Pro League|2022–23]] |[[Iran Pro League|Pro League]] |12th |Round of 16 |}
''For details on seasons, see [[List of Malavan F.C. seasons]]''
==Honours== ===National titles=== *'''[[Azadegan League]]''' **'''Winners (1):''' [[2021–22 Azadegan League|2021–22]] **''Runner-up (1):'' [[Azadegan League 2003/04|2003–04]] *'''[[Hazfi Cup]]''' **'''Winners (3):''' [[1975–76 Hazfi Cup|1975–76]], [[Hazfi Cup|1986–87]], [[Hazfi Cup|1990–91]] **''Runner-up (5):'' [[Hazfi Cup|1987–88]], [[Hazfi Cup|1988–89]], [[Hazfi Cup|1991–92]], [[2010–11 Hazfi Cup|2010–11]], [[Hazfi Cup|2024–25]]
===Minor titles=== *{{flagicon|IRN}} '''[[1982 Vahdat International Cup|Vahdat Cup]]''' **''Third place (1)'': [[1982 Vahdat International Cup|1982]] *{{flagicon|Pakistan}} '''[[ECO Cup|RCD Cup]]''' **''Runner-up (1)'': [[RCD Cup 1974|1974]]
==Club officials==
===Presidents=== Sources:<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.persianleague.com/the-news/1-latest-news/356-Salehnia%20return%20to%20Malavan.html |title=Salehnia return to Malavan |publisher=PersianLeague.com |date=13 July 2002 |access-date=19 July 2016 |archive-date=4 October 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121004213435/http://www.persianleague.com/the-news/1-latest-news/356-Salehnia%20return%20to%20Malavan.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.malavan.ir/aaa/news.php?item.594.1 |title=صفحه پیدا نشد - ملوان نیوز |access-date=27 July 2011 |archive-date=25 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200125031104/http://malavan.ir/aaa/news.php?item.594.1 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |- !|Name !|Years |- |align=left|[[Rashid Sazmand]] |align=left|1996–06 |- |align=left|Saadollah Pourtahmasbi |align=left|2006–09 |- |align=left|Ardeshir Pournemat |align=left|2009–11 |- |align=left|Bahman Salehnia |align=left|2011–12 |- |align="left"|Sadegh Deroudgar |align=left|2012–14 |- |align="left"|Hossein Gholami |align=left|2014–15 |- |align="left"|[[Ahmad Donyamali]] |align=left|2015–17 |- |align="left"|Mehran Nasiri |align=left|2017–18 |- |align="left"|[[Pejman Nouri]] |align=left|2019–23 |- |align="left"|Arash Fahmide |align=left|2023–present |}
===Current coaching staff=== Source:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mehrnews.com/news/2880354/%D8%AD%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%84%DB%8C-%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B4-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B6%D8%A7-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D9%BE%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AA-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%81%D9%86%DB%8C-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86|script-title=fa:حمید استیلی قراردادش را امضا کرد/ پایان رافت در کادرفنی ملوان|access-date=12 August 2015|publisher=[[Mehr News Agency]]|language=fa|date=11 August 2015|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107055531/http://www.mehrnews.com/news/2880354/%D8%AD%D9%85%DB%8C%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%AA%DB%8C%D9%84%DB%8C-%D9%82%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B4-%D8%B1%D8%A7-%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%B6%D8%A7-%DA%A9%D8%B1%D8%AF-%D9%BE%D8%A7%DB%8C%D8%A7%D9%86-%D8%B1%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AA-%D8%AF%D8%B1-%DA%A9%D8%A7%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%81%D9%86%DB%8C-%D9%85%D9%84%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86|url-status=live}}</ref>
{| class=wikitable |- ! Position !!Name |- |'''Head coach''' || {{flagicon|IRN}} [[Maziar Zare]] |- |'''Assistant coach''' || {{flagicon|POR}} Eurico Pinhal |- |'''Goalkeeping coach''' || {{flagicon|IRN}} Mohammad Ali Hassani Sefat |- |'''Doctor''' || {{flagicon|IRN}} Babak Sayyad |- |'''Technical director''' || {{flagicon|IRN}} [[Ghafour Jahani]] |- |'''Team manager''' || {{flagicon|IRN}} Hossein Gholami |}
===Head coaches=== Below is a list of Malavan coaches from 1968 until the present day. Firouz Karimi carries the honor of being the first Iranian head coach to assume the title without rising from the Malavan football school.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center" |- !|Name !|Nationality !|Years |- |align=left|[[Bahman Salehnia]] |{{flagicon|IRN|1964}}{{flagicon|IRN}} |align=left|20 May 1968 – 5 February 1997 |- |align=left|[[Nosrat Irandoost]] |{{flagicon|IRN}} |align=left|5 February 1997 – 15 December 2000 |- |align=left|[[Mohammad Ahmadzadeh]] |{{flagicon|IRN}} |align=left|15 Dec 2000 – 2 July 2002 |- |align=left|[[Bahman Salehnia]] |{{flagicon|IRN}} |align=left|15 May 2002 – 2 July 2004 |- |align=left|[[Nosrat Irandoost]] |{{flagicon|IRN}} |align=left|2 July 2004 – 5 July 2006 |- |align=left|[[Mohammad Ahmadzadeh]] |{{flagicon|IRN}} |align=left|5 July 2006 – 1 January 2010 |- |align=left|[[Farhad Pourgholami]] |{{flagicon|IRN}} |align=left|1 January 2010 – 29 September 2012 |- |align=left|[[Mohammad Ahmadzadeh]] |{{flagicon|IRN}} |align=left|29 September 2012 – 28 May 2013 |- |align=left|[[Dragan Skočić]] |{{flagicon|CRO}} |align=left|28 May 2013 – 1 June 2014 |- |align=left|[[Nosrat Irandoost]] |{{flagicon|IRN}} |align=left|1 June 2014 – 8 October 2014 |- |align=left|[[Stevan Mojsilović]] |{{flagicon|SER}} |align=left|8 October 2014 – 5 December 2014 |- |align=left|[[Firouz Karimi]] |{{flagicon|IRN}} |align=left|6 December 2014 – 1 June 2015 |- |align=left|[[Hamid Estili]] |{{flagicon|IRN}} |align=left|10 August 2015 – 20 February 2016 |- |align=left|[[Mohammad Ahmadzadeh]] |{{flagicon|IRN}} |align=left|1 March 2016 – 15 July 2016 |- |align=left|[[Mohammad Mayeli Kohan]] |{{flagicon|IRN}} |align=left|22 July 2016 – 27 May 2017 |- |align=left|[[Nader Dastneshan]] |{{flagicon|IRN}} |align=left|28 May 2017 – 1 June 2018 |- |align=left|[[Farhad Pourgholami]] |{{flagicon|IRN}} |align=left|1 June 2018 – 28 October 2018 |- |align=left|[[Mohammad Ahmadzadeh]] |{{flagicon|IRN}} |align=left|31 October 2018 – 7 June 2020 |- |align=left|[[Akbar Misaghian]] |{{flagicon|IRN}} |align=left|7 June 2020 – 1 September 2020 |- |align=left|[[Maziar Zare]] |{{flagicon|IRN}} |align=left|1 September 2020 – 18 May 2023 |- | align=left|[[Mehdi Tartar]] |{{flagicon|IRN}} |align= left|26 June 2023 – present |}
==Players==
===First-team squad=== {{updated|23 January 2026}}
{{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=4|nat=IRN|pos=DF|name=[[Amir Reza Afsordeh]]}} {{Fs player|no=5|nat=IRN|pos=DF|name=[[Saeed Karimi]]}} {{Fs player|no=6|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Sina Khadempour]]}} {{Fs player|no=8|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Gholamreza Sabet Imani]]}} {{Fs player|no=10|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Ghaem Eslamikhah]]}} {{Fs player|no=12|nat=IRN|pos=GK|name=[[Afshar Sedaghat]] <sup>'''U25'''</sup>}} {{Fs player|no=13|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Mohammad Alinejad]]}} {{Fs player|no=15|nat=IRN|pos=DF|name=[[Mohammad Reza Khosravi]] <sup>'''U23'''</sup>}} {{Fs player|no=19|nat=IRN|pos=FW|name=[[Seyed Ali Yahyazadeh]]}} {{Fs player|no=20|nat=IRN|pos=DF|name=[[Mohammad Papi]]}} {{Fs player|no=21|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Abbas Habibi]] <sup>'''U21'''</sup> |other={{small|on loan from [[Sepahan S.C.|Sepahan]]}}}} {{Fs player|no=23|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Parham Movaghari]] <sup>'''U25'''</sup>}} {{Fs player|no=24|nat=IRN|pos=DF|name=[[Danial Eiri]] <sup>'''U23'''</sup> |other={{small|on loan from [[Zob Ahan F.C.|Zob Ahan]]}}}} {{fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=26|nat=IRN|pos=DF|name=[[Mahyar Zahmatkesh]]|other=[[Captain (association football)|Captain]]}} {{Fs player|no=27|nat=IRN|pos=DF|name=[[Jafar Salmani]]}} {{Fs player|no=29|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Amir Savaed]] <sup>'''U23'''</sup>}} {{Fs player|no=47|nat=IRN|pos=FW|name=[[Mojtaba Fakhrian]] <sup>'''U23'''</sup> |other={{small|on loan from [[Persepolis F.C.|Persepolis]]}}}} {{Fs player|no=70|pos=FW|nat=IRN|name=[[Mohammad Javad Mohammadi]] |other={{small|on loan from [[Zob Ahan F.C.|Zob Ahan]]}}}} {{Fs player|no=72|nat=IRN|pos=FW|name=[[Issa Alekasir]] <sup>'''INJ'''</sup>}} {{Fs player|no=77|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Abouzar Safarzadeh]]}} {{Fs player|no=80|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Iliya Imani]] <sup>'''U23'''</sup>}} {{Fs player|no=81|nat=IRN|pos=GK|name=[[Parham Ghanad]] <sup>'''U23'''</sup>}} {{Fs player|no=90|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Hossein Sadeghi]]}} {{Fs player|no=98|nat=IRN|pos=GK|name=[[Farzad Tayebipour]]}} {{Fs player|no=99|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=Alireza Ramezani}} {{Fs end}}
===Reserve Squad=== {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=28|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Amirreza Karimi]] <sup>'''U17'''</sup>}} {{Fs player|no=30|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Mahan Beheshti]] <sup>'''U17'''</sup>}} {{Fs player|no=35|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Mahan Sadeghi]] <sup>'''U21'''</sup>}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=55|nat=IRN|pos=DF|name=[[Hamidreza Shamsipour]] <sup>'''U21'''</sup>}} {{Fs player|no=78|nat=IRN|pos=FW|name=[[Farjad Fayaz]] <sup>'''U21'''</sup>}} {{Fs player|no=88|nat=IRN|pos=MF|name=[[Farhan Jafari]] <sup>'''U21'''</sup>}} {{Fs end}}
==Notes== {{Reflist}}
==References== *[https://web.archive.org/web/20111112091151/http://www.persianleague.com/index.php/teams/teams?id=57&view=team&sid=24 Malavan FC stats] at ''persianleague.com'' (archived) {{commons category|Malavan F.C.}}
==External links== *[http://www.persianleague.com/the-news/1-latest-news/356-Salehnia%20return%20to%20Malavan.html Persian League- Latest Iran League News – Iran Football News] * {{Official website|http://www.malavanfc.com}} {{in lang|en|fa}} {{Persian Gulf Pro League}}{{Hazfi Cup}} {{Football in Iran}}
[[Category:Football clubs in Iran]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 1969]] [[Category:Sport in Gilan province]] [[Category:1969 establishments in Iran]] [[Category:Malavan F.C.]]