Saipa FC
Encyclopedia
- For the automobile company, see SAIPASAIPASaipa is the second largest Iranian auto manufacturer.Saipa was established in 1966, with 75% Iranian ownership, to assemble Citroëns under license for the Iranian market...
.
Saipa Alborz Football Club is a football team based in Karaj
Karaj
Karaj is a city in and the capital of Karaj County, Alborz Province, Iran. At the 2006 census, its population was 1,377,450, in 385,955 families, , making it the fifth-largest city in Iran after Tehran, Mashhad, Isfahan and Tabriz.) It is situated west of Tehran, at the foothills of the Alborz...
, Alborz Province, Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
. The team is owned by SAIPA
SAIPA
Saipa is the second largest Iranian auto manufacturer.Saipa was established in 1966, with 75% Iranian ownership, to assemble Citroëns under license for the Iranian market...
, an Iranian automobile manufacturer. The team has never had a large fanbase, despite some success. It is known to have one of the best youth training programs in Iran
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
ian football.
Saipa F.C. is the football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club of the multisport Saipa Cultural and Athletic Corporation.
History
In 1989, SAIPASAIPA
Saipa is the second largest Iranian auto manufacturer.Saipa was established in 1966, with 75% Iranian ownership, to assemble Citroëns under license for the Iranian market...
Company decided on starting a football team. They purchased a team playing in the 4th division of Tehran's
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
league, and renamed it. They played in the 3rd division in 1990, and the 2nd division in 1991. That same year they purchased the Shipping Department team's shares, and participated in the 1st division of Tehran's
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
local league. In that year they won the Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
city championship as well as the Tehran
Tehran
Tehran , sometimes spelled Teheran, is the capital of Iran and Tehran Province. With an estimated population of 8,429,807; it is also Iran's largest urban area and city, one of the largest cities in Western Asia, and is the world's 19th largest city.In the 20th century, Tehran was subject to...
Super Cup, thus attaining the right to play in Iran's
Iran
Iran , officially the Islamic Republic of Iran , is a country in Southern and Western Asia. The name "Iran" has been in use natively since the Sassanian era and came into use internationally in 1935, before which the country was known to the Western world as Persia...
top league at the time, the Azadegan League. In their first year in the Azadegan League they won the championship, as well as the Hazfi Cup
Hazfi Cup
The Hazfi Cup is a knockout cup competition in Iranian football, run by the Iranian Football Federation. The competition wasn't regarded important by clubs until the IRIFF decided to award one of Iran's four AFC Champions League spots to the champion....
. They also won the league championship again in 1994, but were relegated to the 2nd division in 1995. They were able to make their way back into the 1st division again. They became the champion of the IPL in 2007 with their manager/player Ali Daei
Ali Daei
Ali Daei is an Iranian retired football player and former national team coach who currently manages a local Iranian team, Rah Ahan. He is a former captain of the Iran national football team, and is the world's all-time leading goalscorer in international matches...
. They played in ACL
AFC Champions League
The AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs...
for the first and got through to the second round under Ali Daei
Ali Daei
Ali Daei is an Iranian retired football player and former national team coach who currently manages a local Iranian team, Rah Ahan. He is a former captain of the Iran national football team, and is the world's all-time leading goalscorer in international matches...
but finished 13th in the league and could not perform as well as the season before. After that, Ali Daei
Ali Daei
Ali Daei is an Iranian retired football player and former national team coach who currently manages a local Iranian team, Rah Ahan. He is a former captain of the Iran national football team, and is the world's all-time leading goalscorer in international matches...
was chosen as the Team Melli manager, so the club had to choose a new coach; they brought in a German coach who had a difficult time and stayed for only 2 months. The club replaced said coach with Mayeli Kohan and had an average seasons for the following two seasons and finished in midtable.
Season-by-season
The table below chronicles the achievements of Saipa in various competitions since 1993.| Season | Pos. | Hazfi Cup Hazfi Cup The Hazfi Cup is a knockout cup competition in Iranian football, run by the Iranian Football Federation. The competition wasn't regarded important by clubs until the IRIFF decided to award one of Iran's four AFC Champions League spots to the champion.... |
ACL AFC Champions League The AFC Champions League is the premier Asian club football competition hosted annually by Asian Football Confederation . The tournament is contested among the top thirty-two clubs from the top 10 Asian leagues, two of which must qualify through the playoffs... |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993-94 Azadegan League 1993-94 ----* Iranian Football Champions: Saipa* Relegated teams : _* Promoted teams :Esteghlal, Machine Sazi, Shahdari Sari, Naft Ghaemshahr, Bank Tejarat, Payam Gach Khorasan, Pars Khodro, Ararat, Qods Sari, Shahin Bushehr... |
1D* | 1st | Cup | Did not qualify |
| 1994-95 Azadegan League 1994-95 -First Round:Group AGroup B*Semi-Final1)2)- Final :-Notes:* Azadegan League champions : Saipa F.C.* Relegated teams : Shahin Bushehr , Qods Sari , Nassaji Mazandaran , Teraktor Sazi , Zob Ahan, Sanat Naft, Pars Khodro , Payam Gach Khorasan, Bank Tejarat, Chooka Talesh, Naft... |
1D* | 1st | Second round | |
| 1995-96 Azadegan League 1995/96 The following is the final results of the Azadegan League's 1995/96 football season.----* Iranian football champions: Persepolis* Relegated: Jonoob Ahvaz, Ararat Tehran, Shahrdari Tabriz, Saipa... |
1D* | 16th | Semifinal | |
| 1996-97 | 2D | 2nd | Did not qualify | |
| 1997-98 | 1D* | 7th | Not held | |
| 1998-99 | 1D* | 4th | ||
| 1999-00 | 1D* | 3rd | Semifinal | |
| 2000-01 | 1D* | 7th | Semifinal | |
| 2001-02 IPL 2001/02 The following is the standings of the Persian Gulf Cup's 2001–02 football season. This was the first season since the establishment of the Iran Pro League . Persepolis F.C... |
1D** | 11th | ||
| 2002-03 IPL 2002/03 The following is the standings of the Persian Gulf Cup's 2002/03 football season. This season will be the 2nd season since the establishment of the Iran Pro League . Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan F.C... |
1D** | 6th | ||
| 2003-04 IPL 2003/04 The following is the standings of the Persian Gulf Cup's 2003/04 football season. This season will be the 3rd season since the establishment of the Iran Pro League . Pas Tehran F.C... |
1D** | 13th | Semifinal | |
| 2004-05 IPL 2004/05 The following is the standings of the Persian Gulf Cup's 2004/05 football season. This season will be the 4th season since the establishment of the Iran Pro League . Foolad Khuzestan F.C... |
1D** | 13th | Quarterfinal | |
| 2005-06 IPL 2005/06 The following is the standings of the Persian Gulf Cup's 2005/06 football season. This season will be the 5th season since the establishment of the Iran Pro League . Esteghlal F.C. were defending champions.-Final classification:... |
1D** | 3rd | 1/16 Final | |
| 2006-07 IPL 2006/07 The following is the standings of the Persian Gulf Cup's 2006/07 football season. This season was the 6th season since the establishment of the Iranian Premier League... |
1D** | 1st | 1/8 Final | |
| 2007-08 | 1D** | 11th | 1/16 Final | Quarterfinal |
| 2008-09 | 1D** | 10th | 1/16 Final | Did not qualify |
| 2009-10 2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup The 2009–10 Persian Gulf Cup began on August 8, 2009 and ended on May 19, 2010. This was the ninth Iran Pro League season since its establishment... |
1D** | 8th | Third Round | |
| 2010-11 2010–11 Persian Gulf Cup The 2010–11 Persian Gulf Cup was the tenth season of the Iran Pro League and the fifth under the name Persian Gulf Cup. It began on 26 July 2010 and ended on 20 May 2011. Sepahan, the defending champion, repeated their title in this season... |
1D** | 11th | Fourth Round | |
| 2011-12 | 1D** | 1/16 Final |
* Azadegan League.
** Iran Pro League.
Honors
- League Championships:
- 1994, 1995, 2007
- Hazfi CupHazfi CupThe Hazfi Cup is a knockout cup competition in Iranian football, run by the Iranian Football Federation. The competition wasn't regarded important by clubs until the IRIFF decided to award one of Iran's four AFC Champions League spots to the champion....
:- 1995
First-team squad
As of August 3, 2011For recent transfers, see List of Iranian football transfers, summer 2011.
Famous players
Adriano AlvesAdriano Alves
Adriano Leonardo Alves is a Brazilian footballer who is currently a Free Agent. Having played 8 Seasons in the Iran's Premier Football League, He is the very first Brazilian to play in the Iranian Football.- Club career :Alves started his career at Brazilian side Central Sport Club where he...
Evandro
Evandro Silva Resende
Evandro Silva Resende is a Brazilian football striker who currently plays for Americano Futebol Clube.-Club career:...
Abbas Aghaei
Abbas Aghaei
Abbas Aghaei is an Iranian football player, currently playing for Damash Gilan in the Iran Pro League.- Club career :He spent most of his career in Pas Tehran. In 2004 he joined another IPL club, Sepahan, but returned to Pas after two seasons. In July 2007 Aghaei signed a 1-year contract with...
Hadi Aghili
Hadi Aghili
Hadi Aghily is an Iranian footballer who currently plays for Al-Arabi in Qatar Stars League.-Career:Aghili was born in Tehran. Aghily was part of the Persepolis F.C. youth academy, but he left the club for Saipa in 2001. After 3 years he moved to Sepahan where he won the Hazfi Cup and also played...
Farhad Alavi Ali Ansarian
Ali Ansarian
-Club career:After playing for Persepolis F.C. for several seasons, in July 2006 he joined the club's fierce rival, Esteghlal F.C.. On July 22, 2007 he signed with Azadegan League Steel Azin F.C. for reportedly $150,000...
Ali Daei
Ali Daei
Ali Daei is an Iranian retired football player and former national team coach who currently manages a local Iranian team, Rah Ahan. He is a former captain of the Iran national football team, and is the world's all-time leading goalscorer in international matches...
Behzad Gholampour
Behzad Gholampour
Behzad Gholampour is a retired Iranian goalkeeper football and Futsal. Most recently he was the Goalkeeping Trainer for Iran national football team until late March 2009. He was also Iran national football team goalkeepr coach from march 2008 to march 2009...
Mehdi Hasheminasab
Mehdi Hasheminasab
Mehdi Hasheminasab, is an Iranian football player who currently plays for Payam Mashhad and previously for the Iran national football team. He usually plays in the defender position.-Club career:...
Jalal Hosseini
Jalal Hosseini
Seyyed Jalal Hosseini Khoshkebejari is an Iranian football player. He currently plays for the Iran's Premier Football League club Sepahan and Iran national football team as a Defender...
Hossein Kaebi
Hossein Kazemi
Hossein Kazemi
Hossein Kazemi is an Iranian football player who currently plays for Rah Ahan in Iran's Premier Football League.He has also featured in an episode of a TV serie in Iran, with former Esteghlal team-mate, Alireza Ansarian.-Club career:...
Javad Kazemian
Javad Kazemian
Javad Kazemian is an Iranian Football right winger who plays for Persepolis in the Iran Pro League. He is commonly mistaken for a striker as he is frequently involved in running towards the opposing box, but his preferred position is a right winger....
Mohsen Khalili
Mohsen Khalili
Mohsen Khalili is an Iranian football forward. He is currently playing for the Iranian Professional League, Steel Azin.-Saipa:He Played for Saipa for several seasons, helping the team win the Iran Professional League in the 2006/07 season, scoring 8 goals...
Ebrahim Mirzapour
Ebrahim Mirzapour
Ebrahim Mirzapour is an Iranian football goalkeeper, currently playing for Shahrdari Tabriz in the IPL.-Club career:He started his professional IPL career, playing for Foolad F.C., and was a member of the team until August 2006. He also made it to the national team while playing for Foolad,...
Ebrahim Sadeghi
Ebrahim Sadeghi
Ebrahim Sadeghi is an Iranian footballer who plays for Saipa in the Iranian Premier League as the Captain. Sadeghi is playing for Saipa since 2000. He has been offered to join other clubs several times during last decade, but decided to remain each time...
Majid Saleh
Majid Saleh
Majid Saleh is a retired Iranian football player and current coach. He is current head coach of Saipa.-Early life:He was born on 21 May 1965 in Tehran. His father, Mahdi was a employee of SAIPA, an Iranian auto manufacturer...
Masoud Shojaei
Masoud Shojaei
Masoud Soleimani Shojaei , sometimes known as just Masoud, is an Iranian footballer who plays for CA Osasuna in La Liga.Mainly an attacking midfielder who can also play as a forward, he is also an Iranian international.-Club career:...
Dariush Yazdani Alou Traoré
Alou Traoré
Alou Traoré is a Malian footballer. He currently plays as a defender for Tractor Sazi in Iran's Premier Football League.-Club career:...
Issa Traoré
Issa Traoré
Issa Traoré is a Malian footballer. He currently plays for Sanat Naft in the Iran Pro League.Whilst at Pas, Traore endured a major injury on his right knee, and was out for a considerable number of games during his career at the club...
Managers
Bijan ZolfagharnasabBijan Zolfagharnasab
Bijan Zolfagharnasab is a retired Iranian football player and currently a football manager.He started his professional career with Pas Tehran, before changing to Persepolis F.C. in 1974. There he could win the Iranian championship in 1976 and reach runner-up position in 1975, in 1977 and in 1978...
(1993-97) Nasrollah Abdollahi
Nasrollah Abdollahi
Nasrollah Abdollahi is an Iranian football coach and former player.-Club career:Abdollahi played for Guard F.C. before he changed to Taj F.C.. There he could win the Iranian league in 1971 as well as the second place in 1974.After playing for Rah Ahan F.C...
(1997-2000) Behtash Fariba
Behtash Fariba
Behtash Fariba is a retired Iranian football player and now coach.-Club career:He played for a few clubs, including Rah Ahan F.C. and Esteghlal F.C.. With Esteghlal F.C...
(2000-2001) Hamid Alidoosti
Hamid Alidoosti
Hamid Alidoosti is a retired Iranian footballer and now football coach. He is currently the manager of Iran national under-17 football team.-Playing career:...
(2001-2002) Giovanni Mei
Giovanni Mei
Giovanni Mei is a retired Italian football player and now coach.-External links:* at footballdatabase.eu...
(2002-03) Mohammad Mayeli Kohan
Mohammad Mayeli Kohan
Mohammad Mayeli Kohan is a retired Iranian football player and now coach.- Early life:He was born on 5 June 1953 in Bandar-e Anzali in Iran. His father was a farmer. He has two brothers and one sister...
(2003-04) Mojtaba Taghavi (2004) Bijan Zolfagharnasab
Bijan Zolfagharnasab
Bijan Zolfagharnasab is a retired Iranian football player and currently a football manager.He started his professional career with Pas Tehran, before changing to Persepolis F.C. in 1974. There he could win the Iranian championship in 1976 and reach runner-up position in 1975, in 1977 and in 1978...
(2004-06) Werner Lorant
Werner Lorant
Werner Lorant is a former German football player and manager.-Playing career:The defender and defensive midfielder commenced his professional career 1970 in the second division with Westfalia Herne. 1971 he moved to Borussia Dortmund. There he was part of a side that lost 1-11 against Bayern...
(2006) Ali Daei
Ali Daei
Ali Daei is an Iranian retired football player and former national team coach who currently manages a local Iranian team, Rah Ahan. He is a former captain of the Iran national football team, and is the world's all-time leading goalscorer in international matches...
(2006-08) Pierre Littbarski
Pierre Littbarski
Pierre Michael Littbarski is a German football manager and former player. He was mainly a winger or attacking midfielder and is best known for his brilliant dribbling abilities. He was a FIFA World Cup winner with West Germany in 1990. He was also runner–up twice in 1982 and 1986 with West Germany...
(2008) Mohammad Mayeli Kohan
Mohammad Mayeli Kohan
Mohammad Mayeli Kohan is a retired Iranian football player and now coach.- Early life:He was born on 5 June 1953 in Bandar-e Anzali in Iran. His father was a farmer. He has two brothers and one sister...
(2008-2011) Majid Saleh
Majid Saleh
Majid Saleh is a retired Iranian football player and current coach. He is current head coach of Saipa.-Early life:He was born on 21 May 1965 in Tehran. His father, Mahdi was a employee of SAIPA, an Iranian auto manufacturer...
(2011-present)