Foolad

Foolad Khuzestan Football Club (, Bāshgāh-e Futbāl-e Fulād-e Khuzestān) is an Iranian professional football club based in Ahvaz, Khuzestan, that plays in Persian Gulf Pro League. The club was founded in 1971 and is owned by Foolad Khuzestan Company. Foolad is considered the best football club in Iran in every respect; it is also one of the most decorated clubs in the country, having ranked as the top Iranian team in Asia and globally for several years.

Foolad Khuzestan Football Club is considered the fourth-best club in the history of Iranian football, following Esteghlal, Persepolis, and Sepahan. Foolad secured its first Iranian league title in 2004 during the third season of the Persian Gulf Pro League.

Foolad ranks as the fourth most decorated club in Iran. Among the club's most significant achievements are two Persian Gulf Pro League titles (2004–05 and 2013–14 seasons), one Hazfi Cup title (2020–21), and two Iranian Super Cup titles (along with one runner-up finish). Additionally, the club has finished as the runner-up in the Hazfi Cup on two occasions, in 1993 and 1996. Among Foolad's other honors are nine provincial league titles, where Foolad Khuzestan secured nine separate trophies. The team has finished in third place in the league four times; additionally, their record includes six appearances in the AFC Champions League (Asia's top-tier club competition) and one appearance in the Asian Cup Winners' Cup (Asia's second-tier competition, during the 1994–95 season). Among Foolad's other honors are nine provincial league titles, where Foolad Khuzestan secured nine separate trophies. The team has finished in third place in the league four times; additionally, their record includes six appearances in the AFC Champions League (Asia's top-tier club competition) and one appearance in the Asian Cup Winners' Cup (Asia's second-tier competition, during the 1994–95 season).

The club has won Iran Pro League twice, as well as a championship in the lower division, Azadegan League. In the 2004–05 season, Foolad became the champion of the fourth newly founded Iran Pro League (IPL), gaining a total of 64 points over 30 league matches. After several seasons, Foolad lost many of its key players through transfers and internal problems and also displayed a poor performance in the 2006 AFC Champions League. The club was subsequently relegated to the Azadegan League, second highest division in Iran at the end of 2006–07. However, Foolad was able to return to the IPL starting from the next season, 2008–09 Iran Pro League. Foolad won its second championship in the 2013–14 season. The club also won their first Hazfi Cup title in the 2020–21 season.

To date, two Foolad players—Reza Norouzi and Chimba—have finished as the top scorers of the Iranian football Premier League. Foolad has reached the semi-finals of the AFC Champions League. Despite deserving a spot in the final, the team lost 1–0 to Al-Hilal in the Asian semi-finals.

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