Congratulations to Persepolis, the new IPL champs

[purple_haze]

Congrats PP. Is this the first time a team has won the IPL twice in 8 years?

First of all Thanks. About your question, PP is the only team that has won IPL twice. The league was called Azadegan before and went professional in 2001. The new format, IPL/PGL AKA our so called pro league was officially implemented with start from the 2001/02 and has had 7 editions so far:

2001/2002 : Perspolis
2002/2003 : Sepahan
2003/2004 : Pas
2004/2005 : Foolad
2005/2006 : Esteghlal
2006/2007 : Saipa
2007/2008 : Perspolis

[perspolees]

First of all Thanks. About your question, PP is the only team that has won IPL twice. The league was called Azadegan before and went professional in 2001. The new format, IPL/PGL AKA our so called pro league was officially implemented with start from the 2001/02 and has had 7 editions so far:

2001/2002 : Perspolis
2002/2003 : Sepahan
2003/2004 : Pas
2004/2005 : Foolad
2005/2006 : Esteghlal
2006/2007 : Saipa
2007/2008 : Perspolis

and before that was called the tehran league when there was the iraq war and persepolis dominated that with crushing margins.

[purple_haze]

and before that was called the tehran league when there was the iraq war and persepolis dominated that with crushing margins.

Yeah I remember it quite clearly up to '88-89 when I left Iran. The Tehran league as I remember it went like this:

81 : 1- Homa, 2- Perspolis 3- Esteghlal
82 : 1- Perspolis, 2- Homa 3- Esteghlal
83 : 1- Esteghlal, 2- Perspolis 3- ?
84 : 1- Perspolis 2- Esteghlal
85 : 1- Esteghlal, 2- Shahin 3- Homa
86 : 1- Perspolis , 2- Shahin 3- Esteghlal
87 : 1- Perspolis , 2- Daraei 3- Esteghlal
88 : 1- Perspolis , 2- Daraei 3- Esteghlal
89 : 1- Perspolis , 2- Daraei 3- Ekbatan

League was cancelled after 7 games due to AC participation of TM!!!
The format of the league changed. Teams were divided into 2 groups and the best 2 of each group (Group A first team Vs Group B second team and vice versa) met in the semis, with the winners playing in a final to decide the champion.
Perspolis won group B, but they were handed three 0-3 losses by the federation due to Reza Abedian, who had came in as a sub in three games, was obligated to do military service.

[purple_haze]

The complete list would be like this:

Local Leagues

• 1960 Shahin
• 1961 Not Held
• 1963 Daraei
• 1964 to 1966 Not Held
• 1967 Pas
• 1968 Pas
• 1969 Not Held
• 1970 Taj

• 1972 Perspolis

Takht Jamshid Cup

• 1973 Perspolis
• 1974 Taj
• 1975 Perspolis
• 1976 Pas
• 1977 Pas
• 1978 Not Completed Due to Revolution

1980s

• 1979-1989 No national League Competition only Espandi Cup in 1979 and provincial leagues throughout the 1980s.
• 81 : Homa
  82 : Perspolis
  83 : Esteghlal
  84 : Perspolis
  85 : Esteghlal
  86 : Perspolis
  87 : Perspolis
  88 : Perspolis
  89 : Perspolis

Qods League

• 1989-1990 Esteghlal

Azadegan League

• 1991-1992 Pas
• 1992-1993 Pas
• 1993-1994 Saipa
• 1994-1995 Saipa
• 1995-1996 Perspolis
• 1996-1997 Perspolis
• 1997-1998 Esteghlal
• 1998-1999 Perspolis
• 1999-2000 Perspolis
• 2000-2001 Esteghlal

IPL

• 2001-2002 Perspolis
• 2002-2003 Sepahan
• 2003-2004 Pas
• 2004-2005 Foolad
• 2005-2006 Esteghlal
• 2006-2007 Saipa
• 2007-2008 Perspolis

[maij]

Let me be the first to congratulate PP on winning the league with an exciting team.
Their team was always one of the favorites for the title throughout the season and let me add that now, Ghotbi has a lot to be proud of.
After they got rid of sheyss , and replaced him with Zarei, plus some disciplinary actions like expulsion of mamani, benching niki and others, pp was transformed into a much more exciting and more cohesive unit.
bagheri also peaked at the right time.

In the final, too, they played a better game than sepahan and I think they deserved the win.
Although I'm quite puzzled why the ref decided on 7 minuts as that was most peculiar. remember we got 8 minutes against aussies when that moron jumped on the net and tore it down and it took forever for the officials to repair/replace the net. that was 8 minutes.
what happened during this game that warranted 7 minutes ? in fact no goals were scored which is one of the factors ref's include for calculating the stoppage time. that certainly will be a talking point for some time to come.

PP deserved the win today, but I'd have rather see pp win it without this issue of time .

anyway, I'm looking forward to see them tear into asian opponents in next season's ACL.
I hope they dont lose their influential players like khalili, aghaei, zarei , vaezi, nouri, ashoubi, ...

I was also quite impressed with the short abdi. he will go a long way if he keeps this up.

I quite agree with that , Doc.

At the end of the day , the team that wanted it the most got it and that was Perspolis. In a league format , the best team is the one that collects the most points , and no denying that Perpolis despite so much set-backs , deserved it.

As for the 7 minutes , I think it was uncalled for. I don't know where this card award time wastage is coming from , but there is no such myth in FIFA football. 30 seconds are allowed for each sub , injury time and time wastage by the players is awarded according to the referee's interpretation NOT according to Ferdowsipour !!!

[Paradigm]

I'm looking forward to see them tear into asian opponents in next season's ACL.
I hope they dont lose their influential players like khalili, aghaei, zarei , vaezi, nouri, ashoubi, ...

Well PP for sure won't have the problem of losing important players like some other shahrestani teams do, the only danger is if these players get tempting offers from UAE and move there. (Already heard one or two such rumors.)

[Ali Chicago]

Congrats to PP. A strong PP and SS are good for our football. There is a direct correlation between strong PP and SS and out TM performance.

[zzgloo]

I believe, if we wanted to rank all Main reasons for PP championship this season, In the order of Importance,..I would put them in the following order.

1- PP fans.( Ranks among the best in the world )
2-Ghotbi.( Breath of fresh air,doing away from hashieh,good coaching ,good psycology)
3-Bagheri.( for contribution on the field,and team leadership,and major help to Ghotbi)
4-Khalili.( for what PP always lacked at the center forward position )
5-All other PP players.( great talent level )
7-Estili. ( Helped Ghotbi,and all other criticisms are not all his faults,as managements must not have promised him too much before Ghotbi )
8-PP manegement,( For Hireing Ghotbi ,and semi-contrlong the Hishiehs )

ps, all these,..comeing from a SS fan !!

[Ali Chicago]

I believe, if we wanted to rank all Main reasons for PP championship this season, In the order of Importance,..I would put them in the following order.
1- PP fans.( Ranks among the best in the world )
2-Ghotbi.( Breath of fresh air,doing away from hashieh,good coaching ,good psycology)
3-Bagheri.( for contribution on the field,and team leadership,and major help to Ghotbi)
4-Khalili.( for what PP always lacked at the center forward position )
5-All other PP players.( great talent level )
7-Estili. ( Helped Ghotbi,and all other criticisms are not all his faults,as managements must not have promised him too much before Ghotbi )
8-PP manegement,( For Hireing Ghotbi ,and semi-contrlong the Hishiehs )
ps, all these,..comeing from a SS fan !!

I think you underestiamted Estili's role. He was the one he selected the players. AT the end it is all about players in the team. Plus despite all the issues in the papers and his own jusitified and healthy ambitions for higher roles in PP, I think he acted very professioal last year and even kept quiet when every time there was a problme in PP every one said it is the conspiracy by Estili et al. (his gang).

Thank you Mr. Estili for actiing professional specially wtih Iranian standards.

[zzgloo]

I think you underestiamted Estili's role. He was the one he selected the players. AT the end it is all about players in the team. Plus despite all the issues in the papers and his own jusitified and healthy ambitions for higher roles in PP, I think he acted very professioal last year and even kept quiet when every time there was a problme in PP every one said it is the conspiracy by Estili et al. (his gang).
Thank you Mr. Estili for actiing professional specially wtih Iranian standards.

Ali Jaan, I also believe he is not as evil as he has made up to be, and I blame the manegment more ....yet..,the issue is not why PP plays good, but why did they win the championship....something that was not accumplished the previouse 6 years...with Estili at hand !!....
But if I wanted to give the credit to some body for the talent level in PP, I have to go with Management for thier Goal of to be the best, with more than the others Budget.