Esteghlal F.C.–Sepahan S.C. rivalry


The rivalry between Esteghlal and Sepahan is a football rivalry played between Iranian football clubs Esteghlal Tehran and Sepahan Isfahan.

History

Since 1971–72 Iran football season, Esteghlal Tehran and Sepahan Isfahan had several meetings in Iranian League, Hazfi Cup, and friendly matches.
The first was in Local League 1971–72 in Isfahan, that Esteghlal won the match with the result of 4-0. First win for Sepahan was in Takht Jamshid Cup 1974-75 with the result of 1-0.
Before the Iranian Revolution in 1979, two football clubs met 10 times. From these 10 meetings, each club won 4 matches and the result of 2 matches was draw.
From 1991–92 to 2000-01 Iranian Football Seasons, two clubs met 18 times. From these 18 meetings, Esteghlal won 8 matches and Sepahan won 5. The result of the other 5 matches was draw.
Since the establishment of Iran Pro League in 2001, two clubs met 30 times. From these 30 meetings, Esteghlal won 8 matches and Sepahan won 15. The result of the other 7 matches was draw.
The best win for Esteghlal took place in the clubs first meeting in Local League 1971–72 with the score of 4-0. And the best win for Sepahan was in 2002-03 Hazfi Cup with the score of 3-0.
The highest goal-scoring match was in 2010–11 Iran Pro League with the result of 4-3 for Esteghlal.

Notable matches and seasons

2001–02 Hazfi Cup

Two football clubs faced each other in Semi-final of 2001–02 Hazfi Cup in a two-leg meeting.
The importance of this meeting for Esteghlal was that, they missed the championship of 2001–02 Iran Pro League in the last day to Persepolis and Winning the Hazfi Cup was a really high motivation for them. On the other side Sepahan, who lost both the meetings in 2001–02 Iran Pro League to Esteghlal, was really eager to compensate those two losses.
The first leg was held in Isfahan, and Sepahan could win the match with the result of 4-2. However, in the second leg in Tehran, it was Esteghlal who could win the match with the result of 3-1 in a really exciting match. Therefore, after these two dramatic and close matches, two clubs gain the score of 5-5 in total, and Esteghlal could advance into the final just because of higher number of scored-away goals.
In the final, Esteghlal also could beat Fajr Sepasi and became the champion.

A dramatic season for Sepahan (5 matches, 5 wins)

In 2002-03 Iranian Football Season, two clubs met each other 5 times, and dramatically, Sepahan could won all 5 meetings with coaching of Farhad Kazemi. From these five meetings, 2 of them were in 2002-03 Iran Pro League, 2 of them were in 2002-03 Hazfi Cup, and the last one in a four-team friendly tournament hosted by Esteghlal.
In 2002-03 Iran Pro League, Sepahan could beat Esteghlal in both league matches in Tehran and Isfahan with the similar result of 3-2.
In the 1/8 final of 2002-03 Hazfi Cup, two clubs again faced each other in a two-leg meeting. The first leg was held in Isfahan, and Sepahan could win the match with the result of 3-0. In the second leg in Tehran, it was again Sepahan who could beat Esteghlal with the result of 1-0.
After the end of 2002-03 Iran's Football Season and before the starting of the new Iranian Football Season, a four-team friendly tournament with the name of Etehadiyeh Cup held in Tehran hosted by Esteghlal. In this tournament Esteghlal as the host, Sepahan and Pas Tehran as the champion and runner-up of 2002-03 Iran Pro League, and Al Wasl from Dubai as the guest team participated. In the Semi-final of the tournament, Seaphan and Esteghlal again faced each other and Sepahan could beat Esteghlal with the result of 3-2 and advanced to the final of the tournament. In the final, Sepahan also could beat Pas Tehran and became the champion.
Therefore, and after these five matches between the club in a single season, Sepahan could win all the matches and made a really dramatic record.

2003–04 Hazfi Cup

In 2003-04 Iran's Football Season, two football clubs reached the Final of 2003–04 Hazfi Cup.
Esteghlal by coaching of Amir Ghalenoei had a great performance in 2003–04 Iran Pro League and becoming the runner-up. On the other side, Sepahan by coaching of Farhad Kazemi did not have a successful season in 2003–04 Iran Pro League. Therefore, and before the starting of Final, Esteghlal seemed to be the favor for winning the Hazfi Cup title.
The first leg was held in Isfahan and Sepahan could win the match with the result of 3-2, in a really close and exciting match and with the final scoring of Sepahan in 90th minute of the match. By this first-leg result, Esteghlal could simply become the champion with winning the second-leg match with the result of 1-0 or 2-1.
However, the story of second-leg match was different. In the second leg in Tehran and in front of more than 85000 Esteghlal fans, it was Sepahan could perform really great and won the match with the result of 2-0. It was a really unexpected loss for Esteghlal fans and Amir Ghalenoei, due to their great performance during the league season. On the other side, it was a really dramatic win for Sepahan fans and Frahad Kazemi.
Therefore, after these two dramatic matches, Seaphan could become the champion by the total result of 5-2.

2012 AFC Champions League

At the end of 2011-12 Iran's Football Season, two football clubs met each other in the 1/8 Final of 2012 AFC Champions League.
This was the first meeting of two football clubs in an international and continental tournaments. Moreover, the fact that Sepahan was the winner of 2011–12 Iran Pro League and Esteghlal was the winner of 2011–12 Hazfi Cup, makes this match really important for both football clubs and their fans.
By winning this match, Esteghlal had the possibility to go for the first time to the Quarter-Finals of AFC Champions League since its establishment in 2002. On the other side, Sepahan's fans expected from their team to win this match and go forward for the first Asian title after three-year-in-a-row Iran's football championships.
On May 22, 2012 the match was held in Isfahan and finally Sepahan could win the match with the result of 2-0. Therefore, Sepahan advanced to Quarter-Finals of AFC Champions League for the third time in the history of the club. The Quarter-Final round will be held on September 2012.

All results

No.DateEst. vs Sep.Esteghlal's goalSepahan's goalVenueCompetitionEst. coachSep. coachComment
128.01.19724–0Mazloumi Mojdeghi Haghverdian-IsfahanLocal League 1971–72RajkovYavari
217.03.19722–0Jabari Mazloumi-TehranLocal League 1971–72RajkovYavari
311.04.19742–0Mazloumi, Jabbari -TehranTakht Jamshid Cup 1974-75RajkovYavari
401.11.19740–1-Heidari IsfahanTakht Jamshid Cup 1974-75RajkovYavari
530.05.19750–1-Nadimian IsfahanTakht Jamshid Cup 1975-76RajkovYavari
614.11.19750–0--TehranTakht Jamshid Cup 1975-76RajkovYavari
709.01.19761–0Ebrahimi-TehranTakht Jamshid Cup 1976-77RajkovYavari
802.07.19760–1-safapour57'IsfahanTakht Jamshid Cup 1976-77JekicYavari
910.06.19773–3Nazari , Naraghi , Rowshan Shah Zeydi , Khorvash , Rahimi TehranTakht Jamshid Cup 1977-78JekicYavari
1013.01.19780–1-Jahani IsfahanTakht Jamshid Cup 1977-78JekicYavari
1128.02.19923–1Bayani, FonounizadehShahmohammadiTehranAzadegan League 1991–92PourheidariTabesh
1222.05.19921–2Fonounizadeh Basirat, Ghanbari IsfahanAzadegan League 1991–92PourheidariTabesh
1323.04.19932–2Mehdi TarTar62',70'Iman Alami 37',Abbas sarkhab 78'IsfahanNaghsh-Jahan CupZolfagharnassabKarimi
1428.07.19943–2Nadafi, Zarincheh, AkbarianMousavi, Ghanbari TehranAzadegan League 1994–95BilofskyHejazi
1511.11.19941–3TaghaviMousavi IsfahanAzadegan League 1994–95AbdollahiHejazi
1615.06.19951–0Mansourian-TehranAzadegan League 1995–96PourheidariYavari
1709.11.19951–2VarmarzyarLouviniyan, MemariyanIsfahanAzadegan League 1995–96PourheidariYavari
1802.05.19960–1-Louviniyan 33'IsfahanNaghsh-Jahan CupPourheidariKorbekandi
1927.06.19960–0--IsfahanAzadegan League 1996–97PourheidariKorbekandi
2019.12.19961–2PashazadehStepanyan, MousaviTehranAzadegan League 1996–97HejaziKorbekandi
2125.12.19972–1Majidi, MansourianKhademiTehranAzadegan League 1997–98HejaziKorbekandi
2208.05.19981–0Garousi-IsfahanAzadegan League 1997–98HejaziKorbekandi
2313.04.19991–1AkbarpourBasirat IsfahanAzadegan League 1998–99HejaziMonajati
2424.05.19991–1MajidiMomenzadehTehranAzadegan League 1998–99ZarinchehMonajati
2514.10.19994–1Latifi, Dadashzadeh, Nikbakht, Navazi VeisiIsfahanAzadegan League 1999–00SkomorokhovNadimian
2630.01.20002–1Niksirat, AkbarpourStepanyanTehranAzadegan League 1999–00SkomorokhovNadimian
2710.11.20001–1Hasheminasab DehghaniTehranAzadegan League 2000-01PourheidariNadimian
2804.02.20012–0Hamedani -IsfahanAzadegan League 2000-01PourheidariNadimian
2927.01.20021–0Fatemi -Isfahan2001–02 Iran Pro LeaguePourheidariPoklepovic
3014.05.20023–0Navazi, Mohagheghian, Dinmohammadi -Tehran2001–02 Iran Pro LeaguePourheidariPoklepovic
3107.06.20022–4Akbari, Mousavi Stepanyan, Karimi Isfahan2001–02 Hazfi CupGhalenoeiPoklepovicSemi-final
3211.06.20023–1Akbari, Fatemi, Momenzadeh Bezik Tehran2001–02 Hazfi CupGhalenoeiPoklepovicSemi-final
3303.11.20022–3Nikbakht, Akbari Hajipour, Navidkia Tehran2002–03 Iran Pro LeagueKochKazemi
3415.02.20030–3-Farshbaf, Seyed-Salehi Isfahan2002–03 Hazfi CupKochKazemi1/8 Final
3524.04.20032–3Akbari, Hassanzadeh Navidkia, Karimi Isfahan2002–03 Iran Pro LeagueZarinchehKazemi
3615.05.20030–1-Seyed-Salehi Tehran2002–03 Hazfi CupPourheidariKazemi1/8 Final
3720.08.20032–3Fabrizio, Navazi Khatibi, Bezik TehranTehran Etehadiyeh CupGhalenoeiKazemi
3830.11.20030–0--Isfahan2003–04 Iran Pro LeagueGhalenoeiKazemi
3912.04.20042–1Enayati, Samereh Ramezani Tehran2003–04 Iran Pro LeagueGhalenoeiKazemi
4002.07.20042–3Akbari, Enayati Stepanyan, Khormagah, Hashemizadeh Isfahan2003–04 Hazfi CupGhalenoeiKazemiFinal
4107.07.20040–2-Seyed-Salehi Tehran2003–04 Hazfi CupGhalenoeiKazemiFinal
4231.12.20042–2Samereh, Enayati Bezik, Khatibi Isfahan2004–05 Iran Pro LeagueGhalenoeiKazemi
4320.06.20052–2Enayati, Akbarpour Khatibi Tehran2004–05 Iran Pro LeagueGhalenoeiPoklepovic
4416.10.20050–1-Jafarpour Isfahan2005–06 Iran Pro LeagueGhalenoeiTavares
4512.02.20062–1Sadeghi, Jabari Khatibi Tehran2005–06 Iran Pro LeagueGhalenoeiTavares
4601.12.20062–1Baou Maheri Tehran2006–07 Iran Pro LeagueMarfaviBonacic
4720.04.20070–1-Aghili Isfahan2006–07 Iran Pro LeagueMarfaviBonacic
4807.10.20071–2Ghorbani Abulhail Isfahan2007–08 Iran Pro LeagueHejaziBonacic
4929.03.20080–1-Hajsafi Tehran2007–08 Iran Pro LeagueKarimiVieira
5017.08.20081–1Ghorbani Jafarpour Tehran2008–09 Iran Pro LeagueGhalenoeiFirat
5130.12.20081–2Borhani Navidkia, Alizadeh Isfahan2008–09 Iran Pro LeagueGhalenoeiKazemi
5207.08.20091–0Ravankhah -Tehran2009–10 Iran Pro LeagueMarfaviGhalenoei
5305.12.20090–2-Emad Mohammed, Aghili Isfahan2009–10 Iran Pro LeagueMarfaviGhalenoei
5427.08.20104–3Maydavoodi, Majidi, Enayati Beikzadeh, Janjuš Tehran2010–11 Iran Pro LeagueMazloumiGhalenoei
5524.02.20111–1Seyed-Salehi Jamshidian Isfahan2010–11 Iran Pro LeagueMazloumiGhalenoei
5603.08.20111–1Borhani Januario Isfahan2011–12 Iran Pro LeagueMazloumiBonacic
5706.01.20121–1Shirzad Seyed-Salehi Tehran2011–12 Iran Pro LeagueMazloumiKranjcar
5822.05.20120–2César, Bengar Isfahan2012 AFC Champions LeagueMazloumiKranjcar
5918.11.20121–0Heydari Isfahan2012–13 Iran Pro LeagueGhalenoeiKranjcar
6030.03.20131–1 Hatami Khalatbari Tehran2012–13 Hazfi CupGhalenoeiKranjcarSemi Final
6115.04.20131–1Irannejad Navidkia Tehran2012–13 Iran Pro LeagueGhalenoeiKranjcar
6201.08.20131–2Sadeghi Afshin, Aghili Tehran2013–14 Iran Pro LeagueGhalenoeiKranjcar
6305.12.20130–0--Isfahan2013–14 Iran Pro LeagueGhalenoeiKranjcar
6414.08.20141–3Fakhredini Hajsafi, Sharifi, Chimba Isfahan2014–15 Iran Pro LeagueGhalenoeiKranjcar
6530.01.20152–1Enayati, Ebrahimi Papi Tehran2014–15 Iran Pro LeagueGhalenoeiFaraki
6626.10.20153–0Esmaeili, Ansari, BarzayIsfahan2015–16 Iran Pro LeagueMazloumiFaraki
6710.04.20160–0--Tehran2015–16 Persian Gulf Pro LeagueMazloumiŠtimac
6825.12.20161–1Barzay Alimohammadi Isfahan2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro LeagueMansourianVeisi
6904.05.20172–1Ansari
Bagheri
Mohammadi Tehran2016–17 Persian Gulf Pro LeagueMansourianKranjčar
7006.12.20173–0Ghorbani
Djeparov
Tehran2017–18 Persian Gulf Pro LeagueSchäferKranjčar
7127.04.20181–0Thiam Isfahan2017–18 Persian Gulf Pro LeagueSchäferEbrahimzadeh
7226.10.20180–1Kiros Tehran2018–19 Persian Gulf Pro LeagueSchäferGhalenoei
7312.04.20191–0Patosi Isfahan2018–19 Persian Gulf Pro LeagueSchäferGhalenoei
7430.11.20192–2Ghayedi, Diabaté Gvelesiani, Noorafkan Isfahan2019–20 Persian Gulf Pro LeagueStramaccioniGhalenoei

Summary of results

Total matches

TeamsMatchesWinsDrawsLosesGoals
For
Goals
Against
Goal
Difference
Esteghlal752820279890+8
Sepahan752720289098–8

Matches with competition

Competitions details

Trophies

Top goal scorers

PositionPlayerClubGoals
1 Levon StepanyanSepahan6
1 Rasoul KhatibiSepahan6
1 Mehdi Seyed-Salehi 1Sepahan / Esteghlal6
4 Amin MousaviSepahan5
4 Yadollah AkbariEsteghlal5
4 Moharram NavidkiaSepahan5
4 Reza EnayatiEsteghlal5
8 Gholam Hossein MazloumiEsteghlal4
9 Mohammad NavaziEsteghlal3
9 Edmond BezikSepahan3
9 Farhad MajidiEsteghlal3
9 Hadi AghiliSepahan3

1 Seyed-Salehi scored 5 goals as the Sepahan player and 1 goal as the Esteghlal player.

Hat-tricks

A hat-trick is achieved when the same player scores three or more goals in one match. Listed in chronological order.
Sequence
PlayerNo. of
goals
Time of goalsRepresentingFinal
score
OpponentTournament
1. 3?', ?', ?'Sepahan3–1Esteghlal1994–95 Azadegan League
2. 317', 48', 55'Sepahan4–2Esteghlal2001–02 Hazfi Cup

Most successful coaches

RankHead coachClubMatchesWinDrawLostWinning rate
1 Farhad KazemiSepahan1182173%
2 Mansour PourheidariEsteghlal1152445%
3 Mahmoud YavariSepahan1252542%
4 Zdravko RajkovEsteghlal741257%
5 Winfried SchäferEsteghlal430175%
6 Nasser Hejazi 1Esteghlal / Sepahan731343%
7 Zlatko KranjčarSepahan1034333%
8 Yevgeni SkomorokhovEsteghlal2200100%
9 Luka BonacicSepahan421150%
10 Samad MarfaviEsteghlal420250%

1 Hejazi obtained 2 wins as the coach of Esteghlal and 1 win as the coach of Sepahan.
* ''Ghalenoei has won 7 matches but his losses have been more.