League 2 (Iran)

Iran Football's 2nd Division

Founded	1972 officially 2001 with current format
Country	Iran
Confederation	AFC
Divisions	3
Number of teams	26
Level on pyramid	3 (2001–) 2 (1972–2001)
Promotion to	Azadegan League
Relegation to	3rd Division
Domestic cup(s)	Hazfi Cup
Current champions	Mes Shahr-e Babak (1st title) ()
Most championships	Esteghlal Ahvaz (4 titles)
TV partners	Ostani Channels
Current: 2021–22 season

Iranian football's 2nd division (Persian: ليگ دسته دوم ایران) is the third-highest football division overall in the Iranian football league system. Before 2001, the 2nd division league was the second-highest division in Iranian football league system, however, this was changed to third-highest division when Iran's football structure officially became professional.

The league consists of two, fourteen team groups who play each other twice in a home and away format. The first and second placed teams in each group are automatically promoted to the Azadegan League. The bottom two teams in both groups are automatically relegated to the 3rd division.

If teams in the promotion or relegation spots are tied in terms of points, a home and away series will be played. The team with the best aggregate score will either avoid relegation or win promotion.

Sometimes these rules are not followed exactly. For example in the 2005–06 season, Deihim Ahvaz should have been relegated, but Nozhan Mazandaran despite finishing ahead of Deihim, were relegated instead because of the club's poor financial situation. Additionally the number of teams in each group was increased from twelve to fourteen this season.

Format[]

• 12 clubs: 2002-2003
• 24 clubs: 2003-2004
• 20 clubs: 2004-2005
• 24 clubs: 2005-2006
• 28 clubs: 2006-2008
• 36 clubs: 2008-2010
• 32 clubs: 2010-2011
• 28 clubs: 2011-2014
• 40 clubs: 2014-2016
• 37 clubs: 2016-2017
• 33 clubs: 2017-2018
• 26 clubs: 2018-2019

League Champions[]

As Iran's second-highest football division, 1972–1979[]

• 1972–73: Taj Ahvaz
• 1973–74: Sepahan
• 1974–75: Tractor
• 1975–76: Machine Sazi
• 1976–77: Rah Ahan
• 1977–78: Aboomoslem
• 1978–79: did not finish

As Iran's second-highest football division, 1990–2001[]

• 1990–91: Malavan (A), Aboomoslem (B), Taam Esfehan (C), Esteghlal Ahvaz (D)
• 1991–92: Bargh Shiraz
• 1992–93: Chooka Anzali
• 1993–94: Naft Ghaemshahr
• 1994–95: Bahman Karaj
• 1995–96: Payam Mashhad (A) and Sanat Naft Abadan (B)
• 1996–97: Fajr Sepasi
• 1997–98: Malavan
• 1998–99: Bahman Karaj
• 1999–00: Bargh Shiraz
• 2000–01: Aboomoslem

As Iran's third-highest football division, 2001—Present[]

• : Unknown
• 2002–03: Shahid Ghandi
• 2003–04: Sanati Kaveh (National Group) and Pasargad Tehran (Region Groups/North) and (Region Groups/South)
• 2004–05: Shahrdari Langarudn (A) and Pegah Khozestan (B)
• 2005–06: Pegah Tehran (A) and Etka Gorgan (B)
• 2006–07: Sepahan Novin (A) and Bargh Tehran (B)
• 2007–08: Aluminium Hormozgan
• 2008–09: Sanati Kaveh (A) and (B)
• 2009–10: Sepidrood Rasht
• 2010–11: Esteghlal Jonub
• 2011–12: Esteghlal Ahvaz
• 2012–13: Naft Gachsaran (A) and Siah Jamegan (B)
• 2013–14: Shahrdari Ardabil (A) and Etka Gorgan (B)
• 2014–15: Aluminium Arak
• 2015–16: Oxin Alborz (A) and Sepidrood Rasht (B)
• 2016–17: Shahrdari Tabriz (A) and Shahrdari Mahshahr (B)
• 2017–18: (A) and Shahin Bushehr (B)
• 2018–19: Khooshe Talaee
• 2019–20: Chooka Talesh
• 2020–21: Mes Shahr-e Babak

See also[]

• IPL
• Azadegan League
• Iran Football's 3rd Division
• Iranian Super Cup
• Hazfi Cup
• Iranian Futsal Super League
• Iran Futsal's 1st Division
• Iran Futsal's 2nd Division

References[]

External links[]

• (in English) League 2 Iran | Results, Fixtures, Standings, Players ...
• (in Persian) Unofficial Fans Site