Abu Moslem
Learn more about Abu Moslem
- For the individual, see Abu Muslim.
| Abu Moslem | |
| Image:AbuMfc.png | |
| Full name | Abu Moslem Iran Khodro
Khorasan Football Club |
| Nickname(s) | Black Pearl (مرواريد سياه in Persian) |
|---|---|
| Founded | July 1970 |
| Ground | Samen Stadium |
| Capacity | 35,000 |
| Chairman | Image:Flag of Iran.svg Nasser Shafagh |
| Manager | Image:Flag of Iran.svg Mehdi Ghiasi |
| League | IPL |
| 2005-06 | IPL, 5th |
Abu Moslem (ابومسلم in Persian), is a football team based in Mashhad, Khorasan. They play in the Iranian Premier League. The team used to be sponsored by the Iranian military but are now sponsored by Iranian car manufacturer Iran Khodro.
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[edit] Club history
[edit] Establishment
In 1970 a group of football players from Mashhad decided to create a new football team by the name of Abu Moslem. Most of the players on the team knew each other and were from the Shah Abbasi Tri-way area. They had grown up playing football on the dirt fields of the area. When the Takht Jamshid Cup was created, a qualification tournament for provincial representatives was set up in Isfahan. Another club from Mashhad, named Aria FC represented the province of Khorasan but they were not able to make into the Takht Jamshid Cup.
After defeat in the tournament, it was decided that for Khorasan to have a powerful football team, Abu Muslem and Aria must merge together. Three brothers by the names of Ataollah, Asghar and Heshmat Mohajerani helped to merge the clubs, and Abu Muslem was able to make it to the 1975 Takht Jamshid Cup, which was the top football league in Iran before the Iranian revolution. The team originally only wore black, but red was added late on. With the purchase of great players like Asgarkhani, Majid Tashrefi, Masih Mashihnia, Alireza Ligarab, Hossein Omidvar and Mahmoud Ebrahimzadeh they were able to become the best non-Tehran based club in the league that year. Success was short lived and the team was relegated the next season, staying in the 2nd division until the revolution.
[edit] 1980s
Like most sporting clubs in Iran, the revolution and the Iran-Iraq War severely limited the team's activities. From 1980 to 1984 the club participated in almost no meaningful competitions. This changed when in late 1984 local and provincial leagues were set up. In 1986 Abu Moslem won the Mashhad city league and the provincial championship in the following season. In the late eighties, Shahdiran Inc. sponsored the team, giving the club a better chance at success. After the war the local and provincial leagues were scrapped in favor of nation-wide leagues.
[edit] 1990s
Abu Muslem made it to the newly established Azadegan League and participated during the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons, but was relegated after only two years. It was during this time that Abu Muslem's most famous player, Khodadad Azizi was discovered. Once relegated the club struggled dramatically, being relegated all the way to the third division, which was a local league. Shahdiran stopped sponsoring the team and was replaced by soft drink company, Khoshgovar. After several seasons in the lower leagues, Abu Muslem finally made it back to the top level of Iranian football, gaining promotion to the Azadegan League during the 1997-98 season. Abu Muslem had been in a poor financial situation that season, as Khoshgovar had stopped being its sponsor. Abu Muslem's only revenue came from advertisements and support from club fans, but surprisingly won promotion with the help of former Abu Muslem player, Akbar Misaghian. Abu Muslem again only stayed in the league for two seasons and was relegated during the 1999-2000 season. Around the same time the club went back to its roots, once again being sponsored by the Iranian police.
[edit] IPL
They were promoted again in the next season and debuted in Iran's first fully professional league, the IPL, for the 2001-02 season. They have remained in the IPL since with two 5th place finishes being their best results. During this time the club has shown its skill for finding talented players, with famous Iranian football players such as Reza Enayati, Mojtaba Jabbari and Andranik Teymourian all making their names there. After the 2004-05 season Abu Muslem's new sponsor became Iran Khodro.
[edit] Current
The club currently plays in Samen Stadium after years playing in Mashhad's Takhti Stadium. Recently Khodadad Azizi joined the club as a advisor, beginning his new life in football management after retirement from playing. Akbar Misaghian the club's manager for the past two seasons resigned after the first week of the 2006-07 season due to financial disagreements with management.
[edit] 2006-2007 Squad
The numbers are established according to the official club website
As of September 6 2006
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[edit] Squad changes during 2006/07 season
In:
- Image:Flag of Togo.svg Franck Atsou - From Al-Hilal
- Image:Flag of Iran.svg Amir Aminifar - Signed
- Image:Flag of Portugal.svg Ivan Borgoi - Signed
- Image:Flag of Iran.svg Nader Ghobeishavi - From Esteghlal Ahvaz
- Image:Flag of Iran.svg Mehdi Hasheminasab - From Oghab FC
- Image:Flag of Iran.svg Ahmad Moghadassipour - From Rah Ahan FC
- Image:Flag of Iran.svg Ali Mousavi - From Homa FC
- Image:Flag of Nigeria.svg Erfan Olerum - From Foolad FC
- Image:Flag of Serbia (state) (bordered).svg Ivan Petrovic - From FK Obilic
- Image:Flag of Iran.svg Javad Razzaghi - From VfB Admira Wacker Mödling
Out:
- Image:Flag of Iran.svg Hossein Badamaki - To Persepolis FC
- Image:Flag of Iran.svg Younes Geraeili - To Fajr Sepasi
- Image:Flag of Iran.svg Mohammad Reza Khalatbari - To Zob Ahan FC
- Image:Flag of Iran.svg Mehdi Kheiri -
- Image:Flag of Iran.svg Mehdi Sabeti - To Rah Ahan FC
- Image:Flag of Iran.svg Andranik Teymourian - To Bolton Wanderers
[edit] Famous players
- Image:Flag of Togo.svg Franck Atsou
- Image:Flag of Iran.svg Khodadad Azizi
- Image:Flag of Iran.svg Reza Enayati
- Image:Flag of Iran.svg Mehdi Hasheminasab
- Image:Flag of Iran.svg Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht
- Image:Flag of Iran.svg Mohammad Nosrati
- Image:Flag of Iran.svg Andranik Teymourian
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- (Persian) Official Club Website
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