Ali Shafizadeh

Shafizadeh علی شفیعی زاده
Born	Iran
Citizenship	Iran
Occupation	Businessman, Owner and Chairman of Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C.

Ali Shafizadeh (Persian: علی شفیعی زاده‎‎) is an Iranian businessman.

Business career

Esteghlal Ahvaz

He is the owner of Iran's Premier Football League club Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C. who he bought in 2002.

Over the years he has bought numerous players for substantial fees, including Adriano Alves, Abdul-Wahab Abu Al-Hail and Saša Ilić, and coaches such as Croatian Luka Bonačić and Serbian Srđan Gemaljević. In 2004 Shafizadeh put a $5 million unsuccessful bid to bring Brazilian superstar Rivaldo to the Takhti Stadium..^[1]

Shafizadeh sparked much controversy on February 15, 2007 when he announced Esteghlal Ahvaz F.C. were to withdraw from IPL. However, the team appeared two days later in a league match against Persepolis F.C. which ended 1-0 to Esteghlal Ahvaz, dismissing these claims and led people to believe it was all tactical games before one of the biggest games of their season versus Persepolis.^[2]

Esteghlal Kish

Shafizadeh also owned the Azadegan League club Esteghlal Kish F.C., which is based in Kish Island in the Persian Gulf, from 2002 to 2006, until it was bought by Shahrdari Bandar Abbas F.C..^[3]

Notes

1. "Blues of Ahvaz propose a five million dollar deal to Rivaldo!". persianleague.com. Archived from the original on 2007-09-27. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
2. "Iran: Esteghlal Threaten To Quit League". goal.com. Retrieved 2007-06-05.
3. "Hottest transfer market". irankicks.com. Retrieved 2007-06-05.