Malavan Bandar Anzali Football Club (Persian: باشگاه فوتبال ملوان بندر انزلى) is an Iranian football club based in Bandar-e Anzali, Iran. It currently plays in Iran's top football league, the Persian Gulf Pro League. The team is known to have some of the most passionate fans in Iranian football, and is one of the successful teams that is not based in Tehran.
The club is owned by Iranian businessman Sirous Mahjoob and forms the football part of the multisport Malavan Sport and Cultural Club.
History
Establishment
Bahman Salehnia created the team in 1968 along with some young athletes from the port city of Anzali. After some time, the Iranian Navy decided to become the team's main sponsor and owner.
Early Years
The club never really had great success in the league but they were able to become the best non-Tehran based club and finishing third in the 1977 and 1989. Malavan has won the Hazfi Cup on one occasions, in 1990. In 1988 Malavan participated in Asian Club Championship but after beating Saunders SC in first round they withdrew from tournament due to the Iran–Iraq War.
Iran Pro League
In 2003 Malavan was relegated to the Azadegan League, they only stayed one year in the lower league as they were immediately promoted back to the Iran Pro League. Since then, they have been one of the most stable teams of the league in recent years where they only had few coaches during their history and always finished in mid table and challenge the big teams. They finished 12th in the 2008–09 and 2009–10 season. In 2010–11 season they finished 8th and reached the final of Hazfi Cup but lost to Persepolis. In the 2013–14 Iran Pro League season Malavan achieved a surprising 7th-place finish in the league, their highest ever.
Estili Era
In July 2015 Malavan hired famous Iranian coach Amir Ghalenoi who had won several league titles with Esteghlal and Sepahan. Player such as Arash Afshin, Hossein Mahini and Shahab Karami joined the squad to serve their conscription period. In Ghalenoi's first game in charge, Malavan defeated the Hazfi Cup holders, Zob Ahan 1–0. After only three games Ghalenoi left the club and was replaced by former Persepolis manager Hamid Estili.
El Gilano
- Main articles: El Gilano
The match between Malavan and Damash or Sepidrood is known as the Gilan Derby or El Gilano. This match is one of Iran's most important and heated derby's. Malavan hold the record for most wins in the derby with four since the start of the Iran Pro League in 2001. Malavan also holds the largest margin of victor when they defeated Damash 3–0 in 2005 and again in 2013. The derby is also known for its fan violence. In 2008 after Malavan defeated Damash 2–1, Damash fans attacked Malavan's fans and tore up seats in the stadium. This again occurred when Malavan defeated Damash 3–0 in 2013.
Fans
Malavan fans are known for their occasional violence, such as when Malavan lost to Persepolis in the final of the Hazfi Cup, a riot ensued after the match and the fans broke the fence, invaded the pitch and attacked riot police.
Season-by-season
The table below chronicles the achievements of Malavan in various competitions since the beginning of Iranian Pro league in 2001.
For details on seasons, see List of Malavan F.C. seasons
Individual Records
Top scorers of the club in the Iran Pro League era, bold indicates present player.
Top Scorers
Club officials
Presidents
| |
| Name |
Years |
| Rashid Sazmand |
1996–06 |
| Saadollah Pourtahmasbi |
2006–09 |
| Ardeshir Pournemat |
2009–11 |
| Bahman Salehnia |
2011–12 |
| Sadegh Deroudgar |
2012–14 |
| Hossein Gholami |
2014–2015 |
| Ahmad Donyamali |
2015– |
|
|
[1]
[2]
Current Coaching Staff[3]
Head Coaches
Below is a list of Malavan coaches from 1968 until the present day.
Firouz Karimi carries the honor of being the first Iranian head coach to assume the title without rising from the Malavan football school.
| |
| Name |
Nationality |
Years |
| Bahman Salehnia |
.svg.png)  |
May 20, 1968–Feb 5, 1997 |
| Nosrat Irandoost |
|
Feb 5, 1997–Dec 15, 2000 |
| Mohammad Ahmadzadeh |
|
Dec 15, 2000–July 2, 2002 |
| Bahman Salehnia |
|
May 15, 2002 – July 2, 2004 |
| Nosrat Irandoost |
|
July 2, 2004 – July 5, 2006 |
| Mohammad Ahmadzadeh |
|
July 5, 2006–Jan 1, 2010 |
| Farhad Pourgholami |
|
Jan 1, 2010–Sept 29, 2012 |
| Mohammad Ahmadzadeh |
|
Sept 29 2012–May 28, 2013 |
| Dragan Skočić |
 |
May 28, 2013 – June 1, 2014 |
| Nosrat Irandoost |
|
June 1, 2014–Oct 8, 2014 |
| Stevan Mojsilović |
 |
Oct 8, 2014–Dec 5, 2014 |
| Firouz Karimi |
|
Dec 6, 2014–June 1, 2015 |
| Hamid Estili |
|
August 10, 2015–February 20, 2015 |
| Mohammad Ahmadzadeh |
|
March 1, 2016–present |
|
Players
First-team squad
as of 19 January 2016[5]
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Loan list
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
For recent transfers, see List of Iranian football transfers winter 2015–16.
Notable players
Honours
National titles
- Winners (3): 1975–76, 1986–87, 1990–91
- Runner Up (4): 1987–88, 1988–89, 1991–92, 2010–11
- Runner Up (1): 2003–04
Minor titles
- Third Place (1): 1982
- Runner Up (1): 1974
Notes
References
External links
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| | 2015–16 teams | |
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| | Former teams | |
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| | Competition | |
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| | Statistics and awards | |
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| | Associated competitions | |
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| | Seasons | |
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| | List of transfers | |
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| | 4th Round (1/8) | |
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| | 3rd Round (1/16) | |
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| | 2nd Round | |
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| | 1st Round | |
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| | | Hazfi Cup seasons |
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| | Seasons | |
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| | Final | |
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| | | Competitions involving Iranian clubs |
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| | Domestic | |
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| | Defunct | |
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| | International | |
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| | League competitions | |
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| | Cup competitions | |
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| | Defunct competitions | |
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| | National teams | |
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| | Lists and categories | |
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