it is simply a fairy-tale. A little known team from Khuzistan’s capital Ahvaz lifts the Persian Gulf title on a thrilling final day of the Persian Gulf football league season 2015/16.
The champions title was contested by 3 teams Persepolis [54 pts GD +15] , Esteghlal Tehran [51 pts +15] and the tiny club from the south Esteghlal Khuzestan [54 pts GD 17].
Persepolis had the easiest of the tasks on paper as they were facing the relegation zone team, Rah Ahan at Azadi. Both Estghlals had a much tougher oppositions in the penultimate day. Tehran’s side was facing Saba while Ahvazi had to beat the strong Zob Ahan team from Esfahan who are still involved in the AFC Asian Champions League.
In front of over 100,000 passionate and hyped up supporters in Azadi stadium, Persepolis started nervously. They had to win and score two goals more than Esteghlal Khuzestan if both teams ended up winning their matches. Persepolis was quite hopeful to win its first title in years after some gallant performances under the guidance of Branko Ivankovic. The former Team Melli coach, took Persepolis from the abyss of the league to the top with his shrewdness, style and experience. However, the reds faltered couple of rounds ago going down to Naft Tehran 0-2. Rah Ahan defended well as losing would mean relegation for them.
Meanwhile in the south , Esteghlal Khuzestan was defeating Zob Ahan 2-0, While Saba Qom and Esteglal Tehran ended in a 1-1 draw
Persepolis 2-1 win in jam-packed Azadi was not good enough and the title was handed to Abdollah Veisi’s young team, Esteghlal Khuzestan.
Veisi (45 years) the local boy born in the city of Ahvaz, is nicknamed Guardiola, more for his looks rather than style. He has a remarkable resemblance to the Spaniard, and has really created a footballing miracle in Iran. With a budget a fraction of the size of the likes of Esteghlal Tehran and Persepolis, Veisi assembled a bunch of local lads from Ahvaz, Abadan , Soosongard and other towns in Khuzestan to create a formidable team that is now the League Champions of Iran.
None of his players are household names and not even a single player is selected by Carlos Queiroz for Team Melli squad, not many football fans have even heard of Esteghlal Khuzestan let alone thinking of them, as potential champions material. The story of the Esteghlal of Khuzestan is not too dissimilar from now World famous Leicester City of England. A year before facing relegation both teams in their respective leagues were facing relegation. This year they are champions against all the odds and on full merit.
Esteghlal Ahvaz was promoted to top flight of Iranian football in 2013. Abdollah Veisi coached them to 12th position in his first season, three points better than from relegation zone. In the second season, Veisi and his team ended up in the 14th position which placed them in relegation play-off where they played against Mes Kerman. Esteghlal Khuzestan won the play-off 3–0 on aggregate and survived the drop.
A hearty congratulation to Abdollah Veisi and is young Esteghlal Khuzestan team.
The Final standing
| # | Team | MP | W | D | L | F | A | D | P | Last 5 matches | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Esteghlal Khuzestan | 30 | 15 | 12 | 3 | 33 | 14 | +19 | 57 | WWWDD | |
| 2 | |
Persepolis | 30 | 16 | 9 | 5 | 50 | 34 | +16 | 57 | WWLWW | |
| 3 |  |
Esteghlal | 30 | 13 | 13 | 4 | 43 | 28 | +15 | 52 | DLWWL | |
| 4 | Tractor Sazi | 30 | 13 | 12 | 5 | 43 | 27 | +16 | 51 | WWWLD | ||
| 5 | Naft Tehran | 30 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 30 | 21 | +9 | 49 | DWWLD | ||
| 6 | Zob Ahan | 30 | 11 | 13 | 6 | 38 | 26 | +12 | 46 | LWWDD | ||
| 7 | Saba Qom | 30 | 9 | 15 | 6 | 30 | 24 | +6 | 42 | DDWDD | ||
| 8 | |
Saipa | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 28 | 31 | -3 | 40 | DWLLD | |
| 9 | |
Gostaresh Fool… | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 36 | 32 | +4 | 39 | DLLDL | |
| 10 | |
Padideh Khorasan | 30 | 10 | 9 | 11 | 30 | 35 | -5 | 39 | WLLLW | |
| 11 | |
Sepahan | 30 | 8 | 14 | 8 | 29 | 30 | -1 | 38 | LLWWD | |
| 12 | Foolad | 30 | 9 | 8 | 13 | 26 | 37 | -11 | 35 | DLWLW | ||
| 13 | |
Siah Jamegan | 30 | 7 | 6 | 17 | 23 | 34 | -11 | 27 | WLLWD | |
| 14 | |
Malavan | 30 | 5 | 12 | 13 | 23 | 35 | -12 | 27 | LDLWL | |
| 15 | Rah Ahan | 30 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 24 | 36 | -12 | 25 | LWLWD | ||
| 16 | Esteghlal Ahvaz | 30 | 2 | 7 | 21 | 16 | 58 | -42 | 13 | LLLLD | ||