Iraani 1. divisjon 12/25 11:00 11 [11] FC Vista Turbine v Esteghlal Khūzestān [4] D 1-1
Iraani 1. divisjon 12/14 11:00 10 [5] Esteghlal Khūzestān v Qashqai Shiraz [1] W 2-0
Iraani 1. divisjon 12/08 10:30 9 Rayka Babol v Esteghlal Khūzestān W 1-2
Iraani 1. divisjon 12/02 11:00 8 [7] Esteghlal Khūzestān v Malavan [1] D 0-0
Iraani karikas 11/26 11:00 3 Esteghlal Khūzestān v Khalij Fars Mahshahr L 0-1
Iraani 1. divisjon 11/22 10:45 7 Machine Sazi Tabriz v Esteghlal Khūzestān W 1-2
Iraani 1. divisjon 11/17 11:15 6 [13] Esteghlal Khūzestān v Shahin Bushehr [16] W 3-0
Iraani 1. divisjon 11/12 11:15 5 [11] Esteghlal Molasani v Esteghlal Khūzestān [14] W 0-1
Iraani 1. divisjon 11/06 11:30 4 Esteghlal Khūzestān v Arman Gohar L 0-3
Iraani 1. divisjon 10/31 11:30 3 [1] Kheybar Khorramabad v Esteghlal Khūzestān [10] L 2-1
Iraani 1. divisjon 10/23 13:30 2 Esteghlal Khūzestān v Shams Azar Qazvin D 1-1
Iraani 1. divisjon 10/16 11:45 1 [2] SaiPa FC v Esteghlal Khūzestān [2] D 1-1
Iraani 1. divisjon 07/19 15:15 34 Esteghlal Khūzestān v Mes Kerman L 0-1
Iraani 1. divisjon 07/12 14:30 33 Navad Urmia v Esteghlal Khūzestān W 0-1
Iraani 1. divisjon 07/04 16:00 32 Esteghlal Khūzestān v Shahrdari Astara W 2-1
Iraani 1. divisjon 06/27 16:00 31 Gol Reyhan v Esteghlal Khūzestān W 0-1
Iraani 1. divisjon 06/21 16:20 30 [8] Esteghlal Khūzestān v Fajr Shahid Sepasi [3] D 0-0
Iraani 1. divisjon 06/14 16:05 29 [6] Shahin Bushehr v Esteghlal Khūzestān [8] L 2-1
Iraani 1. divisjon 06/08 15:10 28 Esteghlal Khūzestān v Havadar SC D 1-1
Iraani 1. divisjon 06/02 16:15 27 Esteghlal Khūzestān v Kheybar Khorramabad D 1-1
Iraani 1. divisjon 05/28 14:50 26 [15] Qashqai Shiraz v Esteghlal Khūzestān [5] L 1-0
Iraani 1. divisjon 05/19 16:00 25 [3] Esteghlal Khūzestān v Pars Jonoubi Jam [7] D 0-0
Iraani 1. divisjon 05/14 13:45 24 [12] Rayka Babol v Esteghlal Khūzestān [2] D 0-0
Iraani 1. divisjon 05/08 16:00 23 [2] Esteghlal Khūzestān v Malavan [10] D 0-0
Iraani 1. divisjon 04/26 15:15 22 [13] Arman Gohar v Esteghlal Khūzestān [2] L 2-0
Iraani 1. divisjon 04/19 15:45 21 [2] Esteghlal Khūzestān v Esteghlal Molasani [13] W 3-1
Iraani 1. divisjon 04/13 12:15 20 Chooka Talesh v Esteghlal Khūzestān W 1-3
Iraani 1. divisjon 04/07 12:30 19 [3] Esteghlal Khūzestān v Khoosheh Talai [11] D 0-0
Iraani 1. divisjon 03/14 11:30 18 Baderan Tehran v Esteghlal Khūzestān D 0-0
Iraani 1. divisjon 03/07 11:00 17 [1] Mes Kerman v Esteghlal Khūzestān [3] W 0-1

Esteghlal Khuzestan Football Club (Persian: باشگاه فوتبال استقلال خوزستان, Bašgâh-e Futbâl-e Esteqlâl-e Xuzestân), commonly known as Esteghlal Khuzestan, is an Iranian football club based in Ahvaz, Iran. The club currently competes in the Azadegan League after being relegated from Persian Gulf Pro League in the 2018–19 season.

This football club is different from Esteghlal Ahvaz. In 2011 they bought Esteghlal Jonub's licence to compete in the Azadegan League. They finished 2012–13 season in 2nd place of their group and qualified to the promotion play-off. However, they were awarded the direct promotion IRIFF after group's winner, Shahrdari Tabriz's relegation due to match-fixing. They won the Persian Gulf Pro League title in 2015–16 season.

History

Founding and early years

Esteghlal Khuzestan F.C. was established just before the start of the 2011–2012 season by acquiring the license of Esteghlal Jonub Tehran F.C. who has just been promoted to the Azadegan League (Iran's 1st division). After an average 6th-place finish in the team's inaugural year in the Azadegan League in 2011–2012, the next season (2012–13) turned out to be a different year, with a 2nd-placed finish in group B, the club was promoted to the Iran Pro League for the first time in their history.

Promotion to the Pro League

In Esteghlal Khuzestan's first year in the top flight, it finished 12th, escaping relegation play-off by better goal difference. In the Hazfi Cup Esteghlal Khuzestan exited the competition in the Round of 32 after a shock defeat to Azadegan League side Alvand Hamedan. Esteghlal finished the 2014–15 season 14th, meaning it would have to play in a relegation play-off against the winner of the Azadegan League promotion play-off winner. Esteghlal Khuzestan defeated Mes Kerman 3–0 on aggregate meaning it had secured a spot in the 2015–16 Persian Gulf Pro League season.

2015–16 season

Esteghlal Khuzestan players celebrating after winning league title in 2015–16 season

Before the start of the 2015–16 season Esteghlal Khuzestan signed many of Foolad Novin's players and was a major surprise, as it started well in the season. Esteghlal Khuzestan had four consecutive winning streak at the 12th week, which made Esteghlal Khuzestan finished champion of the first half of the season. After a great result with Abdollah Veisi, Esteghlal Khuzestan managed to keep its shape at the second half of the season. On January 1, 2016, Esteghlal Khuzestan lost to Persepolis which made the race tighter for first place, and also made Esteghlal Khuzestan fall to second place, Esteghlal became first after 17th week. The head coach Abdollah Veisi later said that their main goal was to take place at AFC Champions League. Esteghlal Khuzestan qualified to the AFC Champions League on 8 May, for the first time in its history. Esteghlal Khuzestan won the league title on 13 May after a 2–0 win over Zob Ahan.

Relegation

Following a poor start to the following season, 6 points were deduced from Esteghlal Khuzestan by FIFA. Dariush Yazdi was sacked and Karim Boostani replaced the coach. Results ultimately did not improve under Boostani and he was replaced with Mohammad Alavi. Esteghlal Khuzestan were relegated from the Persian Gulf Pro League to Azadegan League on 3 May 2019.

Esteghlal Khuzestan on Iraani jalgpalliklubi, mis tegutseb Ahvazis. Klubi asutati 1939. aastal nime all Esteghlal Ahvaz. 2017. aastal võitis Esteghlal Khuzestan Iraani karika, mis on klubi seni suurim saavutus.