Malavan F.C.
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| Full name | Malavan Bandar Anzali Football Club |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | White Swan (قوی سپید) |
| Founded | 1969; 48 years ago |
| Ground |
Takhti Stadium Bandar-e Anzali |
| Capacity | 8,000 |
| Chairman | Ahmad Donyamali |
| Manager | Mohammad Mayeli Kohan |
| League | Azadegan League |
| 2015–16 | Persian Gulf Pro League, 14th (relegated) |
| Website | Club home page |
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 second football league, the Azadegan League after they were relegated in 2015–16 season. 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.
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.
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.
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.
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