Sport Club Damash Guilan (Persian: باشگاه ورزشی داماش گیلان, Bashgah-e Vârzeshi-ye Damash Guilân), commonly known as Damash Guilan sc, also spelled Damash Guilan, is an Iranian football club based in Rasht, Guilan, that competes in the Azadegan League. The club was founded in 1960 as Taj Rasht Football Club (Persian: باشگاه فوتبال تاج رشت).[9]

DamashGuilanSC
داماش گیلان
Full nameDamash Guilan Sport Club
Nickname(s)Tifosis[1]
Stormy clouds[2]
Wearing azure
Rain city's Damash[3]
Azure phoenixes[4]
Founded1960; 64 years ago (1960) as Taj Rasht Football Club[5]
GroundShahid Dr. Azodi
Sardar Jangal
Capacity15,000
25,000
OwnerNaser Zahmatkesh[6]
ChairmanJahangir Asgari[7]
Head CoachHamid Derakhshan[8]
LeagueAzadegan League
2023–24Azadegan League,15th
Websitehttps://damashguilansc.com/

The football team plays its home games at the Shahid Dr. Azodi Stadium which has a seating capacity of 11,000. The club is also using the Sardar Jangal Stadium which has a seating capacity of 15,000. The club is owned and supported by Peymam Baharvand.[10]

History

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Establishment

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The club was founded as Taj Rasht Football Club in 1960. The club was one of Taj Tehran branches at the time. From the beginning, Taj Rasht was able to attract some of the best players of Guilan.[11]

Before 1970

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Before the 1970s, Iran did not have an official national football league. Most clubs participated in championships of their city or province. In addition to that Taj Rasht played in the Guilan Province League until 1970.

1970s

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In 1970, the Local League was created. The league included teams from all Iran in different qualifying tournaments. Taj Rasht finished fourth in Group A of their qualifying tournament. The club also participated in the 1971–72 Local League season. Taj Rasht missed again qualification for the final stage after they achieved the last place in their group again.

In 1972, the Takht Jamshid Cup was founded as the national league and included teams from all over the country. However, Taj Rasht could not qualify and therefore played again in the Guilan Province League.

Abouzar Rasht

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In 1975 the club changed its name for the first time. Until 1983 the club was called Abouzar Rasht Football Club. Due to the Iranian Revolution and the Iran–Iraq War, the Takht Jamshid Cup was dissolved and also the lower leagues were unorganized. As a result, the club took part in regional championships and cups only irregularly.[12]

Esteghlal Rasht

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In 1983 Abouzar changed its name into Esteghlal Rasht Football Club. Esteghlal means independence in Persian.[13] In 1991 the Azadegan League was formed as the top flight of Iranian football. Esteghlal Rasht took part in the league in the 1991–92 season, but was relegated at the end of the season.

Due to sponsorship, the club was known as Esteghlal Gaz Rasht Football Club in 1992–93 Iran Football's 2nd Division. After playing many years in Iran Football's 2nd Division, they were promoted to Azadegan League in 2000. They finished 10th in 2000–01 season.

In the summer of 2001, the Iran Pro League was established as the professional football league of Iran, Azadegan League was declared as the second-highest professional league in the Iranian football league system. All clubs from the 2000–01 Azadegan League season took participate in the 2001–02 Iran Pro League. Esteghlal Rasht was relegated after an embarrassingly lost 9–2 to Aboomoslem on the last matchday of the season. They finished 13th in that season.

Pegah Guilan

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Due to financial problems and relegation, the Pegah Dairy Company took over the club in the summer of 2002. The club was renamed as Pegah Guilan Football Club.[14][15] In 2007, however, a club called Esteghlal Shahrdari Rasht was founded again, which could participate as a separate club in the Guilan Provincial League.[16]

Pegah managed to get promoted to the first division and finished 9th in the 2003–04 season. A year later, relegation took place again. Then the club played two years in the Azadegan League. In 2007 they were able to return to the Iran Pro League, known as the Persian Gulf Cup since 2006. With 15th place in the 2007–08 season, Pegah was able to prevent relegation. Pegah also qualified for the Final of the Hazfi Cup this season. After Pegah won the first leg 1–0, they lost in the second leg against Esteghlal in front of almost 100,000 spectators at the Azadi Stadium with 0–3.

 
Damash Village, Jirandeh, Guilan

Damash Guilan

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In the summer of 2008, Pegah Guilan was struggling with financial problems. In October of the same year, the Aria Investment Development Company, then owned by Mahafarid Amir Khosravi, took over the club. The club was renamed Sport Club Damash Guilan. Damash is a small historical village in Jirandeh near Rasht.

Pro and Azadegan League

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Jahanbaksh played for Damash

The club shuttled between the first two leagues for the following years. In the 2008–09 season, they finished 17th and had to relegate to the Azadegan League. In the 2009–10 season, Damash failed to Sanat Naft Abadan in the play-offs and missed promotion. A year later, the club won the title for it and managed to rise. Between 2011 and 2013, the club played two decent years in the Persian Gulf Cup and came in 7th in 2011–12 and 11th in 2012–13. During this time, Alireza Jahanbakhsh also made a name for himself with good performances, 10 goals in 44 matches. In the summer of 2013, he moved to the Dutch Eredivisie to NEC Nijmegen. Iranian football legend Mehdi Mahdavikia also played for Damash between 2011 and 2012.

Starting in 2013, the club experienced difficult years and relegated at the end of the 2013–14 season. Then followed two disappointing years in the Azadegan League. In the 2014–15 Azadegan League season, the club only finished 6th and missed promotion. In the 2015–16 season, Damash even had to relegate to the League 2.

Since 2016

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Due to very great financial difficulties, the club was close to being dissolved in March 2016. The Guilan Football Organization, therefore, took over the rights to the club and so Damash could end the season. After relegation, the club should be renamed Shahr-e Baran Football Club, which led to major protests from fans. Damash then kept his name.[17]

In 2019 Damash sensationally reached the Hazfi Cup Final against Persepolis in the Foolad Arena in Ahvaz. The game turned into a scandal as the stadium was filled with over 30,000 Perespolis supporters hours before kick-off. As a result, the approximately 1,000 Damash fans could not enter the stadium and the kick-off was delayed by a few hours. In the end, Damash lost to Persepolis 0–1.[18]

After three years in the League 2, Damash returned to the Azadegan League. The club replaced Karoon Arvand Khorramshahr for the 2019–20 season.[19]

Name history

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  • Taj Rasht Football Club (1960–1975)
  • Abouzar Rasht Football Club (1975–1983)
  • Esteghlal Rasht Football Club (1983–1992)
  • Esteghlal Gaz Rasht Football Club (1992–1993)
  • Esteghlal Rasht Football Club (1993–2002)
  • Pegah Guilan Football Club (2002–2008)
  • Sport Club Damash Guilan (2008–present)

Crest

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The name Damash goes back to a historical village in Jirandeh near Rasht. In 2016, Damash adopted the Lilium ledebourii, a typical plant from this region, in its logo.

Stadium

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Traditionally, Damash Guilan plays its home games at the Shahid Dr. Azodi Stadium which has a seating capacity of 11,000.[20] The stadium was opened in 1990 and is owned by the club. The stadium was renovated from 2009 to 2011. It is also the traditional home venue of the local rival Sepidrood.

Furthermore, Damash plays some of its home games at the Sardar Jangal Stadium which has a seating capacity of 15,000. The stadium was opened in 2007 and is owned by Sepidrood.

Shahid Dr. Azodi Stadium during a home game of Damash Guilan

Rivalries

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El Guilano

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Matches between Malavan of Bandar-e Anzali and the two teams from Rasht, Damash Guilan, and Sepidrood Rasht are known as El Guilano.

Further rivalries

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Within Rasht, Damash has a minor rivalry with PAS Guilan. Damash then has a bigger rivalry with Nassaji Mazandaran from Qaem Shahr.

Seasons

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The table below chronicles the achievements of Damash Guilan in various competitions since 1970.

Season Division League Position Hazfi Cup Notes
1970–71 1 Local League 4th (Region C) Not held
1971–72 1 Local League 3rd (Region A)
1991–92 1 League 1 11th Relegated
1992–93 2 League 2 8th
1995–96 2 League 2 7th (Group A)
1996–97 2 League 2
1997–98 2 League 2 5th (2nd Round)
1998–99 2 League 2 2nd (Group 1)
1999–00 2 League 2 2nd (2nd Round) Promoted
2000–01 1 League 1 10th
2001–02 1 IPL 13th Round of 16 Relegated
2002–03 2 League 1 2nd Promoted
2003–04 1 IPL 9th Quarter-Final
2004–05 1 IPL 16th Quarter-Final Relegated
2005–06 2 League 1 1st (Group A)
2006–07 2 League 1 1st (Group A) Round of 32 Promoted
2007–08 1 PGC 15th Final
2008–09 1 PGC 17th Round of 32 Relegated
2009–10 2 League 1 2nd (Group B) Quarter-Final
2010–11 2 League 1 1st (Group A) Quarter-Final Promoted
2011–12 1 PGC 7th Quarter-Final
2012–13 1 PGC 11th Semi-Final
2013–14 1 PGC 15th Quarter-Final Relegated
2014–15 2 League 1 6th (Group B) Round of 32
2015–16 2 League 1 19th Round of 64 Relegated
2016–17 3 League 2 5th (2nd Round) did not enter
2017–18 3 League 2 3rd (2nd Round) Quarter-Final
2018–19 3 League 2 2nd (Group A) Final Promoted
2019–20 2 League 1 12th Round of 32
2020–21 No Participation
2021–22 4 League 3 3rd did not enter Promoted
2022–23 3 League 2 3rd did not enter Promoted
2023–24 2 League 1 14th did not enter

Notes:
The Persian Gulf Pro League was formerly known as Iran Pro League (IPL) and Persian Gulf Cup (PGC)
The Azadegan League was the highest division between 1991 and 2001
The League 2 was formerly known as Iran 2nd Division
The League 3 was formerly known as Iran 3rd Division

Honours

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Domestic

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First-team squad

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Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK   IRN Saeid Ebrahimpour
2 DF   IRN Keykhosro Siahpour
3 DF   IRN Mohammad Amini
4 DF   IRN Kan'aan Tahernejad
5 DF   IRN Seyed Alireza Ebrahimi (captain)
6 MF   IRN Nima Mokhtari
7 FW   IRN Fardin Najafi
8 MF   IRN Mohammad Sharifi
9 FW   IRN Mehrdad Bayrami
10 FW   IRN Mohammad Mehdi Mehdikhani
11 FW   IRN Sajjad Gholibeigi
13 DF   IRN Hossein Haghshenas
14 FW   IRN Erfan Ghorbani
15 DF   IRN Mehdi Javid
17 MF   IRN Alireza Khodaei
18 DF   IRN Milad Roueein
No. Pos. Nation Player
19 DF   IRN Hadi Rafsanjani
20 MF   IRN Mohammad Ganjkhanlo
22 GK   IRN Amirhossein Hajiagha
26 FW   IRN Saeid Hosseinpour
27 MF   IRN Reza Shakhes
33 GK   IRN Amin Haghparast
37 FW   IRN Sajad Ghasemlo
46 FW   IRN Saman Mehrabizadeh
55 DF   IRN Arman Lotfekhoda
66 FW   IRN Mohammadreza Pirouzmand
69 GK   IRN Yousef Behzadi
70 FW   IRN Reza Zahedtabar
77 MF   IRN Reza Azari
80 GK   IRN Mani Ataeifar
88 MF   IRN Farshad Hashemi
99 MF   IRN Mohsen Enbesati

For recent transfers, see List of Iranian football transfers winter 2018–19.

Club managers

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Seasons Manager Nationality
Oct 2008–Nov 08 Bijan Zolfagharnasab  
Nov 2008–Jan 09 Hossein Abdi  
Jan 2009–Apr 09 Stanko Poklepović  
Jul 2009–Jun 10 Firouz Karimi  
Jun 2010–Jul 10 Markar Aghajanian  
Jul 2010–Nov 10 Marijan Pušnik  
Nov 2010–Dec 10 Afshin Nazemi  
Dec 2010–Sep 11 Mehdi Dinvarzadeh  
Sep 2011–Jan 12 Ebrahim Ghasempour  
Jan 2012–May 12 Mehdi Tartar  
Jun 2012–Sep 12 Omid Harandi  
Sep 2012–Mar 13 Hamid Derakhshan  
Mar 2013–Jan 14 Afshin Nazemi  
Jan 2014–Sep 14 Ali Nazarmohammadi  
Sep 2014–Mar 15 Omid Harandi  
 
Seasons Manager Nationality
Aug 2015–Apr 16 Majid Jahanpour  
Apr 2015–July 16 Afshin Nazemi  
Aug 2016–Nov 16 Ramiz Mammadov  
Nov 2016–Jun 17 Hadi Tabatabaei  
Jun 2017–18 Vahid Rezaei  
Jun 2018–Sep 21 Siamak Farahani  
Oct 2021 Apr 22 Mohammad Mokhtari  
Apr 2022May 22 Esmaeil Zahedvishgahi  
Jun 2022–Sep 23 Behzad Dadashzadeh  
Sep 2022–Mar 23 Akbar Misaghian  
Mar 2023– Farshad Pious  
Sep 2023–Oct 23 Siamak Farahani  
Oct 2023–Jul 24 Ali Nazarmohammadi  
Aug 2024– Hamid Derakhshan  

Records

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Top goalscorers

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# Pos. Name Career League Cup Total
1 Forward Afshin Chavoshi 2008–09
2010–15
40 3 43
2 Midfielder Reza Mahdavi 2008–09
2010–14
2016–
16 3 19
3 Defender Ali Nazifkar 2008–09
2010–14
17 1 18
4 Midfielder Ali Amiri 2009–11 12 3 15
5 Forward Amin Motevaselzadeh 2012–14 13 1 14

Top appearances

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# Pos. Name Career League Cup Total
1 Midfielder Mostafa Hajati 2008–14
2015–
152 7 159
2 Midfielder Reza Mahdavi 2008–09
2010–14
2016–
147 8 155
3 Midfielder Hadi Sohrabi 2008–11
2012–
125 9 134
4 Defender Ali Nazifkar 2008–09
2010–14
121 7 128
5 Forward Afshin Chavoshi 2008–09
2010–15
111 6 117

Last updated: May 16, 2016.
Bolded players are currently on the Damash squad.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "ویدیو| تشویق دیدنی تیفوسی های داماش بعد از قهرمانی نیم فصل". 12 December 2018.
  2. ^ https://wonder-hanger.ir/post/%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87-%D8%A7%D8%A8%D8%B1%D9%87%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%B7%D9%88%D9%81%D8%A7%D9%86%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%A7%D8%B1%D9%87-1683
  3. ^ "داماش شهر باران".
  4. ^ https://harftaze.ir/%D8%B5%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%B1-%D9%BE%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%86%D9%87-%D9%81%D8%B9%D8%A7%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%AA-%D8%AF%D8%A7%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B4-%D8%A8%D8%B1%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%A7%D8%AD%DB%8C%D8%A7%DB%8C-%D8%AF%D9%88/
  5. ^ "About-Damash".
  6. ^ "داماش با مالک جدید در لیگ یک".
  7. ^ "داماش با مالک جدید در لیگ یک".
  8. ^ "Instagram".
  9. ^ https://varzesh3.com. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  10. ^ "تارنمای هواداران داماش گیلان – وارش اسپرت – دیار وارش – معرفی اعضای هیات مدیره باشگاه داماش گیلان در عید سعید فطر". Archived from the original on 2016-08-28. Retrieved 2016-07-12.
  11. ^ "About-Damash".
  12. ^ "آشنایی با باشگاه داماش گیلان". 25 October 2007.
  13. ^ "About-Damash".
  14. ^ "آشنایی با باشگاه داماش گیلان". 25 October 2007.
  15. ^ "امتیاز شمالی ها واگذار شد/ پگاه رشت به داماش گیلان تغییر نام داد". 12 October 2008.
  16. ^ http://esteghlalrasht.blogfa.com/
  17. ^ "تارنمای هواداران داماش گیلان - وارش اسپرت - دیار وارش - مساعدت معاون اول قوه قضائیه برای حل مشکلات داماش گیلان | ندیمی: استاندار و مدیرکل دادگستری گیلان مسئول شدند!". varesh-sport.com. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  18. ^ فردا, رادیو (2 June 2019). "تشنج در فینال جام حذفی فوتبال ایران؛ پرسپولیس قهرمان شد". رادیو فردا.
  19. ^ "داماش گیلان لیگ یکی شد". 7 August 2019.
  20. ^ "Shahid Dr. Azodi - football stadium - Soccer Wiki: For the fans, by the fans". 2019.
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