Machine Sazi F.C. Explained

Clubname:Machine Sazi
Upright:0.8
Fullname:Machine Sazi Tabriz Football Club
Nickname:The Green Machine (Persian: ماشین سبز)
Founded:1969
Dissolved:2022
Owner:Younes Ghorbani
Chairman:Seyyed Mohammad Alavi
Mgrtitle:Head Coach
Manager:Alireza Akbarpour
League:League 3 (Iran)
Season:2021–22
Position:Azadegan League 18th (relegated)
Website:http://www.mst-club.ir/
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Machine Sazi Tabriz Football Club (Persian: باشگاه فوتبال ماشین‌سازی تبریز, Bashgah-e Futbal-e Mashinsazi-ye Tebriz) more commonly known as Machine Sazi was an Iranian professional football club based in Tabriz, East Azarbaijan, Iran competing in the Azadegan League.

Club history

Establishment

In 1969, Machine Sazi Tabriz Industrial Group decided to create a new football team by the name of Machine Sazi. Machine Sazi Tabriz football club played its first official match in 1970.

In 1973, the Takht Jamshid Cup was established. The Takht Jamshid Cup, was Iran's first ever nationwide football league and Machine Sazi entered the league in its first year of establishment in 1973. The club participated in Takht Jamshid Cup between 1973 and 1977.

Post Revolution

1980s

Like most sporting clubs in Iran, the Revolution and the Iran–Iraq War severely limited the team's activities. From 1979 to 1980 the club participated in almost no meaningful competitions.

In 1980 the Tabriz Football League and Tabriz Hazfi Cup was established. Machine Sazi participated in the Tabriz Football League and Tabriz Hazfi Cup between 1980 and 1988. Machine Sazi was the most successful Tabriz Football League club, winning seven championship titles and finishing two times as runners-up. The club also won the Tabriz Hazfi Cup six times. After the war the local and provincial leagues were scrapped in favor of nationwide leagues.

1990s

After the war, the Azadegan League was established as Iran's national league. Machine Sazi was promoted to the Azadegan League in 1994. They stayed in the Azadegan League for two seasons and the club finished 8th the following year. But, in 1997 the club was relegated to the 2nd Division. Machine Sazi played in the 2nd Division between 1997 and 2001 until the Iran Pro League was formed.

2000s

With the launch of Iran Pro League in 2001, Machine Sazi were placed into the Azadegan League. After a 3rd-place finish in the new Azadegan League's inaugural season, Machine Sazi had a string of mid table finishes. In the 2007–08 season the club finished 11th in the Azadegan League and was relegated to 2nd Division but following the Iranian Football Federations' decision to increase the number of teams in the league to 28, Machine Sazi remained in the Azadegan League.

The club had a mixed start to the 2008–09 season in the Azadegan League. 2008 heralded major changes for Machine Sazi, as the terrible state of the club's finances was revealed; they were unable to pay wages and had massive debts. After a drop in form, recording 10 losses in 12 matches, Asghar Etebari was sacked as manager and was replaced by Sirous Bayrami. In March 2008 Javad Shahlaei resigned as chairman and Farhad Sedaghat was elected chairman by the club council. Seyed Javad Mousavi was brought in as the new club manager. Machine Sazi finished 13th in the 2008–09 Azadegan League season. Thus, being relegated to 2nd Division.

Dabiri Takeover

On 25 April 2009 the club was bought by businessman Shahram Dabiri. After a year in the 2nd Division, Machine Sazi bought the licence of a club in the Azadegan League and was allowed to compete in the 2010–11 edition of the league. Following a 3rd-place finish in 2012 which almost brought the club back to the Iran Pro League, the club was again relegated to the 2nd Division in 2013. Machine Sazi escaped relegation to the 3rd Division the following year via a relegation play–off.

Persian Gulf Pro League

Following Machine Sazi's dismal 2013–14 season the team was taken over by the Municipality of Tabriz.

In June 2015 Machine Sazi replaced Shahrdari Tabriz in the 2015–16 Azadegan League as East Azerbaijan's representative. In winter of 2016 Rasoul Khatibi was named head coach of Machine Sazi and the club began the push for promotion to the Persian Gulf Pro League. On 10 May 2016 after a 3–0 win against Mes Rafsanjan, Machine Sazi confirmed their promotion to the Persian Gulf Pro League after a 19-year absence from the top flight of Iranian football.Machine Sazi managed to draw 1–1 with Esteghlal at the Azadi Stadium in week 5.

Khatibi was fired midway through the season for Machine's bad performances and was replaced with Farhad Kazemi. Machine Sazi finished the season in last place and were relegated to the Azadegan League once again. In the season of 2018–19, the club replaced the Gostaresh Foulad and returned to the top flight.

Players

First Team Squad

For recent transfers, see List of Iranian football transfers winter 2022-23.

League and domestic cup history

SeasonLeaguePos.Pl.WDLGSGAPHazfi CupNotes
1971–72align=center rowspan="1"Local League33111333align=center rowspan="3"not held3rd place(Region A)
1973–74align=center rowspan="1"Takht Jamshid Cup1222151611488Relegated
1974–75align=center rowspan="2"2nd Division6228510302929
1975–7616510104111/8 finalsPromoted
1976–77align=center rowspan="3"Takht Jamshid Cup93081662323321/16 finals
1977–78103091011202328align=center rowspan="8"not held
1978–791112444111512until week 12
1980–81align=center rowspan="9"Tabriz Football League29621191014
1981–8211082019518
1982–8331144317612
1983–8421063112615
1984–851111010291021
1985–861201614393049
1986–871201721301553Third Round
1987–8812016313426511/8 finals
1988–8912014152828431/16 finals
1989–90align=center rowspan="1"Qods League6207761918211/16 finals
1990–91align=center rowspan="4"2nd Division414743201018Third Round
1991–928244713222319not held
1992–937269116272029not held
1993–94226121134020351/32 finalsPromoted
1994–95align=center rowspan="3"Azadegan League3229762726251/16 finals
1995–96830118113538411/8 finals
1996–971330105153052351/16 finalsRelegated
1997–98align=center rowspan="4"2nd Division518765191227not held
1998–997165471917191/32 finals
1999–0093481214355536Second Round
2000–015341210124550461/16finals
2001–02align=center rowspan="8"Azadegan League3209562819321/16 finals
2002–0393091110403938Second Round
2003–0473011811343241Third Round
2004–05922688182124Third RoundGroup B
2005–06922679213625First RoundGroup B
2006–078225116121525Second RoundGroup A
2007–0811223127152521Second RoundGroup B
2008–0913265516214920Second RoundRelegated
2009–10align=center rowspan="1"2nd Division416484221920First RoundReplaced
2010–11align=center rowspan="3"Azadegan League122671093036311/16 Final
2011–1232611873225411/8 Final
2012–1314263419184713First RoundRelegated
2013–14align=center rowspan="2"2nd Division11246513263323Round of 32
2014–15718594201924Third RoundReplaced
2015–16align=center rowspan="1"Azadegan League23816157533663Did not enterPromoted
2016–17align=center rowspan="1"Persian Gulf Pro League16303720184516Round of 16Relegated
2017–18align=center rowspan="1"Azadegan League158131327323734Second RoundReplaced
2018–19align=center rowspan=3Persian Gulf Pro League13304179192629Quarter-Final
2019–2011308715284031Round of 32
2020–2116302820195214Round of 32Relegated

Club stadium

Before the construction of Sahand Stadium, Machine Sazi played all of its matches at Bagh Shomal Stadium, which currently has a capacity of 25,000. They occasionally play big games at Sahand Stadium. Football academy and training ground of Machine sazi is Marzdaran Stadium.[1]

Club colors

WhiteGreen

Kit evolution

Club managers

Managerial history

NamePeriod
Mohammad Ranjbar1972–73
Ali Hashemi1973–77
Garnik Mehrabian1978–80
Hossein Fekri1980–83
Ali Shirdel1983–88
Yaghob Zeynali1988–89
Hesam Golzar1989–90
Biyok Sabaghi1990–91
Asif Namazov1991–92
Rahim Mehnamaye Aghdam1994–95
1995–96
1996–97
Hamid Nadimian
Majid Jahanpour2001–02
Asghar Etebari2002–03
Nasser Hejazi2003
Vagif Sadygov2003
Boyukagha Hajiyev2003–04
Gholamhossein Karimpour2004–05
Ahad Sheykhlari2005–06
Gholamreza BaghabadiJuly 2006 – July 7
Ali NikbakhtJuly 2007 – Feb 08
Gholamreza BaghabadiFeb 2008 – June 8
Asghar EtebariJuly 2008 – Jan 09
Sirous BayramiJan 2009 – April 9
Seyed Javad MousaviApril 2009 – Oct 10
Ahad SheykhlariOct 2010 – Sept 10
Ayyoub ZolfaghariSept 2010 – Dec 10
Zoran SmilevskiDec 2010 – June 11
Rasoul KhatibiJune 2011 – July 12
Nasser EbrahimiAug 2012 – Sept 12
Alireza AkbarpourSept 2012 – Nov 12
Asghar EtebariNov 2012 – Jan 13
Hossein KhatibiJan 2013 – March 13
Vali HatamiMarch 2013 – Aug 13
Amir Dadash ZiaeeAug 2013 – Sept 13
Seyed Javad MousaviSept 2013
Saeed ParkhidehSept 2013 – Oct 13
Seyed Reza SadatOct 2013 – Jan 14
Omid TayeriJan 2014 – Feb 14
Amin Haml AbadiFeb 2014 – March 14
Younes BahonarMarch 2014 – April 14
Amir DadashziaeiApril 2014 – Sept 14
Sept 2014 – June 15
June 2015 – Nov 15
Rasoul KhatibiNov 2015– Dec 16
Farhad KazemiDec 2016– Jul 17
Rasoul KhatibiJul 2017– Dec 17
Firouz KarimiJul 2018– Aug 18
Mohammad Reza MohajeriAug 2018– Jan 19
Rasoul KhatibiJan 2019- Jun 19
Ahad SheykhlariJun 2019- Feb 20
Human AfazeliFeb 2020- Aug 20
Vahid BayatlooAug 2020-May 2021
Alireza AkbarpourMay 2021-
mohanmad saeid akhbari 2020

Current coaching staff

Position Name Nation
Head coachAlireza Akbarpour
Assistant managersGholamreza Baghabadi
Naser farshbafAdel Baba Pour
Goalkeeping coachDavood faal
Fitness coachHamidreza joudaki
AnalyzerBakhtiar Hosseinzadeh
Team manager[2] Mohammad Pirozram

Honours

Notes and References

  1. News: استادیوم5 هزار نفری مرزداران به آکادمی ماشین سازی اختصاص یافت. Sports organizations of Tabriz municipality. 2015 . 13 May 2016.
  2. Web site: سرپرست ماشين سازى تغییر کرد/ بازگشت محمد علوى :: سایت خبری، تحلیلی، ورزشی، بانک ورزش. www.bankvarzesh.com.