Esteghlal Wrestling Club () is the wrestling department of Esteghlal Sports Club, an Iranian multi-sport club based in Tehran, Iran. The club operates teams in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling, competing in the Iranian Freestyle Wrestling Premier League and the Iranian Greco-Roman Wrestling Premier League. Since 2025, the freestyle team has been based in Juybar, Mazandaran province, while the Greco-Roman team has been based in Qom.
History
Early years (1950s–1979)
The wrestling section of the former Taj Sports and Cultural Organization (the predecessor of Esteghlal Sports Club) was established during the early 1950s. During the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s, Taj was one of the leading wrestling clubs in Iran, competing in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling.
The club won the Tehran Wrestling Clubs Championship in freestyle wrestling in 1956, 1959 and 1974, while its Greco-Roman team captured the same title in 1958, 1972, 1973 and 1974.
Following the Iranian Revolution in 1979, the wrestling department was dissolved and remained inactive for more than two decades.
Revival (2001–2002)
After more than two decades of inactivity, Esteghlal re-established its wrestling section in 2001 during the chairmanship of Ali Fathollahzadeh. The club entered teams in both freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling for the 2001 Iranian Wrestling League season.
Both teams won their respective league championships during the season. The Greco-Roman squad included wrestlers such as Hassan Rangraz and Ali Ashkani, while the freestyle team featured Mehdi Hajizadeh and Mohammad Isa Hajiev.
The wrestling department was dissolved again in 2002.
Revival and runner-up finish (2020)
The wrestling section was revived once again in 2020 during the chairmanship of Ahmad Saadatmand. A freestyle wrestling team was established to compete in the 2020 Iranian Freestyle Wrestling Premier League.
Jahan Yaran Kohan Company was announced as the team's principal sponsor.
Esteghlal competed in Group A of the league and advanced to the final, finishing as runners-up at the end of the season.
Following the conclusion of the season, the wrestling team was once again disbanded.
Wrestling academy
In 2020, Esteghlal and the Iran Wrestling Federation reached an agreement to establish a wrestling academy in addition to the club's professional team.
The academy was planned to operate at the Tofigh Jahanbakht Wrestling Hall, located within Shahid Shiroudi Sports Complex in Tehran.
Revival (2025–present)
After several years of inactivity, Esteghlal re-established both its freestyle and Greco-Roman wrestling teams in 2025. The freestyle team was based in Juybar, Mazandaran province, while the Greco-Roman team was established in Qom. The expansion formed part of the club's strategy to develop sporting activities outside Tehran.
The freestyle team was drawn into Group B of the Iranian Freestyle Wrestling Premier League, while the Greco-Roman team competed in Group A of the Iranian Greco-Roman Wrestling Premier League.
Before the start of the season, Esteghlal strengthened its freestyle squad by signing several international wrestlers, including Ibragim Kadiev, Ahmad Idrisov and Shamil Mamedov of Russia.
The freestyle team advanced to the championship final after defeating Kheybar Khorramabad in the semi-finals. In the final, Esteghlal was defeated 6–4 by Bank Shahr and finished as runners-up in the league.
The Greco-Roman team, coached by Rouhollah Mikaeili, won the Iranian Greco-Roman Wrestling Premier League title during the same season.
Head coaches
The first head coach of Esteghlal's modern wrestling team was Reza Yazdani, who was appointed in August 2020 ahead of the club's return to the Iranian Freestyle Wrestling Premier League. He guided the team to a runners-up finish before leaving the club at the end of the season.
Following the re-establishment of the wrestling section in 2025, Komeil Ghasemi was appointed head coach of the freestyle team, while Rouhollah Mikaeili took charge of the club's Greco-Roman team.
Season-by-season record
Freestyle wrestling
Season-by-season record (Freestyle) Season Competition Position 1951 Tehran Wrestling Clubs ChampionshipRunners-up 1952 1953 1954 Tehran Wrestling Clubs ChampionshipRunners-up 1955 Tehran Wrestling Clubs ChampionshipRunners-up 1956 Tehran Wrestling Clubs ChampionshipChampions 1957 Tehran Wrestling Clubs ChampionshipRunners-up 1958 Tehran Wrestling Clubs ChampionshipRunners-up 1959 Tehran Wrestling Clubs ChampionshipChampions 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 Tehran Wrestling Clubs ChampionshipThird place 1967 1968 1969 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 Tehran Wrestling Clubs ChampionshipChampions 1975 1976 1977 1978Club inactive (1979–2000) 2001 Iranian Wrestling LeagueChampions 2002Club inactive (2003–2020) 2020 Iranian Freestyle Wrestling Premier LeagueRunners-up 2025 Iranian Freestyle Wrestling Premier LeagueRunners-up
Greco-Roman wrestling
Season-by-season record (Greco-Roman) Season Competition Position 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 Tehran Wrestling Clubs ChampionshipChampions 1957 Tehran Wrestling Clubs ChampionshipChampions 1958 Tehran Wrestling Clubs ChampionshipChampions 1959 Tehran Wrestling Clubs ChampionshipChampions 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 Tehran Wrestling Clubs ChampionshipChampions 1970 1971 1972 Tehran Wrestling Clubs ChampionshipChampions 1973 Tehran Wrestling Clubs ChampionshipChampions 1974 Tehran Wrestling Clubs ChampionshipChampions 1975 1976 1977 1978Club inactive (1979–2000) 2001 Iranian Wrestling LeagueChampions 2002Club inactive (2003–2025) 2025 Iranian Greco-Roman Wrestling Premier LeagueChampions
Honours
Freestyle wrestling
Iranian Wrestling League Champions (1): 2001
Iranian Freestyle Wrestling Premier League Runners-up (2): 2020, 2025
Tehran Wrestling Clubs Championship Champions (3): 1956, 1959, 1974 Runners-up (4): 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958 Third place (1): 1966
Greco-Roman wrestling
Iranian Wrestling League Champions (1): 2001
Iranian Greco-Roman Wrestling Premier League Champions (1): 2025
Tehran Wrestling Clubs Championship Champions (7): 1958, 1972, 1973, 1974
Notable wrestlers
Freestyle
Komeil Ghasemi Amirmohammad Yazdani Younes Emami Mehdi Hajizadeh Hassan Yazdani Ahmad Idrisov Shamil Mamedov Ibragim Kadiev
Greco-Roman
Hassan Rangraz Alireza Nejati Pouya Dadmarz Mohammad Nagousi Aliakbar Yousofi Naser Alizadeh Iman Mohammadi
See also
Esteghlal F.C. Sport in Iran Wrestling in Iran
References