Shahin Tehran Football Club (Persian: باشگاه فوتبال شاهین تهران, romanized: Shāhīn meaning Falcon), also spelled Shaahin or Shaheen, from 1973 to 1979 known as Shahbaz (Persian: شهباز, romanized: Shahbāz, meaning Shahbaz),
is an Iranian football club based in Tehran, Iran. Shahin A.C. is located in the eastern part of Tehran in the Narmak neighborhood (Golestan Street). Shahin F.C. was dissolved in 1967 for political reasons. The club was revived after the Iranian Revolution in 1979. Due to the Iran–Iraq War, the national league was not held during the 1980s.
They currently compete in the Tehran provincial league.
In June 1942, Dr. Abbas Ekrami opened the poetry book Divan-e Hafez and saw the following line about Shahin (Falcon), after which he named the club Shahin,
در هوا چند معلق زنی و جلوه کنی ای کبوتر نگران باش که شاهین آمد In the air, you will rotate a few times with glory; oh pigeon, be worried, Falcon is on its way.
Ekrami founded the club with help of some young students[1][2] under the motto:
اول اخلاق، دوم درس، سوم ورزش First ethics, second education, third sports.[3]
Shahin F.C. in mid 1960s Many of the players shown in this photo went on to play for Persepolis.
In 1973 Shahin F.C. decided to come back but returned with the name of its former third team Shahbaz F.C. and participated in Takht Jamshid Cup professional soccer League. Shahbaz F.C. was leading the league in the 1978–1979 season which was unfinished due to Iranian Revolution in 1979. After the revolution, the club reverted to its original name, "Shahin".
In 2009/10 Shahin was competing in the third ranked 2nd Division successfully until the last stage, when they failed to be promoted to the Azadegan 1st Division. In 2010/11 Shahin kept its place in the 3rd Division.
In 2011/12 Shahin finished last in its group and therefore is relegated to the provincial league for 2012/13.
Branches and affiliated clubs
Shahin F.C. had several attached teams and branches under the name and license of Shahin F.C. in different cities of Iran, including Shahin Bushehr F.C. (est. 1942), Shahin Ahvaz F.C. (est. 1948) and Shahin Isfahan F.C.(est. 1953). In 1967 due to the political problems that arose in the Shahin F.C. organization, the other teams were forced to cease operations as well. Some had to deactivate for a period of time, while other teams renamed and continued under different names.
Persepolis F.C. started the 1968 season with Parviz Dehdari as manager. Although Shahin Tehran established in a new team under the name of Shahbaz, it was failed to get back its popularity again.
Shahin Isfahan F.C. changed its name to Sepahan F.C.. The club is one of the representatives of Isfahan Province in Takht Jamshid Cup national league. The team now plays under the name of Foolad Mobarakeh Sepahan.
Shahin Bushehr was renamed Shahin Pars Jonoubi Bushehr in 2007 and promoted to IPL in 2009. The club is now owned by Pars Special Economic Energy Zone, based in Asalouyeh, Bushehr Province and currently competes in the 2nd Division after being relegated from Azadegan League in 2013.
Shahin Ahvaz F.C. was founded in 1948 and was one of Shahin Tehran F.C. branches at the time. They currently compete in the Provincial Leagues.
Colours and crest
The usual home kit includes a white shirt, black shorts, and white socks. The away kit of the club is commonly with a black background.[clarification needed]
