[custom_adv] Mehdi Ghayedi is who plays as a forward for Persian Gulf Pro League club Esteghlal. Founded in the mid-1940s by a group of cyclists from the army, Esteghlal are one of oldest clubs. They share the cavernous Azadi Stadium with bitter rivals Piroozi and were the biggest team in the country before the arrival of The Reds. [custom_adv] Their haul of trophies includes seven league titles and four domestic cups, and although they are yet to make a mark in the era of the AFC Champions League, they have twice won Asia’s most prestigious club competition in its previous guises. [custom_adv] While they were in the shadow of Piroozi in the 1990s, professionalism across the board football has meant that Esteghlal now face competition from a variety of clubs whose private funding has given them the ability to compete at the highest level. Their greatest recent success was the 2009 league title but a club the size of Esteghlal will be looking to make their presence felt again on the continental stage. [custom_adv] Esteghlal is one of the oldest football clubs, and carries a deep history in football. It is one of the most supported and successful clubs in football, having won two AFC Champions League trophies, eight national titles and a record of seven national cups. [custom_adv] Esteghlal is also leading the all-time table of the Persian Gulf Pro League. The club's historical crest was holding a crown, giving the club its nickname Crown of Asia.
