Club history

Prior to the establishment of the Takhte Jamshid League in 1972, The people of Abadan mostly followed two clubs, Kargar FC and Jam FC. Kargar had been established by workers from Abadan's oil refinery. Ten years later, Parviz Dehdari along with some of his class mates at Razi School established Jam FC. These teams had a large number of fans until 1972. When the Takhte Jamshid League was established, the city of Abadan was given one spot. The club was to be managed by Iran's oil industry. Fans were immediately drawn to the team, as it would be competing in Iran's top football league. Many of the better players from Kargar and Jam moved to Sanat Naft. The club's original kit colors were white, blue and black. The city of Abadan and the province of Khuzestan had very technical players and the club adapted a style of play similar to the Brazil of the 1970s after Parviz Dehdari became the chairman of the club. To emphasize their admiration for Brazilian football, the club changed its team colors to yellow, blue and white, exactly like the Brazilian national team. The clubs nickname, Iran's Brazil, soon appeared. Football was extremely popular in Abadan, and the number of fans was growing everyday, but everything stopped when the Iranian revolution took place in 1978. Football was no longer a priority, and it was shoved even farther out of the limelight when the Iran-Iraq War began in 1980. Abadan and Khuzestan were heavily hit during the war. Abadan's massive refinery was shut down, and hundreds of thousands left the city, as it was extremely dangerous. From 1980 to 1988 the club was based in Shiraz. Once in Shiraz, the club had to start from Iran's third division, but was able to make it back to the top flight with the help of its players. Since many natives of Abadan had left the city during the war for other cities, fan support for the club was always good no matter where the team was playing. After the war the club went back to Abadan, but due to the war's negative effects on the city and poor management in the football club, Sanat Naft has not been able to have any major success.

2005 Promotion Controversy

Sanat Naft made it to the promotion playoffs in the 2004-05 season. Until the very last game of the promotion playoffs, Sanat Naft was in second place and head of Rah Ahan on goal difference. On the last day despite Sanat Naft's win versus Payam Mashhad F.C., Rah Ahan defeated Shahid Ghandi by a score of 6-1 to finish second, ahead of Sanat Naft on goal differential.

Sanat Naft officials immediately suggested that Shahid Ghandi had allowed Rah Ahan to win by such a huge score. Sanat Naft was not able to prove this with evidence though. Later Sanat Naft claimed that Rah Ahan had used an ineligible player; this went through several courts and Rah Ahan was found guilty.

Two seasons later Sanat Naft was automatically awarded a promotion spot, and will automatically move up to the Persian Gulf Cup, starting in the 2007-08 season.

Club managers

• Ebrahim Ghasempour (2001 - 2002)
• Mansour Pourheidari (July 18 2002 - 2003)
• Bayram Dordayev (2003 - 2005)
• Parviz Mazloumi (January 18 2005 - 2006)
• Acácio Casimiro (June 18 2006 - 2007)
• Ebrahim Ghasempour (2007-)

2007/2008 Squad

Famous players: