Ghalenoei stayed at Esteghlal despite bids from Al-Ain and Mes Kerman for their vacant managerial position. Esteghlal bought few players like Ahmad Jamshidian, Mohammad Mehdi Nazari, Pejman Nouri, Mohammad Ghazi and Alireza Vahedi Nikbakht. Fardin Abedini also returned from the loan. His team also kept many of the last season's players but Mojtaba Jabbari doesn't extended his contract and joined Sepahan. Iman Mousavi, Abbas Mohammadrezaei, Farzad Hatami, Hassan Ashjari, Maysam Baou, Ali Hamoudi also sold and Vicente Arze left the team and returned to Charleroi after the end of his loan contract. Esteghlal also won Damash Karaj and Dynamo Kiev during pre-season friendly matches. Esteghlal began the league with a 2–1 away win over Gostaresh Foolad. Esteghlal finished the season in a disappointing 5th place, knocked out in the Group stage of AFC Champions League. Esteghlal also knocked out by Mes Kerman in the semi-finals.