 This meant the departure of many players like Ahmad Reza Abedzadeh, Shahrokh Bayani, Majid Namjoo-Motlagh, Samad Marfavi and Reza Ahadi but Ghalenoei remained at the team and was chosen as the club's new captain.Esteghlal again rose to the top level of Iranian football in 1994–95 and was ranked second on their first season back to the competition.Ghalenoei also scored twice in the final game of the following season (1995–96) Hazfi Cup.