KARABAGH FOOTBALL CLUB
Karabakh FC is a professional football club representing the city of Agdam, Azerbaijan.
Qarabağ Futbol Klubu, commonly known as Qarabağ (pronounced [ɡɑˈɾɑbɑɣ]), is an Azerbaijani professional football club that competes in the Azerbaijan Premier League, the top flight of Azerbaijani football. The club originates from Aghdam in the Karabakh (Azerbaijani: Qarabağ) region, but has not played in its hometown since 1993 due to the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. The club now plays in Baku, the capital city of Azerbaijan. Qarabağ plays its matches at the Azersun Arena and Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in Baku, which also serves as the venue for Azerbaijan national team matches.
Formed in 1987, Qarabağ were founding members of the Azerbaijan Premier League in 1992. One season later, they won their first league championship, becoming the first non-Baku-based club to win the Premier League title. Qarabağ is one of the two teams in Azerbaijan, along with Neftçi PFK which has participated in all Premier League championships so far.
In 2014, the club won the Premier League, their first league title in 21 years.[4] Qarabağ have won the Premier League ten times and Azerbaijan Cup seven times.[5] Qarabağ became the second Azerbaijani team after Neftçi PFK[6] to advance to the group stage of a European competition, making its in the UEFA Europa League group stage in 2014–15 season. Qarabağ is the first Azerbaijani team to advance to the group stage of the higher UEFA Champions League, competing in the 2017–18 season. The club have played more UEFA matches than any other Azerbaijani team.
History
1950s
Football team in Aghdam (1953)
The club was founded in the early 1950s. Thus, in 1951, after the construction of the Aghdam city stadium was completed, serious work was done in the field of forming the club as a professional sports organization.
1960s
"Karabakh", which performed under the name "Mahsul" for some time after its foundation, participated in the championship of the Azerbaijan SSR for the first time in 1966. "Garabagh", which finished the championship in 4th place that year, competed in the national championship for 4 years in a row. His best result over the years was in 1968 when he finished 2nd. However, after 1968, due to neglect, Aghdam was not represented in national championships for a long time.
1970s–1980s
In 1977, "Karabakh" was restored again under the name "Shafaq". In the same year, "Shafaq" competed in the 2nd division of the Azerbaijan SSR Championship. "Shafaq" became the sole representative of Agdam football until 1982 . From 1982 to 1987, the club participated in competitions under the name "Cooperator". "Karabakh" was awarded the title of champion of the Azerbaijan SSR for the first time in 1988 - when Azerbaijan was part of the former USSR . After that championship, "Karabakh" qualified for the 2nd division of the USSR Championship. In 1989, "Karabakh" competed in the 9th zone of the USSR Championship . In 1990, since changes were made in the zone competitions of the 2nd division of the USSR Championship, "Karabakh" had to participate in the zone competitions of the Azerbaijan SSR Championship.
1990s
Early 1990s
In 1991, after the collapse of the USSR , the independent football championship of the Republic of Azerbaijan was organized. "Garabagh" is one of the 2 teams participating in all seasons of the Azerbaijan championship ( along with Neftchi PFK ). Of course, during the years of independence, "Karabakh" had many hard times. The day of occupation of Agdam city (July 23, 1993) , which is one of the blackest days in the history of Azerbaijan , is also the blackest day in the history of the "Karabagh" team - since that date, the team has been operating as a "refugee club".
It should be noted that in 1992-1993, "Garabagh", which hosted its opponents in Agdam , played 28 games here. "Garabagh" has won the last 22 matches played in Agdam . The streak of 27 games is longer than the last defeat of the provincial representative at home. It is interesting that the only game that "Garabagh" lost in Agdam was their first meeting in the history of independence. And the history that began with a defeat continued with a series of victories .
Effects of war and financial struggles (1991–2008)
On 23 July 1993, during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, the city of Agdam was seized by Armenian armed forces, and the team was forced to move from Imarat Stadium to Baku, while the former head coach and player of the team, Allahverdi Baghirov, died in the war. Despite all these difficulties, in 1993, Qarabağ won the Top League as well as the Azerbaijan Cup. Financial problems plagued the club during the period from 1998 to 2001, and the club went through hard times although it became the first Azerbaijani team to win away from home in a European competition by defeating the Israeli side Maccabi Haifa in the 1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup thanks to a double strike from club legend Mushfig Huseynov. Qarabağ has also represented Azerbaijan in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Cup many times.
These problems were alleviated in 2001, when one of the largest holding companies of Azerbaijan, Azersun Holding, starting sponsoring the team. The squad used the name of Qarabag-Azersun for two seasons, but then returned its original name in 2004.
Gurban Gurbanov era (2008–present)
Gurban Gurbanov the most successful Azerbaijani manager in European competitions.
In 2008, former Azerbaijani football star Gurban Gurbanov was appointed as head coach after the unexpected departure of Rasim Kara to Khazar Lankaran one week before the start of the 2008–09 season. Led by Gurban Gurbanov, Qarabağ have ignored a common strategy in Azerbaijani football: eschewing foreign signings in favour of nurturing local talent. Gurbanov brought with him a tiki-taka style of play, characterised by short passes, long periods of build-up and players interchanging positions.
Under Gurbanov, Qarabağ has become one of the most successful Azerbaijani football clubs in Europe (with three consecutive wins) and one which reached the UEFA Europa League play-off-round by beating Rosenborg in the UEFA Europa League, and also eliminated Honka of Finland. The achievements in European competitions marked Gurban Gurbanov as among the most successful Azerbaijani managers ever.
In 2010, the club set an Azerbaijani record for the most significant win in a European competition by beating Metalurg Skopje 4–1 in Baku and eliminating Wisła Kraków to reach the play-offs for the second year in succession. In 2011, the club duplicated the same record by beating Banga Gargždai 4–0 in Gargždai. The 2011–12 season ended in disappointing style for Qarabağ, however, as they finished in fourth place, leaving the club without European competition. In 2013, Qarabağ reached Europa League play-off-round for third time in their history.
In May 2014, Qarabağ earned its second league title after 21 years. A month later, by beating Red Bull Salzburg, the club became first Azerbaijani side to win in the third round of UEFA Champions League. In August 2014, the club reached Europa League play-off round for the fourth time in last five seasons. In 2014, Qarabağ qualified for the 2014–15 Europa League group stage, becoming the second Azerbaijani team to advance to this stage in a European competition. On 23 October 2014, after defeating Ukrainian club Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 1–0, the team became the first Azerbaijani club to win a Europa League group stage match.
In 2017, after victory over the Sheriff Tiraspol, Qarabağ qualified for the UEFA Champions League play-off rounds for the first time. In the first leg they recorded a 1–0 victory over Danish side F.C. Copenhagen in Baku. Despite losing 2–1 in the second leg, Qarabağ won on away goals and became the first Azerbaijani team to reach the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.[40] They were drawn in Group C alongside Chelsea, Atlético Madrid and Roma, where they managed to obtain two points in six games after two draws and four losses.
In July and August 2021, Qarabağ secured their first participation in the group stage of UEFA Europa Conference League. Qarabağ knocked-out Ashdod (0–0 and 1–0), AEL Limassol (1–1 and 1–0) and Aberdeen (1–0 and 3–1) in the qualifiers. On 27 August, Qarabağ was drawn on Group H of the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League alongside Basel, Kairat and Omonia.[45] They eventually placed 2nd in the group, making it to the Knockout Play-off Round.[46]
In the 2023–24 season Qarabağ made it to the Europa League group stage where they finished 2nd behind Bayer Leverkusen. Qarabağ were subsequently drawn against Braga in the knockout round play-off. The first leg ended as a 4–2 victory for Qarabağ. The second leg would finish 2–0 to Braga after normal time, but ultimately ended 3–2 to the Portuguese side after extra time, which meant Qarabağ won 6–5 on aggregate, and thus became the first ever team from Azerbaijan to reach the round of 16 in any UEFA club competition. The round of 16 draw pitted them against Bayer Leverkusen, whom they had already played earlier in the group stages.
Stadium
Main article: Azersun Arena
Azersun Arena.
The club have previously used Guzanli Olympic Stadium, which is situated in Quzanlı, the most populous municipality in the Agdam Rayon of Nagorno-Karabakh, Azerbaijan. The Imarat Stadium which was club's original home stadium was destroyed as a result of artillery attacks from Armenian military forces during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.
In 2012, the construction of a new football stadium Azersun Arena was announced, which was opened in June 2015. Azersun Arena is a multi-use football stadium in Surakhani settlement of Baku, Azerbaijan. It is currently used as the club's Azerbaijan Premier League home stadium and holds 5,800 people.
The Baku Olympic Stadium and Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium is used for UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League games,[51] where the record attendance for Qarabağ occurred on 27 September 2017, in a UEFA Champions League group stage match attended by 67,200 fans against Roma.
On 21 December 2023, Qarabağ played the 2023–24 Azerbaijan Cup match against MOIK Baku at Khankendi Stadium, Khankendi, becoming this the first match played in Karabakh Economic Region after the end of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.
Supporters
Although a large part of Qarabağ's support is drawn from the local Aghdam population, they remain immensely well supported in the rest of Azerbaijan. This is mainly due to their being the only team to represent the war-torn Nagorno-Karabakh region in the league. The club is a sole remnant of the past and a living symbol of hope and pride for over half a million Azerbaijani internally displaced people. In recent years, thanks to achievements on the pitch, the club has been able to inspire and initiate special youth projects enforcing stability and development in the IDP-settlements near the border of Nagorno-Karabakh.
The club have few supporting groups such as Imarat, Qarabağ Ordusu, Boys Qarabağ, and Ladies of Qarabağ. These groups often receive free tickets to Qarabağ's games, which helps Karabakh to have more support from fans.
Crest and colours
Qarabağ's away shirt for the 2018–19 campaign.
The crest on the club emblem is the symbol of the Karabakh. It is produced by English designers and based on the Karabakh horse. The horse stems from the club's nickname "The Horsemen"; although it was included on club programmes and scarves earlier, the crest was not displayed on the shirt until 2004. After Gurban Gurbanov's appointment, Qarabağ's attractive style of play led fans to call the team "Qafqazın Barselonası" ("Barcelona of The Caucasus"), which plays upon Barcelona's success in Europe. The club is sometimes called "Qaçqın Klub" ("The Refugee Club") after its conservative position on the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and refugee problem in Azerbaijan.
Approximately 20% of the territories of the Republic of Azerbaijan occupied by Armenia were liberated by the Azerbaijani Army in 2020, including the city of Aghdam!
European record
Main article: Qarabağ FK in European football.jpg)
Qarabağ playing against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge during the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League.
The club have participated in 18 editions of the club competitions governed by UEFA, the chief authority for football across Europe. These include 7 seasons in the Champions League, 13 seasons in the UEFA Cup and Europa League, two seasons in the Cup Winners' Cup and one seasons in the UEFA Europa Conference League and Intertoto Cup. Qarabağ has played six times in the Europa League after qualifying via the Champions League. Counting all of the 134 games the side have played in UEFA competitions since their first entry into the Cup Winners' Cup in the 1996–97 season, the team's record stands at 48 wins, 35 draws and 51 defeats.
Matches
show
Games of Qarabağ in UEFA competitions
UEFA club rankings
See also: UEFA coefficient
Updated 23 February 2024[65]
RankTeamCoefficient54
Maccabi Tel Aviv33.50055
Real Betis33.00056
Fenerbahçe32.00057
Qarabağ32.00058
Celtic32.00059 Galatasaray31.50060
Fiorentina31.000
Shirt sponsors and kit manufacturers
Qarabağ's traditional kit alludes to the club's location in Nagorno-Karabakh with the black and white representing light and darkness respectively. The club's kits are manufactured by Adidas and sponsored by Azersun, a Baku-based food producing company.
FOOTBALL PLAYERS
Coaches
https://qarabagh.com/az/staff/mesqciler
TECHNICAL STAFF
https://qarabagh.com/az/staff/texniki-heyyet
