Hafiz Mammadov

Hafiz Mammadov
Born Hafiz Majid oglu Mammadov
2 December 1964
Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan
Ethnicity Azerbaijani
Occupation Founder and President of Baghlan Group, Chairman of FC Baku, RC Lens

Hafiz Mammadov (Azerbaijani: 'Hafiz Məmmədov') (2 December 1964 in Nakhchivan, Azerbaijan), is a businessman who founded and owns the Baghlan Group. Mammadov also currently owns two football clubs across Europe: FC Baku in Azerbaijan, RC Lens in France.

Biography

Hafiz Mammadov founded the Baghlan Group in 1998 in Azerbaijan. The Baghlan Group is a company that specialises in oil, gas, construction and transportation, mainly in Azerbaijan. The Baghlan Group has grown since then and has seen Mammadov turn into a multi-millionaire.[1]

With Mammadov turning into a multi-millionaire, it enabled him to invest in a sport that he loves - football. In 2004 he became owner of local football club FC Baku, a team in the Azerbaijan Premier League. In 2013 he expanded his ownership of football clubs to two, when he bought RC Lens in France.[2] Lens gained promotion that season under Mammadov's ownership from Ligue 2 to Ligue 1. On 10 June 2014, Mammadov agreed to take ownership of another European football club - this time it was the massive English Championship side Sheffield Wednesday Mammadov looks to takeover over from the current Chairman Milan Mandarić. The bid for SWFC is rumoured to have been around €50 million.[3][4] As of the 28th August 2014, this takeover had still not been completed and at the beginning of September, due to failure to meet financial obligations and complete the takeover, Milan Mandarić called the deal off. He also owns shares in La Liga club Atlético Madrid and Portuguese team F.C. Porto and he still hasn't put £4 million into Lens for transfers resulting in Lens fans calling for a boycott of the clubs main shirt sponsor.[5]

In 2014, it was announced by number of media that he is having financial difficulties, which forced number of players and personnel from Baku FC to seek new clubs, leaving club's future uncertain.[6][7]

References

  1. ↑ "Chairman's message". Baghlan Group.
  2. ↑ "Hafiz Mammadov, the new majority shareholder of RC Lens, made his first public appearance in France". Nord Pas-de-Calais. 2013-09-27.
  3. ↑ http://www.southyorkshiretimes.co.uk/news/punters-embrace-new-boss-at-sheffield-wednesday-1-6666845
  4. ↑ "Sheffield Wednesday announce takeover confirmation". www.swfc.co.uk. 2014-06-10.
  5. ↑ http://france3-regions.francetvinfo.fr/nord-pas-de-calais/2014/08/26/rc-lens-lasses-par-mammadov-des-supporters-appellent-au-boycott-du-sponsor-maillot-azerbaidjanais-538314.html
  6. ↑ СМИ: Клуб Хафиза Мамедова покупает форму на бакинской "толкучке". sportbox.az (in Russian). Retrieved 24 July 2014.
  7. ↑ Клуб азербайджанского олигарха Хафиза Мамедова не выплачивает зарплаты футболистам. novosti.az (in Russian). Retrieved 24 July 2014.
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