AZAL PFK

AZAL PFK
Full name AZAL Peşəkar Futbol Klubu
Nickname(s) Təyyarəçilər (The Pilots)
Founded 2005 (2005)
Ground AZAL Arena
Ground Capacity 3,500
League Azerbaijan First Division
2016–17 8th (Relegated)

AZAL PFK (Azerbaijani: AZAL Peşəkar Futbol Klubu) is an Azerbaijani football club based in Şüvəlan, Baku.

The club was renamed three times in its short history becoming Olimpik Baku, Olimpik-Shuvalan Baku and AZAL. UEFA is still recognizing the club as Olimpik-Shuvalan at European competitions.[1]

The club is also a member of the European Club Association, an organization that replaced the previous G-14 which consists of major football clubs in Europe.

History

Early years (1996–2006)

The club were established in 1996 as a futsal club under the name of AMMK. It participated in national futsal league from the season 1996–97 till 2003–04.[2][3] AMMK also represented Azerbaijan in UEFA Futsal Cup 2003/04 season.

AMMK became professional football team in 2004 and joined the Azerbaijan First Division. The first Azerbaijan Premier League season was not much successful for Olimpik Baku. Croatian manager Stjepan Čordaš worked just for a couple of month and was sacked after poor results. His place was taken by Serbian Petar Kurčubić, but he was also unable to achieve good results, and Olimpik Baku finished 12th. At that time, Olimpik was called 'The Club from Balkans', as there were a lot of players from Balkan countries such as Marko Mitrović, Srdjan Baljak, Rašo Babić, Saša Kovačević, Tomislav Višević and others.[4]

Abdullayev years (2006–2009)

In June 2006, Asgar Abdullayev was appointed as a new head coach of Olimpik. He still remains as the most successful manager in clubs' history. Led by Abdullayev, Olimpik improved its results, ranked 6th in 2007 and 2nd in 2008. Olimpik came very closed to win 2007–08 league title, but the team was beaten by Qarabağ at last round game, although they only had to play a draw.[5]

Olimpik's debut in European competitions was also not successful as they were eliminated in the 1st qualifying round of 2008–09 UEFA Cup by Serbian side Vojvodina. Roman Akhalkatsi became the first goalscorer of Olimpik in the European club tournaments.[6]

2009–2017

In 2009, the club moved from center to Shuvalan settlement and was renamed into Olimpik-Shuvalan PFC.[7][8] In November 2009, Asgar Abdullayev completed his mission and he was changed by former Azerbaijani football star Nazim Suleymanov.[9] At his debut season Suleymanov took the team over the Azerbaijan Cup quarter-final for a first time in its history. The club once again was renamed in 2010, this time to AZAL PFC due to sponsorship reasons from airline company Azerbaijan Airlines.[10][11] In September 2010, the club management announced the construction of new AZAL Arena in Shuvalan.

The 2010-11 Azerbaijan Premier League season was a great for AZAL. The team finished 4th and entered UEFA Europa League 2011-12 season. Although the club was renamed into AZAL in 2010, it represented as Olimpik-Shuvalan in UEFA Europa League competitions due to UEFA's sponsorship regulations.[1] Before the home game against Minsk, Suleymanov said that he would resign in case of defeat.[12] AZAL lost to Minsk 2–3 in aggregate, and Suleymanov announced his resignation after second match in Minsk.[13]

In July, club president Vaqif Gasymov invited Elkhan Abdullayev to AZAL and he signed a one-year contract. He started with a brilliance victory over Simurq (3:0), but resigned after 11 games, when AZAL came down to 11th position.[14] The club sponsors made a decision to replace him by Rafig Mirzayev, Abdullayev's former assistant. Mirzayev started as a caretaker, winning 3 games consecutively and taking the team up to 7th place. In December 2011, Mirzayev signed a half-year contract with AZAL.[15] In April, after the unsuccessful run, Mirzayev was sacked, and Azerbaijan national football team former manager Vagif Sadygov was appointed as a new head coach.[16]

It was an ambiguous season for AZAL and its manager. The team won 16 games, scored 57 goals renewing own records, but for the second time consecutively did not enter Championship Group after Preliminary Round. The management recognized the season as unsuccessful despite the fact that the team has won 9 of the 10 matches in the relegation group.[17] Brazilian striker Nildo scored 21 goals showing the best individual record in AZAL's history for the scorers in a single season and became one of the topscorers of the 2012–13 Azerbaijan Premier League.

The summer of 2013, saw more budget cuts and several big names as Nildo, Zouhir Benouahi, Usim Nduka, etc. leaving the club, but this time the main concern for fans was the very future of the club.[18]

Recent years (2017–)

On 3 May 2017, AZAL announced on their website that the club would cease operations, with Zira taking over their stadium and facilities.[19] However a few days later the AFFA stepped in to save the club, with it rejoining the Azerbaijan First Division.[20]

Domestic league and cup history

John Oluremi was AZAL's top goalscorer during the 2013–14 season.
Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Domestic Cup Top scorer Goals Manager
2004–05 2nd 1 14 10 3 1 25 9 33 1/16 Finals Azerbaijan Garibov
2005–06 1st 12 26 5 8 13 15 27 23 1/8 Finals Serbia Baljak 3 Croatia Čordaš / Serbia Kurčubić
2006–07 1st 6 24 11 8 5 28 17 41 1/8 Finals Azerbaijan Mammadov 13 Azerbaijan A.Abdullayev
2007–08 1st 2 26 17 7 2 29 7 58 Quarterfinals Brazil Junivan 11 Azerbaijan A.Abdullayev
2008–09 1st 6 26 12 8 6 32 18 44 Quarterfinals Azerbaijan Gomes 10 Azerbaijan A.Abdullayev
2009–10 1st 7 42 16 13 13 47 29 61 Semi-finals Moldova Doroş 12 Azerbaijan A.Abdullayev /Azerbaijan Suleymanov
2010–11 1st 4 32 13 10 9 36 28 49 Semi-finals Lithuania Juška 10 Azerbaijan Suleymanov
2011–12 1st 7 32 12 8 12 44 44 44 Quarterfinals Morocco Benouahi 10 Azerbaijan E.Abdullayev / Azerbaijan Mirzayev / Azerbaijan Sadygov
2012–13 1st 7 32 16 9 7 57 32 57 1/8 Finals Brazil Nildo 21 Azerbaijan Sadygov
2013–14 1st 8 36 6 13 17 29 49 31 Second Round United States Oluremi 8 Azerbaijan Sadygov / Azerbaijan Ahmadov
2014–15 1st 6 32 10 9 13 37 42 39 Quarter Final Democratic Republic of the Congo Mombongo-Dues 13 Azerbaijan Ahmadov
2015–16 1st 7 36 13 7 16 26 38 46 Second round Georgia (country) Kvirtia 7 Azerbaijan Ahmadov
2016–17 1st 8 28 1 7 20 13 50 10 Quarterfinal Georgia (country) Kvirtia
Georgia (country) Janelidze		 3 Azerbaijan Ahmadov

European history

As of 10 February 2013.

Season Competition Round Country Club Home Away Aggregate
2008–09 UEFA Cup Q1 Serbia Vojvodina 1–1 0–1 1–2
2011–12 UEFA Europa League Q1 Belarus Minsk 1–1 1–2 2–3


Stadium

AZAL Arena

UEFA
Location Shuvalan, Baku, Azerbaijan
Owner AZAL PFK
Surface Artificial
Construction
Broke ground 2009
Opened 10 April 2011
Tenants
AZAL PFK

AZAL Arena is a football stadium in Shuvalan settlement of Baku, Azerbaijan. It is currently used as club's home stadium and holds 3,500 people. The club plans to construct another tribune by increasing stadiums' capacity to 6000 in the upcoming years.

During 2005–2011 years AZAL played its home games at Shafa Stadium.

Crest and colours

AZAL changed the crest four times during its short history. Between 1996–2004 years the crest was the same of AMMK's organisation logo. In 2005, as soon as AMMK was renamed into Olimpik Baku the logo was also modified. New logo was the form of circular blue shield with the Olympic flame in the middle.

In 2009, it was designed a new version of the crest with a white and blue stripes, and remained for a next season, however the club became AZAL PFK. Current logo seems like the older logo, but in the center of traditional blue circular shield is drawn an airliner[21]

Shirt sponsors and kit manufacturers

Since its foundation AZAL's traditional home kit is completely blue. For the guest games the team usually wears an all white kit, except 2007–08 season, when Olimpic Baku has worn red-black striped jersey, black shorts and red socks. For the last three years the club's kits are manufactured by Umbro and sponsored by Silk Way Airlines.

Players

Azerbaijani teams are limited to nine players without Azerbaijani citizenship. The squad list includes only the principal nationality of each player; several non-European players on the squad have dual citizenship with an EU country.

Last squad

As of end of 2017 season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 Azerbaijan GK Tarlan Gasimzada
2 Azerbaijan DF Elshad Manafov
3 Azerbaijan DF Tural Hümbatov
5 Azerbaijan DF Kamil Huseynov
7 Azerbaijan MF Kamal Mirzayev
8 Mali MF Sadio Tounkara
9 Azerbaijan FW Royal Najafov
10 Georgia (country) MF Nugzar Kvirtia
11 France FW Franck Madou
12 Azerbaijan DF Mahsun Gambarli
14 Azerbaijan MF Ilgar Alakbarov
16 Iran DF Ashkan Feizi
17 Azerbaijan MF Rashad Abdullayev
No. Position Player
18 Azerbaijan DF Ruslan Amirjanov
19 Azerbaijan MF Elnur Suleymanov
21 Azerbaijan MF Samir Masimov
23 Azerbaijan GK Aqil Mammadov
24 Azerbaijan DF Emin Jafarguliyev (captain)
27 Azerbaijan DF Eltun Huseynov
33 Azerbaijan MF Seyidrezi Aghayev
55 Azerbaijan MF Geyrat Aliyev
65 Azerbaijan MF Farhad Budagov
70 Azerbaijan FW Vagif Javadov
77 Russia MF Arkadi Halperin
91 Morocco MF Mehdi Taouil
95 Azerbaijan MF Shirmammad Mammadov

For recent transfers, see 2016–17 AZAL PFC season.

Coaching staff

Position Staff
ManagerAzerbaijan Tarlan Ahmadov
Assistant first team coach Azerbaijan Tofig Mustafayev
Assistant first team coach Azerbaijan Vadar Nuriyev
Goalkeeper coachAzerbaijan Rauf Salamov

Records

Club

Individual

Lists of the players with the most caps and top goalscorers for AZAL.(players in bold signifies current AZAL player):

Top goalscorers

As of Match played 13 February 2016
Khagani Mammadov scored 14 goals for Olimpik Baku during his only season with the club.
Name Years League Azerbaijan Cup Europe Total
1Morocco Zouhir Benouahi2010–201324 (76)01 0(7)00 0(2)25 (85)
2Nigeria Victor Igbekoi2009–201523 (156)00 0(15)01 0(2)24 (173)
3Brazil Nlido2012–201321 (32)00 0(1)00 0(0)21 (33)
4Brazil Junivan2007–2009, 201017 (55)00 0(?)00 0(0)17 (?)
5Georgia (country) Nugzar Kvirtia2009–2012, 2015-Present15 (140)02 0(13)00 0(2)17 (155)
6Democratic Republic of the Congo Freddy Mombongo-Dues2014–201513 (28)01 0(3)00 0(0)14 (31)
7Azerbaijan Khagani Mammadov2006–200713 (23)01 0(?)00 0(0)14 (?)
7Moldova Anatolie Doroș2008–200912 (28)02 0(?)00 0(0)14 (?)
8United States Jon Oluremi2012–201412 (41)00 0(1)00 0(0)12 (42)
9Lithuania Gvidas Juška2010–201110 (31)01 0(4)00 0(0)11 (35)

Most appearances

Agil Nabiyev appeared over 129 times during his six-year stint at AZAL.
As of Match played 13 February 2016
Name Years League Azerbaijan Cup Europe Total
1 Azerbaijan Nduka Usim2004–2013208 (5)0? (0)04 (0)212+ (5)
2 Nigeria Victor Igbekoi2009–2015156 (23)015 (0)02 (1)173 (24)
3 Georgia (country) Nugzar Kvirtia2009–2012, 2015-Present140 (15)013 (2)02 (0)155 (17)
4 Azerbaijan Agil Nabiyev2006–2012125 (0)0? (1)04 (0)129+ (1)
5 Serbia Dragan Mandic2007–2011107 (1)0? (0)00 (0)107+ (1)
6 Azerbaijan Jahangir Hasanzade2009–201489 (0)09 0(0)02 0(0)100 (0)
7 Serbia Branislav Arsenijević2011–201488 (6)05 0(0)00 0(0)93 (6)
8 Latvia Oskars Kļava2012–201586 (3)05 0(0)00 0(0)91 (3)
9 Morocco Zouhir Benouahi2010–201375 (24)07 0(1)02 0(0)85 (25)
10Azerbaijan Tarlan Ahmadov2006–200972 (1)0? 0(0)02 0(0)74+ (1)

Notable managers

Information correct as of match played 28 April 2017. Only competitive matches are counted.

Name Nat. From To P W D L GS GA %W Honours Notes
Shakir Garibov  Azerbaijan June 2004 May 2005 16 10 3 3 0 0 062.50
Stjepan Čordaš  Croatia June 2005 Aug 2005 4 1 1 2 0 0 025.00
Jamaladdin Aliyev (Interim)  Azerbaijan June 2004 May 2005 1 0 1 0 0 0 000.00
Petar Kurčubić  Serbia Aug 2005 May 2006 26 7 7 12 0 0 026.92
Asgar Abdullayev  Azerbaijan June 2006 Nov 2009 105 52 30 23 0 0 049.52
Nazim Suleymanov  Azerbaijan Nov 23, 2009 July 7, 2011 64 24 22 18 0 0 037.50 [24]
Elkhan Abdullayev (Interim)  Azerbaijan June 2011 Oct 2011 11 2 4 5 0 0 018.18
Rafig Mirzayev  Azerbaijan Nov 2011 April 2012 18 9 1 8 0 0 050.00
Vagif Sadygov  Azerbaijan April 6, 2012 March 15, 2014 63 23 19 21 0 0 036.51 [25]
Shakir Garibov  Azerbaijan March 16, 2014 March 17, 2014 1 0 0 1 0 0 000.00
Tarlan Ahmadov  Azerbaijan March 18, 2014 May 3, 2017 113 26 29 58 88 148 023.01 [26]

P – Total of played matches W – Won matches D – Drawn matches L – Lost matches GS – Goal scored GA – Goals against
%W – Percentage of matches won

Nationality is indicated by the corresponding FIFA country code(s).

Presidential history

AZAL was founded by former futsal player, currently FIFA licensed Football agent Kamil Mammadov. In 2005, he sold the club to Silk Way Airlines. Since the AZAL PFC has had just two presidents: former general officer Rasul Rasulov and the club's former vice-president Vaqif Gasymov. At the end of 2011, after Gasymov's resign Silk Way Airlines company chairman Zaur Akhundov became the AZAL PFC new president.

 
Name Years
Kamil Mammadov 1996–2006
Rasul Rasulov 2006–2009
Vaqif Gasymov 2009–2012
Zaur Akhundov 2012–2017

References

  1. 1 2 "АЗАЛ заявит на Лигу Европы игрока сборной Албании". Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  2. ↑ Futsalplanet
  3. ↑ Futsalplanet
  4. ↑ "Marko Mitroviç: "Çox şadam ki, Azərbaycanda futbol oynamışam"". Rekord.az. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  5. ↑ Главный тренер футбольного клуба «Олимпик»: «До сих пор не могу понять, как мы упустили чемпионство» (in Russian)
  6. ↑ Азербайджанский "Олимпик" уступил "Войводине" (in Russian)
  7. ↑ “Olimpik” club to be renamed Archived 25 February 2012 at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ ФК "Олимпик" переименован (in Russian) Archived 7 March 2009 at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ "Nazim Süleymanov "Olimpik-Şüvəlan" futbol klubunun baş məşqçisi oldu". Azeroo.com. Archived from the original on 2011-09-16. Retrieved 2012-11-17.
  10. ↑ "Olimpik-Şüvəlan" adını dəyişib, AZAL oldu (in Azerbaijani)
  11. ↑ АЗАЛ в премьер-лиге (in Russian)
  12. ↑ "Nazim Süleymanov: "AZAL "Minsk"i keçə bilməsə, istefaya getməyə hazıram"". Archived from the original on 2 August 2012. Retrieved 29 June 2011.
  13. ↑ "Nazim Suleymanov AZAL-ın baş məşqçiliyindən istefa verdi". Retrieved 8 July 2011.
  14. ↑ "Elxan Abdullyev: "AZAL-da bəzi "viruslar" var"". Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  15. ↑ "AZAL-a yeni baş məşqçi təyin edildi". Retrieved 29 December 2011.
  16. ↑ "AZAL-ın yeni baş məşqçisi Vaqif Sadıqov oldu". Retrieved 6 April 2012.
  17. ↑ "AZAL PFK". Soccerway.
  18. ↑ Вагиф САДЫХОВ: Бюджет АЗАЛ урезан на 2,5 раза, но цели не изменятся. Day.az (in Russian). Retrieved 21 June 2013.
  19. ↑ "AZAL Peşəkar Futbol Klubunun ləğv olunması ilə bağlı Bəyanat". azalpfc.az (in Azerbaijani). AZAL PFK. 3 May 2017. Archived from the original on 3 May 2017. Retrieved 3 May 2017.
  20. ↑ "АФФА подняла вопрос, ПФК АЗАЛ будет жить". azerifootball.com (in Russian). Azeri Football. 8 May 2017. Retrieved 8 May 2017.
  21. ↑ AZAL-ın yeni loqosu hazırlandı (in Azerbaijani)
  22. ↑ "Azerbaijan 2007–08". Archived from the original on 6 March 2014.
  23. ↑ "Azerbaijan 2005–06". Archived from the original on 16 October 2013.
  24. ↑ "Sadiqlik nümunəsi: Usim Nduka". Retrieved 19 July 2011.
  25. ↑ Amiraslanov, Telman. Вагиф Садыхов: «Справедливым исходом матча был бы ничейный результат». 1news.az (in Russian). Archived from the original on 28 February 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  26. ↑ "Tərlan Əhmədov rəsmən AZAL-da". 1news.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 22 March 2014. Retrieved 18 March 2014.
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