Khazar Lankaran FK
 | |||
| Full name | Xəzər Lənkəran Futbol Klubu | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | Gəmiçilər (The Shipbuilders) | ||
| Founded | 2004 | ||
| Dissolved | 27 May 2016 | ||
| Ground |
Lankaran City Stadium, Lankaran, Azerbaijan | ||
| Capacity | 15,500 | ||
| Owner | Mubariz Mansimov | ||
| President | Mais Mansimov | ||
| League | Azerbaijan Premier League | ||
| 2015–16 | 10th (relegated) | ||
| Website | Club website | ||
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Khazar Lankaran FK (Azerbaijani: Xəzər Lənkəran Futbol Klubu) is an Azerbaijani football club based in Lankaran, who last played in the Azerbaijan Premier League during the 2015–16 season. Since the summer of 2016 the club has concentrated on youth football.[1] After the being founded in 2004, they played in the Azerbaijan Premier League for twelve-seasons, winning the title once, and the Azerbaijan Cup three times.[2][3] Khazar were 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 (2004–2012)
The club was founded in 2004 by Azerbaijani entrepreneur Mubariz Mansimov and dubbed by the local media as "Caucasian Chelsea" due Khazar's strong financial position.[4][5] Under Agaselim Mirjavadov club won Premier League title during 2006–07 season as well as clinched 2 Azerbaijan Cups. Khazar also managed to win the CIS Cup in 2008 after defeating Pakhtakor Tashkent in the final.[6][7]
After Mircea Rednic's appointment, who have signed a string of Romanian players and footballers from Liga I, club did not found success in European cups.[8][9] On 4 December 2011, Khazar announced that Rednic had been sacked by the club due to a run of poor performances.[10][11]
Recent years (2012––2016)
In July 2012, the club under Yunis Huseynov earned their first win in European competition by beating Nõmme Kalju.[12] In March 2013, former Liverpool striker John Toshack was appointed as new manager after signing two-year deal with the club.[13][14] In 2012–13 season, Khazar finished in 8th place, the club's lowest finishing position to date.[15] Khazar Lankaran once again featured in European competitions during the 2013–14 season, featuring in the UEFA Europa League, where they were knocked out 10–0 on aggregate after suffering their heaviest European defeat ever, losing 8–0 to Maccabi Haifa.[16] On 23 October John Toshack guided Khazar to their first trophy in two years with victory over Neftchi Baku in the revitalised Azerbaijan Supercup.[17] A month later Toshack resigned from his position after only 14 points from 14 games in the 2013–14 season.[18]
Following the Professional Football League of Azerbaijan's decision to deny Khazar a license for the 2016–17 season, the club announced their withdrawal from professional football.[1]
League and cup history
| Season | League | Azerbaijan Cup | Top goalscorer | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Div. | Pos. | Pl. | W | D | L | GS | GA | P | Name | League | |||
| 2004–05 | 1st | 2 | 34 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 68 | 15 | 78 | Semi-finals |  Samir Aliyev |
20 | |
| 2005–06 | 1st | 7 | 26 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 27 | 18 | 36 | Semi-finals | Samir Aliyev |
4 | |
| 2006–07 | 1st | 1 | 24 | 17 | 5 | 2 | 50 | 16 | 56 | Winners | Zaur Ramazanov |
20 | |
| 2007–08 | 1st | 4 | 26 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 44 | 16 | 52 | Winners | Zaur Ramazanov |
11 | |
| 2008–09 | 1st | 4 | 26 | 15 | 5 | 6 | 49 | 21 | 50 | Quarter-finals |  Ivan Tsvetkov |
15 | |
| 2009–10 | 1st | 4 | 42 | 18 | 17 | 7 | 48 | 25 | 71 | Runners-up |  Mario Sergio |
9 | |
| 2010–11 | 1st | 2 | 32 | 16 | 12 | 4 | 38 | 18 | 60 | Winners |  Winston Parks |
8 | |
| 2011–12 | 1st | 2 | 32 | 17 | 8 | 7 | 44 | 28 | 59 | Quarter-finals | Branimir Subašić |
6 | |
| 2012–13 | 1st | 8 | 32 | 10 | 10 | 12 | 40 | 37 | 40 | Runners-up |  Dimitris Sialmas |
6 | |
| 2013–14 | 1st | 6 | 36 | 12 | 13 | 11 | 44 | 49 | 49 | Semi-finals |  Mbilla Etame |
11 | |
| 2014–15 | 1st | 7 | 32 | 8 | 8 | 16 | 35 | 46 | 32 | Quarter-finals | Galin Ivanov |
6 | |
| 2015–16 | 1st | 10 | 36 | 3 | 6 | 27 | 16 | 51 | 15 | Quarter-finals | Rahid Amirguliyev |
4 | |
European history
As of 17 July 2013.
Crest and coloursThe club's crest includes stockless anchor with a football ball. The badge shaped like traditional compass with white-green background elements. Shirt sponsors and kit manufacturersKhazar's traditional kit is composed of white shirts, green shorts and white socks. The club's kits are manufactured by Puma and sponsored by Palmali, a multinational shipping company in Istanbul. Stadium
Khazar Lankaran's home ground is Lankaran City Stadium. It has a capacity of 15,000 and is the third largest stadium in Azerbaijan. The stadium also known as Fırtınalar meydanı (Arena of Storms), named after club's local supporters Fırtına fan group.[19][20] On 17 July 2009, UEFA approved stadium for the usage during international football matches.[21] The stadium hosted its first senior international match on 5 September 2009, between Azerbaijan and Finland.[22] SupportersKhazar is one of the best supported clubs in Azerbaijan, having the highest attendance after FC Kapaz in the Caucasus region. Supporters of Khazar Lankaran are drawn from all over the Southern Region and beyond, with supporters' clubs all across the world.[23] The club's supporters are also known as the Fırtına (Storm).[24][25] Rivalry with Neftchi BakuThere is often a fierce rivalry between the two strongest teams in the Azerbaijan Premier League, and this is particularly the case in Azerbaijan, where the game between Khazar Lankaran and Neftchi Baku is known as Böyük Oyun (The Great Game).[26][27][28] HonoursNational
Regional
Individual recordsLists of the players with the most caps and top goalscorers for the club, as of 30 August 2014 (players in bold signifies current Khazar player). Zaur Ramazanov is the club's all-time top scorer with 33 goals in 69 games.[29]  Rahid Amirguliyev is one of the most capped players for the club.
 Kamran Agayev is one of the most capped players for the club.
Notable managersThe following managers have all won at least one trophy when in charge of FK Khazar Lankaran:
In popular cultureA number of television programmes have included references to Khazar Lankaran over the past few decades. In the sitcom Aramizda Galsin, the character Jasarat is a Khazar supporter.[30] Khazar have also featured on several occasions in meykhana.[31][32] References
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