Azerbaijan national football team

Azerbaijan

Nickname(s)	Odlar Yurdu (The Land of Fire)
Association	Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Berti Vogts
Asst coach	Vali Gasimov
Captain	Rashad Sadygov
Most caps	Aslan Kerimov (75)
Top scorer	Gurban Gurbanov (12)
Home stadium	Tofik Bakhramov Stadium Lankaran City Stadium
FIFA code	AZE
FIFA ranking	106
Highest FIFA ranking	97 (June 1999)
Lowest FIFA ranking	170 (June 1994)
Elo ranking	102
Highest Elo ranking	100 (1993)
Lowest Elo ranking	151 (Feb 2001)
Home colours Away colours
First international
Georgia 1–1 Azerbaijan (Tbilisi, Georgia, 1927)[1]  Georgia 6–3 Azerbaijan  (Gurjaani, Georgia; September 17, 1992)[1][2]
Biggest win
Azerbaijan 4–0 Liechtenstein  (Baku, Azerbaijan; 5 June 1999)
Biggest defeat
France 10–0 Azerbaijan  (Auxerre, France; September 6, 1995)[1]

The Azerbaijan national football team (Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan milli futbol komandası) is the national football team of Azerbaijan and is controlled by Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan. It represents Azerbaijan in international football competitions.

The Azerbaijan national football team has attempted to qualify for each major tournament from Euro 96 onwards, but has never achieved to take part in finals tournament of the World Cup, or the European Championships.

History

Early years

• First Azerbaijani football clubs started to function in 1905. Generally they represented the main oil companies of Baku.
• The Azerbaijan national football team held its first friendly matches against Georgia and Armenia in 1927 for the Trans-Caucasian Championship in Georgia.^[1]
• During the Soviet Era the team did not play any international matches

'60s to '90s

1960s considered Golden Age for Azerbaijani football as it produced great players like Anatoliy Banishevskiy, Alakbar Mammadov and football referee Tofik Bakhramov, most famous for being a linesman who helped to award a goal for England in the 1966 World Cup Final between England and West Germany.

1990s–present day

After Azerbaijan gained its independence in 1991, AFFA — Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan — was created. In 1992, renowned Azerbaijani footballer Alekper Mamedov became the first head coach of the Azeribaijani national football team, compiling a 3–1 record as coach that includes the first ever national team victory, over Georgia on May 25, 1993.^[3][4] In 1994, the national team was accepted into FIFA and UEFA.

Because of security issues, the team played all of its home Euro 96 qualifers in Trabzon, Turkey.^[5]

In February 2004, Carlos Alberto Torres, captain of the Brazil team that won the 1970 FIFA World Cup was appointed its national coach. Despite a poor start, a 0–6 defeat to Israel on February 18, Azerbaijan won their first ever away match, 3–2 against Kazakhstan on April 28. In June 2005, following a 3–0 defeat by Poland, Torres stood down from the position, to be replaced by former Neftchi coach Vagif Sadygov, his third spell as coach of Azerbaijan. Shakhin Diniyev took over as manager in November 2005. He resigned on 31 October 2007, and Gjoko Hadzievski was named as care-taking coach of Azerbaijan.^[6]

World Cup 2010

In April 2008 famous German football player and coach Berti Vogts was appointed as a manager of Azerbaijan on a two-year contract.^[7]

Azerbaijan had a mixed qualifying campaign, finishing with 5 points, just missing out on a last place to Liechtenstein with 2 points.

Euro 2012

In November 2009, AFFA extended Berti Vogts contract to further 2 years, which going to make Vogts as the first manager to manage Azerbaijani national team in two qualification cycles.^[8][9]

Stadium

Most of Azerbaijan's home matches are played at the Tofik Bakhramov Stadium in the capital Baku. It has been Azerbaijan's principal home stadium ever since country's independence from Soviet Union.

Today, some qualifying matches are hosted at the Lankaran City Stadium in Lankaran after it met UEFA stadium criteria.^[10][11]

A new Baku Olympic Stadium is under construction in Baku with an expected capacity of 65,000 seats.^[12][13] Following 2012, this stadium will be used as the venue for most key matches of the Azerbaijani national team.

Record in major tournaments

World Cup

• 1930 to 1994 — Did not enter, was part of the USSR
• 1998 to 2010 - Did not qualify

European Championship

• 1960 to 1992 — Did not enter, was part of the USSR

• 1996 to 2008 - Did not qualify

World Cup 2010

2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Germany 10 8 2 0 26 5 +21 26  Russia 10 7 1 2 19 6 +13 22  Finland 10 5 3 2 14 14 0 18  Wales 10 4 0 6 9 12 −3 12  Azerbaijan 10 1 2 7 4 14 −10 5  Liechtenstein 10 0 2 8 2 23 −21 2

Azerbaijan  – 1 – 2 0 – 2 0 – 0 1 – 1 0 – 1 Finland  1 – 0 – 3 – 3 2 – 1 0 – 3 2 – 1 Germany  4 – 0 1 – 1 – 4 – 0 2 – 1 1 – 0 Liechtenstein  0 – 2 1 – 1 0 – 6 – 0 – 1 0 – 2 Russia  2 – 0 3 – 0 0 – 1 3 – 0 – 2 – 1 Wales  1 – 0 0 – 2 0 – 2 2 – 0 1 – 3 –

Azerbaijan have been drawn alongside Germany, Russia, Wales, Finland and Liechtenstein in Group 4 and kicked off their qualifying campaign playing away to Wales on 6 September. Vogts replaces Gjoko Hadžievski who was dismissed after the Azeris failed to qualify for UEFA Euro 2008.^[7] Vogts has said that the qualifying group is difficult, stating that "We want to learn some things from Germany and try to upset Russia."^[14]

Euro 2008 qualifications

Azerbaijan was competing in Group A in qualification for UEFA Euro 2008, together with Portugal, Poland, Serbia, Belgium, Armenia, Finland and Kazakhstan.

Euro 2012 qualifications

Azerbaijan will compete in Group A in qualification for UEFA Euro 2012, together with Germany, Turkey, Austria, Belgium and Kazakhstan.

Current squad

Players called up for the Euro 2012 qualifying match against Germany on 7 September, 2010.

Caps and goals as of 11 August 2010.

0#0 Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club 1 GK Farhad Veliyev November 1, 1980 (1980-11-01) (age 30) 32 0 Qarabağ 23 GK Kamran Agayev February 9, 1986 (1986-02-09) (age 25) 17 0 Khazar Lankaran GK Salahat Agayev November 4, 1991 (1991-11-04) (age 19) 1 0 Inter Baku 14 DF Rashad Sadygov (Captain) June 16, 1982 (1982-06-16) (age 28) 65 3 Eskişehirspor 4 DF Mahir Shukurov December 12, 1982 (1982-12-12) (age 28) 44 0 Anzhi Makhachkala 9 DF Samir Abbasov February 1, 1978 (1978-02-01) (age 33) 39 0 Qarabağ 2 DF Rail Melikov December 18, 1985 (1985-12-18) (age 25) 30 0 Neftchi Baku DF Vladimir Levin January 23, 1984 (1984-01-23) (age 27) 14 0 Inter Baku 18 DF Maksim Medvedev September 29, 1989 (1989-09-29) (age 21) 12 0 Qarabağ 15 DF Ruslan Abushev October 10, 1987 (1987-10-10) (age 23) 10 1 Neftchi Baku 5 DF Elnur Allahverdiyev November 2, 1983 (1983-11-02) (age 27) 11 0 Khazar Lankaran 3 DF Saşa Yunisoğlu December 18, 1985 (1985-12-18) (age 25) 22 0 Gabala DF Vurgun Huseynov April 25, 1988 (1988-04-25) (age 22) 3 0 Turan 8 MF Aleksandr Chertoganov February 8, 1980 (1980-02-08) (age 31) 28 0 Inter Baku 10 MF Elvin Mammadov July 18, 1988 (1988-07-18) (age 22) 22 7 Qarabağ MF Javid Huseynov September 8, 1988 (1988-09-08) (age 22) 19 0 Neftchi Baku MF Rashad Sadiqov October 8, 1983 (1983-10-08) (age 27) 11 0 Qarabağ MF Fábio Ramim April 10, 1981 (1981-04-10) (age 29) 15 4 Baku MF Rahid Amirquliev September 1, 1989 (1989-09-01) (age 21) 6 0 Khazar Lankaran MF Amit Guluzade November 20, 1992 (1992-11-20) (age 18) 2 0 Neftchi Baku MF Afran Ismayilov October 8, 1988 (1988-10-08) (age 22) 1 1 Qarabağ MF Ruslan Amirjanov February 1, 1985 (1985-02-01) (age 26) 2 0 Neftchi Baku 6 MF Araz Abdullayev March 19, 1992 (1992-03-19) (age 18) 2 0 Neftchi Baku 7 FW Vagif Javadov May 25, 1989 (1989-05-25) (age 21) 29 6 Baku 11 FW Rauf Aliyev February 12, 1989 (1989-02-12) (age 22) 6 0 Qarabağ 17 FW Vüqar Nadirov June 15, 1987 (1987-06-15) (age 23) 28 1 Qarabağ

Recent callups

Pos. Player Date of Birth (Age) Caps Goals Club Latest Callup FW Farid Guliev January 6, 1986 (1986-01-06) (age 25) 5 1 Neftchi Baku 11 August 2010, v Kuwait MF Tural Jalilov November 28, 1986 (1986-11-28) (age 24) 3 0 Simurq 18 November 2009, v Czech Republic MF Arif Dashdemirov February 10, 1987 (1987-02-10) (age 24) 0 0 Gabala 26 May 2010, v Moldova FW Anatoli Ponomarev June 12, 1982 (1982-06-12) (age 28) 16 1 Orduspor 18 November 2009, v Czech Republic FW Bakhtiyar Soltanov June 21, 1989 (1989-06-21) (age 21) 2 0 Baku 15 November 2009, v Iraq

Fixtures and results

Forthcoming fixtures

Date	Tournament	Location	Opponent
8 October 2010	Euro 2012 Qualification	Vienna	Austria
12 October 2010	Euro 2012 Qualification	Baku	Turkey
17 November 2010	Friendly	TBA	Malta
10 August 2011	Friendly	Baku	Malta
TBA, 2011	Friendly	Reykjavík	Iceland

Recent results

Date	Tournament	Location	Home Team	Score	Away Team	Azerbaijan Scorers
October 10, 2009	WCQ 2010	Vaduz	Liechtenstein	0:2	Azerbaijan	Vagif Javadov  56' Elvin Mammadov  82'
October 14, 2009	WCQ 2010	Baku	Azerbaijan	1:1	Russia	Vagif Javadov  54'
November 15, 2009	Friendly	Al Ain	Iraq	1:0	Azerbaijan
November 18, 2009	Friendly	Al Ain	Czech Republic	0:2	Azerbaijan	Vagif Javadov  25' Ruslan Abushev  88'
February 25, 2010	Friendly	Amman	Jordan	0:2	Azerbaijan	Fabio Luis Ramim  1' Afran Ismayilov  31'
March 3, 2010	Friendly	Luxembourg City	Luxembourg	1:2	Azerbaijan	Farid Guliev  28' Elvin Mammadov  37'
May 26, 2010	Friendly	Seekirchen	Moldova	1:1	Azerbaijan	Elvin Mammadov  21'
May 29, 2010	Friendly	Bischofshofen	Macedonia	3:1	Azerbaijan	Elvin Mammadov  90'
June 2, 2010	Friendly	Zell Am See	Honduras	0:0	Azerbaijan
August 11, 2010	Friendly	Baku	Azerbaijan	1:1	Kuwait	Elvin Mammadov  43'
September 7, 2010	Euro 2012 Qualification	Cologne	Germany	6:1	Azerbaijan	Vagif Javadov  57'

Most appearances (caps)

Top 10 goalscorers

Past managers

Manager	Azerbaijan career	Played	Won	Drawn	Lost	Win %
Mammadov, AlakbarAlakbar Mammadov	1992–1993
Tuayev, KazbekKazbek Tuayev	1993–1994
Mirjavadov, AgaselimAgaselim Mirjavadov	1994–1995
Tuayev, KazbekKazbek Tuayev	1995–1997
Sadygov, VagifVagif Sadygov	1997–1998
Alaskarov, AhmadAhmad Alaskarov	1998–2000
Ponomaryov, IgorIgor Ponomaryov	2000–2001
Sadygov, VagifVagif Sadygov	2002
Abdullayev, AsgarAsgar Abdullayev	2003–2004
Torres, Carlos AlbertoCarlos Alberto Torres	2004–2005	18	2	6	10	11.11
Sadygov, VagifVagif Sadygov	2005	5	0	1	4	0.00
Diniyev, ShahinShahin Diniyev	2005–2007	20	4	7	9	20
Hadžievski, GjokoGjoko Hadžievski	2007–2008	3	0	1	2	0.00
Vogts, BertiBerti Vogts	2008–present	28	6	9	14	21.42

Last updated September 7, 2010

References

External links

• Azerbaycan Futbol Federasiyaları Assosiasiyası
• azerifootball.com (Russian)
• Archive of international results 1979–2004 from Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation
• UEFA match report on the first away win
• Azerisport
• Day.az

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