Azerbaijan national football team

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Azerbaijan

Nickname(s)	Odlar Yurdu (The Land of Fire)
Association	Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan
Confederation	UEFA (Europe)
Head coach	Berti Vogts
Captain	Rashad Sadygov
Most caps	Aslan Kerimov (78)
Top scorer	Gurban Gurbanov (12)
Home stadium	Tofik Bakhramov Stadium
FIFA code	AZE
FIFA ranking	139
Highest FIFA ranking	97 (June 1999)
Lowest FIFA ranking	170 (June 1994)
Elo ranking	122
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 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.

Berti Vogts was appointed as a manager of Azerbaijan on a two-year contract on April 2008. He says his priority won't be World Cup qualification, but creating new structures and a real game. He will start everything from zero.

Contents 1 History 1.1 Early years 1.2 '60s to '90s 1.3 Modern History 2 World Cup record 2.1 World Cup 2010 2.1.1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification 3 European Championship record 3.1 Euro 2008 qualifications 4 Current squad 4.1 Recent call-up 5 Fixtures and results 5.1 Forthcoming fixtures 5.2 Recent results 6 Most appearances (caps) 7 Top 10 goalscorers 8 Manager history 9 References 10 External links

[edit] History

[edit] 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 her 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

[edit] '60s to '90s

1960s considered Golden Age for Azeri 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.

[edit] Modern History

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]

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 have yet to make their mark on international football, though there are signs that the side can compete with the best teams on given days. But, so far the nation that lies on the west side of the Caspian Sea have failed to reach a single FIFA World Cup or European Championship finals.

[edit] World Cup record

• 1930 to 1994 — Did not enter, was part of the USSR
• 1998 to 2006 — Did not qualify

[edit] World Cup 2010

[edit] 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification

Team v • d • e Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts  Germany 6 5 1 0 18 4 +14 16  Russia 6 5 0 1 12 3 +9 15  Finland 6 3 1 2 8 10 −2 10  Wales 7 3 0 4 5 7 −2 9  Azerbaijan 5 0 1 4 0 5 −5 1  Liechtenstein 6 0 1 5 1 15 −14 1

Azerbaijan  – 5 Sep 12 Aug 0 – 0 14 Oct 0 – 1 Finland  1 – 0 – 3 – 3 2 – 1 0 – 3 10 Oct Germany  9 Sep 14 Oct – 4 – 0 2 – 1 1 – 0 Liechtenstein  10 Oct 9 Sep 0 – 6 – 0 – 1 14 Oct Russia  2 – 0 3 – 0 10 Oct 5 Sep – 2 – 1 Wales  1 – 0 0 – 2 0 – 2 2 – 0 9 Sep –

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."^[8]

[edit] European Championship record

• 1960 to 1992 — Did not enter, was part of the USSR
• 1996 to 2008 — Did not qualify

[edit] 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.

[edit] Current squad

The following players have been called up for the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification match vs Russia, that will take place on March 28, 2009.

No. Pos. Player DoB (Age) Caps Goals Club GK Farhad Veliyev November 1, 1980 (1980-11-01) (age 28) 27 0 FK Karabakh GK Kamran Agaev February 9, 1986 (1986-02-09) (age 23) 6 0 Khazar Lankaran GK Rauf Mehdiyev October 17, 1976 (1976-10-17) (age 32) 5 0 Simurg Zaqatala GK Salakhat Agaev November 4, 1991 (1991-11-04) (age 17) 0 0 Inter Baku DF Rashad Sadygov (Captain) June 16, 1982 (1982-06-16) (age 27) 50 3 Kocaelispor DF Mahir Shukurov December 12, 1982 (1982-12-12) (age 26) 32 0 Inter Baku DF Rail Melikov December 18, 1985 (1985-12-18) (age 23) 23 0 Neftchi Baku DF Saşa Yunisoğlu December 18, 1985 (1985-12-18) (age 23) 17 0 FK Baku DF Ernani Pereira January 22, 1978 (1978-01-22) (age 31) 9 0 Karvan DF Sergei Sokolov March 12, 1977 (1977-03-12) (age 32) 7 0 Simurq Zaqatala MF Samir Abbasov February 1, 1978 (1978-02-01) (age 31) 30 0 Inter Baku MF Elmar Bakhshiev August 3, 1980 (1980-08-03) (age 28) 27 0 Neftchi Baku MF Javid Huseynov March 9, 1988 (1988-03-09) (age 21) 13 0 Inter Baku MF Elvin Mammadov July 18, 1988 (1988-07-18) (age 20) 9 1 FK Karabakh MF Jemshid Maharramov October 3, 1983 (1983-10-03) (age 25) 6 0 FK Karabakh MF Fabio Luis Ramim April 10, 1981 (1981-04-10) (age 28) 9 3 FK Baku MF Aqil Nəbiyev June 16, 1982 (1982-06-16) (age 27) 4 0 Olimpik Baku MF Rahid Amirquliev September 1, 1989 (1989-09-01) (age 19) 3 0 Khazar Lankaran FW Branimir Subašić July 4, 1982 (1982-07-04) (age 27) 26 6 Changchun Yatai FW Vagif Dzavadov May 25, 1989 (1989-05-25) (age 20) 21 2 FK Karabakh FW Vüqar Nadirov June 15, 1987 (1987-06-15) (age 22) 19 1 FK Karabakh FW Leandro Gomes August 24, 1976 (1976-08-24) (age 32) 17 0 Olimpik Baku

[edit] Recent call-up

No. Pos. Player DoB (Age) Caps Goals Club DF Usim Nduka September 23, 1985 (1985-09-23) (age 23) 10 0 Olimpik Baku DF Nodar Məmmədov June 3, 1988 (1988-06-03) (age 21) 3 0 MOIK Baku DF Vladimir Levin January 23, 1984 (1984-01-23) (age 25) 4 0 Inter Baku MF Mahmud Gurbanov May 10, 1973 (1973-05-10) (age 36) 69 1 FK Baku MF Aleksandr Chertoganov February 8, 1980 (1980-02-08) (age 29) 21 0 Simurq Zaqatala MF Zeynal Zeynalov December 6, 1978 (1978-12-06) (age 30) 12 1 Standard Baku MF Araz Abdullayev March 19, 1992 (1992-03-19) (age 17) 2 0 Neftchi Baku FW Khagani Mammadov September 29, 1976 (1976-09-29) (age 32) 19 1 FC Inter Baku

[edit] Fixtures and results

[edit] Forthcoming fixtures

Date	Tournament	Location	Opponent
August 12, 2009	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification	Baku	Germany
September 5, 2009	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification	Baku	Finland
September 9, 2009	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification	Hannover	Germany
October 10, 2009	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification	Vaduz	Liechtenstein
October 14, 2009	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification	Baku	Russia

[edit] Recent results

Date	Tournament	Location	Home Team	Score	Away Team	Azerbajan Scorers
October 15, 2008	Friendly	Manama	Bahrain	1:2	Azerbaijan	Zeynal Zeynalov  45' Elvin Mammadov  65'
November 19, 2008	Friendly	Baku	Azerbaijan	1:1	Albania	Branimir Subašić  4'
February 1, 2009	Friendly	Dubai	Uzbekistan	1:1	Azerbaijan	Fabio Luis Ramim  63'
February 11, 2009	Friendly	Kuwait City	Kuwait	1:1	Azerbaijan	Vagif Dzavadov  1'
March 28, 2009	WCQ 2010	Moscow	Russia	2:0	Azerbaijan
June 2, 2009	Friendly	Kayseri	Turkey	2:0	Azerbaijan
June 6, 2009	WCQ 2010	Baku	Azerbaijan	0:1	Wales
June 9, 2009	Friendly	Baku	Azerbaijan	0:6	Spain

[edit] Most appearances (caps)

#	Player	Career period	Caps	Goals
1	Aslan Kerimov	1994–2007	75	0
2	Tarlan Akhmedov	1994–2005	73	0
3	Makhmud Gurbanov	1994–2008	69	1
4	Emin Agaev	1994–2005	65	1
5	Gurban Gurbanov	1992–2005	65	12
6	Rashad Sadygov	2001–	50	3
7	Emin Guliyev	2000–08	48	3
8	Kamal Guliyev	2000–2005	46	0
9	Vyacheslav Lichkin	1995–2001	45	4
10	Emin Imamaliev	2000–07	44	1

[edit] Top 10 goalscorers

#	Player	Career period	Goals	Caps
1	Gurban Gurbanov	1992–2005	12	65
2	Zaur Tagizade	1997–	6	40
3	Branimir Subašić	2007-	6	22
4	Vidadi Rzayev	1992–2001	5	35
5	Farrukh Ismailov	1998–2006	5	32
6	Nazim Suleymanov	1992–98	5	24
7	Samir Aliyev	1997–2007	4	33
8	Vyacheslav Lichkin	2007–08	4	45

[edit] Manager history

Team managers of Azerbaijan and the dates they took over.

Date appointed	Manager name
2008–present	Berti Vogts
2007–08	Gjoko Hadžievski
2005–07	Shakhin Diniyev
2005	Vagif Sadygov
2004–05	Carlos Alberto Torres
2003	Asker Abdullayev
2002	Vagif Sadygov
2000–01	Igor Ponomaryov
1998–99	Ahmed Aleskerov
1997-98	Vagif Sadygov
1995–97	Kazbek Tuayev
1994–95	Agaselim Mirjavadov
1993–94	Kazbek Tuayev
1992–93	Alekper Mamedov

[edit] References

[edit] 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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