FK MKT Araz is an Azerbaijani football club based in Imishli, that currently plays in Azerbaijan First Division. The club was founded in 2004 by МКТ Istehsalat-Kommersiya, a cotton manufacturing company.
[edit] History
FK MKT Araz was immediately admitted to the AFFA Supreme League after its formation. They finished 8th in 2004/05 and 9th in 2005/06. In 2006 the club also played in the UEFA Intertoto Cup due to the rejection of several Azerbaijan clubs in this competition. Although it was successful in winning the home game against Moldovan Tiraspol in the first stage (1:0), the club lost in Moldova (1:2) and thus, was out of the tournament.
The 2006/07 became the most successful season in club history. The team took 5th place and entered Azerbaijan Cup final losing 0:1, but securing a place in the 2007–08 UEFA Cup season thanks to the fact that the FK Khazar Lankaran won also the championship. But there was another failure: Groclin Grodzisk won in aggregate 1:0.
On 13 August 2007 UEFA declared the club defunct. However, after AFFA's help, they will participate in Azerbaijan First Division 2009-10[1] In 2011 the club's owners announced again that club will be dissolved and they will not be participating in Azerbaijan First Division.[2]However, after club meeting it was decided that club will participate in 2011–12 Azerbaijan First Division.[3]
[edit] Stadium
Heydar Aliyev Stadium is a modern stadium in Imishli, Azerbaijan and is currently used as club's home ground. It was opened on 23 March 2006 and named after Heydar Aliyev. The stadium holds 8,500 spectators.
[edit] European cup history
[edit] League and domestic cup history
- As of 19 May 2011:[4][5]
| Season |
Div. |
Pos. |
Pl. |
W |
D |
L |
GS |
GA |
P |
Domestic Cup |
| 2004-05 |
1st |
8 |
34 |
16 |
9 |
9 |
35 |
23 |
57 |
Semi-Finals |
| 2005-06 |
1st |
9 |
26 |
9 |
8 |
9 |
31 |
36 |
35 |
Quarter-Finals |
| 2006-07 |
1st |
5 |
24 |
12 |
5 |
7 |
23 |
18 |
41 |
Runners-Up |
| 2009-10 |
2nd |
5 |
22 |
11 |
5 |
6 |
41 |
29 |
38 |
Preliminary Round |
| 2010-11 |
2nd |
4 |
26 |
15 |
3 |
8 |
49 |
34 |
48 |
1/8 Finals |
[edit] Notable players
[edit] Head coaches
Elshad Akhmedov (2004 – 2005)- Nadir Gasymov (2005)
Igor Nakonechnyi (2005 - 2007)- Khalyg Mustafayev (2009 - present)
[edit] References
[edit] External links
Khalyg Mustafayev
