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Azerbaijan national football team facts for kids

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This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Azerbaijan women's national football team.
Quick facts for kids
Azerbaijan
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Milli komanda (The national team)
Association Azərbaycan Futbol Federasiyaları Assosiasiyası
Confederation UEFA (Europe)
Head coach Gianni De Biasi
Captain Emin Mahmudov
Most caps Rashad Sadygov (111)
Top scorer Gurban Gurbanov (14)
Home stadium Baku Olympic Stadium
FIFA code AZE
First colours
Second colours
Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current 108 Decrease 1 (7 February 2019)
Highest 73 (July 2014)
Lowest 170 (June 1994)
Elo ranking
Current 105 Increase 4 (3 March 2019)
Highest 51 (28 June 1928)
Lowest 152 (2 June 2001)
First international
Unofficial
 Georgia 6–3 Azerbaijan 
(Gurjaani, Georgia; 17 September 1992)
Biggest win
 Azerbaijan 4–0 Liechtenstein 
(Baku, Azerbaijan; 5 June 1999)
 Azerbaijan 5–1 San Marino 
(Baku, Azerbaijan; 4 September 2017)
Biggest defeat
 France 10–0 Azerbaijan 
(Auxerre, France; 6 September 1995)

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 majority of Azerbaijan's home matches are held at the national stadium, Baku Olympic Stadium, with friendly matches sometimes hosted at club stadiums.

The Azerbaijan national football team has taken part in qualification for each major tournament since Euro 1996, but has never qualified for the finals tournament of any World Cup or European Championships. Despite this, Azerbaijan was the first Caucasus country to host a major tournament, the UEFA Euro 2020, even though the national side was the only host to be eliminated in the first round of qualifying.

History

Early period (before the 1920s)

In the early twentieth century, football began to become popular in Azerbaijan, which was then part of the Russian Empire. In 1912, Azerbaijani football players had their first "international match" and they won in Tbilisi, Georgia against the local "Sokol" team with 4:2. During 1912–1913, matches between Azerbaijani and Georgian football teams were organized, first in Tbilisi and then in Baku. In 1914, the Football Union was founded in Azerbaijan. The Football Union undertook the organization of official city championships and other competitions.

Soviet era (1920s–1991)

The oldest records of football teams in Soviet Azerbaijan goes back to 1926–1927, when Trans-Caucasian Championship was organized in Tbilisi. Three South Caucasian countries participated: Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. The Azerbaijan national football team held its first friendly matches against Georgia and Armenia in 1927 for the Trans-Caucasian Championship in Georgia. Also in 1926, football players from Azerbaijan played three matches with Football team from Iran in Baku. In 1929, there were played three matches between these teams in Tehran. In all matches Azerbaijan players won.

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

Post-independence (1992–present)

1990s

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 Azerbaijani national football team, compiling a 3–1 record as coach that includes the first ever national team victory, over Georgia on May 25, 1993. In 1994, the national team was accepted into FIFA and UEFA. The security issues, forced the team to play all of its home Euro 96 qualifiers in Trabzon, Turkey.

2000s

Iceland-Azerbaijan
Azerbaijani squad in 2008.

As of the early 2000s, Azerbaijani football federation started to integrate more players to the national team through FIFA's eligibility rules. 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. Shahin 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.

In April 2008, former German football player and coach Berti Vogts was appointed as a manager of Azerbaijan on a two-year contract. Azerbaijan had a mixed qualifying campaign, finishing with 5 points, just missing out on a last place to Liechtenstein with 2 points.

In November 2009, AFFA extended Berti Vogts' contract a further two years, making him the first manager to manage the weak Azerbaijani national team in two qualification cycles.

2010s

In 2010, following a shock win over Turkey, the team reached 90th place in FIFA World Rankings, Azerbaijan's highest position ever in country's football history. After victory over Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan also broke their scoring and points records by gaining 7 points and scoring 10 goals.

In November 2011, AFFA extended Berti Vogts' contract a further two years, until the end of the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification cycle. Under Vogts, Azerbaijan had some poor results, not being able to defeat second-string sides. Vogts faced major criticism, protest and demonstration from local supporters and the media. However, Azerbaijan managed to finish qualification cycle in fourth place, the team's best ever finish. In December 2013, Vogts being granted a new two-year contract, with aim to lead Azerbaijan through EURO 2016 qualifying. In July 2014, Azerbaijan beat its ranking record by reaching 73rd place in FIFA World Rankings. Following three straight losses, Vogts resigned from his post after spending six years in charge of Azerbaijan.

Succeeding Vogts as full-time manager was former Croatia international Robert Prosinečki. He guided the Azerbaijani team to another record points haul (10) in 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifying, but the team still finished fifth in the six-team Group C. Prosinečki resigned after deciding not to extend his contract with the Azerbaijan Football Federation and was succeeded by fellow countryman Nikola Jurčević.

2020s

The UEFA Euro 2020 qualifying proved to be a disaster for Azerbaijan as the team finished in bottom with a complete seven defeats and only one draw, which surprisingly, a draw against 2018 FIFA World Cup runners-up Croatia, the home of the manager. Nikola Jurčević departed following the poor performance of Azerbaijan.

Team image

Colours

Azerbaijan nationall football team
Azerbaijan national football team in October 2013.

As of UEFA Euro 2016 qualifying round, Azerbaijan's home colours are all-red kit. The team wears an all-blue kit for away games. This combination of colours is traditional for the national team since their first game. At the beginning of 90s, the team wore a white shirt, but towards the end of the decade it was transformed into blue-white striped shirts. At the beginning of the 2000s, the kit was replaced by the white shirt with a vertical tricolour stripe, formed of the colors from the national flag of Azerbaijan on the chest. The kit was changed into blue shirts, red shorts and green socks only for the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying round. After the tournament, the national team went back to their usual combination of colours.

Azerbaijan national team's away colours were yellow-black striped shirts, black shorts and yellow socks until UEFA Euro 2004 qualifying round, when it was decided to abandon this kit in favor of the completely blue. During the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifying round games the team has used an all red kit.

Since 2017, Azerbaijan's kit has been supplied by Nike. They took over from Puma who were Azerbaijan's kit suppliers between 2004 and 2006. Before that Umbro were Azerbaijan's kit suppliers between 2002 and 2004.

Nickname

Azerbaijan is often referred to by the media and supporters as Milli (The National), which is the nickname associated with all of Azerbaijan's international sporting teams due to the team's utilization of the country's national colors.

Stadium

Main pages: Tofiq Bahramov Stadium and Baku Olympic Stadium

Most of Azerbaijan's home matches are played at the new Baku Olympic Stadium in Baku. It has been Azerbaijan's primary home stadium ever since the move from Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in 2015. Today, some qualifying matches and friendly matches are still hosted at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium, whereas others are hosted at the Lankaran City Stadium, Bakcell Arena and Dalga Arena after it met UEFA stadium criteria.

Media coverage and public relations

Azerbaijan's matches are presently covered by the public channel İTV. 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification match rights were held by AZTV and Idman Azerbaijan TV.

AZTV, Idman Azerbaijan TV and Lider TV are among other networks that have previously shown live fixtures.

Kit suppliers

Kit provider Period
Adidas 1992–1994
Diadora 1995
Puma 1996–2000
Diadora 2000–2002
Umbro 2002–2004
Puma 2004–2006
Umbro 2006–2017
Nike 2017–present

Results and fixtures

For all past match results of the national team, see single-season articles, and Azerbaijan national football team results.

2022

2023

Coaching staff

Position Name
Head coach Italy Gianni De Biasi
Assistant coach Azerbaijan Arif Asadov
Italy Benito Carbone
Italy Fabio Gallo
Goalkeeper coach Azerbaijan Kamran Agayev
Fitness coach Italy Alessandro Scaia

Coaching staff

Berti Vogts 1
Under Berti Vogts, Azerbaijan reached its highest position ever in FIFA World Rankings

Players

Current squad

  • The following players were called up for the friendly matches.
  • Match dates: 16 and 20 November 2022
  • Opposition:  Moldova and  FYR Macedonia
  • Caps and goals correct as of: 20 November 2022, after the match against  FYR Macedonia
No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
12 1GK Şahruddin Mahammadaliyev (1994-06-12) 12 June 1994 (age 29) 19 0 Azerbaijan Qarabağ
23 1GK Salahat Aghayev (1991-01-04) 4 January 1991 (age 32) 19 0 Azerbaijan Gabala
1 1GK Emil Balayev (1994-04-17) 17 April 1994 (age 29) 13 0 Azerbaijan Sabail
18 2DF Anton Krivotsyuk (1998-08-20) 20 August 1998 (age 25) 27 0 Poland Wisła Płock
3 2DF Azer Salahlı (1994-04-11) 11 April 1994 (age 29) 24 1 Azerbaijan Neftçi
4 2DF Bahlul Mustafazade (1997-02-27) 27 February 1997 (age 26) 21 0 Azerbaijan Qarabağ
6 2DF Hojjat Haghverdi (1993-02-03) 3 February 1993 (age 30) 17 1 Iran Tractor
17 2DF Toral Bayramov (2001-02-23) 23 February 2001 (age 22) 11 0 Azerbaijan Qarabağ
2 2DF Amin Seydiyev (1998-11-15) 15 November 1998 (age 24) 7 0 Azerbaijan Sabah
19 2DF Elvin Jafarguliyev (2000-10-26) 26 October 2000 (age 22) 8 1 Azerbaijan Qarabağ
5 2DF Jalal Huseynov (2003-01-02) 2 January 2003 (age 20) 4 0 Azerbaijan Shamakhi
15 2DF Bakhtiyar Hasanalizade (1992-12-29) 29 December 1992 (age 30) 2 0 Azerbaijan Sabah
7 3MF Namik Alaskarov (1995-02-03) 3 February 1995 (age 28) 37 0 Azerbaijan Sabah
8 3MF Emin Mahmudov (1992-04-27) 27 April 1992 (age 31) 36 9 Azerbaijan Neftçi
20 3MF Richard Almeida (1989-03-20) 20 March 1989 (age 34) 29 3 Azerbaijan Qarabağ
14 3MF Anatoliy Nuriyev (1996-05-20) 20 May 1996 (age 27) 13 1 Azerbaijan Sabah
22 3MF Aleksey Isayev (1995-11-09) 9 November 1995 (age 27) 11 1 Azerbaijan Sabah
16 3MF Elvin Jamalov (1995-02-04) 4 February 1995 (age 28) 9 0 Azerbaijan Sabah
21 3MF Ozan Kökçü (1998-08-08) 8 August 1998 (age 25) 4 0 Netherlands Eindhoven
26 3MF Gismat Aliyev (1996-10-24) 24 October 1996 (age 26) 2 0 Azerbaijan Zira
13 3MF Jeyhun Nuriyev (2001-03-30) 30 March 2001 (age 22) 1 0 Azerbaijan Sabah
25 3MF Rovlan Muradov (1998-03-28) 28 March 1998 (age 25) 0 0 Azerbaijan Gabala
11 4FW Ramil Sheydayev (1996-03-15) 15 March 1996 (age 27) 52 9 Azerbaijan Qarabağ
10 4FW Mahir Emreli (1997-07-01) 1 July 1997 (age 26) 39 5 Croatia Dinamo Zagreb
9 4FW Renat Dadashov (1999-05-17) 17 May 1999 (age 24) 19 1 Switzerland Grasshopper
24 4FW Musa Gurbanli (2002-04-13) 13 April 2002 (age 21) 5 1 Azerbaijan Qarabağ

Recent call-ups

The following players have been called up for the team within the last 12 months and are still available for selection.


Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Mehdi Jannatov (1992-01-26) 26 January 1992 (age 31) 1 0 Azerbaijan Zira v.  Latvia, 29 March 2022
GK Nijat Mehbaliyev (2000-09-11) 11 September 2000 (age 23) 0 0 Azerbaijan Sabah v.  Latvia, 29 March 2022
DF Badavi Huseynov (1991-07-11) 11 July 1991 (age 32) 64 1 Azerbaijan Qarabağ v.  Moldova, 16 November 2022INJ
DF Abbas Huseynov (1995-06-13) 13 June 1995 (age 28) 21 0 Azerbaijan Qarabağ v.  Kazakhstan, 25 September 2022
DF Maksim Medvedev (1989-09-29) 29 September 1989 (age 33) 81 4 Azerbaijan Qarabağ v.  Belarus, 13 June 2022
DF Tamkin Khalilzade (1993-08-06) 6 August 1993 (age 30) 25 3 Azerbaijan Zira v.  Latvia, 29 March 2022
MF Eddy Israfilov (1992-08-02) 2 August 1992 (age 31) 21 0 Azerbaijan Neftçi v.  Kazakhstan, 25 September 2022
MF Filip Ozobić (1991-04-08) 8 April 1991 (age 32) 10 1 Azerbaijan Qarabağ v.  Kazakhstan, 25 September 2022
MF Gara Garayev (1992-10-12) 12 October 1992 (age 30) 76 0 Azerbaijan Qarabağ v.  Belarus, 13 June 2022
MF Dimitrij Nazarov (1990-04-04) 4 April 1990 (age 33) 46 7 Germany Erzgebirge Aue v.  Belarus, 13 June 2022
MF Coşqun Diniyev (1995-09-13) 13 September 1995 (age 28) 14 0 Azerbaijan Zira v.  Belarus, 13 June 2022
FW Rustam Akhmedzade (2000-12-25) 25 December 2000 (age 22) 6 0 Azerbaijan Zira v.  Kazakhstan, 25 September 2022
FW Aghabala Ramazanov (1993-01-20) 20 January 1993 (age 30) 18 1 Azerbaijan Sabail v.  Latvia, 29 March 2022

INJ Withdrew due to injury
PRE Preliminary squad / standby
RET Retired from the national team
SUS Serving suspension
WD Player withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue.
COV Withdrew after testing positive for COVID-19.

Player statistics

Players in bold are still active with Azerbaijan.

Most appearances

Rashad Sadygov2 (crop 2)
Rashad Sadygov is the most capped player of Azerbaijan's international matches.
Rank Name Caps Goals Career
1 Rashad Sadygov 111 5 2001–2017
2 Maksim Medvedev 81 4 2009–present
3 Aslan Kerimov 80 1 1994–2008
4 Kamran Agayev 79 0 2008–2018
5 Mahir Shukurov 76 4 2004–2014
6 Gara Garayev 76 0 2013–present
7 Tarlan Ahmadov 74 0 1992–2005
8 Mahmud Qurbanov 71 1 1994–2008
9 Gurban Gurbanov 68 14 1992–2005
10 Emin Ağayev 65 1 1992-2005

Top goalscorers

Qurban Qurbanov
Gurban Gurbanov is all-time leading goalscorer and was head coach of Azerbaijan national team throughout 2018.
Rank Name Goals Caps Average Career
1 Gurban Gurbanov 14 68 0.21 1992–2005
2 Vagif Javadov 9 58 0.16 2006–2014
Emin Mahmudov 9 36 0.29 2016–present
Ramil Sheydayev 9 52 0.16 2016–present
5 Elvin Mammadov 7 37 0.19 2008–2017
Branimir Subašić 7 40 0.18 2007–2013
Dimitrij Nazarov 7 45 0.16 2014–present
Rauf Aliyev 7 46 0.15 2010–present
9 Zaur Tagizade 6 40 0.15 1997–2008
10 Rufat Dadashov 5 24 0.21 2013–present
Nazim Suleymanov 5 24 0.21 1992–1998
Farrukh Ismayilov 5 33 0.15 1997–2008
Vidadi Rzayev 5 37 0.14 1992–2001
Afran Ismayilov 5 39 0.13 2010–2018
Mahir Emreli 5 39 0.13 2017–present
Rashad Sadygov 5 111 0.05 1992–1998

Competitive record

FIFA World Cup

     Champions       Runners-up       Third place       Fourth place  

FIFA World Cup record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D L GF GA Position
Uruguay 1930 to Italy 1990 Part of  USSR Part of  USSR
United States 1994 Did not enter Did not enter
France 1998 Did not qualify 8 1 0 7 3 22 5/5
South Korea Japan 2002 10 1 2 7 4 17 6/6
Germany 2006 10 0 3 7 1 21 6/6
South Africa 2010 10 1 2 7 4 14 5/6
Brazil 2014 10 1 6 3 7 11 4/6
Russia 2018 10 3 1 6 10 19 5/6
Qatar 2022 8 0 1 7 5 18 5/5
Canada Mexico United States 2026 To be determined To be determined
Total 0/22 66 7 15 44 34 122 —

UEFA European Championship

     Champions       Runners-up       Third place       Fourth place  

UEFA European Championship record Qualification record
Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA Pld W D* L GF GA Position
France 1960 to West Germany 1988 Part of  USSR Part of  USSR
as part of  CIS as part of  CIS
Sweden 1992 Group stage 8th 3 0 2 1 1 4 8 5 3 0 13 2 1/5
as  Azerbaijan as  Azerbaijan
England 1996 Did not qualify 10 0 1 9 2 29 6/6
Belgium Netherlands 2000 10 1 1 8 6 26 5/6
Portugal 2004 8 1 1 6 5 20 5/5
Austria Switzerland 2008 12 1 2 9 6 28 8/8
Poland Ukraine 2012 10 2 1 7 10 26 5/6
France 2016 10 1 3 6 7 18 5/6
Europe 2020 8 0 1 7 5 18 5/5
Germany 2024 To be determined To be determined
Total 0/7 61 6 10 52 41 165 —

UEFA Nations League

UEFA Nations League record
Year Division Group Round Pos Pld W D* L GF GA P/R RK
2018–19 D 3 Group stage 2nd 6 2 3 1 7 6 Rise 46th
2020–21 C 1 Group stage 3rd 6 1 3 2 2 4 Same position 43rd
2022–23 C 3 Group stage 2nd 6 3 1 2 7 4 Same position 38th
2024–25 C To be determined
Total Group stage (C) 3/3 18 6 7 5 16 14 38th

Honours

  • ECO Cup 1993 – Bronze
  • 2009 UAE International Cup – Bronze
  • Alma TV Cup – 2nd Place
  • UEFA Nations League C
  • 2nd place: 2022–23

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Azerbaiyán para niños

  • Azerbaijan national under-23 football team
  • Azerbaijan national under-21 football team
  • Azerbaijan national under-20 football team
  • Azerbaijan national under-19 football team
  • Azerbaijan national under-18 football team
  • Azerbaijan national under-17 football team
  • Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan
  • Azerbaijan Premier League
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