Qarabağ FK facts for kids
![]() |
||||
Full name | Qarabağ Futbol Klubu | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | Atlılar (The Horsemen) Göy-ağlar (Blue and Whites) |
|||
Founded | 1951 1987 (as Qarabağ) |
(as Məhsul)|||
Ground | Azersun Arena | |||
Capacity | 5,800 | |||
Owner | Azersun Holding | |||
President | Tahir Gözel | |||
Manager | Gurban Gurbanov | |||
League | Azerbaijan Premier League | |||
2023–24 | Azerbaijan Premier League, 1st of 10 (champions) | |||
|
Qarabağ Futbol Klubu is a professional football team from Azerbaijan. They play in the Azerbaijan Premier League, which is the top football league in Azerbaijan. The club started in Aghdam, a city in the Karabakh region. However, since 1993, they have played their games in Baku, the capital city. This is because of a conflict called the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.
Qarabağ plays its home matches at the Azersun Arena and sometimes at the Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in Baku. This stadium is also used by the Azerbaijan national team.
The club was formed in 1987. They were one of the first teams in the Azerbaijan Premier League when it started in 1992. Just one year later, they won their first league championship! They were the first team not from Baku to win the Premier League title. Qarabağ and Neftçi PFK are the only two teams that have played in every Premier League season so far.
In 2014, Qarabağ won the Premier League again, after 21 years. They have now won the Premier League eleven times and the Azerbaijan Cup eight times. Qarabağ was the second Azerbaijani team to reach the group stage of a European competition, playing in the UEFA Europa League in 2014–15. They were also the first Azerbaijani team to reach the group stage of the even bigger UEFA Champions League in 2017–18. They have played more games in UEFA competitions than any other team from Azerbaijan.
Contents
Club History
Early Years (1951–1991)
The club began in 1951 as Mehsul. This happened after the city stadium in Aghdam was built. The team first played in the 1966 Azerbaijani SSR championship. They finished in fourth place that year.
Qarabağ played in the local championship for four years. Their best result was second place in 1969. After 1969, the team stopped playing for almost ten years. This was due to a lack of money and support. In 1977, the team started again as Shafaq. From 1982 to 1987, they were called "Cooperative society". In 1988, Qarabağ won the championship in the Azerbaijan SSR local league. This win allowed them to play in the Soviet Second League.
Moving to Baku (1991–2008)
On July 23, 1993, during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, the city of Aghdam was taken over. The team had to leave their home stadium, Imarat Stadium, and move to Baku. Sadly, their former coach and player, Allahverdi Baghirov, died in the war. Despite these challenges, Qarabağ won the league and the cup in 1993.
From 1998 to 2001, the club faced money problems. Even so, they became the first Azerbaijani team to win an away game in a European competition. They beat Maccabi Haifa from Israel in 1999. This was thanks to two goals from club legend Mushfig Huseynov. Qarabağ also played in the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup and UEFA Cup many times.
Things got better in 2001 when Azersun Holding, a big company in Azerbaijan, started supporting the team. The team was called Qarabag-Azersun for two seasons. Then, in 2004, they went back to their original name.
The Gurban Gurbanov Era (2008–Present)

In 2008, Gurban Gurbanov, a former Azerbaijani football star, became the head coach. He chose to focus on developing local players instead of buying many foreign ones. Gurbanov introduced a "tiki-taka" style of play. This means short passes, long periods of building up attacks, and players changing positions.
Under Gurbanov, Qarabağ became one of Azerbaijan's most successful teams in Europe. They won three games in a row and reached the UEFA Europa League play-off round. They beat teams like Rosenborg and Honka. These achievements made Gurban Gurbanov one of the most successful Azerbaijani managers ever.
In 2010, the club set a new Azerbaijani record. They had their biggest win in a European competition, beating Metalurg Skopje 4–1. They also knocked out Wisła Kraków to reach the play-offs for the second year. In 2011, they repeated this by beating Banga Gargždai 4–0. The 2011–12 season was not as good, as they finished fourth and missed out on European games. But in 2013, Qarabağ reached the Europa League play-off round for the third time.
In May 2014, Qarabağ won their second league title after 21 years. A month later, they beat Red Bull Salzburg. This made them the first Azerbaijani team to win in the third round of the UEFA Champions League. In August 2014, they reached the Europa League play-off round for the fourth time in five seasons. In 2014, Qarabağ qualified for the Europa League group stage. They were the second Azerbaijani team to do this. On October 23, 2014, they beat Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 1–0. This was the first time an Azerbaijani club won a Europa League group stage match.
In 2017, Qarabağ beat Sheriff Tiraspol to reach the UEFA Champions League play-off rounds. They won 1–0 against F.C. Copenhagen in Baku. Even though they lost the second game 2–1, Qarabağ won because of the away goals rule. This made them the first Azerbaijani team to reach the group stages of the UEFA Champions League! They were in Group C with Chelsea, Atlético Madrid, and Roma. They earned two points from two draws and four losses.
In 2021, Qarabağ played in the group stage of the UEFA Europa Conference League for the first time. They beat teams like Ashdod, AEL Limassol, and Aberdeen to get there. They finished second in their group and made it to the Knockout Play-off Round.
In the 2023–24 season, Qarabağ reached the UEFA Europa League group stage. They finished second behind Bayer Leverkusen. They then played against Braga in the knockout round play-off. Qarabağ won the first game 4–2. Braga won the second game 2–0 in normal time, but Qarabağ still won 6–5 on total goals after extra time. This made them the first team from Azerbaijan to reach the round of 16 in any UEFA club competition! In the round of 16, they played Bayer Leverkusen again. They tied 2–2 at home, but lost 3–2 in the second game after two late goals from Patrik Schick.
Home Stadiums
Qarabağ used to play at Guzanli Olympic Stadium. This stadium is in Quzanlı, a town in the Agdam Rayon region. Their original home, the Imarat Stadium, was destroyed during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War.
In 2012, they announced a new stadium, the Azersun Arena. It opened in June 2015. The Azersun Arena is in Surakhani, Baku. It is used for the club's Azerbaijan Premier League home games and can hold 5,800 people.
For bigger games in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League, Qarabağ uses the Baku Olympic Stadium and Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium. The most fans ever at a Qarabağ game was 67,200. This happened on September 27, 2017, during a Champions League group stage match against Roma.
On December 21, 2023, Qarabağ played a cup match at Khankendi Stadium in Khankendi. This was the first game played in the Karabakh Economic Region since the end of the Second Nagorno-Karabakh War.
Club Supporters
Many of Qarabağ's fans come from the city of Aghdam. But they also have a lot of support all over Azerbaijan. This is because they are the only team that represents the Nagorno-Karabakh region, which has been affected by war. The club is a symbol of hope and pride for many Azerbaijani people who had to leave their homes. In recent years, the club has started projects to help young people in settlements near the Nagorno-Karabakh border.
The club has several fan groups, like Imarat, Qarabağ Ordusu, Boys Qarabağ, and Ladies of Qarabağ. These groups often get free tickets to games, which helps bring more fans to support Qarabağ.
Team Colors and Crest
The crest on the club's emblem is a symbol of the Karabakh region. English designers created it, and it features the Karabakh horse. The horse is also why the club's nickname is "The Horsemen." The crest was on club items earlier, but it first appeared on the team's shirts in 2004.
After Gurban Gurbanov became coach, Qarabağ's exciting style of play made fans call them "Qafqazın Barselonası" (which means "Barcelona of The Caucasus"). This compares them to the famous Barcelona team. The club is sometimes called "Qaçqın Klub" ("The Refugee Club"). This name comes from their connection to the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh and the issue of refugees in Azerbaijan.
Team Kits
Qarabağ's traditional kit colors are black and white. These colors represent light and darkness, linking to the club's home in Nagorno-Karabakh. The team's kits are made by Adidas. Their main sponsor is Azersun, a food company based in Baku.
Period | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
---|---|---|
2003–2004 | Fila | FINAL |
2004–2007 | Adidas | Azersun |
2007–2008 | Puma | |
2008–2010 | Adidas | |
2010–2011 | Azərbaycan Sənaye Bankı | |
2011–2012 | Kappa | Azersun |
2012–2022 | Adidas | |
2022–2023 | İl`Azero | |
2023– | Adidas |
Recent Seasons
Here's how the club has performed in the last ten years:
Season | Div. | Pos. | Pl. | W | D | L | GS | GA | Diff | P | Cup | Europe | Top Scorer (League goals) | Head Coach | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2014–15 | Premier League | 1 | 32 | 20 | 8 | 4 | 51 | 28 | +23 | 68 | W | CL / EL | III R / GS | ![]() ![]() |
![]() |
2015–16 | 1 | 36 | 26 | 6 | 4 | 66 | 21 | +45 | 84 | W | CL / EL | III R / GS | ![]() |
||
2016–17 | 1 | 28 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 46 | 14 | +32 | 62 | W | CL / EL | III R / GS | ![]() |
||
2017–18 | 1 | 28 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 37 | 13 | +24 | 65 | QF | CL | GS | ![]() |
||
2018–19 | 1 | 27 | 19 | 6 | 2 | 62 | 19 | +43 | 63 | SF | CL / EL | III R / GS | ![]() |
||
2019–20 | 1 | 20 | 13 | 6 | 1 | 34 | 7 | +27 | 45 | SF | CL / EL | III R / GS | ![]() |
||
2020–21 | 2 | 28 | 16 | 9 | 3 | 64 | 18 | +46 | 57 | SF | CL / EL | III R / GS | ![]() |
||
2021–22 | 1 | 28 | 21 | 6 | 1 | 72 | 13 | +59 | 69 | W | ECL | KO | ![]() |
||
2022–23 | 1 | 36 | 28 | 6 | 2 | 91 | 25 | +66 | 90 | QF | CL / EL / ECL | PO / GS / KO | ![]() |
||
2023–24 | 1 | 36 | 26 | 5 | 5 | 97 | 37 | +60 | 83 | W | CL / EL | II R / 1/8 | ![]() |
European Football Record
The club has played in 18 different European competitions organized by UEFA. These include the Champions League, UEFA Cup and Europa League, Cup Winners' Cup, and Europa Conference League. Qarabağ has played six times in the Europa League after starting in the Champions League.
Since their first European game in 1996–97, Qarabağ has played 134 UEFA matches. Their record is 48 wins, 35 draws, and 51 losses.
Tournament | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win% |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
UEFA Champions League | 57 | 24 | 18 | 15 | 82 | 54 | +28 | 42.11 |
UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League | 105 | 37 | 23 | 45 | 121 | 148 | −27 | 35.24 |
UEFA Europa Conference League | 16 | 8 | 4 | 4 | 19 | 17 | +2 | 50.00 |
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | 4 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 12 | −11 | 0.00 |
UEFA Intertoto Cup | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 11 | −9 | 25.00 |
Total | 186 | 70 | 46 | 70 | 225 | 241 | −16 | 37.63 |
UEFA Club Rankings
Updated March 8, 2024
Rank | Team | Coefficient |
---|---|---|
54 | ![]() |
34.500 |
55 | ![]() |
34.000 |
56 | ![]() |
33.000 |
57 | ![]() |
33.000 |
58 | ![]() |
33.000 |
59 | ![]() |
32.000 |
60 | ![]() |
31.500 |
Players
This list shows the main country each player is from. Some non-European players also have citizenship in a European Union country.
Current Team Squad
|
|
For recent transfers, see 2023–24 Qarabağ FK season, Transfers summer 2024 and Transfers winter 2023–24.
Players on Loan
|
Reserve Team
Qarabağ-2 is the reserve team. They have played in the Azerbaijan First Division since 2018.
|
|
Club Officials
Coaching Staff
|
Club Management
|
Club Achievements
Qarabağ has won many titles! They have won the Azerbaijan Premier League eleven times. They also have eight Azerbaijan Cup titles and one Azerbaijan Supercup trophy. Qarabağ was the first team not from Baku to win the Azerbaijan Premier League. Along with Neftçi PFK, they are one of only two teams that have played in every Premier League season.
Azerbaijan Titles
- Azerbaijan League
- Winners (11): 1993, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
- Second Place (4): 1993–94, 1996–97, 2012–13, 2020–21
- Azerbaijan Cup
- Winners (8): 1993, 2005–06, 2008–09, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2021–22, 2023–24
- Second Place (3): 1995–96, 1997–98, 1999–00
- Azerbaijan Supercup
- Winners (1): 1994
USSR Titles
- Azerbaijan SSR League
- Winners (2): 1988, 1990
- Second Place (1): 1969
- Azerbaijan SSR Cup
- Winners (1): 1990
Player Records
Here are the players who have scored the most goals and played the most games for Qarabağ. Players in bold are still playing for the club.
Top Goalscorers
Most Appearances
Notable Managers
This information is correct as of October 28, 2022. Only official matches are counted.
Name | Nat. | From | To | P | W | D | L | GS | GA | %W | Honours | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Elbrus Abbasov | ![]() |
1988, 1990 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Azerbaijan SSR League (2) Azerbaijan SSR Cup |
||
Aghasalim Mirjavadov | ![]() |
1993 | 1994 | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Azerbaijan Premier League Azerbaijan Cup Azerbaijan Supercup |
|
Boyukagha Aghayev | ![]() |
|
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | Azerbaijan Cup | ||
Gurban Gurbanov | ![]() |
2008 | Present | 406 | 226 | 106 | 74 | 588 | 301 | 55.67 | Azerbaijan Premier League (10) Azerbaijan Cup (4) |
Notes: P – Total games played W – Games won D – Games drawn L – Games lost GS – Goals scored GA – Goals against
%W – Percentage of games won
The country flag shows the manager's nationality.
Player Transfers
The biggest player transfer happened in January 2023. The Brazilian attacking midfielder Kady Borges, who was 26, moved to the Russian club Krasnodar for €2.00 million.
Record Transfers
Rank | Player | To | Fee | Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
1. | ![]() |
![]() |
€5.00 million | 2023 |
2. | ![]() |
![]() |
€1.50 million | 2022 |
3. | ![]() |
![]() |
€0.65 million | 2018 |
4. | ![]() |
![]() |
€0.50 million | 2023 |
5. | ![]() |
![]() |
€0.50 million | 2023 |
See also
In Spanish: Qarabağ Futbol Klubu para niños