Neftçi PFK

Neftçi Professional Football Club (Azerbaijani: Neftçi Peşəkar Futbol Klubu), simply known as Neftçi (pronounced [nefˈtʃi]) or Neftchi Baku in English media, is an Azerbaijani football club based in the capital, Baku, that currently plays in the Azerbaijan Premier League.

Neftçi
Full nameNeftçi Peşəkar Futbol Klubu
Nickname(s)Neftçilər (The Oil Workers)
Flaqman (The Flagship)
Xalqın komandası (The People's Team)
Ağ-Qaralar (The Black and Whites)
Short nameNeftçi
Founded1906 (1906) 18 March 1937 (1937-03-18) (as Neftçi)[1]
GroundBakcell Arena
Capacity11,000
OwnerSOCAR
PresidentKamran Guliyev
Head CoachLaurențiu Reghecampf
LeagueAzerbaijan Premier League
2021–222nd
WebsiteClub website
Away colours
Third colours

The club was founded on 18 March 1937. Neftçi has won nine Azerbaijan Premier League titles, six Azerbaijan Cups and two Azerbaijan Supercup titles. The club is one of the two teams in Azerbaijan, along with Qarabağ, which has participated in all Azerbaijan Premier League championships so far.[2]

In 2012, Neftçi became the first Azerbaijani club to advance to the group stage of a European competition after defeating APOEL 4–2 on aggregate in the play-off round of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League.[3][4] Neftçi plays its matches at the Bakcell Arena.

History

Soviet era (1937–1991)

Since 1922, the USSR championships were held with the participation of city national teams. In 1937, it was decided to organize the championship with the participation of club teams. At that time, although the Azerbaijani SSR represented several areas, the oil sector was almost forgotten. However, at that time, Baku had already gained a reputation as an oil city. Therefore, those working in the field of "black gold" soon formed a football team on 18 March 1937. But they didn't have to think much about the name. They gave own names to the team. But at that time the Russian language was more active, so the team was first called "Neftyannik". The team's uniform and emblem also featured signs indicating that it belonged to the oil workers. The emblem was the letter "H" of the Cyrillic alphabet against the background of an oil rig – the first letter of the word "Neftyannik". Of course, the color of "black gold" also formed the basis of the form. At that time, along with oil, cotton, called "white gold", played no less a role in the glory of the Azerbaijani SSR than oil, so it was decided that the color of cotton should be reflected in the form. Since then, Neftchi, which has become the history of Azerbaijani football, has remained faithful to black-white.

World-famous referee Tofiq Bahramov originally played for Neftchi but a serious leg injury prevented him from continuing his playing career and he became a referee.[5]

Domestic hegemony (1991–2012)
Flavinho is Neftchi's first foreign captain.

They won the first independent Azerbaijani championship in 1992, and then won further titles in 1995–96 and 1996–97.[6]

In 2006, Neftchi managed to win the CIS Cup after defeating FBK Kaunas of Lithuania in the final.[7] In European competitions, the club also have advanced to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League twice, having defeated Bosnian champions – Široki Brijeg – and Icelandic champions – FH Hafnarfjarðar – in 2004 and 2005 respectively.

A long period of decline followed the success of the 2005 to the end of the decade. Despite the appointment of famous names such as Gurban Gurbanov, Vlastimil Petržela, Anatoliy Demyanenko and Hans-Jürgen Gede, the club did not achieve any success and squandered large sums of money on unsuccessful signings.[8]

Prospects changed positively in December 2009 when the club's control was given to Sadıq Sadıqov. The takeover was immediately followed by a flurry of bids for high-profile international players such as Bahodir Nasimov, Nicolás Canales, Flavinho, Bruno Bertucci, Eric Ramos, Igor Mitreski and Julius Wobay.[9]

In May 2011, coached by Arif Asadov, the club won its sixth championship title.[10][11] Asadov also become first person in Azerbaijan to win the league title as a coach and football player.[12]

In the 2011–12 season, Boyukagha Hajiyev guided Neftchi to another domestic success as club become champions for seventh time in their history.[13][14] In November 2011, Neftchi celebrated its 1,000th victory in official matches and its 1,000th goal, scored by Araz Abdullayev.[15]

European breakthrough (2012–present)
Neftchi in Europa League before the match with Internazionale in 2012.

In 2012, Neftchi qualified for the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League group stage, being the first Azerbaijani team to advance to this stage in a European competition. Neftchi managed to get three points in six matches, drawing with Partizan both times and holding Internazionale away at the San Siro.[16][17]

A third consecutive Premier League title followed in 2012–13.[18] Neftchi then won the Azerbaijan Cup on 28 May 2013 to secure the domestic double.[19][20] Following Neftchi's early exit from European cups, Boyukagha Hajiyev resigned from his post.[21][22] Following defeat at 2013 Azerbaijan Supercup, Nazim Suleymanov was appointed as Neftchi's new manager after Tarlan Ahmadov was sacked just three months in charge.[23] On 8 January 2014, Suleymanov resigned as manager after a transfer fund dispute.[24][25] In May 2014, despite finishing fourth, Neftchi managed to win Azerbaijan Cup.[26] In August 2014, the club reached Europa League play off round after defeating Chikhura Sachkhere on aggregate.[27]

On 2 November 2014, Neftchi club president Sadygov stated that the club was experiencing financial difficulties.[28] In 2015, it was announced that the club would become a public limited company – Neftchi PLC, while the club's new president would be Chingiz Abdullayev.[29]

On 8 June 2018, Roberto Bordin was announced as Neftçi's new manager on a two-year contract.[30]

Crest and colours
Neftchi's crests during its history

Neftchi's traditional kit was composed of black shirts, white shorts and socks of the same colour. Although through the years these two have gone from alternating between white and black stripes.[31]

Shirt sponsors and kit manufacturers
Years Manufacturer Sponsor
1994–1996 Local RIAD
1996–2003 Adidas
2003–2004 Stadium Baku Oil Refinery Plant
2004–2007 Lotto Sport Italia SOCAR
2007–2015 Adidas SOCAR
2015–2016 Adidas ASAN service
2016–2017 Kappa ASAN service
2017–2018 Kappa
2018–2019 Nike
2019–present Nike Turkish Airlines

Grounds

Neftchi's home matches are usually played at Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in Baku. Built by German prisoners of war in 1951 and constructed in the shape of a "C" to honour Joseph Stalin, it was renamed after famous football referee Tofiq Bahramov in 1993 after his death.[32] The stadium also serves as the home ground of the Azerbaijan national football team and holds 31,200 spectators, making it the second largest stadium in the country.[33]

Neftchi's current home venue is the 11,000 capacity Bakcell Arena. It has been the club's home since the 2012–13 season.

Supporters
Forza Neftçi
Founded9 February 2009
TypeUltras
ClubNeftçi PFK
HeadquartersBaku, Azerbaijan
ArenaBakcell Arena (main) Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium (before)

Neftchi is one of the most supported clubs in Azerbaijan, with supporters organized in many fan clubs around the world, including the United States, Turkey, Russia, Germany, the Netherlands and any other country with a sizeable Azerbaijani community. The craziest fans in the country are considered to be Neftchi fans. Neftchi's fans are the first to bring Ultras Culture to Azerbaijan. Various companies were Neftchi's number of participating groups. Among them are "Flaqman", "Ultra Neftçi", "Neftçimania" and Forza Neftçi. Currently, the biggest fan group of the club is Forza Neftçi. Forza Neftçi was founded in 2009 and Azerbaijan is considered the strongest and craziest group of free participants. In the 2010s, although Neftchi improved its position, the average attendance fell to record low levels.[34]

The club's most popular celebrity supporters are the likes of actors Bahram Bagirzade, Bashir Safaroglu and Lutfali Abdullayev, composers Gara Garayev, Fikrat Amirov and Niyazi, judoka Ilham Zakiyev and scientist Mirali Qashqai.[35][36][37]

Rivalries

Rivalry with Khazar Lankaran

Matches between Neftchi and Khazar Lankaran are some of the biggest clashes in Azerbaijan. The relationship between the two clubs has always been known for its great animosity, as the classic opposes two geographic regions – with Neftchi and Khazar Lankaran representing the north and south of Azerbaijan, respectively.[38]

Rivalry with Kapaz

Historical Derby (Tarixi Derbi) is an Azerbaijani football derby between Neftçi and Kapaz. Neftchi's first rival was Kapaz. The fight between these two teams is always in the center of attention of Azerbaijani football and is always distinguished by its principles. Known as the oldest and most competitive derby in the history of Azerbaijani football, this derby has been played between two of the biggest football cities in the country, Baku and Ganja. Cities and people from the Absheron Peninsula, Kapaz's set of supporters has a bigger mass, and people in many regions and other cities support Kapaz in the Neftchi-Kapaz games. Back in the Soviet era, the supporters of "Kapaz" in Azerbaijan consisted of the workers part of the people with a large amount of money.

Rivalry with Qarabağ

Azerbaijan Derby (Azərbaycan Derbisi) is an Azerbaijani football derby held between Neftçi and Qarabağ. The match between these two teams is always in the center of attention of the Azerbaijani football community and is always distinguished by its principles. The participation of these clubs in all the championships organized by AFFA and often the competitions for the championship make the matches between these two clubs very important. The principles in the games of these two teams led to the name of this game "Azerbaijan derby". These clubs did not meet in any game during the USSR; football was under state control and Neftchi was like the national team of the Azerbaijani people. In a way, it replaced today's national team of Azerbaijan. When the Soviet Union collapsed, Azerbaijan became independent. Now Neftchi, along with other clubs, is participating in our national championship organized by AFFA. Thus, the long-term Neftchi-Karabakh matches begin. The clubs met for the first time in 1992 and the game in Baku ended with a score of 1–1, while in Aghdam Karabakh beat their opponent (2–1). In general, the superiority of Karabakh was clearly visible in the "Azerbaijan Derby" at first. If we look at the statistics, we can see that in 6 of the Karabakh-Neftchi games that took place in the Azerbaijan championships in 2000, Karabakh won 3 of them, and in 11 games, the teams agreed to a draw. However, starting from 2000, the peak of the financial problem in Karabakh and the weakening of the team make Neftçi a strong side in this derby. Neftchi's biggest victory in the derby (4–0) happened at this time. Also, in 2001, Karabakh was given a 3–0 technical victory over Neftchi for allowing 4 unlicensed players to play in the derby. In total, technical scores were recorded in 3 of the games played between these teams. The first technical score happened in 1994 in the 4/1 final game of the Azerbaijan Cup. Neftchi's refusal to play against Karabakh due to problems within the club caused the Aghdam players to win 3–0 in both games.

Domestic league and cup history

European record
As of Match played 11 August 2022
Type Record
GWDLGFGAWin %
UEFA Champions League 227510183631.82
UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League 42131118566230.95
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 2011030
UEFA Intertoto Cup 63127750
UEFA Europa Conference League 621381233.33
Total 782519348912032.05

Matches
As of 11 August 2022[39]

Players

Current squad
As of 8 August 2022[40]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  CRO Ivan Brkić
2 DF  AZE Mert Çelik (on loan from Başakşehir)
3 DF  SEN Mamadou Mbodj
4 DF  GEO Solomon Kvirkvelia
5 MF  USA Kenny Saief
6 DF  SRB Vojislav Stanković
7 MF  AZE Azer Aliyev
8 MF  AZE Emin Mahmudov (captain)
10 MF  PAR César Meza Colli
11 FW  GHA Godsway Donyoh
14 MF  AZE Eddy Israfilov
16 MF  BRA Guilherme Pato
17 MF  AZE Rahman Hajiyev
No. Pos. Nation Player
18 MF  GEO Vato Arveladze
19 DF  AZE Azer Salahlı
20 MF  AZE Vusal Asgarov
21 MF  AZE Ismayil Zulfugarli
23 MF  ISR Ataa Jaber
24 MF  NGA Yusuf Lawal
26 DF  AZE Omar Buludov
27 MF  AZE Farid Yusifli
30 GK  AZE Agil Mammadov
73 MF  AZE Ramin Nasirli
77 FW  BLR Yegor Bogomolsky
82 MF  AZE Rufat Abbasov

For recent transfers, see Transfers summer 2022.

Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
— MF  AZE Turan Valizade (at Turan-Tovuz)
— MF  AZE Khayal Najafov (at Turan-Tovuz)

Reserve team

Neftçi-2 plays in the Azerbaijan First Division from 2018.

Club officials
Boyukagha Hajiyev is one of club's most successful managers, having won two titles and two national cups

Management & Supervisory Board
Position Staff
President Kamran Guliyev
Vice president Elnur Eyvazov
Head of Supervisory Board Chingiz Abdullayev
Board Member Samad Gurbanov
Jabrail Jabrailov
Zaur Gahramanov
Farhad Badalbeyli
Mehdi Najafov
Financial director Gadim Asgarli
Coordinator of youth academy Elshad Ahmadov
Team manager Gadir Hasanov
Press secretary Rustam Allahverdiyev

Coaching staff
Position Staff
Manager Laurențiu Reghecampf
Assistant coach Viorel Dinu
Assistant coach Nicolae Grigore
Goalkeeper coach Florin Tene
Fitness coach Bogdan Merișanu
Reserve team head coach Rashad Abdullayev
Under-19 head coach
Under-17 head coach Elman Sultanov
Under-16 head coach Farrukh Ismayilov
Under-15 head coach Eldaniz Mammadov
Under-14 head coach Ilyas Gurbanov
Under-13 head coach Vasif Aliyev
Under-12 head coach Islam Karimov
Under-11 head coach Rafael Yusifov
Under-10 head coach Azer Jabbarov
Under-9 head coach Islam Karimov

Medical staff
Position Staff
Club doctor Shaig Zohrabli
Physiotherapist Rasim Gadmaliyev
Masseur Zakir Guliyev
Rovshan Muradov

Presidential history

Neftchi has had numerous presidents over the course of its history, some of whom have been owners of the club while others have been honorary presidents. In 1988, Neftchi had registered as a professional football club and club since then had eight presidents.

 
Name Years
Aydin Ibrahimov 1988–97
Agil Pashayev 1997–01
Ramiz Mirzayev 2001–03
Rovnag Abdullayev 2004–08
Akbar Hajiyev 2008–10
Sadyg Sadygov 2010–15
Chingiz Abdullayev 2015–17
Orkhan Huseynzade 2017–2018
Kamran Guliyev 2018–

Honours

Domestic achievements
  • Azerbaijan Premier League
    • Winners (9): 1992, 1995–96, 1996–97, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2020–21
    • Runners-up (4): 2000–01, 2006–07, 2018–19, 2019–20
  • Azerbaijan Cup
    • Winners (7): 1994–95, 1995–96, 1998–99, 2001–02, 2003–04, 2012–13, 2013–14
    • Runners-up (4): 2000–01, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16
  • Azerbaijan Supercup
    • Winners (2): 1993, 1995
    • Runners-up: 2013
  • Soviet Top League
    • Third place: 1966
  • USSR Federation Cup
    • Runners-up: 1988

International achievements

A number of television programmes have included references to Neftçi since Azerbaijan's independence in 1991. In the sitcom Aramizda Galsin, the character Aslan is a Neftchi supporter.[41] Neftchi have also featured on several occasions in meykhana.[42][43]

References
  1. ""Neftçi"nin tarixindən: İlk rəsmi qol ermənilərə vurulub.. (FOTO) » Premyer.Az". Archived from the original on 23 October 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  2. ""Neftçi" PFK-nın nailiyyətləri". neftchipfk.com (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 14 September 2016.
  3. "Нефтчи" стал первым азербайджанским футбольным клубом, вышедшим в групповой этап еврокубков – ФОТО. 1news.az (in Russian). Archived from the original on 1 September 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  4. ЦСКА вылетел из еврокубков (in Russian). UEFA. 30 August 2012. Retrieved 30 August 2012.
  5. Сын Тофика Бахрамова рассказал о своем отце (Интервью). Azerifootball.com (in Russian). Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  6. Erlan Manasche and Karel Stokkermans (29 October 2015). "Azerbaijan- List of Champions". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  7. "Скандал на Кубке Содружества: чемпионы Армении отказались играть с азербайджанцами (Scandal at the CIS Cup: The champions of Armenia refused to play the Azerbaijanis)" (in Russian). NewsRU.com. 19 January 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2008.
  8. Aliyev, Elmir. "Вице-президент "Нефтчи": "Ханс-Юрген Геде хотел нас "кинуть""". Day.az. Retrieved 2 December 2010.
  9. "Sabah futbol üzrə Azərbaycan milli çempionatı başlayır". Retrieved 30 December 2010.
  10. Ibrahimov, Erkin. "Neftçi take title honours in Azerbaijan". UEFA. Retrieved 2 May 2011.
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  12. "Arif Əsədov Azərbaycan futbolu tarixinə düşdü". Archived from the original on 22 July 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  13. Ibragimov, Erkin. "Neftçi take honours in Azerbaijan". UEFA. Retrieved 10 May 2012.
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  15. "2011-ci ilin sirrini APASPORT açdı – EKSKLÜZİV – STATİSTİKA". APASPORT.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 13 May 2012. Retrieved 30 December 2011.
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  20. Atayev, Oktay (28 May 2013). "Нефтчи" выиграл кубок (in Russian). UEFA. Retrieved 28 May 2013.
  21. "Skënderbeu strike late to end Neftçi resistance". UEFA. 23 July 2013. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  22. Беюкага Гаджиев ушел с поста главного тренера "Нефтчи". News.rambler.ru (in Russian). Rambler (portal). Retrieved 10 August 2013.
  23. Назим Сулейманов возглавил "Нефтчи". Zerkalo.az (in Russian). Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  24. Назим СУЛЕЙМАНОВ: Мне не позволили усилить Нефтчи. Azerisport.com (in Russian). Retrieved 8 January 2014.
  25. "Nazim Süleymanovun istefasının təfərrüatı BİZDƏ – AÇIQLAMA". futbol11.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 3 April 2015. Retrieved 8 January 2014.
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  27. "Заря" восходит, Одесса тонет. ru.uefa.com (in Russian). UEFA. 7 August 2014. Retrieved 7 August 2014.
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  29. "Чингиз Абдуллаев, Бахрам Багирзаде, Садых Садыхов и другие — в наблюдательном совете Нефтчи". azerisport.com. Retrieved 31 March 2015.
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  32. Наш соперник: сборная Азербайджана Archived 2 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
  33. В столице Азербайджана будет построен 60-тысячный стадион (in Russian)
  34. Кому нужен азербайджанский футбол?. Sport.day.az (in Russian). Archived from the original on 28 October 2014. Retrieved 10 January 2014.
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  36. "Keçmişə Salam 08.04.2013". ANS TV (in Azerbaijani). 8 April 2013. Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  37. Дело – за первой сборной. Azerisport.com (in Russian). Retrieved 16 April 2013.
  38. Раиль МЕЛИКОВ: «Это главное дерби Азербайджана и его невозможно сравнить с другим матчем» Archived 1 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine(in Russian)
  39. "Neftçi PFK – History". UEFA. Retrieved 28 May 2015.
  40. "Neftçi PFK". Archived from the original on 6 December 2019. Retrieved 9 June 2016.
  41. ""Aramızda qalsın"da "Böyük oyun" həyəcanı – VİDEO". korner.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
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Further reading
  • Wilson, Jonathan (2006). Behind the Curtain: Football in Eastern Europe: Travels in Eastern European Football. Orion. ISBN 0752879456.
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