FC Baku

FC Baku
Full name Bakı Futbol Klubu
Nickname(s) Zolaqlılar (The Stripes)
Founded 1997 (1997)
Ground FC Baku Training Base,
Baku, Azerbaijan
Ground Capacity 2,500
Owner Hafiz Mammadov
2015-16 14th
Website Club home page

FC Baku (Azerbaijani: "Bakı" Futbol Klubu) is an Azerbaijani football club based in Baku, Azerbaijan. The club have won two national league titles and three Azerbaijan Cups. Baku is also one of the associate members of the European Club Association, an organization that replaced the previous G-14 which consists of major football clubs in Europe.

History

Early years (1997–2004)

Led by Shamil Heydarov, Dinamo finished 2nd and entered UEFA Cup 1998-99 season but was eliminated by Argeş Piteşti, 1:7 on aggregate, in Preliminary round. 1997–98 season Dinamo participated with new head coach. Under the manage of Ruslan Abdullayev, the team passed the first part of tournament distance well, although 3rd place and 52 points were not enough for medals or European cups, and Dinamo completed the season at 6th place.[1] Two following season Dinamo also finished 6th, but since 2000, the team was managed by Ruslan Abdullayev's son Elkhan Abdullayev, and was renamed into Dinamo Bakılı. In 2001–02 season, after a disastrous performance, Dinamo Bakılı relegated to Azerbaijan First Division, but due to conflict between clubs and the AFFA next championship was held just two years later, in which the team participated under the name of Dinamo, last time in its history.[2][3][4][5]

Success era (2004–2008)

In 2004, club renamed to the FC Baku, after changes by the new chairman. New management began from radical changes. Elkhan Abdullayev was replaced by Asgar Abdullayev immediately after the first defeat on second week. Azerbaijan national football team former manager was able to establish the team playing style. FC Baku gained some important victories over the opponents and was helding a pole position until February 2005. At the end of the season Asgar Abdullayev concentrated on Azerbaijan Cup, where his team reached the Final game. In 2004–05 season, Baku managed to finish at 5th position.[6]

But the returning to European cups proved unsuccessful. In UEFA Cup 2004-05 season first qualifying match, Baku was beaten by Slovakian side MŠK Žilina, 2–3 on aggregate, although they won a first leg in Baku, 1–0.[7][8]

Baku's line up before a 2009–10 UEFA Champions League 2QR match against Ekranas

In 2008, after poor first season, the club celebrated their second title with Gjoko Hadžievski. Under his charge, FC Baku became the first Azerbaijani team to qualify to the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League. The team passed Ekranas in the second qualifying round after 2–2 in Lithuania and 4–2 win in Tofik Bakhramov Stadium in the second leg.[9]

Downfall and financial struggles (2008–present)

In 2010, the club was handed a two-match suspension by UEFA for fielding Joël Epalle, who was ineligible to play at the time despite winning both legs against Budućnost.[10][11]

A long period of decline followed the success of the 2008 to the end of the decade. Despite the appointment of famous names such as Bülent Korkmaz, Winfried Schäfer, Aleksandrs Starkovs, Božidar Bandović and Milinko Pantić, the club did not achieve any success and squandered large sums of money on unsuccessful signings.[12]

In 2014, the club owner Hafiz Mammadov's financial difficulties forced number of players and personnel to seek new clubs, leaving club's future uncertain.[13][14]

The club's traditional kit is a white and blue shirt, white shorts with grey socks. Their away kit is all maroon. Baku's kits are manufactured by Macron. The club sponsored by the Baghlan Group and ZQAN Holding.[15] The club's logo is based on The Maiden Tower, a noted landmark and one of Azerbaijan's most distinctive emblems.

Stadium

Tofik Bakhramov Stadium was used for long period of time as Baku's main stadium. In 2008, Baku's president Hafiz Mammadov announced that a new stadium which will have a capacity of 10,000 fans will be built. The new stadium was expected to be finish 2010, but construction is currently on hold.

The club's training base is currently used for its domestic games, which holds 2,000 fans.[16]

Supporters

The club enjoys support from fans scattered all over the city, and the local area in general. The club has been the subject of an independent supporters' fanzine Toplu Bakı since the 2010s.[17][18]

League and domestic cup history

Post-independence period

Season League Azerbaijan Cup Top goalscorer
Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA P Name League
1997–98 1st 2 26 16 6 4 48 20 54 Azerbaijan Ismayilov 14
1998–99 1st 6 36 18 5 13 54 34 59 Semi-finals Azerbaijan Ismayilov 15
1999–00 1st 6 22 9 4 9 21 17 31 Quarter-finals Azerbaijan P.Aliyev 8
2000–01 1st 6 20 9 2 9 30 29 29 Semi-finals Azerbaijan P.Aliyev 13
2001–02 1st 11 30 0 4 26 17 70 4 1/8 Finals
2003–04 1st 5 26 12 5 9 45 32 41 1/8 Finals Azerbaijan Mahmudov 10
2004–05 1st 5 34 21 10 3 60 14 73 Winners Argentina Pérez 13
2005–06 1st 1 26 18 4 4 42 12 58 Quarter-finals Azerbaijan Gomes 8
2006–07 1st 3 24 14 6 4 25 10 48 Quarter-finals Azerbaijan Gomes
Argentina Pérez		 6
2007–08 1st 8 26 8 11 7 35 26 35 Quarter-finals Argentina Pérez 8
2008–09 1st 1 26 20 2 4 54 13 62 Semi-finals Georgia (country) Mujiri 11
2009–10 1st 2 42 17 14 11 41 32 65 Winners Brazil Jabá 10
2010–11 1st 6 32 10 10 12 33 32 40 Semi-finals Brazil Jabá 7
2011–12 1st 6 32 15 5 12 42 37 50 Winners Costa Rica Parks 8
2012–13 1st 5 32 9 14 9 33 27 41 Semi-finals Romania Pena 6
2013–14 1st 5 36 16 9 11 53 43 57 Quarter-finals Azerbaijan R.Aliyev 9
2014–15 1st 9 32 3 8 21 19 68 17 Quarter-finals Azerbaijan N.Novruzov 15
2015–16 2nd 14 26 9 3 14 33 42 15 Second round Azerbaijan K.Nurahmedov 8

European record

As of 21 July 2009.

Competition Matches W D L GF GA
UEFA Champions League 6 2 2 2 7 8
UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League 10 2 1 7 7 24
UEFA Intertoto Cup 2 0 2 0 2 2
Total 18 4 5 9 16 34
Season Competition Round Club Home Away
1998–99 UEFA Cup 1Q Romania FC Argeş Piteşti 0–2 1–5
2005–06 UEFA Cup 1Q Slovakia MŠK Žilina 1–0 1–3
2006–07 Champions League 1Q Georgia (country) Sioni Bolnisi 1–0 0–2
2007 UEFA Intertoto Cup 1Q Moldova Dacia Chisinau 1–1 1–1 (p 1–3)
2009–10 Champions League 2QR Lithuania FK Ekranas 4–2 2–2
3QR Bulgaria Levski Sofia 0–0 0–2
2009–10 UEFA Europa League PO Switzerland FC Basel 1–3 1–5
2010–11 UEFA Europa League 2QR Montenegro FK Budućnost 0–3 2–1
2012–13 UEFA Europa League 1QR Slovenia ND Mura 05 0–0 0–2

Notable managers

For more details on this topic, see List of FC Baku managers.

The following managers have all won at least one trophy when in charge of FC Baku:

Name Period Trophies
Azerbaijan Asgar Abdullayev 2004–06 Azerbaijan Cup
Azerbaijan Boyukagha Hajiyev 2006–07 Azerbaijan Premier League
Republic of Macedonia Gjoko Hadžievski 2007–10 Azerbaijan Premier League
Turkey Cüneyt Biçer 2010 Azerbaijan Cup
Azerbaijan Novruz Azimov 2012 Azerbaijan Cup

Honours

Winners (2): 2005–06, 2008–09
Winners (3): 2004–05, 2009–10, 2011–12

References

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