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Azerbaijan Premier League 2023-24 Season Review

June 19, 2024
Investigation Piece

The curtain came down on another Azerbaijan Premier League campaign, as season 2023-24 reached its conclusion. Gurban Gurbanov’s side won the league in the most satisfying way while their rivals imploded and managers exploded.

 

Qarabağ’s thrilling journey

 

Gurban Gurbanov’s Qarabağ once again asserted their dominance. Qarabağ’s Premier League triumph after 28 games played means they have broken the record for the earliest Azerbaijani top-flight title win in history. Gurbanov’s side were thrilling fare throughout their campaign in Europe, signalling how serious they were to the world by battling against Braga and Bayer Leverkusen.

 

The Horsemen are aiming to reach the Champions League group stage for a second time in their history after being involved in the 2017-18 campaign, in a group which included European heavyweights like Atlético Madrid, Roma and Chelsea. The squad has the right feel of experience and youthful energy with Leandro Andrade pulling the strings in midfield. 

 

 

Nariman Akhundzade has delivered one of the all-time breakthrough seasons. Deft of touch and deadly of shot, he is following Gurbanov’s instructions almost to the letter and has become an increasingly potent force in and outside the box.

 

Sadygov’s defensive gamble paid off

 

Zira is a hard-working team who are happy to implement the coach Rashad Sadygov’s defensive philosophy. The club had the best defensive record in the league. But Zira’s lack of firepower proved costly in the title race so there’s always room for improvement.

 

Sabah’s hectic season

 

Sabah showed signs of an early wobble, but collected enough points to finish third in the league. Sabah hope to have learned their lesson from their previous European campaign, when they did not reach their full potential. Krunoslav Rendulić needs to freshen the squad and quite possibly get back to being that team that no one wants to play again.

 

 

Surprise package

 

Samir Abbasov has transformed Sumgayit from a team fighting relegation into an ambitious outfit inside 19 memorable months. The amount of injuries a relatively thin squad have absorbed should also be noted. Taking Sumgayit into the Conference League qualifying stage is a decent achievement and has allowed Abbasov to prove a lot of people in Azerbaijan wrong.

 

Meltdown at Neftçi

 

Neftçi really have taken mediocrity by the scruff of its neck: fifth is their lowest finish since they came 7th in 2015-16, their 12 league defeats the most since that modern nadir. Neftçi gave away too many chances, were far too easy to play against and conceded soft goals at key moments.

 

Adrian Mutu was the first to go in late December, while the club remained marooned further under Miodrag Božović, who also repeated Mutu’s fate. The next appointment will be crucial. This season was a total disaster, and the club’s ruling board will be licking their wounds after missing out European football.

 

 

Gabala’s downfall

 

Gabala, Arsenal legend Tony Adams’ former club, have been relegated for the first time in their 28-year history. The club have suffered financial problems in recent years. While Gabala are unquestionably one of the most recognisable clubs in Azerbaijan, they are no longer one of the biggest.

 

Quote of the season

 

“The stadium was full at the opening match. So, you came here not because of the football players, the team, but because of the singers, because of Hiss [Azerbaijani singer]. Go, sit at home and watch the game. If they want to say something to the players and the team, come and fill the stadium” – Samir Abbasov lobbed a grenade under Sumgayit fans.

 

 

Player of the season

 

Qarabağ’s Juninho is shy off the pitch but oozes confidence and class on it. He stepped up to become a decisive player in the biggest matches for Azerbaijan’s most dominant side. The Brazilian striker has been likened to Alexander Isak, is being linked with a move to Beşiktaş and Braga.

 

One-club man

 

Qarabağ defender Maksim Medvedev has announced he will retire from football at the end of the season. The defender joined Qarabağ’s youth system before making his first team debut in 2006. Medvedev holds the all-time record for most appearances for Qarabağ, playing in 376 games for the club between 2006 and 2024.

 

The player, who was born in Baku, has enjoyed an incredibly successful career with the Horsemen. During his time he has won ten Azerbaijan Premier League titles and six Azerbaijan Cups.

 

By: Fuad Alkbarov / @DrAlakbarov

Featured Image: @Juanffrann / Aziz Karimov – Stringer

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