Sasha from Shamkir: The Forgotten King of Azerbaijani Football
In the 1990s, when Azerbaijani football was still finding its post-Soviet identity, one man in a small western town dared to dream big. His name was Shahbaz Suleymanov, but everyone knew him simply as Sasha from Shamkir — the man who turned a struggling local team into a two-time national champion.
A successful entrepreneur who once ran a cognac factory and maintained business ties with Russia, Suleymanov was known not just for his ambition, but also for his generosity. Players and staff remember him as a man who never hesitated to help, whether it was covering meals, phone bills, or adding a little extra money on good days.
“He had a giving hand,” recalled one former player. “You never had to ask for your salary. Whatever he gave, you were happy with.”
The Birth of a Team
Suleymanov’s football story began almost by accident. “Once I was in the district and someone told me that Shamkir was playing,” he recalled. “I went to the stadium — I don’t even remember who we were playing, but I remember we conceded eight goals. What I saw that day really upset me. That very day, I promised myself I would build a proper professional team here.”
He started the very next morning. At the time, Shamkir had finished the first half of the season with zero points, 8 goals scored, and 90 conceded. Within months, things began to change. He brought in experienced coach Aghasalim Mirjavadov, a respected name in Azerbaijani football. “I believed in Aghasalim’s professionalism and honesty,” said Suleymanov. “And he proved me right.”
Together, they created not just a team, but a movement. Shamkir’s stadium became a fortress, their players local heroes. By the late 1990s, Shamkir FK had become one of Azerbaijan’s most admired clubs — disciplined, united, and feared by opponents.
The Golden Era and European Nights
Under Suleymanov’s leadership, Shamkir won two Azerbaijan Premier League titles and competed in European qualifiers. Their 2001 Champions League match against Welsh side Barry Town remains one of the most memorable — and painful — nights in the club’s history.
“Ninety-nine percent of the reason we didn’t qualify was Badri Kvaratskhelia,” Suleymanov said years later. “I’m sure someone told him to act that way. What was the need for him to hit someone in the fifth minute and get a red card? That’s when it was over. It felt like someone stabbed me in the back.”
Badri, one of the most beloved foreign players in Azerbaijan at the time, was also the father of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, now a star at PSG and with the Georgian national team.
The Beginning of the End
Success couldn’t last forever. As politics began to seep into local football, Suleymanov’s patience wore thin. “People from outside football started interfering more and more,” he later explained. “I couldn’t work in such an environment, so I decided to step aside. Even after I left, my heart stayed with Shamkir.”
One of the breaking points came when coach Aghasalim Mirjavadov was replaced by Gahraman Aliyev — a move Suleymanov said was orchestrated by outside influences. “That was the main reason I walked away,” he admitted. “Gahraman’s appointment was done behind my back. He knew Shamkir belonged to me. He should have come to me first. From that day, I never set foot in the stadium again.”
Without his leadership and financial backing, Shamkir gradually declined and eventually disappeared from Azerbaijani football altogether.
A Man of Football and Heart
Suleymanov was known for his deep passion for the sport. He even traveled to the World Cup finals in the United States just to watch the matches in person. Those close to him recall his intensity — unable to sit still during games, gripping the radio as Shamkir fought for victory.
“He didn’t just love football — he lived it,” said a friend. “Every time Shamkir played, his heart played along.”
The Final Whistle
In his later years, Suleymanov lived a quiet life in his hometown of Shamkir, far from the spotlight he once commanded. On the evening of his death, he asked his family to prepare rice pilaf with noodles and roasted chicken — a simple comfort from his youth. Not long after 8 p.m., he was found unresponsive at home. Known for his playful streak, his family initially thought he was pretending, as he sometimes liked to startle them for fun. But this time, it wasn’t a joke.
Despite desperate efforts to revive him, Shahbaz “Sasha” Suleymanov passed away before medical help could arrive — bringing to a close the life of one of Azerbaijani football’s most passionate dreamers. He left behind more than just trophies. He left a story of vision, loyalty, and love for the game — the story of a man who believed that even a small town could dream big.
By: Fuad Alakbarov / @DrAlakbarov
Featured Image: @GabFoligno