GURBAN LEFT FOR GARABAGH

News about Gurban Gurbanov’s resignation as the head coach of the Azerbaijani national football team came out of the blue. In fact, rumours about the possible resignation of the head coach have become relevant after the disastrous performance of the national team in the UEFA Nations League. However, many experts believed that the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) would not change the coach just three months before the qualification round of the 2020 European Championship (Euro 2020 QR). Moreover, contract with Gurbanov has been signed for six years and his team was only at the beginning of the long journey.

Gurbanov himself noted that the decision of the AFFA Executive Committee was based on mutual agreement. "We did not make plans for six years. This work should be done in stages. When I was on my way to the meeting of the AFFA Executive Committee, I knew that I would part with the national team. This was our common decision. It was clear to everyone that it was difficult to work in two positions (Azerbaijani national team and Garabagh, R+). During my tenure as the head coach of the national team, I have tried to do everything to the best of my knowledge. I do not know if I ever return to the national team. But if we want progress, we definitely need changes and better offers. I have also proposed my dismissal from the AFFA Executive Committee, as I need to think more about our club," Gurbanov said.

AFFA General Secretary Elkhan Mammadov confirmed that the decision on the resignation of Gurbanov was made by mutual agreement. "For us, the results of Garabagh are more important. Practice has shown that working in two positions simultaneously is very difficult," Mammadov explained.

He added that contracts with head coaches of junior age teams, with the exception of U-19, were also ceased. "Junior age groups did not present a strategic plan of development. They have no results, but undesirable discipline. For example, our U-17 team lost with a score of 0-4, plus received four red cards during the match. Vugar Mammad will continue his work in the national team, as his U-19 will take part at the elite round of the European Championship," AFFA General Secretary said.

It is expected to fill in the vacant position of the head coach as soon as possible, because the qualification stage of Euro 2020 will take place in less than three months. Currently, AFFA is busy searching for candidates. According to Elkhan Mammadov, name of the new head coach will be announced at the meeting of the AFFA Executive Committee scheduled for late December 2018- early January 2019.

Meanwhile, we already know the rivals of our national team at the qualification stage of Euro 2020. According to the results of the draw, the Azerbaijani national team will have the national teams of Croatia, Wales, Slovakia and Hungary in Group E. Qualification stage will be held on March 21 - November 19, 2019 and attended by 55 teams.

Although Group E can hardly be called the "death group", the absence of a weaker team increases the likelihood that the Azerbaijani team will be in last place.

For the third time in its history, our players will compete in the group consisting of five teams. In previous two groups, our team took the last place.

The national team of Azerbaijan has played 18 matches with its rivals from the current group before. But the results of these matches were disappointing – it won only once. It was a sensational victory (2:0) of the national team led by Igor Ponomarev over the Slovak team in Slovakia. In the remaining games, we had 15 defeats and only two draws. The difference between scored and missed goals is 6 and 42, respectively.

After the approval of the new head coach, the team is expecting to hold a training session in January 2019. According to available information, AFFA is reviewing three foreign specialists for the post of the head coach. In any case, the official decision will be known after the meeting of the AFFA Executive Committee.

Games in Group E, Euro 2020 Qualification Round