NEFTCHI-85

The most famous club in the 111-year history of Azerbaijani football, Neftchi, is celebrating its 85th anniversary.

Without exaggeration, Neftchi was the team of all Azerbaijan during the Soviet period. Although there were other teams such as Temp, Dinamo, Komsomolets and Progress, it was Neftchi that became the symbol and flagship of the Azerbaijani football. The team was established back in 1937, which was one of the most difficult period in the history of Azerbaijan. USSR Ministry of Oil Industry made a decision to establish a voluntary sports society in Baku, at that time the hub of oil production in the USSR. The ministry was located in Moscow, all documents were prepared in Russian, hence the team was named Neftyanik in Russian, not Neftchi in Azerbaijani. With the development of cotton production in Azerbaijan at the same time, the Neftchi logo featured two colours, black and white, symbolising both oil and cotton.

In 1937, the USSR championship was no longer among cities, but among football teams of sports associations. Neftchi made its debut performance in the USSR football competitions with the National Cup. In its first-ever match, it defeated the Armenian team Dinamo from Yerevan. The team's first stadium was located near the sea, on what is now the Azadlig Square in Baku. A few years later, the team moved to the present-day Ismet Gayibov stadium in Bakikhanov, Baku. Author of the first goal in the USSR championships was A. Gnezdov. Neftyanik finished the first season as the 11th best among 12 clubs. But the World War II interrupted the activities of Neftyanik, and one of its players, Mirmehdi Aghayev, died heroically at the front. Since 1949, Neftchi started to perform in the football elite of the USSR. Legends of Azerbaijani football, Tofig Bahramov and Alekber Mammadov, were closely involved in that process. 

Neftchi's greatest achievement in USSR was the bronze medal won in the top league (1966). we can also note the second place in the First League, promotion to the top division (1976) and the right to play in the final stage of the USSR Federation Cup in 1988.

Neftchi's success in national championships during Azerbaijan's independence has so far been unattainable for other local teams. Having been the national champion nine times and the winner of the Azerbaijan Cup seven times, the team is the record-breaker in these competitions. In 2013, Neftchi won a trip to the group stage of the Europa League, becoming the first Azerbaijani football team representing the country internationally. The team was also the winner and silver medallist of the traditional tournament among the CIS champions, the Commonwealth Cup.

Legends of the team

Neftchi have had many good coaches in its 85-year history. Yet we should specifically mention two experts, Ahmed Aleskerov and Boyukagha Hajiyev, in terms of performance of the team. The value of bronze medals won in 1966 under Ahmed Aleskerov is undeniable. Neftchi also won the first title of Azerbaijan’s champion in 1992 under his mentorship. In addition, it was under Aleskerov that Neftchi played most of its matches, 380.

Boyukagha Hajiyev has also left an indelible mark on the club's history. Thanks to him, Neftchi won the Azerbaijani championship twice and the local cup once. Hajiyev also made history by leading the team to the group stage of European competitions for the first time.

Anatoly Banishevsky is the number one player in Neftchi history; he is the only Neftchi player to have played in European and world championships. Olympic champion Igor Ponomarev, the main threat of all defenders in the USSR—the duo of Iskender Javadov and Mashallah Ahmedov, irrepressible left-back Yunis Huseynov, master of dribbling and technique Nazim Suleymanov, our only player who reached Spain, Vali Gasimov, forward Zaur Taghizade and many others... Each of them was a favourite of fans at the time.

No scandals, but victories

We had a chance to interview the legendary trio of Neftchi—Iskender Javadov, Mashallah Ahmedov and Igor Ponomarev, on the occasion of Neftchi's 85th anniversary.

One of the best black-and-white players Iskender Javadov noted the important role of Neftchi in his life: "Football is my life. Neftchi has a special place in my life. As kids, we got excited as soon as we saw the team's bus running down our street. We dreamed of becoming members of the team some day. I am glad I wore the Neftchi jersey. It is impossible to imagine Azerbaijani football without this team. Its role in the development of football in the country is undeniable. I always dream to see the black and white colours as champions. I was welcomed in Russia after they watched my performance in Neftchi. It is a brand of the Azerbaijani football. The national leader Heydar Aliyev has always shown interest in the state of the team. I came back to the team thanks to Heydar Aliyev. Back in the time it was difficult to find free tickets to the matches of Neftchi. I want the team to improve its performance, to attract attention not with scandals but with victories. Everyone who wears a Neftchi jersey must understand his responsibility. Both foreign players and coaches. There is only one goal for Neftchi to be the best".    

Neftchi has always had players who were excellent at penalty kicks. For example, Valeriy Hajiyev, Ali Rahmanov and Asif Aliyev. Igor Ponomarev was a master of penalty kicks not only for Neftchi but for the whole Soviet football. Out of 33 penalties he had during his football career, 31 hit the target, with 24 in a row. Therefore, Ponomarev became a record-breaker in the former USSR, surpassing Ploskina of Chornomorets. Ponomarev made such prominent goalkeepers as Viktor Chanov, Otar Gabelia, Rinat Dasaev and many others take the ball out of the goal.

Igor Ponomarev is also Azerbaijan's first and only Olympic football champion: "Neftchi was a turning point in my life. I found my friends in this club. Nowadays, it seems that signing a contract with any club is not that difficult. At that time, it was very difficult to get in Neftchi. I am very glad that I had the chance to play in his team. I am proud of it. I was invited to the USSR Olympic team just for my performance in this club. I wish my beloved Neftchi only victories.”

Mashallah Ahmedov was one of the most tenacious and determined players in Neftchi. This is what one of the 33 best players of the USSR said about his love for the club: "We highly appreciate the accomplishments of all our clubs. However, Neftchi is different. We feel uncomfortable when it shows a poor performance. When the veterans get together, the first thing they do is talk about Neftchi. Sometimes, we think that even a draw made by Neftchi is a defeat. After all, Neftchi has always deserved only victories and championships. Neftchi made me famous in Azerbaijan. That’s where the trio of Javadov, Ahmedov and Ponomarev was born. I will not forget this team till the end of my life. It is impossible to talk about Azerbaijani football without Neftchi. I wish the team many more titles by the 90thand 100th anniversaries".