CRITICAL OUTSIDER

Azerbaijan's most awarded football club, Neftchi, finds itself in the throes of a profound crisis. Despite substantial financial backing, the team's salvation remains elusive. The Black&Whites' downfall is not a recent development; it has persisted for several years. Neftchi, notorious for its revolving door of managers, has plummeted to the position of an outsider in the league table due to its consistent poor performances.

Consecutive Failures

In the 2024/2025 season, the team has fallen behind by seven rounds in the national championship. A team incapable of securing victory in seven consecutive matches can hardly harbour ambitious aspirations. It is precisely for this reason that supporters and media outlets are clamouring for radical reforms within the club. Neftchi's management, having cycled through Lorenzo Reghekampf, Adrian Mutu, and Miodrag Božović in rapid succession, signed a contract with the familiar face of Roman Grigorchuk this summer. However, the Ukrainian manager's arrival has failed to stem the tide of misfortune plaguing the team.

Last season, Neftchi not only missed out on a podium finish but also failed to qualify for European competitions. This factor alone rendered reforms inevitable. Serbian coach Miodrag Božović was replaced by Ukrainian Grigorchuk, but the team's crisis only deepened. A series of scandals erupted among local players. Gara Garayev was excluded from the starting line-up and relegated to the reserves. The captain's armband was stripped from the experienced Emin Mahmudov, who was advised to seek employment elsewhere.

During this inauspicious period for Neftchi, the team also experienced an unexpected schism. Swede Jens Andersson was dismissed from his position as sporting director. In September 2023, following the announcement of his appointment, the Swede had made grand promises to the club's supporters. However, the executive responsible for the club's sporting component failed to adequately establish processes such as enhancing the scouting service, achieving positive results in both the main and reserve squads, and constructing a base that meets modern global standards. He had previously stated, "If I do not succeed, my tenure here will not be prolonged." And as results were not forthcoming, Andersson was compelled to relinquish his post.

The primary cause of the club's failures is the head coach's lack of authority over the players. That is to say, foreign players presented by managers are occasionally transferred to the team without the coach's knowledge. Another crucial point is that during each transfer window, a significant number of players both depart from and join the club. This indicates that the team is expending considerable financial resources. Within 18 months, Lorenzo Reghekampf, Adrian Mutu, and Miodrag Božović were all hired as head coaches and dismissed before their contracts expired. Each of them departed with substantial compensation from the club. Thus, failure takes a toll on Neftchi's budget. Therefore, the management must exercise extreme caution in transfer dealings. Any player invited should align with the club's playing style, and transfers should not be conducted solely based on managers' recommendations. The decisive word should come from the head coach, who should also bear responsibility.

Expert: "Neftchi does not deserve a medal"

R+ sought comments from Aghasalim Mirjavadov, who worked at Neftchi for many years and won the Azerbaijan championship and the country's Cup with the team. The expert is convinced that the club's problems run much deeper than they appear: "We hold Neftchi in high regard. It's painful to see the team in such a state. A coach should not be changed every 3-6 months. The selection of the head coach is a crucial factor. They should be given at least 2-3 years. A coach should be chosen who can create a family. After all, a team is a family, led by the head coach. And he is guided by the club president. The relationship between the manager and the head coach should be close. Everything related to football in the club should be handled by the head coach. In the past, our players used to play for the coach. But in today's Neftchi, this is absent. The players do not put their heart into the game; there's no desire. Watching their matches, I wonder: have they ever played street football? In street football, even if there's no age parity, there's a desire to play. It's not about the result. It's about the nature of the game, the players' desire, the team's standing. This is a very strange situation. Neftchi, with its current play, does not deserve a medal."

To rectify the critical situation within the team, Neftchi's management must intervene. Ukrainian specialist Roman Grigorchuk should have been granted full authority and support. If ties with Grigorchuk are severed by the year's end, it will be another serious blow to the club's image. A team that changes so many coaches admits its powerlessness in solving the problem.

Let us recall that at present, Neftchi has amassed only four points after the seventh round of the Azerbaijan Premier League. The capital club occupies ninth place among 10 teams in the league table.