REBIRTH OF NEFTCHI?

The oldest football club in Azerbaijan has launched a series of radical changes. We have previously covered the dissatisfaction of FC Neftchi's chiefs with the constant failures of their club. Now the long-awaited moment has come. New people will lead the club after after five years.

New chiefs

In fact, the Black-n-Whites finished the season with a bronze medal. However, it is hard to call it a successful final for the team but championship. After losing in the Azerbaijan Cup final to FC Gabala, Neftchi announced the resignation of its coach and management. Fans' predictions came true. Kamran Guliyev, president of the club since 2018, was relieved of his duties. The team will no longer have the post of president. It will be managed by a general director instead. Thus, the new general director of the team is Farrukh Mahmudov, who has been the executive director of the Azerbaijan Basketball Federation for the last few months.

Romanian head coach Laurentiu Reghecampf also resigned with compensation. From now on, the new coach of Neftchi is the famous Romanian footballer Adrian Mutu. Neftchi initially negotiated with another famous footballer, a veteran of Turkish Besiktas FK Sergen Yalcin, but did not succeed. The search for a new candidate ended with the signing of a contract with Mutu.

Mutu shared his impressions with journalists: "Negotiations with Neftchi started a few weeks ago. After I got the call, I started to study its history, learned about Neftchi as a club. I like it very much, it is a great team with a large number of fans in the country. The proposed project attracted me."

Mutu: "Ready to work 200%".

Adrian Mutu shared his views on his fellow compatriot Reghecampf: "We have been friends for a long time. We have played for our country. I asked him about Neftchi, and he gave me good information. But we did not go into details, because I want to tackle everything myself. I will try to forget everything that happened before me. We are starting a new project. I am happy to be here, and I wish everyone good luck. I can confidently say that I am ready to work 200% for success."

The new head coach also touched upon the current state of the team. He believes time is needed to improve the situation: "We have a lot to do. It's pretty important. We have big ambitions. It's too early to talk about the positions of players. I need time to make a proper assessment. We need new players, as there are several tournaments ahead, including the Conference League. We need to have a wide roster for healthy competition. I have 7 years of coaching and over 20 years of career as a player. I have gained extensive experience in many countries and cultures since I started playing football and left my home country. I think I am lucky in this respect. I won't have any problems adapting to Neftchi. I did not come here to rest, I am here to win. I am ready to raise Neftchi to the level it deserves."

The Romanian coach said he was not afraid of pressure and wants to build a great team: "My contact with fans will bring results. Neftchi is the biggest club in Azerbaijan. When I made my decision, I knew what pressure I would face. I am not afraid of difficulties, it helps me to focus on my work even more. I hope that the players will do, too. There is no need to avoid pressure. It happens in all big clubs. It is important to do the best on the field."

Mahmudov: new era of Neftchi

The newly appointed president of Neftchi, Farrukh Mahmudov, also shared his plans for the future: "I understand the responsibility of the assumed position in the flagship club with a large fan base. This is not an ordinary club. We have been fans of Neftchi since early childhood. We have always been supportive of the team both in good and hard times. Currently, Neftchi is going through difficult days. But I believe that it is temporary. We have an updated team with different opinions and restructured management. This is the way to succeed. Let's be patient, everything will fall into place and the club will play in full force again.

"It is our duty to please our fans. As the new head of the club, I would like to address them. Neftchi is entering a new era, which will bring innovations. It is a labour-intensive process, so please be with us. Our hearts should beat in the same rhythm. You must feel us and we must feel you. The management team does its job professionally. As you already know, the team has a new head coach, coaching staff, and players."

Other resignations are expected in the management of Neftchi, as well, including in the composition of the supervisory board. New leaders of the club promised that they would try to return the team to its former glory. The main goal is to make Neftchi a team that will be able to perform in European championships. It is safe to say that the new season with Adrian Mutu, which starts on August 4, promises a beautiful competition.