GARABAGH'S GLORIOUS EUROPEAN RETURN

In Azerbaijani sport, once again it is Garabagh FC that leads the way. On 27 August, thanks to a determined victory, the Aghdam club opened a new page in the history of national football. After an eight-year absence, Gurban Gurbanov’s team has returned to the continent’s most prestigious club competition – the Champions League.

The Champions League is Europe’s foremost club tournament. Leading football nations field four to five teams, while lower-ranked countries are represented solely by their champions. The presence of giants such as Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Liverpool underscores the prestige of the event. Each match also brings substantial prize money. Garabagh’s qualification significantly enhances the profile of Azerbaijani sport, drawing global media attention and ensuring that, thanks to televised broadcasts, matches in Baku will be watched in over 100 countries.

The road to success

Having been crowned champions of Azerbaijan in the 2024/2025 season, Garabagh entered the Champions League from the qualification stage. Owing to their strong recent record, they began in the second round. Their opening tie was against Ireland’s Shelbourne: after a 3:0 away win, they secured another 1:0 victory in Baku to advance.

Next came Shkëndija of North Macedonia, who were dispatched with similar authority: a 1:0 win away followed by a 5:1 triumph at home. This cleared the way to the play-off—just one step from the group stage. Standing in their path was Ferencváros, a decorated Hungarian side with a roster full of experienced and costly players.

It is worth recalling that Garabagh defeated Ferencváros two years earlier, but this time the Hungarians looked far stronger. Even so, careful preparation and shrewd analysis delivered another historic result. In Budapest, Garabagh capitalised on the hosts’ errors to claim a crucial 3:1 victory. The Hungarians, stung by the defeat, travelled to Baku intent on revenge, and though they won 3:2, it was the Azerbaijanis who advanced to the group stage with a 5:4 aggregate score.

Most successful in qualification

Since early summer, media and experts alike had insisted Garabagh needed a new striker. For various reasons, the transfer did not materialise. Yet the squad, built steadily over years, achieved its main goal. According to UEFA statistics, Garabagh emerged as the most successful team of the qualification stage: five wins in six matches. They also led in goals scored (15), ranked second in total shots (91), and third in possession (85%).

The cornerstone of this success was stability: the club’s management entrusted the coach and refrained from interference. Gurban Gurbanov has grown into a recognised specialist, fostering a team culture of discipline, professionalism, and fair remuneration.

Several players stood out in this European campaign. Kevin Medina and Abdulla Zoubir dictated the rhythm of play, while Marko Jankovic proved a torment for opponents. Goalkeeper Mateusz Kochalski, outstanding in both play-off matches, emerged as the team’s new leader. It is highly likely that during the group stage, both Jankovic and Kochalski will attract the attention of European clubs, leading to lucrative transfer offers.

Echo of victory

President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev congratulated Garabagh on reaching the Champions League group stage. In a post on platform X he wrote: "By securing a place in the main stage of the UEFA Champions League, Azerbaijan’s Garabagh club has opened a new chapter in our football history! I congratulate the entire team and the club’s supporters!"

Head coach Gurban Gurbanov responded: "The President officially congratulated us. I, too, wish to congratulate him. For many years, he, like us, dreamt of seeing Garabagh in this prestigious tournament. I congratulate him and his family. The head of state has shown he follows our games. Our responsibility has grown even greater."

Gurbanov added: "It was a tense match. I congratulate the players on this achievement. I had not seen such an atmosphere in the stadium for a long time. Above all, this victory was deserved by our fans."

The coach admitted the team had been anxious: "For the last three days I stayed close to the players and felt their nerves. I urged them to remain calm, though I was tense myself… I embrace every player. They have earned the right to compete in the group stage."

Substantial prize money

The Champions League group-stage draw took place in Monaco. Among the 36 teams divided into four pots, Garabagh were placed in the fourth, with the lowest ranking. Each side was drawn into a group of eight opponents. The Aghdam club’s fixtures are as follows:

At home: Chelsea (England), Eintracht Frankfurt (Germany), Ajax (Netherlands), Copenhagen (Denmark).

Away: Liverpool (England), Benfica (Portugal), Napoli (Italy), Athletic Bilbao (Spain).

The first round of matches will be held between 16 and 18 September.

Garabagh also set a financial record. According to UEFA, the club will receive €18.62 million (around ₼36.85 million) for reaching the group stage—the largest prize in Azerbaijani football history. And that is only the beginning: each group-stage win is worth €2.1 million, a draw €700,000. The club will also receive a share of broadcasting revenues. Even if Garabagh were to lose all matches and finish last, they would still be guaranteed €275,000.

The benefits extend beyond Garabagh. Under UEFA’s solidarity programme, other Azerbaijani clubs will also receive financial support. According to preliminary data, 11 of the 12 Premier League clubs (all except Garabagh) will each receive €800,000. This sum will be transferred in two instalments: €550,000 followed by €250,000 (a total of around ₼1.58 million). And the more successful Garabagh’s group-stage campaign, the higher the bonuses for the others.