SANTOS: MISSION FAILED

The 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign began in fiasco for Azerbaijan’s national team. Under the leadership of Portuguese coach Fernando Santos the national side suffered a humiliating defeat in Reykjavik against Iceland — 0:5 — once again provoking an outcry from supporters.

The 24‑hour effect: the illusion of progress

The loss and the high score were not unexpected. In recent months, the media has repeatedly issued warnings that Santos' involvement would not be beneficial for the team, and that there is a possibility of underperformance during the qualifying cycle. Nevertheless, the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) – the organisation responsible for developing the sport in the country – continued to place its trust in the Portuguese specialist. Consequently, following the disappointing result in the initial match against Iceland, the leadership of AFFA was compelled to convene an urgent meeting. The contract with Santos, valid until 2027, was unilaterally terminated, and the 70-year-old coach returned home.

A day before the next game against Ukraine, the national team leadership temporarily handed the team over to the head coach of the youth (U-21) squad, Aykhan Abbasov. Despite his inexperience with the senior side, Abbasov was able to effect a radical change in the situation within 24 hours. For Ukraine, who had been defeated by France in the opening round, a victory in Baku was imperative. Notwithstanding the circumstances, the Azerbaijani team demonstrated resilience, exhibited a combative spirit, and ultimately secured a draw at 1-1. While the team's performance is commendable, it is important to acknowledge the element of good fortune that led to the point gained against Ukraine. Experienced supporters are aware that Azerbaijan occasionally performs better than expected in one or two matches during each qualifying cycle. However, it would be unwise to assume that the team has been completely transformed overnight.

Nevertheless, the team's performance demonstrated clear coaching strategies. Aykhan Abbasov instilled confidence in the team. The squad, which had become fragmented and demoralised under Santos, regained its cohesion and fought to the end, earning a point. Azerbaijani players demonstrated a notable lack of skill and physical fitness; however, they compensated for this with an admirable degree of determination and commitment. It must be acknowledged that the point gained may well represent the final success of this qualifying cycle. The national team has not demonstrated sufficient potential. Azerbaijan's best-case scenario would be to secure a position that avoids finishing at the bottom of the table.

How to spend €3 million and still fail

The match against Ukraine provided a valuable lesson, demonstrating that significant investments in foreign talent may not have been optimally utilised. The appointment of Fernando Santos has had a detrimental effect on the football team, as well as being a costly and time-consuming process.

The Portuguese coach's tenure with Azerbaijan proved to be one of the most unsuccessful in the country's history. Santos was appointed in June of last year, and concluded his tenure with a record of 9 losses and 2 draws. These figures provide a comprehensive overview of the outcomes achieved, offering a balanced and accurate assessment of his "success".

It is not surprising that Santos did not resign after the Iceland match. It appears that the 70-year-old specialist was awaiting compensation, a fact that was not concealed. Please note that, in accordance with FIFA regulations, in the event of a coach being dismissed, he is entitled to compensation in accordance with the terms of his contract. According to unconfirmed reports, in Santos's case the amount was €2–3 million. It should be noted that in 2023, following a nine-month tenure with the Polish national team, Santos was dismissed and received €1.2 million in compensation. This approach is a well-known characteristic of veteran coaches.

However, the necessity of such a coach for Azerbaijan remains a subject of debate. I can assure you that this is not the case. The country has almost no players who meet international standards. Any coach joining the Azerbaijan team will have a pool of no more than 10-15 players to choose from, a highly restricted selection process. Furthermore, if the team lacks a broad personnel reserve and does not have the objective of qualifying for World Cups or European Championships, it would be prudent to reconsider the allocation of funds towards foreign specialists.

When will it be time for our own?

In the current conditions, it is recommended that the national team be placed under the supervision of a local coach. There are several reasons why this is the more sensible option. Firstly, the employees work for much lower pay. Secondly, they can maximise the team's potential. Furthermore, they possess a deeper understanding of local market players, enabling more effective collaboration. For the aforementioned reasons, it is logical that the national team should be led by an Azerbaijani coach.

With regard to the football industry as a whole, there are numerous issues that require attention, yet there are limited viable solutions. Special attention must be paid to youth football, with the qualifications of coaches working with young players being checked and proper conditions being created for them. While the situation in youth football remains challenging, it would be unrealistic to expect any progress from the senior national team. The national team represents the pinnacle of the structure. If the U-17, U-19 and U-21 teams frequently suffer significant defeats, it would be unrealistic to expect success from the senior team.

The next qualifying matches are scheduled for October: on the 10th, the team will play in Paris against France, and on the 13th in Krakow against Ukraine. Given the time constraints, it would be prudent to entrust the team to Aykhan Abbasov on a temporary basis.

Expert opinions

Veli Gasymov (football veteran, coach): "Azerbaijani football has regressed to a level it has not reached for several years. The team's performance has seen a decline under the management of Fernando Santos. The recent match against Iceland provided a clear indication of the current state of the national team. It is imperative that coaches are able to establish a rapport with players in order to achieve success. It is recommended that the national team be entrusted to a local specialist. During the match against Iceland, there was a noticeable absence of both precise passes and effective tactics. It is regrettable that there is limited expectation of progress in the near future.

Afran Ismayilov (former national team player) "Azerbaijan has welcomed many foreign specialists. What measures did they implement? They simply earned money and left. Unfortunately, we lost a significant amount of time. Aykhan Abbasov will receive a tenfold reduction in salary, but he will demonstrate commitment, assemble the team and reinstate the spirit of the national side and the desire to fight among the players. In order to develop football, it is essential that everyone lends their support to Aykhan-muallim. It is imperative that he articulates his ideas, and that they are given due consideration. Progress can be achieved gradually. We have already been losing time for many years. If we can maintain this level of performance over the next five years, it may encourage new players to join our organisation."