"MOM SAID, “YOU CAN DO IT!”"

Unlike the Azerbaijani men's national football team, which has been experiencing a series of disappointing results, the women's team is performing better. It is no surprise that female footballers more often receive offers from foreign clubs. Among the players in the Azerbaijani national team are athletes competing for ambitious Turkish Süper Lig clubs such as Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş.

Recently, several more Azerbaijani footballers have joined foreign teams. Alina Nahamadova transferred from Neftçi to one of the oldest Serbian clubs, Partizan. Another Neftçi player, Joshguna Aliyeva, decided to continue her career in Türkiye, joining Gaziantep. The most talked-about news in recent months, however, has been Nigar Mirzaliyeva’s transfer to the German Bundesliga. Having previously played successfully for Russian club Zenit, she will now represent Hamburg, having signed a contract for two and a half years.

Mirzaliyeva caught attention with her performances in Russia. She won the Russian Super Cup twice with Zenit and became champion in the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Having played for Azerbaijan’s U-17 and U-19 national teams, she is currently regarded as one of the leading players in the main national squad. Starting her club career at Russian Rubin and continuing at Zenit, Nigar is now entering the most important stage of her career—playing in the German Bundesliga.

We contacted the athlete, and despite intensive training, Nigar Mirzaliyeva found time to give an exclusive interview to Region Plus.

"When did you get that offer to join the German club? Were there other offers as well?"

"My manager told me that a German club was interested in me, which is really exciting! When the season in Russia finished, I was thrilled to receive several offers. I totally get where you're coming from, because we've had some really productive chats about England as well as Germany. After chatting with my family and coaches, I was really happy to accept Hamburg's offer. I have no regrets at all. I'm so proud to be the first Azerbaijani footballer playing in the Bundesliga."

"This transfer is going to be a really special season for you. Would you agree with that?"

"I have to say, I don't think this is my 'best season.' There have been so many special moments in my career, and I'm so grateful for every one of them. We are delighted to tell you that, with the Azerbaijan national team, we managed to secure promotion from UEFA Nations League Division C to Division B–and we did it without losing a single match! We are so excited to let you know that our team has earned the chance to play in the playoffs in Division B! I'm so happy to tell you that we won the Super Cup in the same season as Zenit! Moving to a team competing in the German Bundesliga is a huge achievement. I'm sure the season's outcome will show itself over time. I'll do my very best for you."

"What sort of challenges might Azerbaijani footballers face when they're playing in Germany?"

"Germany is one of the leading countries in women's football, and it's great to see the sport growing in popularity here. I think it might take a little while to get used to such a competitive league, and the first few days can be quite challenging. But I consider myself ready for any challenges, and I'm so excited to see what the future holds! The Bundesliga has been such a huge part of my career, and I'm so grateful for that. I totally get why the German championship is so popular with experts from all over the world. If you do well here, it might open doors to even stronger leagues."

"Do you live at the club's base or at home? Is there anything at all I need to know about food or language?"

"It's totally normal to have a few bumps in the road at the start. It's so true that with time, we all get used to everything. I'm still learning German, so it's a bit of a challenge, but I'm enjoying it. I'm working on learning it soon, and I can't wait! I mostly chat with my teammates in English, which is great because it helps me to practise my English and they can learn a bit about my home country too! We're so lucky to have a Turkish coach and a Turkish player on the team who also help me. I'm really enjoying the food here, too. I've been travelling with the national team a lot, and I've discovered that I really like German food–it's just as tasty as our cuisine! At the moment, I'm living in a hotel, but I've already found a lovely apartment where I'll be moving in March."

"Women's football is very well developed in Germany. How would you describe its state there?"

"Look at how thoughtfully every detail has been arranged here. They have some really strong championships, which is great to see! It's so lovely to see how much women's football is loved in Germany. It's always so lovely to see thousands of fans cheering on their teams at every match. When our fans come to support us at games, it really cheers us up and gives us that extra boost we need to play our best! It's so lovely to see how much the local community loves women's football here. I'm so excited to have this amazing opportunity to become an expat player in such a wonderful country."

"How your family reacted to your decision to move to Germany?"

"I have to admit, they were a little worried back home. They thought that language and cultural differences might create difficulties, but they were determined to find a way to make it work. But they believed in me, and that made me feel so good! Since I was a little girl, I've been an expat player in Russia, and I've had to overcome so many challenges over the years. I'm so grateful for the support I've received from my family, it's been such a help to me. I'll always remember the strength my mother's words gave me: 'You can do it.' I thank her for always being there for me and supporting all my decisions. I'll do my very best to meet their expectations."

"Do you think there are any players on your team with whom you instantly bonded?"

"I just wanted to say a big thank you to the team, who made me feel so welcome. The girls are so kind, and we all hit it off straight away. They're the best at keeping me company and helping me feel less lonely. Three other girls moved with me to Hamburg — they are the closest friends I have here."

"I've noticed that Azerbaijani footballers aren't always that keen to play abroad. Could your move to the Bundesliga be seen as a message to them?"

"I wouldn't put it that way, my friend. We've always been right behind the men's national team and been so happy for them when they've had success. We're all in this together, and our success is also theirs. The more Azerbaijani footballers we can get playing abroad, the better it is for Azerbaijani football."

"What are your immediate goals?"

"My main goal now is to become a regular starter for Hamburg. I know it's so important to meet expectations at the German club, and I'm really going to try my best to make sure I give it my all in training. If I can do well in the Bundesliga, there might be some exciting opportunities to move to teams in Spain, France or England. I'd really love to get the chance to show off some of my best performances for the national team as well."

"Thank you so much for the interview. What message would you like to send to fans through Region Plus?"

"My warmest regards. When my move to Hamburg was announced, I was overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from so many people, which really cheered me up and made me feel really good. I really want to say a big thank you to everyone who has come to watch our national team matches. If you can, please come and watch our next match as well. When our fans are there in their droves, we're unstoppable!"