Imagine a football club that has had the same manager for over a decade, while giants like Chelsea have cycled through a dozen! That's the incredible reality for Qarabag, a team making waves in the Champions League, and their mastermind is Gurban Gurbanov, often hailed as the 'Azeri Sir Alex Ferguson'.
Back in the summer of 2008, a year that saw major managerial shifts at Barcelona and Dortmund, Chelsea also made a high-profile appointment. In stark contrast, Qarabag, Liverpool's upcoming Champions League opponent, made a singular, game-changing decision by bringing in Gurban Gurbanov. Since then, while Chelsea has seen 12 different permanent managers, Qarabag has stood firm with just one: Gurbanov.
This remarkable consistency has allowed Gurbanov to build a footballing empire, transforming Qarabag into a formidable force in European competitions. This season is shaping up to be their most successful yet. As they prepare to face Liverpool at Anfield on the final matchday of the Champions League group stage, Qarabag is in a strong position to advance to the next round. They currently sit 18th in the standings with 10 points, a single point ahead of European powerhouses like Marseille, Bayer Leverkusen, and PSV Eindhoven. Astonishingly, even a loss in their upcoming match might be enough to secure a playoff spot.
The upcoming game marks Qarabag's 204th European fixture, and Gurbanov has been at the helm for an astounding 190 of them. This incredible tenure began when the club was relatively modest, even by Azerbaijani standards. His predecessor, Rasim Kara, departed for a more lucrative offer just before the 2008-09 season. Gurbanov was brought in as an urgent replacement, but expectations were understandably low.
"He was a young coach, and local coaches didn’t get a lot of credit those days, anyway. He started from scratch and wasn’t supposed to survive in the job," recalls Maksim Medvedev, a former Qarabag player. "But we soon realised that he is a superb coach. We won the cup in his first season, and then managed to beat Rosenborg in the Europa League qualifying round. That’s when the whole adventure started. Gurbanov got all the credit in the world from the management and was able to work without interventions from above. He built the team gradually."
But here's where it gets truly impressive: Qarabag had to wait until 2014 to clinch Gurbanov's first Azerbaijani championship title, which was also only the club's second ever. From that point on, they transformed into a dominant force, securing the league title in 10 out of the last 11 seasons. Their European journey has also seen consistent progress, with regular appearances in the Europa League group stage and a historic qualification for the Champions League proper in 2017.
Qarabag's success extends beyond the pitch, holding significant political importance for Azerbaijan. The club originated in Aghdam, a town in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region, which was devastated during the war with Armenia. Following the 2020 agreement that ended the conflict, the region returned to Azerbaijani control and is now undergoing reconstruction.
Elsevar Mammadov, a journalist at Qafqazinfo.az, explains the club's origins: "According to the late Qarabag president Abdolbari Gozal, Azerbaijan president Heydar Aliyev asked him to take over in the beginning of the century in order to save the club. Gozal promised him to make significant investments. He was in charge of Azersun Holding, a very big company that produces most of the food in the country."
While Qarabag possessed the financial backing, they chose a different path than many of their rivals, opting against investing in high-profile foreign stars. Instead, Gurbanov's strategy has focused on cultivating a cohesive unit that is greater than the sum of its parts.
"We never signed top stars," Medvedev emphasizes. "For Gurbanov, all the players are equal. He explains his demands to new arrivals, and only those who accept them can be part of the squad. During our time together, he never had major conflicts with anyone. The coach is strict and puts emphasis on discipline, but he is very fair. He would always defend his players, help them and give them professional and personal advice. Everyone likes and respects him."
Kenan Mastaliyev, editor-in-chief of Record.az, adds: "Qarabag can afford to make expensive signings, but Gurbanov would never destroy the balance he has in the squad. For him, only the team matters. He is patient and believes in his philosophy. He picks players who fit the system, and not vice versa."
When asked about Gurbanov's philosophy, Medvedev describes it as being centered on possession and a proactive approach. "Under Gurbanov, we aspired to control the game and get as many chances to score as possible," he shares. "We were never afraid to make mistakes. We won’t change our style even against the strongest opponents. That was especially true after we won 3-0 at Legia Warsaw in 2020. Ever since, we knew that were we capable of beating anyone and played even more attacking football."
Their attacking style is evident in their numerous high-scoring European encounters. Just two years ago, they secured a 4-2 victory at Braga in the Europa League and narrowly missed out on eliminating Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen, drawing 2-2 at home before a dramatic 3-2 loss in Germany. Last season, they emphatically defeated Ludogorets 7-2 in Bulgaria.
This current campaign has seen Qarabag qualify for the group stage after a thrilling 5-4 aggregate win against Ferencvaros. They've showcased their resilience by coming back from 2-0 down to beat Benfica 3-2 in Lisbon, followed by a 2-0 victory over Copenhagen and an entertaining 2-2 draw against Chelsea. Last week, they secured a 3-2 win against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Before Gurbanov's rise, Azerbaijan's most celebrated figure in football history was Tofiq Bahramov, the linesman who famously awarded Geoff Hurst's goal in the 1966 World Cup final, after whom their national stadium is named. However, the Qarabag coach has now far surpassed that legacy.
"Gurbanov is a legend in Azerbaijan. He achieved things that seemed impossible," Mammadov states, with Medvedev adding, "He is our own Azeri Alex Ferguson. He is going to stay at Qarabag as long as he wants, and then he will retire."
For now, however, Gurbanov's sights are set on a historic victory at Anfield, aiming to add another illustrious chapter to his already remarkable career.
But is this 'Azeri Sir Alex Ferguson' approach to management, prioritizing stability and a strong team ethos over individual stars, truly the key to long-term success in modern football? Or is it a philosophy that might be too rigid for the ever-evolving demands of the game? What are your thoughts?
