Neftçi Professional Football Club (Azerbaijani: Neftçi Peşəkar Futbol Klubu), simply known as Neftçi (pronounced [nefˈtʃi]) or Neftchi Baku in English media, is an Azerbaijani football club based in the capital, Baku, that currently plays in the Azerbaijan Premier League, the highest tier of Azerbaijan football.
![]() | ||||
Full name | Neftçi Peşəkar Futbol Klubu | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | Neftçilər (The Oil Workers) Flaqman (The Flagship) Xalqın komandası (The People's Team) Ağ-Qaralar (The Black and Whites) | |||
Short name | Neftçi | |||
Founded | 18 March 1937; 85 years ago (1937-03-18) (as Neftyanik)[1] | |||
Ground | Bakcell Arena | |||
Capacity | 11,000 | |||
Owner | SOCAR | |||
President | Kamran Guliyev | |||
Head Coach | Laurențiu Reghecampf | |||
League | Azerbaijan Premier League | |||
2021–22 | 2nd of 8 | |||
Website | Club website | |||
| ||||
![]() |
The club was founded as Neftyanik on 18 March 1937. Neftçi has won nine Azerbaijan Premier League titles, six Azerbaijan Cups and two Azerbaijan Supercup titles. The club is one of the two teams in Azerbaijan, along with Qarabağ, which has participated in all Azerbaijan Premier League championships so far.[2]
In 2012, Neftçi became the first Azerbaijani club to advance to the group stage of a European competition after defeating APOEL 4–2 on aggregate in the play-off round of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League.[3][4] Neftçi plays its matches at the Bakcell Arena in Baku, which also serves as the venue for Azerbaijan national team matches.
Since 1922, the USSR championships were held with the participation of city national teams. In 1937, it was decided to organize the championship with the participation of club teams. At that time, although the Azerbaijani SSR represented several areas, the oil sector was almost forgotten. However, at that time, Baku had already gained a reputation as an oil city. Therefore, those working in the field of "black gold" soon formed a football team on 18 March 1937. But they didn't have to think much about the name. They gave own names to the team. But at that time the Russian language was more active, so the team was first called "Neftyannik". The team's uniform and emblem also featured signs indicating that it belonged to the oil workers. The emblem was the letter "H" of the Cyrillic alphabet against the background of an oil rig – the first letter of the word "Neftyannik". Of course, the color of "black gold" also formed the basis of the form. At that time, along with oil, cotton, called "white gold", played no less a role in the glory of the Azerbaijani SSR than oil, so it was decided that the color of cotton should be reflected in the form. Since then, Neftchi, which has become the history of Azerbaijani football, has remained faithful to black-white.
World-famous referee Tofiq Bahramov originally played for Neftchi but a serious leg injury prevented him from continuing his playing career and he became a referee.[5]
They won the first independent Azerbaijani championship in 1992, and then won further titles in 1995–96 and 1996–97.[6]
In 2006, Neftchi managed to win the CIS Cup after defeating FBK Kaunas of Lithuania in the final.[7] In European competitions, the club also have advanced to the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League twice, having defeated Bosnian champions – Široki Brijeg – and Icelandic champions – FH Hafnarfjarðar – in 2004 and 2005 respectively.[citation needed]
A long period of decline followed the success of the 2005 to the end of the decade. Despite the appointment of famous names such as Gurban Gurbanov, Vlastimil Petržela, Anatoliy Demyanenko and Hans-Jürgen Gede, the club did not achieve any success and squandered large sums of money on unsuccessful signings.[8]
Prospects changed positively in December 2009 when the club's control was given to Sadıq Sadıqov. The takeover was immediately followed by a flurry of bids for high-profile international players such as Bahodir Nasimov, Nicolás Canales, Flavinho, Bruno Bertucci, Eric Ramos, Igor Mitreski and Julius Wobay.[9]
In May 2011, coached by Arif Asadov, the club won its sixth championship title.[10][11] Asadov also become first person in Azerbaijan to win the league title as a coach and football player.[12]
In the 2011–12 season, Boyukagha Hajiyev guided Neftchi to another domestic success as club become champions for seventh time in their history.[13][14] In November 2011, Neftchi celebrated its 1,000th victory in official matches and its 1,000th goal, scored by Araz Abdullayev.[15]
In 2012, Neftchi qualified for the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League group stage, being the first Azerbaijani team to advance to this stage in a European competition. Neftchi managed to get three points in six matches, drawing with Partizan both times and holding Internazionale away at the San Siro.[16][17]
A third consecutive Premier League title followed in 2012–13.[18] Neftchi then won the Azerbaijan Cup on 28 May 2013 to secure the domestic double.[19][20] Following Neftchi's early exit from European cups, Boyukagha Hajiyev resigned from his post.[21][22] Following defeat at 2013 Azerbaijan Supercup, Nazim Suleymanov was appointed as Neftchi's new manager after Tarlan Ahmadov was sacked just three months in charge.[23] On 8 January 2014, Suleymanov resigned as manager after a transfer fund dispute.[24][25] In May 2014, despite finishing fourth, Neftchi managed to win Azerbaijan Cup.[26] In August 2014, the club reached Europa League play off round after defeating Chikhura Sachkhere on aggregate.[27]
On 2 November 2014, Neftchi club president Sadygov stated that the club was experiencing financial difficulties.[28] In 2015, it was announced that the club would become a public limited company – Neftchi PLC, while the club's new president would be Chingiz Abdullayev.[29]
On 8 June 2018, Roberto Bordin was announced as Neftçi's new manager on a two-year contract.[30]
Neftchi's traditional kit was composed of black shirts, white shorts and socks of the same colour. Although through the years these two have gone from alternating between white and black stripes.[31]
Years | Manufacturer | Sponsor |
---|---|---|
1994–1996 | ![]() |
![]() |
1996–2003 | ![]() |
|
2003–2004 | ![]() |
![]() |
2004–2007 | ![]() |
![]() |
2007–2015 | ![]() |
![]() |
2015–2016 | ![]() |
![]() |
2016–2017 | ![]() |
![]() |
2017–2018 | ![]() |
|
2018–2019 | ![]() |
|
2019–present | ![]() |
![]() |
Neftchi's home matches are usually played at Tofiq Bahramov Stadium in Baku. Built by German prisoners of war in 1951 and constructed in the shape of a "C" to honour Joseph Stalin, it was renamed after famous football referee Tofiq Bahramov in 1993 after his death.[32] The stadium also serves as the home ground of the Azerbaijan national football team and holds 31,200 spectators, making it the second largest stadium in the country.[33]
Neftchi's current home venue is the 11,000 capacity Bakcell Arena. It has been the club's home since the 2012–13 season.
Neftchi is one of the most supported clubs in Azerbaijan, with supporters organized in many fan clubs around the world, including the United States, Turkey, Russia and any other country with a sizeable Azerbaijani community. Neftchi's fans are the first to bring Ultras Culture to Azerbaijan. Various companies were Neftchi's number of participating groups. Among them are "Flaqman", "Ultra Neftçi", "Neftçimania" and Forza Neftçi. Currently, the biggest fan group of the club is "Forza Neftçi". In the 2010s, although Neftchi improved its position, the average attendance fell to record low levels.[34]
The club's most popular celebrity supporters are the likes of actors Bahram Bagirzade, Bashir Safaroglu and Lutfali Abdullayev, composers Gara Garayev, Fikrat Amirov and Niyazi, judoka Ilham Zakiyev and scientist Mirali Qashqai.[35][36][37]
Rivalry with Khazar Lankaran
Matches between Neftchi and Khazar Lankaran are some of the biggest clashes in Azerbaijan. The relationship between the two clubs has always been known for its great animosity, as the classic opposes two geographic regions – with Neftchi and Khazar Lankaran representing the north and south of Azerbaijan, respectively.[38]
Rivalry with Kapaz
Historical Derby (Tarixi Derbi) is an Azerbaijani football derby between Neftçi and Kapaz. Neftchi's first rival was Kapaz. The fight between these two teams is always in the center of attention of Azerbaijani football and is always distinguished by its principles. Known as the oldest and most competitive derby in the history of Azerbaijani football, this derby has been played between two of the biggest football cities in the country, Baku and Ganja. Cities and people from the Absheron Peninsula, Kapaz's set of supporters has a bigger mass, and people in many regions and other cities support Kapaz in the Neftchi-Kapaz games. Back in the Soviet era, the supporters of "Kapaz" in Azerbaijan consisted of the workers part of the people with a large amount of money.
Rivalry with Qarabağ
Azerbaijan Derby (Azərbaycan Derbisi) is an Azerbaijani football derby held between Neftçi and Qarabağ. The match between these two teams is always in the center of attention of the Azerbaijani football community and is always distinguished by its principles. The participation of these clubs in all the championships organized by AFFA and often the competitions for the championship make the matches between these two clubs very important. The principles in the games of these two teams led to the name of this game "Azerbaijan derby". These clubs did not meet in any game during the USSR; football was under state control and Neftchi was like the national team of the Azerbaijani people. In a way, it replaced today's national team of Azerbaijan. When the Soviet Union collapsed, Azerbaijan became independent. Now Neftchi, along with other clubs, is participating in our national championship organized by AFFA. Thus, the long-term Neftchi-Karabakh matches begin. The clubs met for the first time in 1992 and the game in Baku ended with a score of 1–1, while in Aghdam Karabakh beat their opponent (2–1). In general, the superiority of Karabakh was clearly visible in the "Azerbaijan Derby" at first. If we look at the statistics, we can see that in 6 of the Karabakh-Neftchi games that took place in the Azerbaijan championships in 2000, Karabakh won 3 of them, and in 11 games, the teams agreed to a draw. However, starting from 2000, the peak of the financial problem in Karabakh and the weakening of the team make Neftçi a strong side in this derby. Neftchi's biggest victory in the derby (4–0) happened at this time. Also, in 2001, Karabakh was given a 3–0 technical victory over Neftchi for allowing 4 unlicensed players to play in the derby. In total, technical scores were recorded in 3 of the games played between these teams. The first technical score happened in 1994 in the 4/1 final game of the Azerbaijan Cup. Neftchi's refusal to play against Karabakh due to problems within the club caused the Aghdam players to win 3–0 in both games.
Season | Div. | Pos. | Pl. | W | D | L | GS | GA | P | Cup | Europe | Top Scorer (League goals) | Head Coach | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1992 | APL | 1 | 36 | 30 | 2 | 4 | 104 | 23 | 62 | QF | - | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | |
1993 | 5 | 18 | 11 | 5 | 2 | 39 | 11 | 27 | QF | - | ![]() | ![]() | ||
1993–94 | 8 | 30 | 11 | 7 | 12 | 37 | 11 | 29 | QF | - | ![]() | ![]() | ||
1994–95 | 3 | 24 | 17 | 4 | 3 | 67 | 15 | 38 | W | - | ![]() | ![]() | ||
1995–96 | 1 | 20 | 11 | 6 | 3 | 42 | 17 | 39 | W | WC | Qual. | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | |
1996–97 | 1 | 30 | 23 | 5 | 2 | 98 | 20 | 74 | QF | UC | Qual. | ![]() | ![]() | |
1997–98 | 6 | 26 | 13 | 4 | 9 | 43 | 23 | 43 | SF | CL | Qual. | ![]() | ![]() | |
1998–99 | 3 | 26 | 15 | 4 | 4 | 57 | 18 | 52 | W | - | ![]() | ![]() | ||
1999–00 | 3 | 22 | 13 | 4 | 5 | 35 | 17 | 43 | SF | UC | Qual. | ![]() | ![]() | |
2000–01 | 2 | 20 | 16 | 3 | 1 | 57 | 11 | 51 | RU | UC | Qual. | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
2001–02 | 3 | 22 | 13 | 5 | 4 | 34 | 7 | 44 | - | UC | Qual. | ![]() | ![]() | |
2003–04 | 1 | 26 | 22 | 3 | 1 | 66 | 15 | 69 | W | - | ![]() | ![]() | ||
2004–05 | 1 | 34 | 24 | 6 | 4 | 52 | 18 | 78 | QF | CL | Qual. | ![]() | ![]() | |
2005–06 | 3 | 26 | 15 | 9 | 2 | 51 | 16 | 54 | SF | CL | Qual. | ![]() | ![]() | |
2006–07 | 2 | 24 | 17 | 3 | 4 | 47 | 15 | 44 | SF | - | ![]() | ![]() | ||
2007–08 | 6 | 26 | 16 | 7 | 3 | 42 | 18 | 55 | SF | UC | Qual. | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | |
2008–09 | 8 | 26 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 30 | 21 | 36 | QF | IC | R3 | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
2009–10 | 5 | 42 | 13 | 19 | 10 | 31 | 26 | 58 | QF | - | ![]() | ![]() | ||
2010–11 | 1 | 32 | 19 | 10 | 3 | 53 | 17 | 67 | QF | - | ![]() | ![]() | ||
2011–12 | 1 | 32 | 20 | 3 | 9 | 55 | 30 | 63 | RU | CL | Qual. | ![]() | ![]() | |
2012–13 | 1 | 32 | 19 | 5 | 8 | 59 | 32 | 62 | W | CL EL | Qual. GS | ![]() | ![]() | |
2013–14 | 4 | 36 | 17 | 9 | 10 | 48 | 42 | 60 | W | CL | Qual. | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
2014–15 | 4 | 32 | 13 | 10 | 9 | 38 | 33 | 49 | RU | EL | PO | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | |
2015–16 | 6 | 36 | 13 | 10 | 13 | 41 | 41 | 49 | RU | EL | Qual. | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
2016–17 | 7 | 28 | 9 | 2 | 17 | 24 | 45 | 29 | SF | EL | Qual. | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | |
2017–18 | 3 | 28 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 39 | 28 | 46 | SF | - | - | ![]() | ![]() ![]() ![]() | |
2018–19 | 2 | 28 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 52 | 26 | 58 | 2R | EL | 2QR | ![]() | ![]() | |
2019–20 | 2 | 20 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 33 | 14 | 37 | QF | EL | 3QR | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | |
2020–21 | 1 | 28 | 18 | 5 | 5 | 47 | 25 | 59 | QF | EL | 2QR | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | |
2021–22 | 2 | 28 | 15 | 5 | 8 | 42 | 31 | 50 | SF | CL EL ECL | 2QR 3QR PO | ![]() | ![]() |
Type | Record | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
G | W | D | L | GF | GA | Win % | ||
UEFA Champions League | 22 | 7 | 5 | 10 | 18 | 36 | 31.82 | |
UEFA Cup / UEFA Europa League | 42 | 13 | 11 | 18 | 56 | 62 | 30.95 | |
UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
UEFA Intertoto Cup | 6 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 7 | 7 | 50 | |
UEFA Europa Conference League | 6 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 8 | 12 | 33.33 | |
Total | 78 | 25 | 19 | 34 | 89 | 120 | 32.05 |
Season | Competition | Round | Country | Club | Home | Away | Aggregate |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1995–96 | UEFA Cup Winners' Cup | 1Q | ![]() |
APOEL | 0–0 | 0–3 | 0–3 |
1996–97 | UEFA Cup | 1Q | ![]() |
Lokomotiv Sofia | 2–1 | 0–6 | 2–7 |
1997–98 | UEFA Champions League | 1Q | ![]() |
Widzew Łódź | 0–2 | 0–8 | 0–10 |
1999–00 | UEFA Cup | 1Q | ![]() |
Red Star Belgrade | 2–3 | 0–1 | 2–4 |
2000–01 | UEFA Cup | 1Q | ![]() |
Hit Gorica | 1–0 | 1–3 | 2–3 |
2001–02 | UEFA Cup | 1Q | ![]() |
Hit Gorica | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 |
2004–05 | UEFA Champions League | 1Q | ![]() |
Široki Brijeg | 1–0 | 1–2 | 2–2 (a) |
2Q | ![]() |
CSKA Moscow | 0–0 | 0–2 | 0–2 | ||
2005–06 | UEFA Champions League | 1Q | ![]() |
FH | 2–0 | 2–1 | 4–1 |
2Q | ![]() |
Anderlecht | 1–0 | 0–5 | 1–5 | ||
2007–08 | UEFA Cup | 1Q | ![]() |
SV Ried | 2–1 | 1–3 | 3–4 |
2008 | UEFA Intertoto Cup | 1R | ![]() |
Nitra | 2–0 | 1–3 | 3–3 (a) |
2R | ![]() |
Germinal Beerschot | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2–1 | ||
3R | ![]() |
Vaslui | 2–1 | 0–2 | 2–3 | ||
2011–12 | UEFA Champions League | 2Q | ![]() |
Dinamo Zagreb | 0–0 | 0–3 | 0–3 |
2012–13 | UEFA Champions League | 2Q | ![]() |
Zestafoni | 3–0 | 2–2 | 5–2 |
3Q | ![]() |
Ironi Kiryat Shmona | 2–2 | 0–4 | 2–6 | ||
2012–13 | UEFA Europa League | PO | ![]() |
APOEL | 1–1 | 3–1 | 4–2 |
Group H | ![]() |
Partizan | 1–1 | 0–0 | 4th place | ||
![]() |
Internazionale | 1–3 | 2–2 | ||||
![]() |
Rubin Kazan | 0–1 | 0–1 | ||||
2013–14 | UEFA Champions League | 2Q | ![]() |
Skënderbeu | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 (aet) |
2014–15 | UEFA Europa League | 2Q | ![]() |
Koper | 1–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
3Q | ![]() |
Chikhura Sachkhere | 0–0 | 3–2 | 3–2 | ||
PO | ![]() |
Partizan | 1–2 | 2–3 | 3–5 | ||
2015–16 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q | ![]() |
Mladost Podgorica | 2–2 | 1–1 | 3–3 (a) |
2016–17 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q | ![]() |
Balzan | 1–2 | 2–0 | 3–2 |
2Q | ![]() |
Shkëndija | 0–0 | 0–1 | 0–1 | ||
2018–19 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q | ![]() |
Újpest | 3–1 | 0–4 | 3–5 |
2019–20 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q | ![]() |
Speranța | 6–0 | 3–0 | 9–0 |
2Q | ![]() |
Arsenal Tula | 3–0 | 1–0 | 4–0 | ||
3Q | ![]() |
Bnei Yehuda | 2–2 | 1–2 | 3–4 | ||
2020–21 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q | ![]() |
Shkupi | 2–1 | — | — |
2Q | ![]() |
Galatasaray | 1–3 | — | — | ||
2021–22 | UEFA Champions League | 1Q | ![]() |
Dinamo Tbilisi | 2–1 | 2–1 | 4–2 |
2Q | ![]() |
Olympiacos | 0–1 | 0–1 | 0–2 | ||
UEFA Europa League | 3Q | ![]() |
HJK | 2–2 | 0–3 | 2–5 | |
UEFA Europa Conference League | PO | ![]() |
Maccabi Haifa | 3–3 | 0–4 | 3–7 | |
2022–23 | UEFA Europa Conference League | 2Q | ![]() |
Aris Limassol | 3–0 | 0–2 | 3–2 |
3Q | ![]() |
Rapid Wien | 2–1 | 0–2 (a.e.t.) | 2–3 |
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
|
For recent transfers, see Transfers summer 2022.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
|
Neftçi-2 plays in the Azerbaijan First Division from 2018.
[citation needed]
Position | Staff |
---|---|
President | ![]() |
Vice president | ![]() |
Head of Supervisory Board | ![]() |
Board Member | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Financial director | ![]() |
Coordinator of youth academy | ![]() |
Team manager | ![]() |
Press secretary | ![]() |
Position | Staff |
---|---|
Manager | ![]() |
Assistant coach | ![]() |
Assistant coach | ![]() |
Goalkeeper coach | ![]() |
Fitness coach | ![]() |
Reserve team head coach | ![]() |
Under-19 head coach | |
Under-17 head coach | ![]() |
Under-16 head coach | ![]() |
Under-15 head coach | ![]() |
Under-14 head coach | ![]() |
Under-13 head coach | ![]() |
Under-12 head coach | ![]() |
Under-11 head coach | ![]() |
Under-10 head coach | ![]() |
Under-9 head coach | ![]() |
Position | Staff |
---|---|
Club doctor | ![]() |
Physiotherapist | ![]() |
Masseur | ![]() ![]() |
Neftchi has had numerous presidents over the course of its history, some of whom have been owners of the club while others have been honorary presidents. In 1988, Neftchi had registered as a professional football club and club since then had eight presidents.[41]
|
A number of television programmes have included references to Neftçi since Azerbaijan's independence in 1991. In the sitcom Aramizda Galsin, the character Aslan is a Neftchi supporter.[42] Neftchi have also featured on several occasions in meykhana.[43][44]
| |
---|---|
Home stadium |
|
Records |
|
General information |
|
Seasons |
|
Rivalries |
|
Matches |
|
Neftçi PFK – current squad | |
---|---|
Neftçi PFK – managers | |
---|---|
|
2022–23 Azerbaijan Premier League teams | |
---|---|
| |
|
Azerbaijan Premier League | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
| |||||
Seasons |
| ||||
Champions | |||||
Current teams |
| ||||
Former clubs |
|