Azerbaijan's Qarabag Making Waves in UEFA Conquerings
A Cinderella Run for Karabakh's Qarabag FK
Qarabag FK, a football club hailing from the recently reclaimed region of Karabakh, is making major waves in one of Europe's top tournaments - UEFA's Europa League, the continent's second most prestigious competition, trailing only the Champions League.
This South Caucasus powerhouse marked history by advancing to the round of 16, a feat never before accomplished by any club from its home nation. In their most recent nail-biting match on March 7, Qarabag fought Bayer Leverkusen to a 2-2 draw. With a rematch set in Germany on March 15, the teams will square off once more to decide who moves on to the quarterfinals.
The road to the round of 16 was nothing short of miraculous for Qarabag. Already holding a 4-2 advantage in goals over the Portuguese club Braga FC during a qualifying series, Qarabag found themselves down a man after a red card in the 57th minute of the second leg. The team battled valiantly, giving up two goals, forcing extra time, and ultimately relinquishing a penalty shot in the 115th minute, seemingly counting them out. But in the 122nd minute, Qarabag capitalized on an opportunity to send them through to a showdown with Leverkusen.
In 2017, Qarabag etched its name in history by becoming the first Azerbaijani club to make it to the group stage of the Champions League.
The Qarabag team holds a special place in the hearts of Azerbaijanis. After Armenian forces took control of Karabakh in the early 90s, the club became itinerant, unable to return to its original home in Aghdam until 2020 when Azerbaijan reclaimed most of the territory. By the end of 2023, the remaining Armenian residents had been pushed out, and reconstruction of the club's stadium in Aghdam commenced.
Throughout the late 90s and early 2000s, Qarabag grew into a symbol of resilience for the Azerbaijani people, and its identity remains deeply intertwined with the conflict. Allahverdi Bagirov, the former coach and player of the club, became a well-known military commander during the first Karabakh war, earning the title of national hero in 1992 after stepping on an anti-tank mine.
During the recent match against Braga in Baku, a display in the stands depicted Bagirov and the team's current coach, Gurban Gurbanov, shaking hands, with a caption underneath reading: "Our spirit is glad."
Azerbaijan's First Fan, President Ilham Aliyev, has taken every opportunity to boost national spirits with Qarabag's success. Last December, Aliyev attended the Azerbaijani Premier League final between Qarabag and the army club Moik, held in a refurbished stadium in Khankendi, formerly known as Stepanakert. In a passionate speech before the match, Aliyev declared:
"Regardless of the result of today's game, the winners are obvious. The winners are the people of Azerbaijan, the state of Azerbaijan... The unity of Karabakh, the army, and the people is the primary source of our victory... Some people claimed that 'Karabakh is Armenia, full stop' in this stadium four years ago. We have proved to them that Karabakh is Azerbaijan!"
In 2021, when Qarabag qualified for a third-tier European tournament known as the UEFA Conference League, Aliyev called the players to meet him, stating:
"It is no secret that the name of Qarabag football club puts additional responsibility on you. You glorified the name of Karabakh both during the occupation and after the historic victory in the Second Karabakh War... Every victory and every historic step of the Qarabag football club pleases every citizen of Azerbaijan."
Coach Gurbanov is on record as saying his players are motivated by the country's military victories. "Before every game, I explain to my players what name we represent. How many martyrs were given for this name, how many lives were sacrificed," he confessed during a recent screening of a documentary about the team, produced by the Baku Media Center, headed by the president's daughter Arzu Aliyeva.
Qarabag FK has become more than a football team in Azerbaijan; it represents determination, resilience, and a symbol of national unity. As they continue their run in the Europa League, the world sits back to watch as this underdog team etches its name further into history and carries the hopes and dreams of an entire nation.
Despite Qarabag FK's advancement to the round of 16 in the UEFA Europa League, they face another challenging encounter against Bayer Leverkusen in Germany, as they strive to secure a spot in the quarterfinals. Notably, Qarabag's Europa League journey mirrors their past entry into the Champions League group stage in 2017, further solidifying their status as one of the top European football clubs. Sports enthusiasts across Azerbaijan eagerly follow the team's progress, viewing them not just as a sports club, but as a beacon of resilience and national unity. Underneath the name of Qarabag FK lies the weight of history, forged by the sacrifices of countless martyrs and the indomitable spirit represented by Allahverdi Bagirov, a former coach and player who became a national hero during the first Karabakh war.
