2011–12 Azerbaijan Premier League

The 2011–12 Azerbaijan Premier League (known as the Unibank Premyer Liqası for sponsorship reasons) was the twentieth season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. Neftchi Baku was the defending champions, having won their second Azerbaijani championship the previous season.

Azerbaijan Premier League
Season2011–12
ChampionsNeftchi (7th title)
Champions LeagueNeftchi
Europa LeagueBaku
Khazar
Inter Baku
Matches played192
Goals scored448 (2.33 per match)
Top goalscorerBahodir Nasimov
(16 goals)
Biggest home winNeftchi 7-1 AZAL
Biggest away winRavan 0-4 Gabala
Highest scoringAZAL 6-3 Sumgayit
Highest attendance15,000[1]
Kəpəz 3–1 AZAL
Lowest attendance300[2] FK Baku 0–3 Kəpəz
FK Baku 3–2 Ravan
Average attendance3,581[2]

A total of twelve teams participated in the league, the ten sides remaining of the 2010–11 season, one promoted club from the 2010–11 Azerbaijan First Division and a totally new club instead of defunct First Division champions FC Absheron.[3] The format of the league was same as 2010–11 season.

There is only one change in season's regulation as only champion of 2011–12 Azerbaijan First Division was directly promoted, while runners up of first division played play-off game with the team that finished 11th in Azerbaijan Premier League.[3]

Teams

MOIK Baku were relegated to the Azerbaijan First Division after finishing 12th and last, at the end of last season. They were replaced by First Division champions FC Absheron and runners-up Ravan Baku. However, due sponsorship problems Absheron became defunct and replaced by Sumgayit City F.C..[4]

On 31 May 2011, it was announced that FK Ganja changed their name to FC Kəpəz.[5] On 18 July 2011, FK Mughan also ruled out to participate in this season due sponsorship reasons and replaced by Simurq PFC.[6][7]

Stadia and locations
AZAL
FK Baku
Inter
Neftchi
Ravan
Sumgayit
Kəpəz
Khazar
Simurq
Qarabağ
Gabala
Turan
Location of teams in 2011-12 Azerbaijan Premier League
Team Location Venue Capacity[8]
AZAL Baku AZAL Stadium 3,000
FK Baku Baku Tofig Bahramov Stadium 30,000
Gabala Gabala Gabala City Stadium 2,000
Inter Baku Shafa Stadium 8,150
Kəpəz Ganja Ganja City Stadium 25,000
Khazar Lankaran Lankaran City Stadium 15,000
Neftchi Baku Tofig Bahramov Stadium 30,000
Qarabağ Agdam Guzanli Olympic Stadium 2,000
Ravan Baku Baku Dalga Arena 6,500
Simurq Zaqatala Zaqatala City Stadium 3,500
Sumgayit Sumqayit Mehdi Huseynzade Stadium 16,000
Turan Tovuz Tovuz City Stadium 6,800

Personnel and sponsoring
Team Manager Team captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
AZAL Vagif Sadygov Agil Nabiyev Umbro Silk Way
FC Baku Novruz Azimov Jamshid Maharramov Macron
Gabala Fatih Kavlak Mahir Shukurov Erreà Hyundai
Inter Kakhaber Tskhadadze Vladimir Levin Umbro IBA
Kəpəz Fuad Ismayilov Azer Mammadov Adidas Nakhchivan Car Factory
Khazar Yunis Hüseynov Rahid Amirguliev Puma Palmali
Neftchi Boyukagha Hajiyev Rail Malikov Adidas SOCAR
Qarabağ Gurban Gurbanov Rashad Sadigov Kappa Azersun
Ravan Baku Bahman Hasanov Miloš Zečević Legea Nissan
Simurq Giorgi Chikhradze Rasim Ramaldanov Kappa
Sumgayit Bernhard Raab Samir Abbasov Kappa Azerkimya
Turan Asgar Abdullayev Aftandil Hajiyev Kappa SivArt TV PLUS

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Replaced by Date of appointment
AZAL Nazim Suleymanov Resigned 7 July 2011[9] Pre-season Elkhan Abdullayev 12 July 2011[10]
Neftchi Arif Asadov Resigned 29 July 2011[11] Pre-season Boyukagha Hajiyev 2 August 2011[12]
Ravan Baku Bahman Hasanov Resigned 20 September 2011[13] 11th Vladislav Kadyrov 20 September 2011[13]
AZAL Elkhan Abdullayev Resigned 31 October 2011[14] 10th Rafig Mirzayev 1 November 2011
Gabala Tony Adams Resigned 16 November 2011[15] 6th Fatih Kavlak 16 November 2011[16]
Kapaz Mehman Allahverdiyev Resigned 21 November 2011[17] 10th Mirbaghir Isayev 21 November 2011[18]
Khazar Lankaran Mircea Rednic Sacked 4 December 2011[19] 3rd Cüneyt Biçer 5 December 2011[20]
Kapaz Mirbaghir Isayev Resigned 24 December 2011[21] 10th Fuad Ismayilov 1 January 2012[22]
Ravan Baku Vladislav Kadyrov Sacked 5 February 2012[23] 8th Bahman Hasanov 6 February 2012[23]
Simurq Sergey Yuran Mutually terminated 5 March 2012[24] 10th Igor Getman 5 March 2012[24]
Simurq Igor Getman End of tenure as caretaker 11 March 2012[25] 10th Giorgi Chikhradze 11 March 2012[25]
FC Baku Aleksandrs Starkovs Mutually terminated 11 March 2012[26] 5th Novruz Azimov 11 March 2012[26]
Khazar Lankaran Cüneyt Biçer Sacked 15 March 2012[27] 4th Yunis Hüseynov 15 March 2012[28]
AZAL Rafig Mirzayev Mutually terminated 2 April 2012[29] 7th Mais Azimov 2 April 2012[29]
AZAL Mais Azimov End of tenure as caretaker 6 April 2012[30] 7th Vagif Sadygov 6 April 2012[30]

Season events

Inter Baku scandal

On 21 August 2011, Inter Baku - FK Baku game was suspended during last minutes due referee scandal, therefore game's fate decided after Professional Football League of Azerbaijan's decision.[31][32] On 23 August 2011, PFL awarded 3-0 technical victory to FK Baku and announced the following punishments were given to Inter Baku's individuals:

Furthermore, Inter Baku fined additional 13,000 AZN for breaching security regulations.[33][34]

Khazar Lankaran and Turan controversy

On 6 August 2011, the Disciplinary Committee of AFFA imposed the punishment on the scandal that took place in two matches. Khazar Lankaran fined 10,000 AZN after club's fans threw alien objects to the court, injuring the head of Inter Baku's coach Kakhaber Tskhadadze. Khazar also must play its next two league home matches in an empty stadium because of its fans' aggressive behavior.[35]

AFFA fined Turan Tovuz 26,000 AZN and moved its next two league home matches on a neutral ground for injuring referees, breaking PFL camera as well as for refusing to play at the second half of 2011–12 Azerbaijan Cup.[35][36] The club's president Musa Suleymanov has been disqualified for five matches and club received technical defeat of 0-3.[37]

First round

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 Neftçi Baku 22 16 1 5 45 17 +28 49 Qualification for championship group
2 Inter Baku 22 13 6 3 21 10 +11 45
3 Khazar Lankaran 22 13 5 4 33 19 +14 44
4 Qarabağ 22 12 5 5 27 14 +13 41
5 Baku 22 10 5 7 27 22 +5 35
6 Gabala 22 10 5 7 27 23 +4 35
7 AZAL 22 8 5 9 35 35 0 29 Qualification for relegation group
8 Ravan Baku 22 6 7 9 23 29 −6 25
9 Kapaz 22 6 4 12 26 38 −12 22
10 Simurq 22 5 4 13 18 34 −16 19
11 Sumgayit 22 4 3 15 16 37 −21 15
12 Turan 22 3 2 17 13 33 −20 11
Source: Soccerway: Azerbaijan Premier League Table
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.

Results
Home \ Away AZL BAK KAP INT KHA SIM NEF QAR GAB RAV SUM TUR
AZAL 1–0 2–0 1–1 0–3 5–1 3–1 1–3 3–0 1–2 6–3 3–2
Baku 0–0 0–3 1–0 2–2 0–0 1–3 0–3 2–1 3–2 1–0 5–0
Kapaz 3–1 1–3 0–1 1–4 2–0 1–1 1–2 3–2 3–2 1–1 1–1
Inter Baku 1–1 0–3 0–0 1–0 1–0 2–1 0–0 1–1 1–0 2–0 1–0
Khazar Lankaran 1–0 3–0 1–0 0–1 1–0 1–0 0–0 2–1 1–1 2–1 3–1
Simurq 0–3 0–2 4–2 0–2 2–2 1–2 0–1 0–1 1–1 1–0 2–1
Neftçi Baku 7–1 1–0 2–0 0–1 5–0 4–2 3–2 2–0 1–0 4–0 1–0
Qarabağ 1–0 2–1 1–0 1–0 0–1 2–0 1–2 0–1 2–0 1–2 3–1
Gabala 1–1 0–0 2–0 0–0 2–1 0–2 1–0 0–0 2–3 3–1 2–1
Ravan Baku 3–1 0–0 1–2 1–2 1–1 1–1 0–1 1–1 0–4 0–0 2–1
Sumgayit 2–1 0–1 4–1 0–2 0–3 0–1 0–3 0–0 1–2 0–1 1–0
Turan 0–0 0–2 3–1 0–1 0–1 1–0 0–1 0–1 0–1 0–1 1–0
Source: Soccerway
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Second round

Championship group

The top six teams of the first phase participate in this group, which will decide which team will win the championship. Additionally, teams in this group compete for one 2012–13 Champions League and two Europa League spots.

The winners will qualify for the Champions League Second qualifying round, with the runners-up and third place team earning a spot in the Europa League first qualifying round.

Table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Neftçi Baku (C) 32 20 3 9 55 30 +25 63 Qualification for Champions League second qualifying round
2 Khazar Lankaran 32 17 8 7 44 28 +16 59 Qualification for Europa League first qualifying round[lower-alpha 1]
3 Inter Baku 32 16 8 8 29 21 +8 56
4 Qarabağ 32 15 8 9 37 28 +9 53
5 Gabala 32 15 7 10 43 32 +11 52
6 Baku 32 15 5 12 42 37 +5 50 Qualification for Europa League first qualifying round[lower-alpha 1]
Source: Soccerway.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(C) Champion.
Notes:
  1. Baku qualified for the first qualifiying round of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League as winner of the 2011–12 Azerbaijan Cup.

Results
Home \ Away BAK INT KHA NEF QAR GAB
Baku 0–1 4–1 2–0 1–2 2–1
Inter Baku 1–0 0–0 1–2 1–1 2–1
Khazar Lankaran 0–1 2–0 1–0 4–1 1–1
Neftçi Baku 2–1 2–1 1–1 2–1 0–1
Qarabağ 2–4 1–0 1–0 0–0 1–1
Gabala 4–0 2–1 0–1 4–1 1–0
Source: Soccerway
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Relegation group

The bottom six teams of the first phase will determine the teams to be relegated to the 2012–13 Azerbaijan First Division. The bottom team of this group will be directly relegated, while the fifth-placed team will have to compete in relegation/promotion playoffs with the second-placed teams of the 2011–12 Azerbaijan First Division. On April 30, due decision of Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan, no clubs from Azerbaijan First Division will be promoted which means all clubs from this season will be remaining in the league.[38]

Table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
7 AZAL 32 12 8 12 44 44 0 44
8 Ravan Baku 32 10 11 11 39 39 0 41
9 Simurq 32 8 10 14 27 41 −14 34
10 Kapaz 32 9 5 18 35 55 −20 32
11 Turan (R) 32 6 7 19 26 42 −16 25 Qualification for relegation playoffs
12 Sumgayit (R) 32 6 6 20 27 52 −25 24 Relegation to Azerbaijan First Division
Source: Soccerway.com
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated.

Results
Home \ Away AZL KAP RAV SIM SUM TUR
AZAL 2–0 1–1 0–0 1–1 1–0
Kapaz 0–2 1–0 0–1 4–1 2–1
Ravan Baku 2–0 5–1 0–0 3–2 2–2
Simurq 1–2 1–1 1–1 2–1 1–1
Sumgayit 1–0 2–0 0–1 1–2 1–1
Turan 3–0 2–0 2–1 0–0 1–1
Source: Soccerway.com
Colours: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.

Season statistics

Top scorers
As of 11 May 2012
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Bahodir Nasimov 16 Neftchi
2 Yuriy Fomenko 11 Kapaz
3 Tales Schutz 10 AZAL
Flavinho 10 Neftchi
Zouhir Benouahi 10 AZAL
4 Dodô 9 Gabala
5 Robertas Poškus 8 Simurq
Branimir Subašić 8 Khazar Lankaran
Yannick Kamanan 8 Gabala

Last updated: 11 May 2012
Source: Azerbaijan Premier League

Hat-tricks
PlayerForAgainstResultDate
Bahodir NasimovNeftchi BakuAZAL7–1[39]11 December 2011
Deividas ČesnauskisFK BakuKhazar Lankaran4–1[40]14 April 2012

Scoring
  • First goal of the season: John Pelu for Ravan Baku against Kəpəz (6 August 2011)
  • Fastest goal of the season: 1st minute,
    • Shahin Karimov for Kəpəz against AZAL (11 September 2011)[41]
    • Dejan Rusič for Khazar Lankaran against Kəpəz (16 December 2011)[42]
  • Latest goal of the season: 90+4 minutes,
    • Ramazan Abbasov for Ravan Baku against Simurq (19 August 2011)[43]
    • Akif Taghiyev for Turan Tovuz against Simurq (25 August 2012)[44]
  • Largest winning margin: 6 goals
    • Neftchi Baku 7–1 AZAL(11 December 2012)[45]
  • Highest scoring game: 9 goals
    • AZAL 6–3 Sumgayit(7 March 2012)[46]
  • Most goals scored in a match by a single team: 7 goals
    • Neftchi Baku 7–1 AZAL(11 December 2012)[45]
  • Most goals scored in a match by a losing team: 3 goals
    • AZAL 6–3 Sumgayit(7 March 2012)[46]

Clean sheets
  • Most clean sheets: 17
    • Inter Baku
  • Fewest clean sheets: 4
    • Kəpəz

Discipline
  • Most yellow cards (club): 82
    • AZAL
  • Most yellow cards (player): 12
  • Most red cards (club): 7
    • Inter Baku
    • Ravan Baku
    • Kəpəz
  • Most red cards (player): 3
    • Tagim Novruzov (Ravan Baku)

[47]

Awards

Monthly awards
Month Azerbaijan Professional Football League Awards
Player Club
August Ceyhun Sultanov Kəpəz[48]
September Rashad Abdullayev Neftchi
October Winston Parks Baku[49]
November Flavinho Neftchi[49]
December Bachana Tskhadadze Inter Baku
February Afran Ismayilov Qarabağ
March Yannick Kamanan Gabala
April Deividas Česnauskis Baku
May Eder Bonfim Khazar

Annual awards
Award PFL Seasonal Awards[50]
Player Club
Best Goalkeeper Kamran Agayev Khazar
Best Defender Ruslan Abishov Khazar
Best Midfielder Adrian Piț Khazar
Best Forward Rauf Aliyev Qarabağ
Player of the Year Flavinho Neftchi
Young Player of the Year Nurlan Novruzov Baku
Manager of the Year Boyukagha Hajiyev Neftchi

See also

References
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  2. "Rekord "Kəpəz"in, antirekord "Bakı"nın". apasport.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on March 25, 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2011.
  3. Ibrahimov, Erkin. "Азербайджанская дюжина". UEFA. Retrieved 27 July 2011.
  4. ""Azərkimya" premyer liqanı qarışdırdı (Yazı)". Archived from the original on 8 September 2012. Retrieved 1 July 2011.
  5. "Gəncə klublarının adı dəyişdirildi". Retrieved 31 May 2011.
  6. "Рамин Мусаев: Симург заменит Мугань в премьер-лиге". Retrieved 18 July 2011.
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  8. Azərbaycan Peşəkar Liqası (in Azerbaijani)
  9. "Назим Сулейманов подал в отставку". Retrieved 7 July 2011.
  10. "АЗАЛ доверят Эльхану Абдуллаеву". Retrieved 12 July 2011.
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  14. Отставка Абдуллаева принята АЗАЛ (in Russian). Retrieved 31 October 2011.
  15. Адамс подал в отставку и покидает Азербайджан. azerisport.com (in Russian). Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  16. Уход "по-английски". echo-az.com (in Russian). Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 16 November 2011.
  17. Юнис Гусейнов может возглавить Кяпаз. azerisport.com (in Russian). Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  18. Мирбагир Исаев возглавил Кяпяз. azerifootball.com (in Russian). Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  19. ХЛ отправляет Редника в отставку. Azerisport.com (in Russian). Retrieved 4 December 2011.
  20. Назначен новый главный тренер футбольного клуба "Хазар-Лянкяран". 1news.az (in Russian). Archived from the original on 14 December 2011. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
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  25. Юрана заменил Чихрадзе. Azerisport.com (in Russian).
  26. Александр Старков больше не является наставником Бакы. Azerisport.com (in Russian). Retrieved 11 March 2012.
  27. ХЛ поменял Бичера на Юниса Гусейнова. Azerisport.com (in Russian). Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  28. "Yunis Hüseynov "Xəzər Lənkəran"ın sükanı arxasına keçdi". Lankaranfc.com (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on March 20, 2012. Retrieved 15 March 2012.
  29. "AZAL-da məşqçi istefaları". Retrieved 2 April 2012.
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  33. Интер получил техническое поражение (ОБНОВЛЯЕТСЯ) (in Russian). Azerisport.com. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  34. ""İnter"ə texniki məğlubiyyət verildi" (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 8 October 2011. Retrieved 23 August 2011.
  35. Aliyev, Elmir. "Khazar-Lankaran to play without fans". News.az. Retrieved 6 December 2011.
  36. ДК АФФА попросит исполком рассмотреть участие Турана в чемпионате. Azerisport.com (in Russian). Retrieved 6 December 2011.
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  38. АФФА отказалась выдавать лицензии конкурентам "Сумгайыта" и "Турана". Extratime.az (in Russian). Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 30 April 2012.
  39. "Neftçi vs AZAL". Soccerway. 11 December 2011. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  40. "Bakı vs Khazar Lankaran". Soccerway. 14 April 2012. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  41. "Kəpəz 3-1 AZAL". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  42. "Kəpəz 1-1 Khazar Lankaran". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  43. "Simurq 1-1 Ravan Baku". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  44. "Simurq 2-1 Turan Tovuz". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  45. "Neftchi Baku 7-1 AZAL". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  46. "AZAL 6-3 Sumgayit". Soccerway. Retrieved 30 October 2012.
  47. "Summary - Premyer Liqa - Azerbaijan - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway". Uk.soccerway.com. 2012-01-11. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
  48. "Avqust ayının ən yaxşı müəyyənləşdi". fanat.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 19 September 2011.
  49. Футболисты Бакы и Нефтчи стали лучшими за октябрь и ноябрь. Azerisport.com (in Russian). Retrieved 5 December 2011.
  50. ПФЛ наградила героев прошлого сезона (ОБНОВЛЕНО). Azerisport.com (in Russian). Retrieved 10 October 2012.
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