Sport24.az
The influential English publication "The Athletic" has published an extensive article about "Qarabağ," which has attracted attention with its successful performance in the UEFA Champions League this season. Sport24.az, citing AZERTAC, reports that the article, titled "'Qarabağ', delivering unexpected results in the Champions League and forced to leave their hometown," states that the team has become one of the main stories of the tournament this season.
It was noted that the team, coached by Gurban Gurbanov, defeated Germany's "Eintracht" 3:2 last week, maintaining its claim in the fight for a place in the play-off stage. It was emphasized that reaching this stage could mean playing in the play-offs for the first time in the tournament's history for the Aghdam representative. "The Athletic" recalls that the team, ranked 18th in the tournament table, will have its next test against "Liverpool" at "Anfield" on this way.
Although "Qarabağ" is currently competing against European football giants thousands of kilometers from Baku, the club was founded in the city of Aghdam in the Karabakh region. After Aghdam was occupied during the First Karabakh War in 1993, the club was forced to leave its hometown. During that period, tens of thousands of Azerbaijanis were displaced from their homes. Aghdam remained an uninhabited city for many years. The city was returned to Azerbaijani control after the Second Karabakh War in 2020. "Qarabağ's" home stadium, the "Imarat" arena, was completely destroyed during the war. The club did not play in the top league during the Soviet era and was champion only once in the first years of Azerbaijan's independence. However, in recent years, with financial support and state aid, "Qarabağ" has risen to a dominant position in Azerbaijani football. The team has won the title of Azerbaijani champion in 11 of the last 12 seasons," the material says.
The article emphasizes that "Qarabağ" is demonstrating its most successful performance in Europe this season, having won against "Benfica," "Copenhagen," and "Eintracht," and drawn with "Chelsea."
The article notes that "Qarabağ," which lags far behind European clubs in terms of budget, made its most expensive transfer for 1.28 million euros. Only four players in the team were transferred for more than 500,000 euros. Nevertheless, the results in Europe are considered a great success for the club.
"The Athletic" also emphasizes that "Qarabağ" cannot yet play in its hometown of Aghdam: "The area was extensively mined during the war, making the region one of the most mined places in the world. Currently, the Azerbaijani government is carrying out demining work in the area, restoring road, rail, electricity, and water infrastructure."
The material also notes that in December 2023, President Ilham Aliyev stated that they would ensure the return of "Qarabağ" to Aghdam, and head coach Gurban Gurbanov welcomed these plans and emphasized that holding Eurocup games in Aghdam one day would be of great moral importance.
According to future plans, the construction of a UEFA Category IV stadium in Aghdam is planned, and the club plans to play in its homeland only after the full return of the population to the city.
Finally, it is stated that "Qarabağ" is currently attracting attention as one of the most interesting teams in the Champions League with its unique story in terms of both sports and history on the European stage.
