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 reports, citing AZERTAC, that the article, titled "Qarabağ, causing 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, maintained its claim in the fight for a place in the play-off stage by defeating the German club "Eintracht" 3:2 last week. It was emphasized that advancing to this stage could mean playing in the play-offs for the first time in the tournament's history for the Aghdam representative. "The Athletic" reminds that the next test for the team, which is in 18th place in the tournament table, will be against "Liverpool" at "Anfield".
Although "Qarabağ" is currently competing against European football giants thousands of kilometers away 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. At that time, 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 only became champion once in the first years of Azerbaijan's independence. However, in recent years, with financial support and government assistance, "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 highlights that "Qarabağ" is demonstrating its most successful performance in Europe this season, defeating "Benfica", "Copenhagen", and "Eintracht", and drawing with "Chelsea".
The article notes that the most expensive transfer made by "Qarabağ" to its squad, which lags far behind European clubs in terms of budget, amounted to 1.28 million euros. Only four players in the team were transferred for more than 500 thousand euros. Nevertheless, the results in Europe are considered a great success for the club.
"The Athletic" also emphasized 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 mine clearance work in the area, and road, rail, electricity, and water infrastructure is being restored".
The material also noted 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 is planned in Aghdam, and the club plans to play in its native location only after the full return of the population to the city.
Finally, it was stated that "Qarabağ" is currently attracting attention on the European stage as one of the most interesting teams in the Champions League with its unique story in terms of both sports and history.
