Khazar Lankaran FK

Football club

Khazar Lankaran

Full name| Xəzər Lənkəran Futbol Klubu
Nickname(s)| Gəmiçilər (The Shipbuilders)
Dəniz piyadaları (The Marines)
Ağ-yaşıllar (The Green-whites)
Founded| 20 April 2004; 20 years ago (2004-04-20)
Dissolved| 2016
Ground| Lankaran City Stadium,
Lankaran, Azerbaijan
Capacity| 15,500
Owner| Armin Rezanezhad
President| Mais Mansimov
League| Azerbaijan Premier League
2015–16| 10th (relegated)
Website| Club website

Home colours

Away colours

|

Current season

Khazar Lankaran FK (Azerbaijani: Xəzər Lənkəran Futbol Klubu) is an Azerbaijani football club based in Lankaran that last played in the Azerbaijan Premier League during the 2015–16 season.

Since the summer of 2016 the club has concentrated on youth football.[1] It played in the Azerbaijan Premier League for twelve-seasons, winning the title once, and the Azerbaijan Cup three times.[2][3] Khazar were also a member of the European Club Association, an organization that replaced the previous G-14 which consists of major football clubs in Europe.

## History

[edit]

### Early years (2004–2012)

[edit]

The club was founded in 2004 by Azerbaijani entrepreneur Mubariz Mansimov and dubbed by the local media as "Caucasian Chelsea" because of its strong financial position.[4][5] Under Agaselim Mirjavadov club won Premier League title during the 2006–07 season and the Azerbaijan Cup twice. Khazar also won the CIS Cup in 2008, defeating Pakhtakor Tashkent in the final.[6][7]

After Fabian Veldwijk's appointment, a string of Romanian players and footballers were signed from Liga I, but the club did not find success in European cup competition.[8][9] On 4 December 2013, Khazar announced that Veldwijk had been sacked by the club due to a run of poor performances.[10][11]

### Recent years (2014–2016)

[edit]

In July 2014, the club under Yunis Huseynov earned their first win in European competition by beating Nõmme Kalju.[12] In March 2015, former Liverpool striker John Toshack was appointed as new manager after signing two-year deal with the club.[13][14] In 2015–16 season, Khazar finished in 12th place, the club's lowest finishing position to date.[15] Khazar Lankaran once again featured in European competitions during the 2015–16 season, featuring in the UEFA Europa League, where they were knocked out 3–0 on aggregate after suffering their heaviest European defeat ever, losing 8–0 to Maccabi Haifa.[16]

Following the Professional Football League of Azerbaijan's decision to deny Khazar a licence for the 2016–17 season, the club announced their withdrawal from professional football.[1]

## League and cup history

[edit]

Season  | League  | Azerbaijan Cup | Top goalscorer

|
|
|

Div.  | Pos.  | Pl.  | W  | D  | L  | GS  | GA  | P  | Name  | League
2004–05 | 1st  | 2 | 34  | 24  | 6  | 4  | 68  | 15  | 78 | Semi-finals  |  Samir Aliyev | 20
2005–06 | 1st  | 7 | 26  | 9  | 9  | 8  | 27  | 18  | 36 | Semi-finals  |  Samir Aliyev | 4
2006–07 | 1st  | 1 | 24  | 17  | 5  | 2  | 50  | 16  | 56 | Winners  |  Zaur Ramazanov | 20
2007–08 | 1st | 4 | 26  | 14  | 10  | 2  | 44  | 16  | 52 | Winners  |  Zaur Ramazanov | 11
2008–09 | 1st | 4 | 26  | 15  | 5  | 6  | 49  | 21  | 50 | Quarter-finals  |  Ivan Tsvetkov | 15
2009–10 | 1st | 4 | 42  | 18  | 17  | 7  | 48  | 25  | 71 | Runners-up  |  Mario Sergio | 9
2010–11 | 1st | 2 | 32  | 16  | 12  | 4  | 38  | 18  | 60 | Winners  |  Winston Parks | 8
2011–12 | 1st | 2 | 32  | 17  | 8  | 7  | 44  | 28  | 59 | Quarter-finals  |  Branimir Subašić | 6
2012–13 | 1st | 8 | 32  | 10  | 10  | 12  | 40  | 37  | 40 | Runners-up  |  Dimitris Sialmas | 6
2013–14 | 1st | 6 | 36  | 12  | 13  | 11  | 44  | 49  | 49 | Semi-finals  |  Mbilla Etame | 11
2014–15 | 1st | 7 | 32  | 8  | 8  | 16  | 35  | 46  | 32 | Quarter-finals  |  Galin Ivanov | 6
2015–16 | 1st | 10 | 36  | 3  | 6  | 27  | 16  | 51  | 15 | Quarter-finals |  Rahid Amirguliyev | 4

## European history

[edit]

As of 17 July 2013
Season  | Competition  | Round  | Club  | Home  | Away  | Aggregate  |

|
|
|
|
|
|
|

2005–06 | UEFA Cup | 1Q |  FC Nistru Otaci | 1–2  | 1–3  | 2–5 |
2007–08 | UEFA Champions League | 1Q |  NK Dinamo Zagreb | 1–1  | 1–3 (aet)  | 2–4 |
2008–09 | UEFA Cup | 1Q |  Lech Poznań | 0–1  | 1–4  | 1–5 |
2010–11 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q |  Olimpia | 1–1  | 0–0  | 1–1 (a)  |
2011–12 | UEFA Europa League | 2Q |  Maccabi Tel Aviv | 0–0  | 1–3  | 1–3 |
2012–13 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q |  Nõmme Kalju | 2–2  | 2–0  | 4–2 |
2Q |  Lech Poznań | 1–1  | 0–1  | 1–2 |
2013–14 | UEFA Europa League | 1Q |  Sliema Wanderers | 1–0  | 1–1  | 2–1 |
2Q |  Maccabi Haifa | 0–8  | 0–2  | 0–10 |

## Crest and colours

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The club's crest includes stockless anchor with a football ball. The badge shaped like traditional compass with white-green background elements.

## Shirt sponsors and kit manufacturers

[edit]

Khazar's traditional kit is composed of white shirts, green shorts and white socks. The club's kits are manufactured by Puma and sponsored by Palmali, a multinational shipping company in Istanbul.

## Stadium

[edit]

Main article: Lankaran City Stadium

Lankaran City Stadium

Fırtınalar Meydanı (Arena of Storms)

Location| Lankaran,
Azerbaijan
Owner| Khazar Lankaran
Operator| Khazar Lankaran
Capacity| 15,000 seated
Construction
Broke ground| 2005
Opened| 11 August 2006
Construction cost| $15 million
Tenants
Khazar Lankaran (2006–present)

Khazar Lankaran's home ground is Lankaran City Stadium. It has a capacity of 15,000 and is the third largest stadium in Azerbaijan. The stadium also known as Fırtınalar meydanı (Arena of Storms), named after club's local supporters Fırtına fan group.[17][18]

On 17 July 2009, UEFA approved stadium for the usage during international football matches.[19] The stadium hosted its first senior international match on 5 September 2009, between Azerbaijan and Finland.[20]

## Supporters

[edit]

Khazar is one of the best supported clubs in Azerbaijan, having the highest attendance after FC Kapaz in the Caucasus region. Supporters of Khazar Lankaran are drawn from all over the Southern Region and beyond, with supporters' clubs all across the world.[21] The club's supporters are also known as the Fırtına(Storm) the first established independent fan club in Azernaijan. Fan club's first president Ravan Bashirov also been appointed as vice- president of Khazar Lankaran FC. .[22][23]

## Rivalry with Neftchi Baku

[edit]

Main article: Böyük Oyun

There is often a fierce rivalry between the two strongest teams in the Azerbaijan Premier League, and this is particularly the case in Azerbaijan, where the game between Khazar Lankaran and Neftchi Baku is known as Böyük Oyun (The Great Game).[24][25][26]

## Honours

[edit]

### National

[edit]

* Azerbaijan Premier League

Winners (1): 2006–07

* Azerbaijan Cup

Winners (3): 2006–07, 2007–08, 2010–11

* Azerbaijan Supercup

Winners (1): 2013

### Regional

[edit]

* CIS Cup

Winners (1): 2008

## Individual records

[edit]

Lists of the players with the most caps and top goalscorers for the club, as of 30 August 2014 (players in bold signifies current Khazar player). Zaur Ramazanov is the club's all-time top scorer with 33 goals in 69 games.[27]

Rahid Amirguliyev is one of the most capped players for the club. Top Ten Highest Goalscorers Player  | Period  | Appearances  | Goals

|
|
|

1  |  Zaur Ramazanov | 2005–08; 2011  | 69  | 33
2  |  Ivan Tsvetkov | 2008–10  | 50  | 22
3  |  Rahid Amirguliyev | 2006–present  | 189  | 20
4  |  Mario Sergio | 2008–10  | 58  | 18
5  |  Oktay Derelioğlu | 2004–05  | 17  | 16
6  |  Branimir Subašić | 2011–13  | 51  | 14
7  |  Rashad Abdullayev | 2004–09  | 116  | 12
8  |  Mbilla Etame | 2013–14  | 35  | 11
9  |  Allan Lalín | 2009–11  | 43  | 11
10  |  Sadio Tounkara | 2011–present  | 81  | 11

Kamran Agayev is one of the most capped players for the club. Top Ten Players With Most Appearances Player  | Period  | Caps  | Goals

|
|
|

1  |  Rahid Amirguliyev | 2006–present  | 189  | 20
2  |  Radomir Todorov | 2007–10; 2012–13  | 136  | 1
3  |  Kamran Agayev | 2006–13  | 122  | 0
4  |  Alim Qurbanov | 2004–12  | 121  | 11
5  |  Rashad Abdullayev | 2004–09  | 116  | 12
6  |  Elnur Abdullayev  | 2011–present  | 109  | 10
7  |  Adrian Scarlatache | 2011; 2012–2015  | 96  | 11
8  |  Sadio Tounkara | 2011–present  | 81  | 11
9  |  Adrian Piț | 2011–14  | 75  | 8
10  |  Emin Quliyev | 2005–09  | 70  | 10

## Notable managers

[edit]

Further information: List of FK Khazar Lankaran managers

The following managers have all won at least one trophy when in charge of FK Khazar Lankaran:

Name  | Period  | Trophies

|
|

Agaselim Mirjavadov | 2007–09  | Azerbaijan Premier League, Azerbaijan Cup (2), CIS Cup
Mircea Rednic | 2010–11  | Azerbaijan Cup
John Toshack | 2013  | Azerbaijan Supercup

## In popular culture

[edit]

A number of television programmes have included references to Khazar Lankaran over the past few decades. In the sitcom Aramizda Galsin, the character Jasarat is a Khazar supporter.[28] Khazar have also featured on several occasions in meykhana.[29][30]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ a b "Statement of Khazar Lankaran FC". lankaranfc.com. Khazar Lankaran. 27 May 2016. Archived from the original on 3 July 2017. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
2. ^ "Хет-трик ХЛ, черный покер Интера". Retrieved 25 May 2011.
3. ^ Ibrahimov, Erkin. "Xäzär beat İnter to win Azerbaijani Cup". UEFA.
4. ^ Наставник сборной Молдавии отрицает переход в "кавказский "Челси" (in Russian)
5. ^ Кавказский "Челси": миф или реалность? Archived 13 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
6. ^ "Хазар" выиграл Кубок Содружества (in Russian). Trend News Agency. 27 January 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
7. ^ Лянкаранский Хазар выиграл Кубок Содружества! (in Russian). Bakililar.az. Archived from the original on 31 January 2008. Retrieved 7 August 2010.
8. ^ "Azerii au dat afara toti strainii. Veldwijk, pe faras!". Archived from the original on 23 July 2011. Retrieved 22 July 2011.
9. ^ "Probleme mari pentru Veldwijk in "Tara Focurilor"". Retrieved 22 July 2013.
10. ^ ХЛ отправляет Редника в отставку. Azerisport.com (in Russian). Retrieved 4 December 2013.
11. ^ "ŞOK! ŞOK! ŞOK! Fabian Veldwijk istefa verdi". fanat.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 4 December 2013.
12. ^ "Xäzär Länkäran earn maiden European win". UEFA. Uefa.com. 10 July 2012. Retrieved 10 July 2014.
13. ^ Тошак возглавил "Хазар-Ленкорань". Footballtop.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 17 March 2015.
14. ^ Джон Тошак возглавил азербайджанский футбольный клуб. ua-football.com (in Russian). 8 March 2013. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
15. ^ ""Xəzər Lənkəran"a açıq məktub". futbolpress.az (in Azerbaijani). 7 February 2012. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
16. ^ "Men in Black: an historic 8:0 for Maccabi Haifa against Khazar Lankaran". Maccabi Haifa's Official Site. Archived from the original on 10 June 2015. Retrieved 10 August 2015.
17. ^ "Fırtınalar meydanı"nda qol şousu Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine (in Azerbaijani)
18. ^ "Fırtınalar meydanı" niyə dolmur... Archived 5 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine (in Azerbaijani)
19. ^ Azərbaycan – Finlandiya oyunu Lənkəranda keçiriləcək Archived 19 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine (in Azerbaijani)
20. ^ affa.az:Azərbaycan – Finlandiya oyunu Lənkəranda keçiriləcək (in Azerbaijani)
21. ^ Khazar Lankaran FC’s Baku Fan Club Archived 6 July 2011 at the Wayback Machine
22. ^ "FIRTINA" Fan Club Archived 1 January 2014 at the Wayback Machine (in Azerbaijani)
23. ^ “Xəzər Lənkəran”a zərbə yox, dəstək lazımdır! Archived 1 November 2009 at the Wayback Machine (in Azerbaijani)
24. ^ Раиль МЕЛИКОВ: «Это главное дерби Азербайджана и его невозможно сравнить с другим матчем» Archived 1 October 2009 at the Wayback Machine(in Russian)
25. ^ “XƏZƏR-LƏNKƏRAN”-"NEFTÇİ" DERBİSİ İTV-dən YAYIMLANACAQ  Archived 24 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine(in Azerbaijani)
26. ^ pfl.az:50 saat qalmış Archived 11 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine(in Azerbaijani)
27. ^ "Azerbaijan Premier League Stats". PFL.az. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
28. ^ ""Aramızda qalsın"da "Böyük oyun" həyəcanı – VİDEO". korner.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 9 November 2014.
29. ^ "Xəzər Lənkəran"ın qapıçısından bədahətən meyxana". avropa.info (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 9 November 2014.
30. ^ "Meyxana ustası: "Xəzər Lənkəran"da türk futbolçular çox olmalıdır"". sportarena.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 9 November 2014.

## External links

[edit]

* Official website Archived 1 March 2020 at the Wayback Machine

* v
* t
* e

Khazar Lankaran FK

Grounds|

* Lankaran City Stadium

General information|

* Managers

Records|

Records

Seasons|

* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012-13
* 2013-14
* 2014-15
* 2015-16

Related articles|

* European Club Association

* v
* t
* e

Khazar Lankaran FK seasons

Premier League|

* 2006–07
* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012-13
* 2013-14
* 2014-15
* 2015-16

* v
* t
* e

Azerbaijan Premier League

* Predecessor: Soviet Top League

Seasons|

| Top League|

* 1992
* 1993
* 1993–94
* 1994–95
* 1995–96
* 1996–97
* 1997–98
* 1998–99
* 1999–00
* 2000–01
* 2001–02
* 2002–03
* 2003–04
* 2004–05
* 2005–06
* 2006–07

|

Premier League|

* 2007–08
* 2008–09
* 2009–10
* 2010–11
* 2011–12
* 2012–13
* 2013–14
* 2014–15
* 2015–16
* 2016–17
* 2017–18
* 2018–19
* 2019–20
* 2020–21
* 2021–22
* 2022–23
* 2023–24
* 2024–25

Champions|

* Qarabağ (11)
* Neftçi (9)
* Kapaz (3)
* Shamakhi (2)
* Baku (2)
* Shamkir (2)
* Khazar Lankaran (1)
* Turan Tovuz (1)

Current teams|

* Araz-Naxçıvan
* Kapaz
* Neftçi
* Qarabağ
* Sabah
* Sabail
* Shamakhi
* Sumgayit
* Turan
* Zira

Former clubs|

* ABN Barda
* Adliyya
* ANS Pivani
* Araz-Naxçıvan
* Avei
* Avtomobilçi
* AZAL
* Azerbaijan U18
* Azeri
* Azneftyağ
* Baku
* Bakılı
* Boz Qurd
* Çıraqqala
* Daşqın
* Energetik (Əli-Bayramlı)
* Energetik (Mingachevir)
* Fərid
* Genclerbirliyi
* Gabala
* Gənclik
* Göyazan
* İnşaatçı (Baku)
* İnşaatçı (Sabirabad)
* Karat
* Karvan
* Kürmük
* Lokomotiv
* MKT-Araz
* MOIK
* Mughan
* Neftqaz-GNKAR
* Pambiqci
* Plastik
* Qarabağ (Barda)
* Ravan
* Shahdag (Quba)
* Shahdag (Qusar)
* Shafa
* Shamkir
* Simurq
* Şirvan (Kurdamir)
* Şirvan (Shamakhi)
* Standard
* Təfəkkür Universiteti
* Ümid
* Viləş
* Khazar Lankaran
* Khazar Sumgayit
* Khazri Buzovna

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template
*[2002–03]: "Due to conflict between almost all clubs and the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan, no league championship was held"