2015–16 Azerbaijan Premier League

Azerbaijan Premier League
Season2015–16
ChampionsQarabağ
RelegatedKhazar Lankaran
Champions LeagueQarabağ
Europa LeagueGabala
Kapaz
Neftchi Baku
Matches played180
Goals scored390 (2.17 per match)
Top goalscorerDani Quintana (15)
Biggest home winGabala 6–0 Khazar Lankaran
(4 October 2015)
Biggest away winRavan Baku 0–4 Zira
(10 April 2016)
Ravan Baku 0–4 Inter Baku
(7 May 2016)
Highest scoringGabala 6–0 Khazar Lankaran
(4 October 2015)
Qarabağ 5–1 Ravan Baku
(30 March 2016)
Longest winning runQarabağ (10)
Longest unbeaten runQarabağ (14)
Longest winless runRavan Baku (11)
Longest losing runKhazar Lankaran (22)
Highest attendance20,400
Kapaz 1–2 Qarabağ
(14 February 2016)
All statistics correct as of 29 February 2016.

The 2015–16 Azerbaijan Premier League was the 24th season of Azerbaijan Premier League, the Azerbaijani professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. Qarabağ were the defending champions, having won the 2014–15 Azerbaijan season.

Teams

Zira FK entered the Premier League one year after their formation, and Kapaz PFK returned to the top level after two years of absence. Zira and Kapaz came fifth and ninth, respectively, in the 2014–15 First Division. They replaced Araz-Naxçıvan PFK, which withdrew from the league in November 2014, and Baku FC, which was relegated at the end of the previous season.[1]

On 21 June 2015 the Professional Football League of Azerbaijan announced that Simurq PIK had refused to play in the 2015–16 Premier League due to ongoing financial problems. They were replaced by Ravan Baku FK, which came third in the 2014–15 First Division after they were relegated from the Premier League one season earlier.[2]

class=notpageimage|
Location of teams in 2015–16 Azerbaijan Premier League.
Team in italics are from a zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and are playing home game in Baku.

Stadia and locations

Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Team Location Venue Capacity[3]
AZAL Baku AZAL Stadium 5,000
Gabala Gabala Gabala City Stadium 3,500
Inter Baku Baku Inter Arena 8,500
Khazar Lankaran Lankaran Lankaran City Stadium 15,000
Neftchi Baku Baku Bakcell Arena 11,000
Qarabağ Ağdam Karabakh Stadium 5,800
Ravan Baku Bayil Stadium 3,000
Sumgayit Sumqayit Kapital Bank Arena 1,500
Zira Baku Zira Olympic Sport Complex Stadium 1,500
Kapaz Ganja Ganja City Stadium 27,000

Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Team Manager Team captain Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
AZAL Azerbaijan Tarlan Ahmadov Azerbaijan Seymur Asadov Umbro Silk Way
Gabala Ukraine Roman Hryhorchuk Azerbaijan Javid Huseynov Joma QafqaZ Hotels[4]
Inter Baku Georgia (country) Zaur Svanadze Georgia (country) Giorgi Lomaia Joma IBA
Khazar Lankaran Azerbaijan Elbrus Mammadov Azerbaijan Tural Jalilov Puma Palmali[5]
Neftçi Baku Azerbaijan Vali Gasimov Azerbaijan Araz Abdullayev adidas SOCAR
Qarabağ Azerbaijan Gurban Gurbanov Azerbaijan Rashad Sadygov adidas Azersun[6]
Ravan Azerbaijan Bahman Hasanov Azerbaijan Ramazan Abbasov Umbro Nissan
Sumgayit Azerbaijan Samir Abbasov Azerbaijan Vurğun Hüseynov Umbro Azerkimya[7]
Zira Azerbaijan Adil Shukurov Azerbaijan Rashad Abdullayev Kappa Santral
Kapaz Azerbaijan Shahin Diniyev Azerbaijan Tural Akhundov adidas Gəncə 4000

Managerial changes

Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Sumgayit Azerbaijan Agil Mammadov Resigned 8 October 2015[8] 8th Azerbaijan Samir Abbasov 8 October 2015[9]
Ravan Baku Azerbaijan Emin Quliyev Resigned 17 October 2015[10] 10th Azerbaijan Bahman Hasanov 17 October 2015[11]
Neftchi Baku Azerbaijan Samir Aliyev Resigned 15 November 2015 6th Azerbaijan Asgar Abdullayev 15 November 2015
Khazar Lankaran Azerbaijan Yunis Hüseynov Resigned 13 January 2016 9th Azerbaijan Elbrus Mammadov 18 January 2016[12]
Neftchi Baku Azerbaijan Asgar Abdullayev Resigned 5 March 2016 7th Azerbaijan Vali Gasimov (caretaker) 6 March 2016 [13][14]

League table

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Qarabağ (C) 36 26 6 4 66 21 +45 84 Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round[a]
2 Zira[b] 36 17 11 8 42 31 +11 62
3 Gabala 36 16 11 9 44 28 +16 59[c] Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round
4 Inter Baku[d] 36 16 11 9 39 28 +11 59[c]
5 Kapaz 36 15 11 10 48 40 +8 56 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round
6 Neftçi Baku 36 13 10 13 41 41 0 49
7 AZAL 36 13 7 16 26 38 −12 46
8 Sumgayit 36 9 12 15 41 49 −8 39
9 Ravan Baku 36 5 9 22 27 63 −36 18
10 Khazar Lankaran (R) 36 3 6 27 16 51 −35 15 Relegation to the Azerbaijan First Division
Source: PFL, UEFA, Soccerway
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Head-to-head points; 3) Head-to-head goal difference; 4) Head-to-head goals scored; 5) Head-to-head away goals scored (only if two teams); 6) Goal difference; 7) Goals scored.[18]
(C) Champions; (R) Relegated
Notes:
  1. ^ Qarabağ qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2015–16 Azerbaijan Cup. However, since they already qualified for European competition based on their league position, the spot awarded to the cup winners was passed down the league.
  2. ^ Zira would have qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round, but failed to obtain a UEFA licence as the club has existed professionally for less than three season.[15][16]
  3. ^ a b Gabala ahead of Inter Baku on head-to-head record: Inter Baku–Gabala 2–1, Gabala–Inter Baku 1–1, Inter Baku–Gabala 0–1, Gabala–Inter Baku 0–0.
  4. ^ On 31 March 2016, the Adjudicatory Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) announced that Inter Baku will be excluded from participating in the next UEFA club competition for which they would otherwise qualify in the next three seasons (i.e. the 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons).[17]

Results

Season statistics

Scoring

Top scorers

As of match played 20 May 2016
Rank Player Club Goals
1 Spain Dani Quintana Qarabağ 15
2 El Salvador Nelson Bonilla Zirə 14
3 Azerbaijan Ruslan Qurbanov Neftçi 13
4 Azerbaijan Amil Yunanov Sumqayıt 12
5 Ukraine Oleksiy Gai Qəbələ 10
6 Brazil Richard Qarabağ 9
Cameroon Julien Ebah Kəpəz 9
8 Sweden Samuel Armenteros Qarabağ 7
Bosnia and Herzegovina Ermin Zec Qəbələ 7
Ukraine Oleksiy Antonov Qəbələ 7
Georgia (country) Nugzar Kvirtia AZAL 7
Azerbaijan Mahir Madatov Qarabağ 7

Hat-tricks

Player For Against Result Date REF.
El Salvador Nelson Bonilla Zirə Ravan Baku 4-0 10 April 2016 [22]

Discipline

Player

Club

References

  1. ^ Кяпаз и Зире заменят Бакы в комитете клубов. Azerisport.com (in Russian). Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  2. ^ ПФЛ подтвердил участие Ревана вместо Симурга. Azerisport.com (in Russian). Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  3. ^ Azərbaycan Peşəkar Liqası (in Azerbaijani)
  4. ^ "Deal with new sponsor - QafqaZ Hotels and Resorts". gabalafc.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  5. ^ "Xəzər Lənkəranın sponsoru". lankaranfc.com (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 14 August 2013. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  6. ^ "Qarabağın sponsoru". qarabagh.com (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 16 May 2014. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  7. ^ "Sumqayıtın sponsoru". sumqayitpfc.az (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 18 January 2015. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  8. ^ ФК Сумгаит: Агиль Мамедов сам подал прошение об отставке. azerifootball.com/ (in Russian). Azerifootball. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  9. ^ Первая тренерская смена сезона: Аббасов сменил Мамедова в Сумгаите. azerifootball.com/ (in Russian). Azerifootball. 8 October 2015. Retrieved 8 October 2015.
  10. ^ "Emin Quliyev istefaya göndərildi". revanfc.az/ (in Azerbaijani). Ravan Baku. 17 October 2015. Archived from the original on 23 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  11. ^ ""Rəvan"ın yeni baş məşqçisi müəyyənləşdi". revanfc.az/ (in Azerbaijani). Ravan Baku. 17 October 2015. Archived from the original on 23 October 2015. Retrieved 24 October 2015.
  12. ^ ""Xəzər Lənkəran"ın baş məşqçisi istefa verdi". www.anspress.com (in Azerbaijani). Anspress. 13 January 2016. Archived from the original on 22 January 2016. Retrieved 27 January 2016.
  13. ^ "Əsgər Abdullayev istefa verdi". www.azerisport.com (in Azerbaijani). Azerisport.com. 5 March 2016. Retrieved 12 March 2016.
  14. ^ Аскер Абдуллаев будет отстранен из Наблюдательного Совета Нефтчи. www.azerifootball.com (in Russian). Azerifootball.com. 12 March 2016.
  15. ^ "AFFA-nın Lisenziya Komissiyasının qərarları". affa.az (in Azerbaijani). Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan. 16 May 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  16. ^ "АФФА не смогла помочь "Зиря" и "Интеру"". echo.az (in Azerbaijani). 20 April 2016. Archived from the original on 5 June 2016. Retrieved 16 May 2016.
  17. ^ "CFCB adjudicatory chamber orders". uefa.org. 31 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2016.
  18. ^ "Premyer Liqa 2015/2016 - Season rules". Scoresway. Archived from the original on 30 October 2014. Retrieved 18 August 2015.
  19. ^ Додо установил рекорд чемпионатов Азербайджана. azerifootball.com/ (in Russian). Azerifootball. 5 October 2015. Retrieved 5 October 2015.
  20. ^ "Qabala 1-1 Ravan". uk.soccerway.com/. Soccerway. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  21. ^ "Sumgayit 2-2 Kapaz". uk.soccerway.com/. Soccerway. Retrieved 8 December 2015.
  22. ^ "Ravan 0-4 Zira". soccerway.com. Soccerway. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  23. ^ a b c d "Players - Premyer Liqa - Azerbaijan - Results, fixtures, tables and news - Soccerway".