2016–17 Azerbaijan Premier League

The 2016–17 Azerbaijan Premier League was the 25th season of the Azerbaijan Premier League, the Azerbaijani professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. Qarabağ were the defending champions, having won the previous season. The season began on 6 August 2016 and concluded on 29 April 2017.

Azerbaijan Premier League
Season2016–17
Dates6 August 2016 – 29 April 2017
ChampionsQarabağ
(5th title)
RelegatedAZAL
Champions LeagueQarabağ
Europa LeagueGabala
Inter Baku
Zira
Matches played112
Goals scored251 (2.24 per match)
Biggest home winQarabağ 6–0 AZAL
(9 September 2016)
Biggest away winNeftçi Baku 0–8 Gabala
(10 September 2016)
Highest scoringNeftçi Baku 0–8 Gabala
(10 September 2016)

On 16 April 2017, Qarabağ defeated Inter Baku 3–0 to successfully defend their league title - their fourth league title in a row and fifth overall.[1]

Teams

On 13 June 2016 the Professional Football League of Azerbaijan announced that both Khazar Lankaran, and Ravan, had been refused licenses to play in the 2016–17 Premier League and that no First Division teams would replace them.[2]

On 25 April 2017, Zira were awarded a 3–0 victory over Neftçi Baku after Neftçi Baku fielded 7 foreign players in their 2–2 draw on 23 April 2017.[3]

Locations of the 2016–17 Azerbaijan Premier League teams.
Team in italics is from a zone of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and is playing its home games in Baku.
Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
Team Location Venue Capacity[4]
AZAL Baku AZAL Stadium 5,000
Gabala Qabala Gabala City Stadium 2,000
Inter Baku Baku Inter Arena 8,125
Neftçi Baku Baku Bakcell Arena 11,000
Qarabağ Baku Azersun Arena 5,800
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 Tarlan Ahmadov Emin Jafarguliyev Joma Silk Way
Gabala Roman Hryhorchuk Rashad Sadiqov Joma QafqaZ Hotels[5]
Inter Baku Zaur Svanadze Nizami Hajiyev Joma IBA
Neftçi Baku Elkhan Abdullayev Ruslan Abışov Kappa Asan Xidmət
Qarabağ Gurban Gurbanov Rashad Sadygov Adidas Azersun[6]
Sumgayit Samir Abbasov Vurğun Hüseynov Joma Azerkimya[7]
Zira Aykhan Abbasov Elvin Mammadov Umbro Santral
Kapaz Shahin Diniyev Tural Akhundov Umbro Gəncə 4000

Stadiums
Gabala Inter Baku Kapaz Neftçi Baku
Gabala City Stadium Inter Arena Ganja City Stadium Bakcell Arena
Capacity: 2,000 Capacity: 8,125 Capacity: 27,000 Capacity: 11,000
Qarabağ Səbail Sumgayit Zira
Azersun Arena Bayil Arena Kapital Bank Arena Zira Olympic Sport Complex Stadium
Capacity: 5,800 Capacity: 5,000 Capacity: 1,500 Capacity: 1,500

Managerial changes
Team Outgoing manager Manner of departure Date of vacancy Position in table Incoming manager Date of appointment
Neftçi Baku Vali Gasimov Sacked 14 September 2016[8] 7th Elkhan Abdullayev 15 September 2016[9]
Zira Adil Shukurov Mutual termination 27 December 2016[10] 6th Aykhan Abbasov 27 December 2016[10]

League table
Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Qarabağ (C) 28 19 5 4 46 14 +32 62 Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round[lower-alpha 1]
2 Gabala 28 14 10 4 48 21 +27 52 Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round
3 Inter Baku 28 11 10 7 39 33 +6 43 Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round
4 Zira 28 10 9 9 29 26 +3 39
5 Kapaz 28 9 9 10 24 27 −3 36
6 Sumgayit 28 9 8 11 28 35 −7 35
7 Neftçi Baku 28 9 2 17 24 45 −21 29
8 AZAL (R) 28 1 7 20 13 50 −37 10 Relegation to the Azerbaijan First Division
Source: PFL (in Azerbaijani), 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.[11]
(C) Champion; (R) Relegated.
Notes:
  1. Qarabağ qualified for the Europa League second qualifying round by winning the 2016–17 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.

Results
  1. Match awarded 3–0 to Zira due to Neftçi Baku breaching league rules; original result was 2–2 draw.[12]

Season statistics

Hat-tricks
PlayerForAgainstResultDateRef.
Bagaliy DaboGabalaNeftchi Baku8–010 September 2016[14]

Scoring

References
  1. "Ardıcıl dördüncü dəfə!!!" [The fourth time in a row!!!]. qarabagh.com (in Azerbaijani). 16 April 2017. Archived from the original on 2017-04-17. Retrieved 16 April 2017.
  2. Официально: Премьер-лига сократилась до 8 клубов. azerifootball.com (in Russian). Azeri Football. 13 June 2016. Retrieved 14 June 2016.
  3. Официально: Нефтчи засчитано техническое поражение в матче с Зиря. azerifootball.com (in Russian). Azerifootball. 25 April 2017. Retrieved 25 April 2017.
  4. Azərbaycan Peşəkar Liqası (in Azerbaijani)
  5. "Deal with new sponsor – QafqaZ Hotels and Resorts". gabalafc.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 15 August 2015.
  6. "Qarabağın sponsoru". qarabagh.com (in Azerbaijani). Archived from the original on 2014-05-16. Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  7. "Sumqayıtın sponsoru". sumqayitpfc.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 19 August 2013.
  8. "Neftçi PFK-nın rəsmi məlumatı". neftchipfk.com (in Azerbaijani). Neftchi Baku. 14 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  9. "Neftçi PFK: yeni təyinatlar haqqında". neftchipfk.com (in Azerbaijani). Neftchi Baku. 15 September 2016. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
  10. "Zirə də baş məşqçi dəyişikliyi". fczire.az (in Azerbaijani). Zira FK. 27 December 2016. Retrieved 2 January 2017.
  11. "Premyer Liqa 2016/2017 - Season rules". Scoresway. Archived from the original on 2 November 2016. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  12. "İntizam Komitəsinin qərarları" [The decisions of the Disciplinary Committee]. AFFA (in Azerbaijani). 25 April 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2017.
  13. ""Premier League Stats 2015/16"". pfl.az/. Peşəkar Futbol Liqası. Retrieved 13 June 2017.
  14. "Neftchi Baku 0–8 Gabala". soccerway.com. Soccerway. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
  15. "Qarabağ 6–0 AZAL". soccerway.com/. Soccerway. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
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