Baku United FC

Baku United FC is a futsal club based in London, England. In 2014, the club became first English side to reach UEFA Futsal Cup.

Baku United
Full nameBaku United FC
Founded2008
GroundLondon, England
ChairmanIlham Nagiyev
ManagerChema Jiménez
LeagueFA Futsal League

History

Baku United futsal club was founded in 2008 by the Odlar Yurdu Organisation.[1] Back at that time the Odlar Yurdu Organisation formed a number of amateur futsal teams made up of students studying in London. In addition to holding amateur tournaments among themselves, those teams occasionally were united in a single body and played against other clubs. Later on this historical tradition has given rise to the name Baku United.[1]

Starting from the early years of its establishment the team participated in several tournaments organised in the UK. The first tournament that Baku United took part was "Heydar Aliyev" Cup futsal tournament organised by the Odlar Yurdu Diaspora Organisation. The mentioned tournament was organised exceptionally in the UK in 2008–2010.[1][2] Following its success, the Czech Republic was added in 2011, Romania and Austria were included in 2012 into the list of countries where the tournament was organised. 2013 was a year of great accomplishment with the tournament organised in 8 countries with participation of 88 teams.[3] In 2009, Baku United became the champion of "Heydar Aliyev" Cup futsal tournament.[1][4]

Another competition that Baku United took part was annual Lobanovski tournament held in the UK. Despite still being newborn, the club triumphed in 2009 and won the stated cup.[1]

Following the high accomplishments as an amateur team, the new priority for the club has become to transform and develop itself into a professional team. As a result, the club started to co-operate with Spartans Futsal Club. In 2012, two teams were merged under the name of Baku United.[1]

In 2012–2013, the club joined the England's National Futsal League as a professional team. Just in one year the newly formed professional club managed to win the championship in England's Super League in 2013 and gained a right to represent England in UEFA Futsal Cup next year.[5] It became the first English club to play in the main round of UEFA Futsal Cup.[6][7]

Chairman[8] of Baku United FC is Ilham Nagiyev, an Azerbaijani entrepreneur, co-founder and Chairman of the Supervisory Board of GESCO OJSC[9] and Bine Agro CJSC.[10]

Preliminary round

Source: [11]

Season Competition Round Country Opponent Result Venue
2013/14 UEFA Futsal Cup Preliminary Round Wisła 7:0 Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa, Bochnia
Preliminary Round Bijelo Polje 5:0[q 1] Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa, Bochnia
Preliminary Round KS Ali Demi 4:1 Hala Widowiskowo-Sportowa, Bochnia
Not
  1. Match forfeited. Preliminary round. Group B.
Group B
Clubs P W D L F A +/- Pts
1 Baku United FC 3 3 0 0 16 1 15 9
2 Wisła Kraków 3 2 0 1 10 7 3 6
3 KS Ali Demi 3 1 0 2 6 9 −3 3
4 KF Jedinstvo Bijelo Polje 3 0 0 3 0 15 −15 0
Legend
P: Played W: Won D: Drawn L: Lost F: For A: Against +/-: Goal difference
Main round

Source: [12]

Season Competition Round Country Opponent Result Venue
2013/14 UEFA Futsal Cup Main round FK EP Chrudim 3:3 Tassos Papadopoulos, Nicosia
Main round Omonia 1:0 Tassos Papadopoulos, Nicosia
Main round FC Litija 2:3 Tassos Papadopoulos, Nicosia
Group 4
Clubs P W D L F A +/- Pts
1 FK EP Chrudim 3 2 1 0 13 7 6 7
2 FC Litija 3 2 0 1 13 8 5 6
3 Baku United FC 3 1 1 1 6 6 0 4
4 AC Omonia Nicosia 3 0 0 3 1 12 −11 0
Legend
P: Played W: Won D: Drawn L: Lost F: For A: Against +/-: Goal difference

Honours

League
  • FA Futsal League: 2
    • 2013, 2014, 2015

Tournament
  • "Haydar Aliev Cup" İnternational Tournament
    • 2009
  • Lobanovski Tournament
    • 2009

See also

References
  1. "Baku United's History". bakutd.co.uk. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  2. Burkett, Seth. "The richest team in England you've never heard of". backpagefootball.com. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  3. Azvision. "İlham Nağıyevin klubu rekorda imza atdı". azvision.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  4. Lent.az (30 July 2013). ""Baku United" Azərbaycana gəlir". lent.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  5. "Brilliant Baku United retain Futsal League crown". The Football Association. Archived from the original on 6 July 2014. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  6. Saffer, Paul. "Reed backs Baku United to move forward". UEFA. Retrieved 2 July 2014.
  7. "Baku United Futsal Club – Futsal :: Estatísticas :: Títulos :: Palmarés :: História :: Golos :: Próximos Jogos :: Resultados :: Notícias :: Videos :: Fotos :: Plantel :: zerozero.pt". zerozero.pt (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  8. "Londonun 'Baku United' futzal klubun idarə heyətinin sədri İlham Nağıyev komandanın İngiltərə futzal çempionatındakı çıxışını yüksək qiymətləndirmişdir". azertag.az (in Azerbaijani). Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  9. "GESCO OJSC".
  10. "Bine Agro CJSC".
  11. uefa.com
  12. uefa.com
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