Shuvalan FK (, ) was an Azerbaijani football club based in Şüvəlan, Baku. The club was founded in 2005 and dissolved in 2019.
The club was renamed four times in its short history, becoming Olimpik Baku, Olimpik-Shuvalan Baku, AZAL and Shuvalan. UEFA is still recognizing the club as Olimpik-Shuvalan at European competitions.
The club is 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
Early years (1996–2006) The club was established in 1996 as a futsal club under the name of AMMK. It participated in national futsal league from the season 1996–97 until 2003–04.FutsalplanetFutsalplanet AMMK also represented Azerbaijan in UEFA Futsal Cup 2003/04 season.
AMMK became a professional football team in 2004 and joined the Azerbaijan First Division. The first Azerbaijan Premier League season was not much successful for Olimpik Baku. Croatian manager Stjepan Čordaš worked just for a couple of months and was sacked after poor results. His place was taken by Serbian Petar Kurčubić, but he was also unable to achieve good results, and Olimpik Baku finished 12th. At that time, Olimpik was called 'The club from Balkans', as there were a lot of players from Balkan countries such as Marko Mitrović, Srdjan Baljak, Rašo Babić, Saša Kovačević, Tomislav Višević and others.
Abdullayev years (2006–2009) In June 2006, Asgar Abdullayev was appointed as the new head coach of Olimpik. He still remains as the most successful manager in the club's history. Led by Abdullayev, Olimpik improved its results, ranked 6th in 2007 and 2nd in 2008. Olimpik came very close to winning the 2007–08 league title, but the team was beaten by Qarabağ in the last round game, although they only needed to play a draw to win.Главный тренер футбольного клуба «Олимпик»: «До сих пор не могу понять, как мы упустили чемпионство»
Olimpik's debut in European competitions was also not successful, as they were eliminated in the 1st qualifying round of 2008–09 UEFA Cup by Serbian side Vojvodina. Roman Akhalkatsi became the first goalscorer of Olimpik in the European club tournaments.
2009–2017 In 2009, the club moved from center to Shuvalan settlement and was renamed into Olimpik-Shuvalan PFC.“Olimpik” club to be renamed ФК "Олимпик" переименован In November 2009, Asgar Abdullayev completed his mission and he was changed by former Azerbaijani football star Nazim Suleymanov. At his debut season, Suleymanov took the team over the Azerbaijan Cup quarter-final for a first time in its history. The club once again was renamed in 2010, this time to AZAL PFC due to sponsorship reasons from airline company Azerbaijan Airlines."Olimpik-Şüvəlan" adını dəyişib, AZAL oldu АЗАЛ в премьер-лиге In September 2010, the club management announced the construction of new AZAL Arena in Shuvalan.
The 2010–11 Azerbaijan Premier League season was a great for AZAL. The team finished 4th and entered UEFA Europa League 2011-12 season. Although the club was renamed into AZAL in 2010, it represented as Olimpik-Shuvalan in UEFA Europa League competitions due to UEFA's sponsorship regulations. Before the home game against Minsk, Suleymanov said that he would resign in case of defeat. AZAL lost to Minsk 2–3 in aggregate, and Suleymanov announced his resignation after second match in Minsk.
In July, club president Vaqif Gasymov invited Elkhan Abdullayev to AZAL and he signed a one-year contract. He started with a brilliance victory over Simurq (3:0), but resigned after 11 games, when AZAL came down to 11th position. The club sponsors made a decision to replace him by Rafig Mirzayev, Abdullayev's former assistant. Mirzayev started as a caretaker, winning 3 games consecutively and taking the team up to 7th place. In December 2011, Mirzayev signed a half-year contract with AZAL. In April, after the unsuccessful run, Mirzayev was sacked, and Azerbaijan national football team former manager Vagif Sadygov was appointed as a new head coach.
It was an ambiguous season for AZAL and its manager. The team won 16 games, scored 57 goals, renewing own records, but for the second time consecutively did not enter Championship Group after Preliminary Round. The management recognized the season as unsuccessful despite the fact that the team has won 9 of the 10 matches in the relegation group. Brazilian striker Nildo scored 21 goals, showing the best individual record in AZAL's history for the scorers in a single season and became one of the topscorers of the 2012–13 Azerbaijan Premier League.
The summer of 2013, saw more budget cuts and several big names as Nildo, Zouhir Benouahi, Nduka Usim, etc. leaving the club, but this time the main concern for fans was the very future of the club.
Recent years (2017–) On 12 May 2017, the club was renamed into Shuvalan FK.
The club dissolved in 2019.
Domestic league and cup history
Season Div. Pos. Pl. W D L GS GA PDomestic CupTop scorerGoalsManager2004–052nd1141031259331/16 Finals Garibov2005–061st122658131527231/8 Finals Baljak3 Čordaš / Kurčubić2006–071st62411852817411/8 Finals Mammadov13 A.Abdullayev2007–081st226177229758Quarterfinals Junivan11 A.Abdullayev2008–091st6261286321844Quarterfinals Gomes10 A.Abdullayev2009–101st742161313472961Semi-finals Doroş12 A.Abdullayev / Suleymanov2010–111st43213109362849Semi-finals Juška10 Suleymanov2011–121st73212812444444Quarterfinals Benouahi10 E.Abdullayev / Mirzayev / Sadygov2012–131st73216975732571/8 Finals Nildo21 Sadygov2013–141st83661317294931Second Round Oluremi8 Sadygov / Ahmadov2014–151st63210913374239Quarter Final Mombongo-Dues13 Ahmadov2015–161st73613716263846Second round Kvirtia7 Ahmadov2016–171st8281720135010Quarterfinal Kvirtia Janelidze3 Ahmadov2017–182nd32713683020451/8 finals Kvirtia8 Nabiyev
European history Updated 10 February 2013. Season Competition Round Country Club Home Away Aggregate2008–09UEFA CupQ1Vojvodina1–10–11–22011–12UEFA Europa LeagueQ1Minsk1–11–22–3
Q = Qualifying
Stadium
AZAL Arena is a football stadium in Shuvalan settlement of Baku, Azerbaijan. It is currently used as club's home stadium and holds 3,500 people. The club plans to construct another tribune by increasing stadiums' capacity to 6000 in the upcoming years.
During 2005–2011 years Shuvalan played its home games at Shafa Stadium.
Crest and colours
Shuvalan changed the crest five times during its short history. Between 1996 and 2004 years the crest was the same of AMMK's organisation logo. In 2005, as soon as AMMK was renamed into Olimpik Baku the logo was also modified. New logo was the form of circular blue shield with the Olympic flame in the middle.
In 2009, it was designed a new version of the crest with a white and blue stripes, and remained for a next season, however the club became AZAL PFK. Last logo seems like the older logo, but in the center of traditional blue circular shield is drawn an airliner
In 2017, AZAL was renamed into Shuvalan the logo was also modified.
Shirt sponsors and kit manufacturers
Since its foundation Shuvalan's traditional home kit is completely blue. For the guest games the team usually wears an all white kit, except 2007–08 season, when Shuvalan has worn red-black striped jersey, black shorts and red socks. For the last three years the club's kits are manufactured by Umbro and sponsored by Silk Way Airlines. Shuvalan's new kit manufacturer is Joma.
YearsManufacturerSponsor2008–2009 Umbro Silk Way Airlines2009–2010 Adidas2010–2016 Umbro2016–present Joma
Players
Rashad Abdullayev Murad Agayev Tarlan Ahmadov Aílton José Pereira Júnior Daniel Akhtyamov Elvin Aliyev Ghani Animofoshe Rašo Babić Srđan Baljak Pathé Bangoura Samuel Barlay Gennadi Bliznyuk Ervin Bulku Mirko Bunjevčević Brian Fok John Córdoba Arif Dashdemirov Eduardo da Conceição Maciel Roman Goginashvili Aleksandre Gogoberishvili Leandro Melino Gomes Eshgin Guliyev Royal Najafov Ramin Guliyev Ender Günlü Ilgar Gurbanov Sanan Gurbanov Aleksandre Guruli Rail Malikov Nodar Mammadov Samir Masimov Rauf Mehdiyev Marko Mitrović Bechir Mogaadi Freddy Mombongo-Dues Yuri Muzika Agil Mammadov Nugzar Kvirtiya Valeriy Kutsenko Ritus Krjauklis Enyo Krastovchev Nikolajs Kozačuks Domagoj Kosić Oskars Kļava Lasha Kasradze Tamkin Khalilzade Yasyn Khamid Akhtam Khamrakulov Mikheil Khutsishvili Serghei Lașcencov Nizami Hajiyev Ilami Halimi Arkadi Halperin Victor Igbekoyi Pius Ikedia Arif İsayev Emin Jafarguliyev Mensur Limani Agil Nabiyev Adil Naghiyev Shahriyar Rahimov
Records Club Best position in Azerbaijan Premier League: 2nd (2007–08 season) Worst position in Azerbaijan Premier League: 12th(2005–06 season) First competitive match in Azerbaijan competition: v. Adliyya Baku, Azerbaijan First Division 2004–05 season, 9 October 2004 (draw 0–0). First competitive match in European competition: v. FK Vojvodina, UEFA Cup 2008–09 season, 17 July 2008 (lost 0–1).
Individual Lists of the players with the most caps and top goalscorers for Shuvalan.(players in bold signifies current Shuvalan player):
Top goalscorers
NameYearsLeagueAzerbaijan CupCBC Sport CupEuropeTotal1 Nugzar Kvirtia2009–2012, 2015-20182 Zouhir Benouahi2010–20133 Victor Igbekoyi2009–20154 Nlido2012–20135 Junivan2007–2009, 20106 Freddy Mombongo-Dues2014–20157 Khagani Mammadov2006–20077 Anatolie Doroș2008–20098 Jon Oluremi2012–20149 Gvidas Juška2010–2011
Most appearances
NameYearsLeagueAzerbaijan CupCBC Sport CupEuropeTotal1 Nduka Usim2004–20132 Nugzar Kvirtia2009–2012, 2015-20183 Victor Igbekoyi2009–20154 Agil Nabiyev2006–20125 Dragan Mandic2007–20116 Jahangir Hasanzade2009–20147 Branislav Arsenijević2011–20148 Oskars Kļava2012–20159 Zouhir Benouahi2010–201310 Tarlan Ahmadov2006–2009
Notable managers Information correct as of match played 28 April 2017. Only competitive matches are counted. NameNat.FromToPWDLGSGA%WHonoursNotesShakir GaribovJune 2004May 2005Stjepan ČordašJune 2005Aug 2005Jamaladdin Aliyev June 2004May 2005Petar KurčubićAug 2005May 2006Asgar AbdullayevJune 2006Nov 2009Nazim Suleymanov23 Nov 20097 July 2011Elkhan Abdullayev June 2011Oct 2011Rafig MirzayevNov 2011April 2012Vagif Sadygov6 April 201215 March 2014Shakir Garibov16 March 201417 March 2014Tarlan Ahmadov18 March 20143 May 2017Agil Nabiyev10 June 2017
Notes:
Presidential history Shuvalan was founded by former futsal player, currently FIFA licensed Football agent Kamil Mammadov. In 2005, he sold the club to Silk Way Airlines. Since the Shuvalan FK has had just two presidents: former general officer Rasul Rasulov and the club's former vice-president Vaqif Gasymov. At the end of 2011, after Gasymov's resign Silk Way Airlines company chairman Zaur Akhundov became the Shuvalan FK new president. NameYearsKamil Mammadov1996–2006Rasul Rasulov2006–2009Vaqif Gasymov2009–2012Zaur Akhundov2012–2017
References
External links (archived) AZAL PFC at PFL.az