Gurban Gurbanov

Gurban Osman oghlu Gurbanov (Qurban Osman oğlu Qurbanov; born 13 April 1972) is an Azerbaijani football manager and former player who manages Qarabag. He played as a forward. Starting out with local club Kur in 1988, Gurbanov had a decorated 18-year career. He scored 178 goals in 399 league matches. With 14 goals in 68 matches, he is also the Azerbaijan national team's all-time leading goalscorer in international matches. From 2017 to 2018 he was the manager of the Azerbaijan national team.

Gurbanov has won a total of 14 trophies, five as a player and nine as a manager.

Playing career
He started his career in Kur, and has since played for Mertskhali Ozurgeti, Daşqın Zaqatala, Alazani Gurjaani, Turan Tovuz, Neftchi Baku, Dinamo Stavropol, Baltika Kaliningrad, Fakel Voronezh and Volgar Gazprom. The last club he played for was Inter Baku. In the 1996–97 season, Gurbanov was the leading scorer in the Azerbaijan Premier League for Neftchi with 25 goals. The striker was named Azerbaijan's Player of the Year once, in 2003.

International career
Gurbanov debuted for the Azerbaijan national team in their very first match on 17 September 1992, and as of January 2006 he has scored 14 goals in 68 international matches, which is the national team goal scoring record.

Managerial career
After Gurbanov ended his football player's career, he became sport director of the club Inter. In summer 2006 he was appointed head coach of Neftchi Baku.

At the beginning of the season 2008–09 he became head coach of Qarabağ FK to replace Rasim Kara.

In 2010, he became the most successful Azerbaijani manager in European competitions with 16 wins.

In May 2014, he guided Qarabağ to their second Azerbaijani league title after 21 years. In July 2014, he became the second Azerbaijani manager to reach the European Cups group stage, as Qarabağ qualified for the 2014–15 UEFA Europa League group stage, beating Twente and being the second Azerbaijani team to advance to this stage in a European competitions.

In 2017, Qarabağ FK, managed by Gurbanov, became the first Azerbaijani team to reach the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.

On 3 November 2017, Gurbanov was appointed manager of the Azerbaijan national team. A year later, on 8 December 2018, he resigned.

Personal life
Gurban is the brother of Azerbaijani former footballer Musa Gurbanov. He is the father of Azerbaijan national team player Musa Gurbanli.

In 2012, he campaigned to stop domestic violence.

Career statistics

 * Scores and results list Azerbaijan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Gurbanov goal.

Managerial statistics
Coaching record

Player
Turan Tovuz
 * Azerbaijan Premier League: 1993–94

Neftchi Baku
 * Azerbaijan Premier League: 1996–97, 2003–04, 2004–05
 * Azerbaijan Cup: 2003–04

Individual
 * Azerbaijani Footballer of the Year: 2003
 * Azerbaijan Premier League top scorer: 1996–97
 * Azerbaijan all-time top scorer: 14 goals

Manager
Qarabağ
 * Azerbaijan Premier League: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23
 * Azerbaijan Cup: 2008–09, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2021–22