Following Shahin Diniyev’s departure from Sabail, the Azerbaijan Premier League’s two oldest coaches are now leading teams at the top of the standings.
Idman.biz reports that 52-year-old Gurban Gurbanov’s Qarabag sits at the top of the league, while Turan, managed by 72-year-old Russian-Turkmen Kurban Berdyev, follows closely in second place.
Of the other Premier League coaches, only Sabah’s head coach Krunoslav Rendulić is over 50, at 51 years old. The remaining coaches are mostly between 40 and 46, while 35-year-old Vagif Javadov, who has now led Sumqayit in three matches, is the youngest.
A few years ago, an international study highlighted the Azerbaijan Premier League as having one of the youngest average coach ages, alongside leagues from Finland, Wales, and Estonia.
This trend suggests it may be difficult for Diniyev, at 58, to find a new role in the Azerbaijan Premier League. He might instead return to his former position on the AFFA Coaches’ Committee.
Despite not achieving major successes, Diniyev brings over 25 years of coaching experience, including stints abroad. He served as head coach and assistant at Grozny’s Terek, and led Kapaz to the Europa League in 2016, advancing past the first round. His time as Azerbaijan's national team coach in 2006-2007 saw few highlights, apart from a 1-0 home win against Finland.
Even 52-year-old Tarlan Ahmadov has struggled to secure a position, remaining out of coaching for over a year. Overall, it appears there is limited trust in coaches with over a decade of experience in Azerbaijan’s football scene.
Rasim
Idman.biz
