Roman Hryhorchuk’s brief tenure as head coach of Neftchi Baku has come to an end, marking a significant contrast to his previous success in Azerbaijan with Gabala.
Despite being remembered for his impressive work with Gabala, leading them to the UEFA Europa League group stage twice and securing domestic silverware, his return to Azerbaijan has not been as triumphant, reports Idman.biz.
During his short stint at Neftchi, Hryhorchuk’s team failed to win in 9 matches, a stark departure from his earlier accomplishments. The Ukrainian coach, who previously won 2 silver and 2 bronze medals with Gabala and reached the excitement of two finals, now found himself struggling to avoid relegation. The White and Blacks are disillusioned by a losing streak that has tarnished both the club's and Hryhorchuk’s reputations within just three months.
This is not the first time a foreign coach in Azerbaijan has faced such challenges. Other coaches who worked in multiple Azerbaijani clubs also met with mixed success.
From the "Golden Game" to Disappointment.
Rasim Kara became the first foreigner to coach two clubs in Azerbaijan. He led Khazar Lankaran to the famous "Golden Game" in 2004-05, only to lose the decisive match for the championship to Neftchi. Later, Kara took charge of Qarabag, but his stint was marked by poor results, and he left after just half a season. His time in Azerbaijan is most remembered for leaving Khazar Lankaran before the championship even began.
Champion Turned Outsider
Gjoko Hajiyevsky went down in history as the first foreign coach to win the Azerbaijan Premier League, leading Baku to the title in 2008/09. However, his time at his second club, Simurg, was far from successful. Under his leadership, Simurg managed only 4 wins in 32 matches during the 2010/11 season, narrowly avoiding relegation. Hajiyevsky left his position after this disappointing campaign.
Short-Lived Success
Former Baku coach Cuneyt Bicer arrived in Azerbaijan as an assistant but became head coach at the end of the 2009/10 season, guiding Baku to an impressive finish. His team defeated Khazar Lankaran in both the final league match and the cup final, denying their opponents a title. However, when Bicer returned to Azerbaijan to coach Khazar Lankaran in 2011/12, his time was short and uneventful, lasting just over three months.
Unlucky Number 13
Kemal Alispahich, a Bosnian coach, also failed to find success with two Azerbaijani clubs. He first managed Mugan without leaving a memorable impression, then took charge of Ravan in 2012, where he oversaw only 13 matches in four months without achieving any notable success.
The Exception: Kakhaber Tskhadadze
The only coach to break the pattern was Kakhaber Tskhadadze. Though his brief tenure with Standard was unremarkable, Tskhadadze found great success with Inter Baku, winning the league title, 2 silver medals, 2 bronze medals, and reaching the cup final. However, his third stint in Azerbaijan, with Gabala, saw him struggle once again, as he failed to improve the team’s fortunes in the Premier League.
To date, 64 foreign head coaches have worked in the Azerbaijan Premier League, with varying degrees of success. Hryhorchuk who once found glory with Gabala, now joins the ranks of those who faced difficulties in their second Azerbaijani club.
Idman.biz
