# 2018–19 Gabala FC season

The 2018–19 season was Gabala's 14th season in the Azerbaijan Premier League, the top-flight of Azerbaijani football. The club participated in the Premier League, finishing fourth. They also entered the Azerbaijan Cup, defeating Sumgayit 1-0 to win their first title. They also played in the Europa League, where they were eliminated by Progrès Niederkorn in the first qualifying round.

## Season Events

At the end of the previous season, Roman Hryhorchuk left the club after his contract expired, with Sanan Gurbanov being appointed as the club's new manager on a two-year contract. On 16 June, Sabien Lilaj signed a one-year contract, with the option of a second, from Skënderbeu Korçë. Ten days later, 26 June, Gabala signed their second player from Skënderbeu Korçë, Nigerian forward James Adeniyi on a three-year contract. On 3 July, Lalawélé Atakora signed a one-year contract with Gabala, with the option of an additional year.
On 6 January 2019, Anar Nazirov returned to Gabala for his third spell with the club, signing on an 18-month contract from Zira, whilst Agil Mammadov moved to Neftchi Baku the following day.
On 9 January 2019, young midfielder Hajiagha Hajili, made his season-long loan deal with Qarabağ a permanent transfer. On 11 January, Davit Volkovi signed from Saburtalo Tbilisi on a one-year contract.

## Transfers
### In

| Date | Position | Name | From | Fee |
| 16 June 2018 | MF | Sabien Lilaj | Skënderbeu Korçë | Undisclosed |
| 26 June 2018 | FW | James Adeniyi | Skënderbeu Korçë | Undisclosed |
| 3 July 2018 | MF | Lalawélé Atakora | Adana Demirspor | Undisclosed |
| 6 January 2019 | GK | Anar Nazirov | Zira | Undisclosed |
| 11 January 2019 | FW | Davit Volkovi | Saburtalo Tbilisi | Undisclosed |

### Out

| Date | Position | Name | To | Fee |
| 7 July 2018 | MF | Araz Abdullayev | Panionios | Undisclosed |
| 29 July 2018 | FW | Ramil Hasanov | 1074 Çankırıspor | Undisclosed |
| | MF | Ülvi İbazadə | Sabah | Undisclosed |
| | FW | Kamran Guliyev | Jonava | Undisclosed |
| 29 December 2018 | MF | Tamkin Khalilzade | Sabah | Undisclosed |
| 7 January 2019 | GK | Agil Mammadov | Neftchi Baku | Undisclosed |
| 9 January 2019 | MF | Hajiagha Hajili | Qarabağ | 9 January 2019 |

### Loans out

| Date from | Position | Name | To | Date to |
| 12 June 2018 | DF | Yusif Nabiyev | Sumgayit | End of Season |
| Summer 2018 | MF | Hajiagha Hajili | Qarabağ | 9 January 2019 |
| Summer 2018 | FW | Rovlan Muradov | Qarabağ | Winter 2019 |
| Summer 2018 | FW | Ulvi Isgandarov | Sumgayit | End of Season |

### Trial

| Date From | Position | Name |
| January 2019 | | Mateus |
| January 2019 | MF | Jô |
| January 2019 | | Vellerson da Silva |
| January 2019 | | Kayo Neves |

### Released

| Date | Position | Name | Joined | Date |
| 31 May 2018 | DF | Dion Malone | ADO Den Haag | 27 July 2018 |
| 31 May 2019 | GK | Dmytro Bezotosnyi | Chornomorets Odesa | 10 July 2019 |
| 31 May 2019 | DF | Vojislav Stanković | Neftçi Baku | 4 June 2019 |
| 31 May 2019 | FW | Rauf Aliyev | Neftçi Baku | 10 June 2019 |

## Squad

    As of match played 19 May 2019
| No. | Name | Position | Date of birth (Age) | Signed from | Signed in | Contract ends | Apps. | Goals |
| Goalkeepers ||||||||||
| 1 | Anar Nazirov | GK | (1985-09-08)8 September 1985 (aged 33) | Zira | 2019 | 2020 | 35 | 0 |
| 22 | Dmytro Bezotosnyi | GK | (1983-11-15)15 November 1983 (aged 35) | Chornomorets Odesa | 2015 | | 166 | 0 |
| 35 | Murad Popov | GK | (1999-03-05)5 March 1999 (aged 20) | Trainee | 2016 | | 1 | 0 |
| Defenders ||||||||||
| 3 | Vojislav Stanković | DF | (1987-09-22)22 September 1987 (aged 31) | Inter Baku | 2017 | 2019 | 142 | 3 |
| 5 | Rasim Ramaldanov | DF | (1986-01-24)24 January 1986 (aged 33) | Kolkheti-1913 Poti | 2017 | | 32 | 1 |
| 6 | Rustam Nuruyev | DF | (2000-03-06)6 March 2000 (aged 19) | Trainee | 2019 | | 0 | 0 |
| 27 | Bahlul Mustafazade | DF | (1997-02-27)27 February 1997 (aged 22) | Trainee | 2016 | | 29 | 1 |
| 33 | Vusal Masimov | DF | (2000-04-03)3 April 2000 (aged 19) | Trainee | 2019 | | 0 | 0 |
| 34 | Urfan Abbasov | DF | (1992-10-14)14 October 1992 (aged 26) | Qarabağ | 2011 | | 220 | 3 |
| Midfielders ||||||||||
| 2 | Amin Seydiyev | MF | (1998-11-15)15 November 1998 (aged 20) | Trainee | 2017 | | 16 | 0 |
| 4 | Elvin Jamalov | MF | (1995-02-04)4 February 1995 (aged 24) | Trainee | 2013 | | 141 | 0 |
| 7 | Roman Huseynov | MF | (1997-12-26)26 December 1997 (aged 21) | Trainee | 2015 | | 23 | 1 |
| 8 | Gismat Aliyev | MF | (1996-10-24)24 October 1996 (aged 22) | Trainee | 2014 | | 58 | 0 |
| 11 | Asif Mammadov | MF | (1986-08-05)5 August 1986 (aged 32) | Inter Baku | 2015 | | 127+ | 12 |
| 14 | Javid Huseynov | MF | (1988-03-09)9 March 1988 (aged 31) | Baku | 2016 | | 119 | 21 |
| 18 | Ilgar Gurbanov | MF | (1986-04-25)25 April 1986 (aged 33) | Qarabağ | 2017 | 2019 | 41 | 1 |
| 21 | Lalawélé Atakora | MF | (1990-11-09)9 November 1990 (aged 28) | Adana Demirspor | 2018 | 2019 | 29 | 1 |
| 77 | Samir Gurbanov | MF | (2001-03-21)21 March 2001 (aged 18) | Trainee | 2018 | | 1 | 0 |
| 88 | Sabien Lilaj | MF | (1989-02-10)10 February 1989 (aged 30) | Skënderbeu Korçë | 2018 | 2019 | 29 | 0 |
| 98 | Rovlan Muradov | MF | (1998-03-28)28 March 1998 (aged 21) | Trainee | 2017 | | 2 | 0 |
| Forwards ||||||||||
| 9 | Davit Volkovi | ST | (1995-06-03)3 June 1995 (aged 23) | Saburtalo Tbilisi | 2019 | 2019 | 16 | 3 |
| 10 | Rauf Aliyev | ST | (1989-02-12)12 February 1989 (aged 30) | Kukësi | 2018 | 2019 | 30 | 4 |
| 17 | James Adeniyi | ST | (1992-12-20)20 December 1992 (aged 26) | Skënderbeu Korçë | 2018 | 2021 | 31 | 12 |
| 28 | Steeven Joseph-Monrose | ST | (1990-07-20)20 July 1990 (aged 28) | Stade Brest | 2017 | 2019 | 62 | 20 |
| Out on loan ||||||||||
| 74 | Yusif Nabiyev | DF | (1997-09-03)3 September 1997 (aged 21) | Trainee | 2015 | | 4 | 0 |
| 77 | Ulvi Isgandarov | ST | (1998-04-17)17 April 1998 (aged 21) | Trainee | 2017 | | 1 | 1 |
| Left during the season ||||||||||
| 29 | Hajiagha Hajili | MF | (1998-01-30)30 January 1998 (aged 21) | Trainee | 2016 | | 4 | 0 |
| 30 | Agil Mammadov | GK | (1989-05-01)1 May 1989 (aged 30) | Neftchi Baku | 2018 | | 9 | 0 |
| 33 | Tamkin Khalilzade | MF | (1993-08-06)6 August 1993 (aged 25) | Zira | 2017 | 2020 | 30 | 1 |

### Out on loan

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | DF | AZE | Yusif Nabiyev (at Sumgayit) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | FW | AZE | Ulvi Isgandarov (at Sumgayit) |

## Competitions
### Azerbaijan Premier League
#### Results summary

| Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Overall | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Home | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away | Away |
Last updated: 11 May 2019. Source: See Results

#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 2 | Neftçi Baku | 28 | 17 | 7 | 4 | 52 | 26 | +26 | 58 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 3 | Sabail | 28 | 12 | 5 | 11 | 34 | 37 | −3 | 41 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 4 | Gabala | 28 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 31 | 33 | −2 | 36 | Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round |
| 5 | Zira | 28 | 8 | 7 | 13 | 30 | 40 | −10 | 31 | |
| 6 | Sumgayit | 28 | 8 | 5 | 15 | 24 | 42 | −18 | 29 | |

### UEFA Europa League
#### Qualifying rounds
## Squad statistics

    As of Match played 19 May 2019

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Premier League | Premier League | Azerbaijan Cup | Azerbaijan Cup | Europa League | Europa League |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | AZE | Anar Nazirov | 7 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | MF | AZE | Amin Seydiyev | 15 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | SRB | Vojislav Stanković | 30 | 1 | 24 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | AZE | Elvin Jamalov | 27 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 4+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | AZE | Rasim Ramaldanov | 14 | 1 | 9+3 | 1 | 0+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | AZE | Roman Huseynov | 4 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | AZE | Gismat Aliyev | 15 | 0 | 9+3 | 0 | 1+2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | GEO | Davit Volkovi | 16 | 3 | 11+2 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | AZE | Rauf Aliyev | 30 | 4 | 16+7 | 4 | 4+1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | AZE | Asif Mammadov | 27 | 1 | 8+14 | 1 | 1+2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | AZE | Javid Huseynov | 30 | 1 | 21+3 | 1 | 4+1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | NGA | James Adeniyi | 31 | 12 | 24+1 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | AZE | Ilgar Gurbanov | 21 | 0 | 13+5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | TOG | Lalawélé Atakora | 29 | 1 | 16+7 | 1 | 1+3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 22 | GK | UKR | Dmytro Bezotosnyi | 25 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | AZE | Bahlul Mustafazade | 29 | 1 | 21+2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 28 | FW | FRA | Steeven Joseph-Monrose | 31 | 8 | 23+2 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 |
| 34 | DF | AZE | Urfan Abbasov | 32 | 1 | 24+1 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 35 | GK | AZE | Murad Popov | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 77 | MF | AZE | Samir Gurbanov | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 88 | MF | ALB | Sabien Lilaj | 29 | 0 | 15+8 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 98 | MF | AZE | Rovlan Muradov | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Players away from Gabala on loan: ||||||||||||
| Players who left Gabala during the season: ||||||||||||
| 30 | GK | AZE | Agil Mammadov | 4 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 33 | MF | AZE | Tamkin Khalilzade | 15 | 1 | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |

### Goal scorers

| Place | Position | Number | Name | Premier League | Azerbaijan Cup | Europa League | Total |
| 1 | FW | 17 | James Adeniyi | 10 | 2 | 0 | 12 |
| 2 | FW | 28 | Steeven Joseph-Monrose | 6 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 3 | FW | 10 | Rauf Aliyev | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 4 | FW | 9 | Davit Volkovi | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | | | Own goal | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| 6 | MF | 11 | Asif Mammadov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | DF | 34 | Urfan Abbasov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | MF | 33 | Tamkin Khalilzade | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | DF | 5 | Rasim Ramaldanov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | MF | 21 | Lalawélé Atakora | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | DF | 3 | Vojislav Stanković | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | MF | 14 | Javid Huseynov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| 6 | DF | 27 | Bahlul Mustafazade | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | TOTALS | 31 | 5 | 1 | 37 |

### Disciplinary record

| Number | Position | Name | Premier League | Premier League | Azerbaijan Cup | Azerbaijan Cup | Europa League | Europa League | Total | Total |
| 1 | GK | Anar Nazirov | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2 | MF | Amin Seydiyev | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | Vojislav Stanković | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 4 | MF | Elvin Jamalov | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | Rasim Ramaldanov | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Gismat Aliyev | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Davit Volkovi | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 10 | FW | Rauf Aliyev | 9 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 12 | 2 |
| 11 | MF | Asif Mammadov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | Javid Huseynov | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 17 | FW | James Adeniyi | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 |
| 18 | MF | Ilgar Gurbanov | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 21 | MF | Lalawélé Atakora | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 22 | GK | Dmytro Bezotosnyi | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | DF | Bahlul Mustafazade | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 |
| 28 | FW | Steeven Joseph-Monrose | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 34 | DF | Urfan Abbasov | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 88 | MF | Sabien Lilaj | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 98 | MF | Rovlan Muradov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Players who left Gabala during the season: ||||||||||||
| 30 | GK | Agil Mammadov | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 33 | MF | Tamkin Khalilzade | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 3 |
| | | TOTALS | 72 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 95 | 7 |