# Qara Qarayev (footballer)

Qara Elxan oğlu Qarayev (born 12 October 1992) is an Azerbaijani professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Azerbaijan Premier League club Araz-Naxçıvan and Azerbaijan national team. He has been twice selected as the footballer of the year in Azerbaijan in 2014 and 2020.

## Personal life

Qara Qarayev was born on 12 October 1992 in Füzuli.

## Club career

On 22 May 2019, Qarayev signed a new two-year contract with Qarabağ.
Qarayev left Qarabağ on 24 July 2023, with Neftçi announcing his signing to a two-year contract with the option of an additional year the same day. On 19 September 2024, Neftçi announced the departure of Qarayev from the club by mutual agreement.
On 30 October 2024, Azerbaijan Premier League club Araz-Naxçıvan signed a contract with Qarayev until the end of the season.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 18 May 2024
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | Continental | Continental | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Qarabağ | 2008–09 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 |
| Qarabağ | 2009–10 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Qarabağ | 2010–11 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 13 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Qarabağ | 2011–12 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 21 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 27 | 0 |
| Qarabağ | 2012–13 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 28 | 1 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 32 | 1 |
| Qarabağ | 2013–14 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 32 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 43 | 0 |
| Qarabağ | 2014–15 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 31 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 47 | 0 |
| Qarabağ | 2015–16 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 26 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 42 | 1 |
| Qarabağ | 2016–17 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 20 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 37 | 0 |
| Qarabağ | 2017–18 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 21 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| Qarabağ | 2018–19 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 24 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| Qarabağ | 2019–20 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 29 | 1 |
| Qarabağ | 2020–21 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 25 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 37 | 1 |
| Qarabağ | 2021–22 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 21 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 14 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Qarabağ | 2022–23 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Qarabağ | 2023–24 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Qarabağ | Total | Total | 308 | 5 | 41 | 0 | 120 | 0 | 469 | 5 |
| Neftçi | 2023-24 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 28 | 1 |
| Neftçi | 2024-25 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 |
| Neftçi | Total | Total | 25 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28 | 1 |
| Araz-Naxçıvan | 2024-25 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 333 | 6 | 44 | 0 | 120 | 0 | 497 | 6 |
* 1 2 3 Appearances in the UEFA Europa League
* ↑ Four appearances in the UEFA Champions League, and eight appearances in the UEFA Europa League.
* ↑ Four appearances in the UEFA Champions League, and eight appearances in the UEFA Europa League.
* ↑ Four appearances in the UEFA Champions League, and seven appearances in the UEFA Europa League.
* 1 2 Appearances in the UEFA Champions League
* ↑ Five appearances in the UEFA Champions League, and eight appearances in the UEFA Europa League.
* ↑ Three appearances in the UEFA Champions League, and eight appearances in the UEFA Europa League.
* ↑ Two appearances in the UEFA Champions League, and six appearances in the UEFA Europa League.
* ↑ Appearances in the UEFA Europa Conference League
* ↑ Six appearances in the UEFA Champions League, five appearances in the UEFA Europa League and one appearance in the UEFA Europa Conference League.

### International

Statistics accurate as of match played 17 June 2022
Azerbaijan national team :
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2013 | 6 | 0 |
| 2014 | 7 | 0 |
| 2015 | 8 | 0 |
| 2016 | 7 | 0 |
| 2017 | 7 | 0 |
| 2018 | 12 | 0 |
| 2019 | 9 | 0 |
| 2020 | 6 | 0 |
| 2021 | 10 | 0 |
| 2022 | 4 | 0 |
| Total | 76 | 0 |

## Honours
### Club
#### Qarabağ FK

* Azerbaijan Premier League: (9) 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–2023
* Azerbaijan Cup: (5) 2008–09, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2021–22

### Individual

* Azerbaijani Footballer of the Year (2): 2014, 2020