# 2016–17 Azerbaijan Premier League

The 2016–17 Azerbaijan Premier League was the 25th season of the Azerbaijan Premier League, the Azerbaijani professional league for association football clubs, since its establishment in 1992. Qarabağ were the defending champions, having won the previous season. The season began on 6 August 2016 and concluded on 29 April 2017.
On 16 April 2017, Qarabağ defeated Inter Baku 3–0 to successfully defend their league title - their fourth league title in a row and fifth overall.

## Teams

On 13 June 2016 the Professional Football League of Azerbaijan announced that both Khazar Lankaran, and Ravan, had been refused licenses to play in the 2016–17 Premier League and that no First Division teams would replace them.
On 25 April 2017, Zira were awarded a 3–0 victory over Neftçi Baku after Neftçi Baku fielded 7 foreign players in their 2–2 draw on 23 April 2017.
    Note: Table lists in alphabetical order.
| Team | Location | Venue | Capacity |
| AZAL | Baku | AZAL Stadium | 5,000 |
| Gabala | Qabala | Gabala City Stadium | 2,000 |
| Inter Baku | Baku | Inter Arena | 8,125 |
| Neftçi Baku | Baku | Bakcell Arena | 11,000 |
| Qarabağ | Baku | Azersun Arena | 5,800 |
| Sumgayit | Sumqayit | Kapital Bank Arena | 1,500 |
| Zira | Baku | Zira Olympic Sport Complex Stadium | 1,500 |
| Kapaz | Ganja | Ganja City Stadium | 27,000 |

### Personnel and kits

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | Manager | Team captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
| AZAL | Tarlan Ahmadov | Emin Jafarguliyev | Joma | Silk Way |
| Gabala | Roman Hryhorchuk | Rashad Sadiqov | Joma | QafqaZ Hotels |
| Inter Baku | Zaur Svanadze | Nizami Hajiyev | Joma | IBA |
| Neftçi Baku | Elkhan Abdullayev | Ruslan Abışov | Kappa | Asan Xidmət |
| Qarabağ | Gurban Gurbanov | Rashad Sadygov | Adidas | Azersun |
| Sumgayit | Samir Abbasov | Vurğun Hüseynov | Joma | Azerkimya |
| Zira | Aykhan Abbasov | Elvin Mammadov | Umbro | Santral |
| Kapaz | Shahin Diniyev | Tural Akhundov | Umbro | Gəncə 4000 |

### Stadiums

| Gabala | Inter Baku | Kapaz | Neftçi Baku |
| Gabala City Stadium | Inter Arena | Ganja City Stadium | Bakcell Arena |
| Capacity: 2,000 | Capacity: 8,125 | Capacity: 27,000 | Capacity: 11,000 |
| Qarabağ | Səbail | Sumgayit | Zira |
| Azersun Arena | Bayil Arena | Kapital Bank Arena | Zira Olympic Sport Complex Stadium |
| Capacity: 5,800 | Capacity: 5,000 | Capacity: 1,500 | Capacity: 1,500 |

### Managerial changes

| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
| Neftçi Baku | Vali Gasimov | Sacked | 14 September 2016 | 7th | Elkhan Abdullayev | 15 September 2016 |
| Zira | Adil Shukurov | Mutual termination | 27 December 2016 | 6th | Aykhan Abbasov | 27 December 2016 |

## League table

| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Qarabağ (C) | 28 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 46 | 14 | +32 | 62 | Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round |
| 2 | Gabala | 28 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 48 | 21 | +27 | 52 | Qualification for the Europa League second qualifying round |
| 3 | Inter Baku | 28 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 39 | 33 | +6 | 43 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 4 | Zira | 28 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 29 | 26 | +3 | 39 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 5 | Kapaz | 28 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 24 | 27 | −3 | 36 | |
| 6 | Sumgayit | 28 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 28 | 35 | −7 | 35 | |
| 7 | Neftçi Baku | 28 | 9 | 2 | 17 | 24 | 45 | −21 | 29 | |
| 8 | AZAL (R) | 28 | 1 | 7 | 20 | 13 | 50 | −37 | 10 | Relegation to the Azerbaijan First Division |
* ↑ Qarabağ qualified for the Europa League second qualifying round by winning the 2016–17 Azerbaijan Cup. However, since they already qualified for European competition based on their league position, the spot awarded to the cup winners was passed down the league.

## Results

* ↑ Match awarded 3–0 to Zira due to Neftçi Baku breaching league rules; original result was 2–2 draw.

## Season statistics
### Top scorers

    As of match played 29 April 2017
| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
| 1 | Filip Ozobić | Gabala | 11 |
| 1 | Rauf Aliyev | Inter Baku | 11 |
| 3 | Dino Ndlovu | Qarabağ | 10 |
| 4 | Mirabdulla Abbasov | Sumqayıt | 8 |
| 5 | Bagaliy Dabo | Gabala | 7 |
| 5 | Nizami Hajiyev | Inter Baku | 7 |
| 7 | Julien Ebah | Kapaz | 6 |
| 7 | Amil Yunanov | Sumqayıt | 6 |
| 7 | Sergei Zenjov | Gabala | 6 |
| 10 | Ruslan Abışov | Inter Baku | 5 |
| 10 | Tural Akhundov | Kapaz | 5 |

### Hat-tricks

| Player | For | Against | Result | Date | Ref. |
| Bagaliy Dabo | Gabala | Neftchi Baku | 8–0 | 10 September 2016 | |

### Scoring

* First goal of the season: Elvin Badalov for Neftçi Baku against AZAL (6 August 2016)
* Fastest goal of the season: 2nd minute,
** Reynaldo for Qarabağ against AZAL (9 September 2016)