# 2015–16 Zira FK season

The Zira FK 2015–16 season is Zira's first Azerbaijan Premier League season, and second season in their history. It is their first season with Adil Shukurov as manager, during which they participate in the Azerbaijan Cup as well as the League.

## Squad

    As of 31 January 2016
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | AZE | Anar Nazirov |
| 2 | DF | NGA | Chimezie Mbah |
| 5 | DF | AZE | Adil Naghiyev |
| 6 | MF | AZE | Vugar Mustafayev (loan from Qarabağ) |
| 8 | MF | AZE | Tarzin Jahangirov (loan from Gabala) |
| 9 | FW | SLV | Nelson Bonilla |
| 10 | FW | MNE | Igor Ivanović |
| 11 | MF | NGA | Victor Igbekoyi |
| 13 | DF | AZE | Aleksandr Shemonayev |
| 14 | MF | AZE | Tellur Mutallimov (loan from Gabala) |
| 17 | MF | AZE | Nijat Gurbanov |
| 19 | FW | AZE | Nurlan Novruzov (loan from FC Baku) |
| 27 | MF | AZE | Rashad Abdullayev (captain) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 28 | MF | AZE | Tamkin Khalilzade |
| 32 | MF | ESP | Tato |
| 33 | MF | BRA | Diego Souza |
| 37 | DF | SRB | Jovan Krneta |
| 39 | DF | AZE | Sadig Guliyev (loan from Gabala) |
| 60 | MF | AZE | Elvin Mammadov |
| 64 | MF | AZE | Ulvi Suleymanov |
| 77 | DF | AZE | Ruslan Poladov |
| 85 | GK | AZE | Kamal Bayramov |
| 90 | MF | AZE | Vusal Isgandarli |
| 95 | GK | AZE | Elmaddin Mammadov |
| 96 | FW | AZE | Elgün Nəbiyev |

## Transfers
### Summer

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 1 | GK | AZE | Anar Nazirov (from Gabala) |
| 2 | DF | NGA | Chimezie Mbah (from Hapoel Petah Tikva) |
| 4 | DF | AZE | Ruslan Jäfärov (from Khazar Lankaran) |
| 6 | MF | AZE | Haji Ahmadov (from Qarabağ) |
| 7 | FW | CUW | Rihairo Meulens (from Rapid București) |
| 8 | MF | AZE | Tarzin Jahangirov (loan from Gabala) |
| 9 | FW | SLV | Nelson Bonilla (from Viitorul Constanța) |
| 10 | FW | MNE | Igor Ivanović (from Rudar Pljevlja) |
| 11 | MF | NGA | Victor Igbekoyi (from AZAL) |
| 13 | DF | AZE | Aleksandr Shemonayev (from AZAL) |
| 14 | MF | AZE | Tellur Mutallimov (loan from Gabala) |
| 17 | MF | AZE | Nijat Gurbanov (from Neftchi Baku) |
| 23 | DF | AZE | Eltun Huseynov (loan from Baku) |
| 27 | MF | AZE | Rashad Abdullayev (from AZAL) |
| 28 | MF | AZE | Tamkin Khalilzade (from Qarabağ) |
| 32 | MF | ESP | Tato (from Sporting de Gijón B) |
| 33 | MF | BRA | Diego Souza (from Khazar Lankaran) |
| 37 | DF | SRB | Jovan Krneta (from Chornomorets Odesa) |
| 39 | DF | AZE | Sadig Guliyev (loan from Gabala) |
| 55 | MF | AZE | Ilgar Huseynov (from Simurq) |
| 66 | FW | BRA | Eduardo (from AZAL) |
| 70 | MF | AZE | Mirkamil Hashimli (from Neftchi Baku) |
| 77 | DF | AZE | Ruslan Poladov (from Sumgayit) |
| 85 | GK | AZE | Kamal Bayramov (from AZAL) |
| 90 | MF | AZE | Vusal Isgandarli (from Simurq) |
| 95 | GK | AZE | Elmaddin Mammadov |
| 99 | MF | AZE | Nurlan Novruzov (from Baku) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| — | MF | AZE | Elnur Abdulov (to Sumgayit) |
| — | MF | AZE | Tural Rzayev (to Kapaz) |
| — | FW | AZE | Vugar Asgarov (to FK 1625 Liepāja) |

### Winter

| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 6 | MF | AZE | Vugar Mustafayev (loan from Qarabağ) |
| 60 | MF | AZE | Elvin Mammadov (from Qarabağ) |
| No. | Pos. | Nation | Player |
| 4 | DF | AZE | Ruslan Jafarov (to Khazar Lankaran) |
| 6 | MF | AZE | Haji Ahmadov (to AZAL) |
| 7 | FW | CUW | Rihairo Meulens |
| 23 | DF | AZE | Eltun Huseynov (loan return to Baku) |
| 55 | MF | AZE | Ilgar Huseynov (to Sumgayit) |
| 66 | FW | BRA | Eduardo |
| 70 | MF | AZE | Mirkamil Hashimli (to Ravan Baku) |

## 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: 20 May 2016. Source: Soccerway

#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Qarabağ (C) | 36 | 26 | 6 | 4 | 66 | 21 | +45 | 84 | Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round |
| 2 | Zira | 36 | 17 | 11 | 8 | 42 | 31 | +11 | 62 | |
| 3 | Gabala | 36 | 16 | 11 | 9 | 44 | 28 | +16 | 59 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
| 4 | Inter Baku | 36 | 16 | 11 | 9 | 39 | 28 | +11 | 59 | |
| 5 | Kapaz | 36 | 15 | 11 | 10 | 48 | 40 | +8 | 56 | Qualification for the Europa League first qualifying round |
* ↑ Qarabağ qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round by winning the 2015–16 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.
* ↑ Zira would have qualified for the Europa League first qualifying round, but failed to obtain a UEFA licence as the club has existed professionally for less than three season.
* 1 2 Gabala ahead of Inter Baku on head-to-head record: Inter Baku–Gabala 2–1, Gabala–Inter Baku 1–1, Inter Baku–Gabala 0–1, Gabala–Inter Baku 0–0.
* ↑ On 31 March 2016, the Adjudicatory Chamber of the UEFA Club Financial Control Body (CFCB) announced that Inter Baku will be excluded from participating in the next UEFA club competition for which they would otherwise qualify in the next three seasons (i.e. the 2016/17, 2017/18 and 2018/19 seasons).

### Azerbaijan Cup
## Squad statistics

    As of Match played 20 May 2016

### Appearances and goals

| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Premier League | Premier League | Azerbaijan Cup | Azerbaijan Cup |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | AZE | Anar Nazirov | 30 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | NGA | Chimezie Mbah | 22 | 0 | 18+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | AZE | Adil Naghiyev | 27 | 1 | 21+4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | AZE | Vugar Mustafayev | 16 | 0 | 11+3 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | AZE | Tarzin Jahangirov | 25 | 0 | 7+15 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | SLV | Nelson Bonilla | 31 | 17 | 28+1 | 14 | 2 | 3 |
| 10 | FW | MNE | Igor Ivanović | 29 | 3 | 23+5 | 3 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | NGA | Victor Igbekoyi | 35 | 2 | 32+2 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | DF | AZE | Aleksandr Shemonayev | 35 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 14 | MF | AZE | Tellur Mutallimov | 17 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | AZE | Nijat Gurbanov | 25 | 3 | 9+14 | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | AZE | Nurlan Novruzov | 28 | 4 | 15+10 | 3 | 2+1 | 1 |
| 27 | MF | AZE | Rashad Abdullayev | 25 | 4 | 20+4 | 4 | 1 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | AZE | Tamkin Khalilzade | 30 | 0 | 15+14 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 32 | MF | ESP | Tato | 34 | 5 | 22+10 | 5 | 2 | 0 |
| 33 | MF | BRA | Diego Souza | 11 | 0 | 7+3 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 37 | DF | SRB | Jovan Krneta | 30 | 3 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 39 | DF | AZE | Sadig Guliyev | 32 | 0 | 28+1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 60 | MF | AZE | Elvin Mammadov | 15 | 2 | 14+1 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 77 | DF | AZE | Ruslan Poladov | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 85 | GK | AZE | Kamal Bayramov | 9 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 90 | MF | AZE | Vusal Isgandarli | 12 | 0 | 1+9 | 0 | 1+1 | 0 |
| 96 | FW | AZE | Elgün Nəbiyev | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| Players who appeared for Zira but left during the season: ||||||||||
| 6 | MF | AZE | Haji Ahmadov | 7 | 0 | 1+5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | CUW | Rihairo Meulens | 12 | 0 | 6+5 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | AZE | Eltun Huseynov | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 66 | FW | BRA | Eduardo | 3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |

### Goal scorers

| Place | Position | Number | Name | Premier League | Azerbaijan Cup | Total |
| 1 | FW | 9 | Nelson Bonilla | 14 | 3 | 17 |
| 2 | MF | 32 | Tato | 5 | 0 | 5 |
| 3 | MF | 27 | Rashad Abdullayev | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| 3 | FW | 19 | Nurlan Novruzov | 3 | 1 | 4 |
| 5 | FW | 10 | Igor Ivanović | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | DF | 37 | Jovan Krneta | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | MF | 17 | Nijat Gurbanov | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 8 | MF | 60 | Elvin Mammadov | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 8 | | | Own goal | 2 | 0 | 2 |
| 10 | DF | 5 | Adil Naghiyev | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| | | | TOTALS | 42 | 4 | 46 |

### Disciplinary record

| Number | Position | Name | Premier League | Premier League | Azerbaijan Cup | Azerbaijan Cup | Total | Total |
| 1 | GK | Anar Nazirov | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | Chimezie Mbah | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| 5 | DF | Adil Naghiyev | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | Vugar Mustafayev | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 7 | FW | Rihairo Meulens | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | Tarzin Jahangirov | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | Nelson Bonilla | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 |
| 10 | FW | Igor Ivanović | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | Victor Igbekoyi | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 |
| 13 | DF | Aleksandr Shemonayev | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 |
| 14 | MF | Tellur Mutallimov | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 17 | MF | Nijat Gurbanov | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 19 | FW | Nurlan Novruzov | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 23 | DF | Eltun Huseynov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 27 | MF | Rashad Abdullayev | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 28 | MF | Tamkin Khalilzade | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 32 | MF | Tato | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 37 | DF | Jovan Krneta | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 39 | MF | Sadig Guliyev | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 |
| 60 | MF | Elvin Mammadov | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 66 | FW | Eduardo | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 85 | GK | Kamal Bayramov | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 90 | MF | Vusal Isgandarli | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 96 | FW | Elgün Nəbiyev | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| | | TOTALS | 95 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 97 | 4 |