Fariz Najafov

Fariz Abdulla oglu Najafov (Azerbaijani: Fariz Abdulla oğlu Nəcəfov; born 1 June 1978) is an Azerbaijani karateka, serving as the President of Gabala Sports Club.^[1] As an officer serving in the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, he fought in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.^[2]

Fariz Najafov
Born	Fariz Abdulla oglu Najafov (1978-06-01) June 1, 1978 (age 46) Kəngərli, Aghdam District, Azerbaijani SSR, Soviet Union
Citizenship	Soviet Union (1978–1991)  Azerbaijan (1991–)
Alma mater	Azerbaijan University of Architecture and Construction Baku State University
Occupations	Karateka President of Gabala Sports Club (2019–) military officer

Life

Early life

Fariz Abdulla oglu Najafov^[3] was born on 1 June 1978 in Kəngərli, located in the Aghdam District of the Azerbaijani SSR, then Soviet Union. He was a student of the first vice-president of the Azerbaijan Taekwondo Federation Fuzuli Musayev^[4] and became World and European champion in karate on several occasions.^[5]

Career and military service

Fariz Najafov was appointed vice-president of Gabala Sports Club in 2008.^[6] Gabala SC achieved various milestones during Najafov's vice-presidency. During his tenure, Gabala FC became the third Azerbaijani football club to qualify for the group stage of the UEFA Europa League after Neftçi and Qarabağ^[7] in the 2015–2016 UEFA Europa League season.^[8][9] Also, in the Azerbaijani Premier League, Gabala finished the 2013–2014, 2014–2015, 2015–2016 seasons in third place, while in 2016–2017 and 2017–2018, it finished the league as a runners-up.^[10] On 18 April 2019, Najafov replaced Kamaladdin Heydarov's son Tale Heydarov and was appointed the President of Gabala Sports Club.^[11] On 11 July 2019, he was awarded the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic 100th anniversary medal.^[12]

Fariz Najafov voluntarily joined the Azerbaijani forces as a reservist officer during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, which began on September 27, and continued his military service in the frontline during the war.^[2][13]

References

1. ""Qəbələ" futbol klubuna yeni prezident təyin olunub". Baku.WS (in Azerbaijani). 18 April 2019. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
2. ""Qəbələ"nin prezidenti cəbhədən təsirli mesaj göndərdi - FOTO". Sportinfo.az (in Azerbaijani). 13 November 2020. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
3. "2018-ci ilin mükafatçıları: İlin ən yaxşı məşqçiləri" (in Azerbaijani). Azerbaijani Ministry of Youth and Sports. 26 December 2018. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
4. "Çempion polkovnik: Nə eləmişəmsə, qarşılıq gözləməmişəm - MÜSAHİBƏ". APA Sport (in Azerbaijani). Azeri Press Agency. 26 December 2017. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
5. "Fariz Nəcəfov Cümhuriyyət medalı ilə təltif edildi". Qol.az (in Azerbaijani). 11 July 2019. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
6. ""Qəbələ" İdman Klubuna yeni prezident təyin olunub". Report Information Agency (in Azerbaijani). 18 April 2019. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
7. ""Qarabağ" və "Qəbələ"nin UEFA Avropa Liqasının qrup mərhələsindəki rəqibləri bəlli oldu (ƏLAVƏ OLUNUB)(SİYAHI)". Trend News Agency (in Azerbaijani). 28 August 2015. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
8. Saffer, Paul (26 August 2016). "Europa League group stage number crunching". UEFA. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
9. "Gabala in Europa League group stage number crunching". Gabala FK. 27 August 2016. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
10. "15 yaşlı "Qəbələ"". APA Sport (in Azerbaijani). Azeri Press Agency. 1 September 2020. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
11. ""Qəbələ"nin yeni prezidenti açıqlandı". Sportline.az (in Azerbaijani). 18 April 2019. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
12. "Fariz Nəcəfov Cümhuriyyət medalı ilə təltif edildi - FOTOLAR". Aqreqator.az (in Azerbaijani). 11 July 2019. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
13. ""Onlarla fəxr edirəm" – "Qəbələ"nin prezidenti". APA Sport (in Azerbaijani). Azeri Press Agency. 13 November 2020. Archived from the original on 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.