Qarabag FK
Qarabağ FK is Azerbaijan's most successful professional football club, founded in 1987 and based in Baku, serving Azerbaijani fans and the global diaspora through matchday, sponsorship, merchandise, broadcasting, and UEFA competition revenues.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1987
- HeadquartersBaku, Azerbaijan
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Qarabag FK does
Qarabağ FK is a professional Azerbaijani football club headquartered in Baku, founded in its modern identity in 1987 and historically rooted in football activity from Aghdam dating back to 1966. The club fields a senior men's team, a reserve team (Qarabağ-2), and a youth academy with age-group squads from U-9 to U-19, operating from the club-owned Azersun Arena stadium since 2015. Qarabağ is the most successful club in Azerbaijani football history, with 12 Azerbaijan Premier League titles (4 consecutive from 2022/23 to 2024/25) and 8 Azerbaijan Cup wins, and is the only Azerbaijani club ever to reach the UEFA Champions League group stage (2017/18) and the Champions League playoff round (2025/26).
The club operates a multi-channel digital ecosystem consisting of an official website (qarabagh.com) localized in Azerbaijani, English, and Russian; iOS and Android mobile applications; the global e-commerce merchandise store (qarabagh.shop); and Qarabağ TV, a club-owned video content platform. These channels support direct fan engagement, ticket sales, and retail merchandise distribution to the Azerbaijani diaspora.
Revenue is generated through matchday ticket sales at Azersun Arena, corporate sponsorship (anchored by a long-running partnership with Azersun Holding since 2001 that includes stadium naming rights), merchandise sales via the online shop, broadcasting rights from domestic league and UEFA competitions, and prize money. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The leadership structure comprises President Tahir Gözel, Vice-President Fevzihan Aras, General Director Emrah Çelikel, and head coach Qurban Qurbanov (appointed August 2008), with Azersun Holding founder Abdolbari Gozal historically instrumental as deceased Honorary President.
Qarabag FK firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Qarabag FK
- Legal name
- Qarabağ Futbol Klubu
- Website
- https://qarabagh.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1987
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Qarabağ FK is Azerbaijan's most successful professional football club, founded in 1987 and based in Baku, serving Azerbaijani fans and the global diaspora through matchday, sponsorship, merchandise, broadcasting, and UEFA competition revenues.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Qarabag FK industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Professional Football Club
- NAICS
- Sports Teams and Clubs (711211), Spectator Sports (71121)
- SIC
- Services-Membership Sports & Recreation Clubs (7997), Services-Amusement & Recreation Services (7900)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Individual-Sport Clubs & Teams (Cycling Teams, Athletics/Track Clubs, Swimming Clubs, etc.) (MPAKABAD)
Keywords
Where Qarabag FK is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Baku
- HQ country
- Azerbaijan
- HQ region
- Asia
Offices3 records
Markets served
Qarabag FK business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Matchday Revenue: Revenue generated from ticket sales for home matches at Azərsun Arena stadium, including various seating categories and VIP experiences.
- Sponsorship: Corporate sponsorship deals including main sponsor Azersun and other partners such as AFFA, PFL, Azerçay, and Bizim Sufre. Includes kit sponsorship, stadium naming rights (Azərsun Arena), and partner branding.
- Merchandise Sales: Sale of official club merchandise including jerseys, apparel, accessories, and memorabilia through the club's online shop (qarabagh.shop) and potentially physical retail locations.
- Broadcasting Rights: Revenue from UEFA club competitions (Champions League, Europa League, Conference League) and domestic league broadcasting rights through participation in Azerbaijan Premier League.
- Prize Money: Prize money earned from winning Azerbaijan Premier League (12 titles), Azerbaijan Cup (8 titles), and advancing through UEFA competition qualifying rounds and group stages.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Individual match tickets with varying price categories |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Qarabag FK product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Qarabağ FK operates a professional men's football club that competes in the Azerbaijan Premier League and UEFA club competitions (Champions League, Europa League, Conference League). It sells matchday tickets and VIP experiences at Azərsun Arena, distributes official club merchandise through its online store and stadium outlets, and delivers club media content via Qarabağ TV and mobile applications. A youth academy (U-9 to U-19) and reserve team (Qarabağ-2) develop homegrown talent for the first team.
Product overview
Qarabag FK is a professional Azerbaijani football club that operates a digital ecosystem consisting of its official website (qarabagh.com) for club communications and news, a mobile application available on iOS and Android, an online merchandise store (qarabagh.shop), Qarabag TV for video content streaming, and a youth academy program with teams across multiple age groups. The club is headquartered in Baku and represents the Qarabağ region of Azerbaijan.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Qarabağ Akademiya: Youth academy of Qarabağ FK with teams from U-9 to U-19 age groups
- Qarabağ-2
- Qarabağ TV
Products and services
- Official Club Website (qarabagh.com) The official multilingual (Azerbaijani, English, Russian) website of Qarabağ FK providing club news, match schedules, team information, history, academy information, and communications for fans and the public.
- Qarabağ FK Mobile Application Official club mobile app available on iOS App Store and Google Play Store, providing match updates, news, club content, and links to merchandise purchasing functionality for fans.
- Qarabağ Shop (Online Merchandise Store) Official e-commerce storefront selling club merchandise including jerseys, apparel, accessories, and memorabilia, with global shipping to fans and the Azerbaijani diaspora.
- Qarabağ TV Official club media/video platform (YouTube) featuring match highlights, press conferences, player interviews, behind-the-scenes footage, and club documentaries.
- Qarabağ FK Academy (Youth Development Program) Youth football academy operating age-group teams from U-9 to U-19 and a reserve team (Qarabağ-2) that develops players for the senior first team.
- Matchday Tickets at Azərsun Arena Match tickets for home games at Azərsun Arena (since 2015), offered across multiple seating categories including VIP experiences, sold through the stadium box office and official ticket channels.
Quantifiable outcome
- 12 Azerbaijan Premier League championships (including 4 consecutive 2022-2025)
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Qarabag FK
Customer profileNamed customers1 record
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Qarabag FK technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Qarabag FK partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- AFFA (Azerbaijan Football Federations Association)coreNational football federation governing Azerbaijani football. Qarabağ FK participates in AFFA-organized competitions including Azerbaijan Premier League and Azerbaijan Cup.
- PFL (Professional Football League of Azerbaijan)coreProfessional Football League organizing Azerbaijan Premier League. Qarabağ FK is a member club competing in the league structure managed by PFL.
- AzerçayminorPartner visible on club website. Azerçay is an Azerbaijani tea brand distributed through bazarstore retail chain.
- Bizim SufreminorPartner visible on club website. Bizim Sufre is an Azerbaijani food/condiment brand.
- UEFAcoreUnion of European Football Associations. Qarabağ FK participates in UEFA club competitions (Champions League, Europa League, Conference League) and is subject to UEFA regulations and competitions.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Qarabag FK competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- FC Midtjylland: Danish club known for its structured youth academy and player-trading model that has qualified for UEFA Champions League group stage; comparable as a small-market European participant leveraging academy-driven value creation.
- Red Star Belgrade: Serbian football club with deep European pedigree (former European Cup winner) and regular UEFA group-stage participation; comparable in regional dominance, fan-base intensity, and European regulars profile.
- Ferencvárosi TC: Hungary's most decorated football club with regular UEFA Champions League and Europa League participations; comparable in profile as a dominant Central/Eastern European club competing in European competitions from a smaller national market.
- GNK Dinamo Zagreb: Croatian football powerhouse with consecutive league titles and regular UEFA Champions League qualifying-round appearances; highly comparable in the small-market dominance and player-development-to-export model.
- Maccabi Tel Aviv FC: Israeli club that regularly competes in UEFA Europa League and Champions League qualifying rounds and dominates its domestic league; comparable in small-market European regular-club profile.
- FC Sheriff Tiraspol: Moldovan football club that similarly dominates a small domestic league and competes regularly in UEFA Champions League and Europa League group stages; comparable in market size, on-pitch dominance, and small-nation European-footprint profile.
- FK Bodø/Glimt: Norwegian club that has similarly punched above its weight in UEFA competitions (including Champions League qualification) despite operating in a small domestic market; directly comparable in the 'small-market club with European breakthrough' archetype.
- Ludogorets Razgrad: Bulgarian football club with a long streak of consecutive league titles and regular UEFA Champions League group-stage appearances from a small national market; structurally similar to Qarabağ in its small-league dominance pattern.
Regional players
- The New Saints FC: Welsh Premier League dominant club (multiple consecutive titles) with regular UEFA Champions League qualifying-round appearances from a very small national market; relevant as a structural small-market dominator, though geographically distinct.
Broad incumbents
- AZ Alkmaar: Dutch Eredivisie club with a renowned academy model producing transfer-revenue streams and competing in UEFA competitions; comparable as a broader incumbent whose academy-driven, European-anchored commercial playbook Qarabağ could aspire to emulate.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Qarabag FK social profiles
Digital presenceQarabag FK financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Qarabag FK leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Qarabag FK funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Qarabag FK M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Qarabag FK
What does Qarabag FK do?
Qarabağ FK operates a professional men's football club that competes in the Azerbaijan Premier League and UEFA club competitions (Champions League, Europa League, Conference League). It sells matchday tickets and VIP experiences at Azərsun Arena, distributes official club merchandise through its online store and stadium outlets, and delivers club media content via Qarabağ TV and mobile applications. A youth academy (U-9 to U-19) and reserve team (Qarabağ-2) develop homegrown talent for the first team.
Is Qarabag FK a public or private company?
Qarabag FK is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Qarabag FK founded?
Qarabag FK was founded in 1987. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Qarabag FK based?
Qarabag FK is headquartered in Baku, Azerbaijan, in the Asia region.
How does Qarabag FK make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Matchday Revenue is the primary driver. The others are sponsorship, merchandise Sales, broadcasting Rights and prize Money.
Who are Qarabag FK's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are FC Midtjylland, Red Star Belgrade, Ferencvárosi TC, GNK Dinamo Zagreb, Maccabi Tel Aviv FC, FC Sheriff Tiraspol, FK Bodø/Glimt and Ludogorets Razgrad. The New Saints FC is listed as a regional player. AZ Alkmaar is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Qarabag FK have an API?
No public API is recorded for Qarabag FK.
What industry is Qarabag FK in?
Qarabag FK's product category is Professional Football Club. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAKABAD, Individual-Sport Clubs & Teams (Cycling Teams, Athletics/Track Clubs, Swimming Clubs, etc.). Its NAICS code is 711211 and its SIC code is 7997.