Gurban Gurbanov: I will not be able to achieve success in a country whose mentality is unfamiliar to me

Being part of this team became a catalyst for my development. This name - "Qarabag" - essentially raised me, forced me to grow professionally, and multiplied my sense of responsibility many times over. Perhaps, if I had managed a different team, such a transformation would not have occurred.

As AZERTAC reports, this was stated by Qarabag FC head coach Gurban Gurbanov at the panel "The Role of the Head Coach: Leader, Mentor, or Manager" as part of the 1st Coaches Forum, held for the first time in Azerbaijan.

The experienced specialist, who has been at the helm of the "horsemen" since 2008 and transformed the club into a dominant force in the national championship and a regular participant in European competitions, emphasized that his mission goes far beyond tactical formations. He noted that his primary task is to convey to the players the sacred meaning of the team's name.

"If my mentality does not align with the spirit of this country, I will not be able to achieve success. In the same way, it is impossible to win in a nation whose culture and values you do not understand. I always explain to foreign players: you must be aware of the name under which you take the field. We regularly have similar conversations with local players as well. They must never forget, not even for a second, that we represent Qarabag. In sports, and especially in football, triumph is impossible without a strong inner core. Our philosophy is simple and uncompromising: we have no right to leave the pitch without a fight," the coach shared.