2012–13 Azerbaijan Premier League


The 2012–13 Azerbaijan Premier League was the twenty first season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The season began on 4 August 2012 and finished on 20 May 2013. Neftchi Baku are the defending champions, having won the previous season.
No club from 2012–13 Azerbaijan First Division was directly promoted.

Teams

A total of 12 teams will contest the league, including 12 sides from the 2011–12 season, which means two teams will not be promoted from the 2011–12 Azerbaijan First Division.
On 10 April 2012, FK Qaradağ sealed promotion to league after winning first division. However, due decision of AFFA about licensing, no clubs from division will be promoted which means all clubs from last season will be remaining in the league.

Stadia and locations

TeamLocationVenueCapacity
AZALBakuAZAL Stadium3,000
BakuFC Baku's Training Base2,000
GabalaGabalaGabala City Stadium4,000
InterBakuShafa Stadium8,000
KəpəzGanjaGanja City Stadium25,000
KhazarLankaranLankaran City Stadium15,000
NeftchiBakuBakcell Arena11,000
QarabağBakuTofig Bahramov Stadium31,200
Ravan BakuBakuBayil Stadium5,000
SimurqZaqatalaZaqatala City Stadium3,500
SumgayitSumqayitMehdi Huseynzade Stadium16,000
TuranTovuzTovuz City Stadium6,800

Personnel and sponsoring

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
TeamManagerTeam captainKit manufacturerShirt sponsor
AZAL Vagif Sadygov Jahangir HasanzadeUmbroSilk Way
Baku Božidar Bandović Elvin MammadovMacron
Gabala Luis Aragón Vurğun HüseynovErreàHyundai
Inter Baku Kakhaber Tskhadadze Vladimir LevinUmbroIBA
Kəpəz Mahmud Gurbanov Khayal ZeynalovAdidasNakhchivan Car Factory
Khazar John Toshack Rahid AmirguliyevPumaPalmali
Neftchi Baku Boyukagha Hajiyev Rashad SadigovAdidasSOCAR
Qarabağ Gurban Gurbanov Rashad SadygovAdidasAzersun
Ravan Baku Ramil Aliyev Tural AkhundovLegeaNBC Bank
Simurq Giorgi Chikhradze Rasim RamaldanovUmbro
Sumgayit Bernhard Raab Samir AbbasovUmbroAzerkimya
Turan Afghan Talybov Hafiz AliyevUmbroBank of Azerbaijan

Managerial changes

First round

League table

Results

Second round

Championship group

The top six teams of the first phase participate in this group, which will decide which team will win the championship. Additionally, teams in this group compete for one 2013–14 Champions League and two Europa League spots.
The winners will qualify for the Champions League Second qualifying round, with the runners-up and third place team earning a spot in the Europa League first qualifying round.

Table

Results

Relegation group

The bottom six teams of the first phase will determine the teams to be relegated to the 2013–14 Azerbaijan First Division. The two teams who finish in 11th and 12th position will be relegated to the 2013–14 Azerbaijan First Division.

Table

Results

Season statistics

Top scorers

RankPlayerClubGoals
1 Nicolás CanalesNeftchi Baku26
2 NildoAZAL21
3 Juan VareaRavan Baku14
4 Richard AlmeidaQarabağ13
5 Salif BalloTuran12
6 Pardis Fardjad-AzadSumgayit9
7 Yuriy FomenkoKəpəz / Inter Baku8
7 Bachana TskhadadzeInter Baku8
7 Julius WobayNeftchi Baku8
10 Zouhir BenouahiAZAL7
11 Mario BožićSimurq6
11 FlavinhoNeftchi Baku6
11 Marius PenaBaku6
11 Mindaugas KalonasRavan Baku6
11 Dimitris SialmasKhazar6
11 Victor MendyGabala6

Source:

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