Fernando Santos has left the Azerbaijan national team. The country's Football Federation announced the termination of the agreement with the Portuguese coach. It was emphasized that this decision was made after the final results - it was said that it was time to open a new page. The team will be coached by Azerbaijani U-21 coach Ayhan Abbasov for the 2026 World Cup qualifier against Ukraine.
Santush had been leading Azerbaijan since June 2024. The team played 11 matches under him and didn't know what victory was - 9 losses, 2 draws. Yesterday evening, the situation worsened: in the first round of the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, Iceland lost by a large margin (0:5). Against this backdrop, the federation acted swiftly and underwent a leadership change.
Currently, attention will be focused on U-21 team coach Aikhan Abbasov. He is undertaking tasks such as revitalizing the starting lineup, simplifying tactical decisions, and restoring discipline on the field in the lead-up to the match against Ukraine. This short-term transfer aims to give the team new momentum, boost morale, and restore the battle for points.
As a coach, Santos won the European Championship with Portugal in 2016. Despite this knowledge and experience, the mission in Azerbaijan was unsuccessful - statistics mirrored it. Now the main question is: how will the team under Abbosov play again, how will they gain inspiration and be able to return to competition in qualifying?
Summary: They took the reins of change. Now the task is to be decisive on the field, decisive in single combat, and fully utilize the potential of the existing squad. The key to success is simple: right choices, rational tactics, and trust from the first minute to the end.
Read 'Zamin' on Telegram!
