A first in Azerbaijani football: a female coach appointed to a men's team!

Khachmaz's "Shimal" football team has successfully performed in the Azerbaijan 2nd League, securing bronze medals with 3 rounds to go. With this, the club has earned the right to participate in the 1st League next season. 

"Shimal", which has started preparations for the new league, has also strengthened its coaching staff. Zaur Ramazanov, who once played for the clubs "Bakılı", "Karvan", "Khazar-Lankaran", "Qarabağ", and also played for the Azerbaijani national team, has been appointed to the position of head coach. Another noteworthy appointment is related to the goalkeeping coach of the main team. Thus, for the first time in Azerbaijan, a female coach has been appointed to a men's football team. In "Shimal", this position was entrusted to 28-year-old young specialist Zulfiyya Bayramova.

QOL.az reports that Zulfiyya Bayramova said in an interview with the "AZERTAC" agency regarding her appointment as a coach of the "Shimal" team that she has had a "C" category coaching certificate since 2018. She obtained this category by participating in coaching trainings conducted by AFFA.

"I have been playing football in various teams for more than thirteen years. I play as a goalkeeper. In addition, I have completed coaching courses. I have previous coaching experience in children's teams. I received an offer from the "Shimal" football club, which represents my hometown, to become the goalkeeping coach of the main team. This team is not foreign to me. Fazil Salahov, who contributed to my development as a football player, is also in the club's coaching staff. He played a big role in my transfer to the club. We have signed a contract with the club until the end of the 2025-2026 season. Currently, "Shimal" is playing its last games in the 2nd League. From next season, we will play in the 1st League. As part of the preparations for the 1st League, I will start active work in the team. I am ready to provide all possible assistance to the team of my hometown," said Zulfiyya Bayramova.

Zulfiyya was born on April 4, 1997, in the village of Arzu, Khachmaz. From a young age, she played football with boys in the neighborhood. Since 2012, she has been playing at the amateur level in a club in Khachmaz. During her talented goalkeeper career, she played for the teams "ShKGB" (Khachmaz), "Qusar", "Bina" (Baku), "Sumgayit", "Gabala", "Inter" (Khachmaz). She became the champion and silver medalist of Azerbaijan with "Gabala". Since last year, she has been a member of the "Baku Juniors" women's football team.

Our interlocutor also defended the honor of the Azerbaijani national women's team. The young woman from Khachmaz, who mostly performed the function of a reserve goalkeeper in the national team, also participated in a number of international competitions.

"Working in a men's team does not scare me. They said, "A lion has no male or female." I have always worked in men's teams in my football career. I hope that this appointment will lead to an increase in my career," said Zulfiyya Bayramova.