Azerrail Baku

Azerrail Baku
Full nameAzerrail Baku
Founded2001
GroundPalace of Hand Games
(Capacity: 2500)
ChairmanAzerbaijan Ramin Azizov
ManagerItaly Paolo Tofoli
CaptainAzerbaijan Aynur Imanova
LeagueAzerbaijan Superleague
2022-231st
Uniforms
Home
Away

Azerrail Baku (Azerbaijani: Azərreyl Bakı) is an Azerbaijani women's volleyball club based in Baku. Azerrail is a four-time champion of Azerbaijan Superleague and the winner of CEV Cup in 2002 and Challenge Cup in 2011.

History

[edit]

Azerrail was founded in 2001 in Baku, Azerbaijan. Under the management of head coach Faig Garayev, Azerrail soon established itself as one of the top clubs in Europe. In 2002, Azerrail won CEV Cup after beating OK Jedinstvo Užice in the final. Azerrail also became the base club for the Azerbaijan national team, producing players such Natalya Mammadova, Valeriya Mammadova, Oksana Kurt, Yelena Parkhomenko and Polina Rahimova.

The team continued to compete in European tournaments in the 2000s and 2010s. In 2011, Azerrail won the CEV Women's Challenge Cup after beating Lokomotiv Baku in the all Azerbaijani final.[1][2]

After the establishment of Azerbaijan Superleague in 2008, Azerrail had a strong rivalry with Rabita Baku. In the 2015-2016 season, Azerrail won the Superleague title for the first time and earned the title again in 2018 and 2019. In the 2021-2022 season, Azerrail continues to compete in the Superleague along with Absheron, Murov and UNEC teams.

Current squad

[edit]

Season 2024-2025[3]

2024-2025 Team
Number Player Position Birth date
Azerbaijan Aynur Imanova Blocker (1988-12-07) December 7, 1988 (age 35)
Bulgaria Nikol Milanova Setter (2002-08-10) August 10, 2002 (age 22)
Azerbaijan Anastasia Gurbanova Opposite hitter (1989-12-04) December 4, 1989 (age 34)
Azerbaijan Raziya Aliyeva Setter (2002-08-29) August 29, 2002 (age 22)
Azerbaijan Aisha Alismanova Outside hitter (2008-08-23) August 23, 2008 (age 16)
Serbia Irina Milanović Outside hitter (2002-09-23) September 23, 2002 (age 22)
Azerbaijan Leyla Aliyeva Outside hitter (2009-01-01) January 1, 2009 (age 15)
Serbia Milica Sorak Outside hitter (1998-09-22) September 22, 1998 (age 26)
Azerbaijan Nilufer Aghazadeh Blocker (2001-06-19) June 19, 2001 (age 23)
Azerbaijan Jeyran Imanova Libero (1995-01-03) January 3, 1995 (age 29)
Puerto Rico Nayka Benitez Libero (1989-02-08) February 8, 1989 (age 35)
Colombia Katherin Ramírez Blocker (2005-01-17) January 17, 2005 (age 19)

Previous Squads

[edit]

Honours

[edit]
Many awards of Azerrail
Azerrail logo between 2001 and 2019

Domestic Success

[edit]
  • Azerbaijan Superleague:
    • Winners (4): 2015-16, 2017-18, 2018–19, 2022-23
    • Runners-up (5): 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2016-17, 2021-22

International Success

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ Stephanie Enright left the club in December 2015.[4]
  2. ^ Haley Eckerman left the club in December 2015.[5]
  3. ^ Carla Rueda left the club in March 2015.
  4. ^ Jeyran Aliyeva left the club in March 2014.
  5. ^ Kseniya Poznyak arrived in January 2013.
  6. ^ Indre Sorokaite arrived in December 2012.
  7. ^ Tina Lipicer left the club in January 2013.
  8. ^ Riikka Lehtonen arrived in January 2013.
  9. ^ Riikka Lehtonen left the club in March 2013.
  10. ^ Caroline Wensink left the club in March 2013.
  11. ^ Ana Grbac left the club in March 2013.
  12. ^ Karolina Kosek arrived in January 2012.
  13. ^ Pelin Celik arrived in February 2012.
  14. ^ Nootsara Tomkom arrived in January 2011.
  15. ^ Angela McGinnis left the club in January 2011.
  16. ^ Martina Nosekova left the club in February 2011.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Azerrail BAKU wins second European trophy in history". Archived from the original on April 6, 2011. Retrieved 3 April 2011.
  2. ^ "Challenge Cup Azerrail Bakü'nün". Retrieved 3 April 2011.[dead link]
  3. ^ "Azerrail Baku". women.volleybox.net. Retrieved 2024-10-03.
  4. ^ Ayala Gordián, José (23 December 2015). "Razones para estar conectados a la temporada 2016 del Voleibol Femenino". Primera Hora (in Spanish). Retrieved 15 December 2016.
  5. ^ "Leonas de Ponce anuncian sus dos refuerzos". El Nuevo Dia (in Spanish). 23 December 2015. Retrieved 15 December 2016.
[edit]