THE IMPACT OF EX-FOOTBALLERS ON THE AZERBAIJAN PREMIER LEAGUE

Abstract

The Professional Football League (PFL) first organized the current Azerbaijan Premier League in 2007. The PFL is a company that has the responsibility to organize the Premier League, which is the top tier and the First Division, which is the second tier of Azerbaijani football. The Azerbaijan Premier League replaced the Top Division, which existed from 1992 to 2007.

Since then, the championship has produced a lot of players from different clubs around the country. The league attracts foreign players from other continents. Most of the foreign players play as professionals and leave the league after the expiration of their contracts or after they retire, but most of the Azerbaijani exfootballers remain in the circle even after their contract ends or after they retire.

Throughout my research period, I contacted various club administrators, the Professional League and the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan officials and collected lots of data. For example, according to the PFL and the major clubs in Azerbaijan, there is a great impact of former Azerbaijan footballers on the league and around the football fraternity. In this article will be presented the famous ex-footballers` activity and their influence on contemporary football life in Azerbaijan.