Jeton Bekiri appointed head coach of Gabala FC
After a short break, Jeton Bekiri returns as Gabala's coach to stabilise a club that has 4 points from five league matches.
Jeton Bekiri will take over the first-team duties at Gabala FC in Azerbaijan after a short spell away from the touchline, the club preparing to formalize the appointment this week.
Bekiri arrives with domestic honours to his name — he won the title with Shkendija — and with the record for the best European campaign by a Macedonian club. The incoming coach is expected to assume a temporary "firefighter" role at Gabala as the side tries to arrest a poor start to the season.
Gabala sit low in the table with just 4 points from five league games in a tightly contested Azerbaijani championship where the current champion Sabah (also competing in the UEFA Champions League) fights for the title alongside Qarabağ and the resurgent Neftçi Baku. Neftçi are Gabala's next scheduled opponent.
Immediate plan and timing
According to the information circulating in the region, Bekiri is due to begin officially "from Monday" so he can use the upcoming international break to work with the squad and prepare for the matches ahead. Final confirmation is expected from Azerbaijani media outlets or directly from the club.
Gabala are a club with past ambitions and notable names on their coaching CV — former managers include Tony Adams and Yuri Semin, and before Bekiri the team was led by Georgian coach Kakhaber Tsxanadze. The club once operated with a significant budget under a Ukrainian sponsor and is based in a small town that boasts a modern stadium and training complex.
Bekiri will bring Burhan Emrullai as his first assistant; the pair worked together at Shkendija. Last season Bekiri’s Shkendija faced Qarabağ in Champions League qualifying rounds.
Photo: press material from the event
