Mahir Emreli
Emreli with Legia Warsaw in 2021
Personal information
Full name Mahir Anar oğlu Emreli[1]
Birth name Mahir Anar oğlu Mədətov
Date of birth (1997-07-01) 1 July 1997 (age 26)
Place of birth Tver, Russia[2]
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[3]
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
 Dinamo Zagreb
Number 11
Youth career
2006–2013 Baku
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2014–2015 Baku 17 (0)
2015–2021 Qarabağ 185 (67)
2021–2022 Legia Warsaw 15 (2)
2022– Dinamo Zagreb 29 (9)
2023 → Konyaspor (loan) 12 (2)
International career‡
2012 Azerbaijan U17 3 (0)
2014–2015 Azerbaijan U19 8 (1)
2016–2018 Azerbaijan U21 6 (3)
2017 Azerbaijan U23 5 (2)
2017– Azerbaijan 39 (5)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  Azerbaijan
Islamic Solidarity Games
Winner 2017 Azerbaijan
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 July 2023
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 13 June 2022

Mahir Anar oğlu Emreli (born Mahir Anar oğlu Mədətov; 1 July 1997) is an Azerbaijani professional footballer[4] who plays as a forward for HNL club Dinamo Zagreb and the Azerbaijan national team. Besides Dinamo Zagreb, he has played for Baku, Qarabağ, Legia Warsaw, as well as Konyaspor on loan.

Club career

Emreli made his professional debut in the Azerbaijan Premier League for FC Baku on 27 September 2014 in a game against Araz-Naxçıvan.[5]

Qarabağ

On 16 July 2015, Emreli signed a three-year contract with Qarabağ FK.[6]

On 23 August 2015, Mahir made his debut and scored his first goal for Qarabağ in a 2–0 away victory against Shuvalan.[7]

Emreli made his European debut in 2016 against Luxembourgish F91 Dudelange in the second qualification round of the UEFA Champions League which ended 2–0 for Qarabağ.[8]

On 15 September 2016, Emreli made his debut for UEFA Europa League group stage game against FC Slovan Liberec.[9]

He scored his first European goal in a 1–0 home victory against Danish Copenhagen in the play-off round of the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League.[10]

Emreli made his debut for UEFA Champions League group stage game against Chelsea in Stamford Bridge on 12 September 2017.[11] Mahir made five appearances in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

On 18 August 2020, Emreli, scoring against FK Sileks at the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, celebrated his goal with a salute to the Azerbaijani soldiers serving in the frontline during the border clashes with Armenia.[12]

Legia Warsaw

On 8 June 2021, Legia Warsaw announced the signing of Emreli on a contract until 30 June 2024.[13]

On 17 June 2021, Emreli made his debut and scored his first goal for Legia Warsaw in friendly a 5–0 victory against SK Bischofshofen.[14] Mahir scored his first officials goals for Legia in a UEFA Champions League first qualifying round match against Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt on 7 July 2021.[15]

On 26 August 2021, during play-off match of the 2021–22 UEFA Europa League against Slavia Prague, following an unsuccessful 0–1 first half, Emreli scored two goals and secured qualification of Legia Warszawa to the group stage of the tournament.[16] He set a unique record by scoring in all the tournaments he participated in.[17]

In December 2021, Mahir Emreli was one of the victims of an attack by hooligans on a bus returning after the Ekstraklasa match against Wisła Płock.[18] After this incident, Emreli decided not to play for Legia.[19] On 2 February 2022, he terminated the contract by mutual agreement.[20]

Dinamo Zagreb

Hours after leaving Legia, Emreli was announced as the new player of Dinamo Zagreb in the Croatian First Football League. Legia owed Dinamo one million euros because they bought Lirim Kastrati from them in September 2021 for 1.2 million euros, but by December 2021 Dinamo had received only 200,000 euros. Dinamo decided to drop Legia's debt on the condition that Emreli would leave Legia for free and sign for Dinamo.[21]

On 24 August 2022, Emreli played in the play-off match against FK Bodø/Glimt with Dinamo Zagreb winning 4–1 and ensuring a place in the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League group stage.[22][23]

Loan to Konyaspor

On 14 February 2023, Emreli was loaned to Süper Lig club Konyaspor until the end of the 2022–23 season with an option of a permanent transfer at the end of the season.[24]

International career

Youth

Azerbaijan won the Islamic Solidarity Games. He was selected by Yashar Vahabzade for his Islamic Solidarity Games U-23 squad, appearing in five games and scoring two goal in the final to help defeat Oman.[25]

Senior

Emreli made his Azerbaijan debut on 9 March 2017 against Qatar in friendly match.[26][27]

He scored his first goal for Azerbaijan on 29 May 2018, in a friendly match against Kyrgyzstan.[28]

Sponsorship

In 2018, Emreli signed a sponsorship deal with American sportswear and equipment supplier, Nike.[29]

Personal life

In May 2019, Mahir changed his surname from Mədətov to Emreli, taking maternal family name due to his disproval at his father's new marriage.[1]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 12 November 2023[30]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Baku 2014–15 Azerbaijan Premier League 17 0 3 1 – – 20 1
Qarabağ 2015–16 Azerbaijan Premier League 16 7 5 1 0 0 – 21 8
2016–17 21 3 5 3 6 0 – 32 6
2017–18 24 8 2 0 11 1 – 37 9
2018–19 27 16 4 0 14 0 – 45 16
2019–20 16 7 2 1 12 2 – 30 10
2020–21 22 18 3 2 6 2 – 31 22
Total 126 59 21 7 49 5 – 216 72
Legia Warsaw 2021–22 Ekstraklasa 15 2 3 1 14[b] 7 1[c] 1 33 11
Dinamo Zagreb 2021–22 Prva HNL 8 2 0 0 2[d] 0 – 10 2
2022–23 10 3 0 0 3[e] 0 – 13 3
2023–24 11 4 1 1 9[f] 0 0 0 21 5
Total 29 9 1 1 14 0 0 0 44 10
Konyaspor (loan) 2022–23 Süper Lig 12 2 – – – 12 2
Career total 199 72 28 10 77 12 1 1 305 95
  1. ^ Includes Azerbaijan Cup, Polish Cup, Croatian Football Cup
  2. ^ Six appearances and two goals in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and five goals in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Appearance in Polish Super Cup
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  6. ^ Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League, four appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League

International

As of match played 9 September 2019[31]
Scores and results list Azerbaijan's goal tally first.[31]
No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 29 May 2018 Baku Olympic Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan  Kyrgyzstan 2–0 3–0 Friendly
2. 17 November 2018 Baku Olympic Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan  Faroe Islands 2–0 2–0 2018–19 UEFA Nations League D
3. 8 June 2019 Bakcell Arena, Baku, Azerbaijan  Hungary 1–2 1–3 UEFA Euro 2020 qualification
4. 6 September 2019 Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales  Wales 1–1 1–2
5. 13 June 2022 Dalga Arena, Baku, Azerbaijan  Belarus 1–0 2–0 2022–23 UEFA Nations League C

Honours

Qarabağ

Dinamo Zagreb

Azerbaijan U23

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b "Официально: Махир Мадатов стал Махиром Эмрели Махир оглу (ФОТО)". azerifootball.com/ (in Russian). Azeri Football. 10 May 2019. Archived from the original on 10 May 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  2. ^ Mahir Emreli at Global Sports Archive
  3. ^ [htt.2.50ps://www.gnkdinamo.hr/en/Players/Single?Permalink=mahir-emreli2 "Mahir Emreli"]. GNK Dinamo Zagreb. Retrieved 7 September 2022.
  4. ^ ""Baku" sent out to France 4 footballers". www.fcbaku.com. FC Baku. 8 January 2014. Archived from the original on 29 October 2016. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  5. ^ "BAKI VS. ARAZ 2 - 1". Soccerway. 27 September 2014. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  6. ^ "Mahir Mədətov "Qarabağ"da !". www.qarabagh.com. Qarabağ FK. 16 July 2015. Archived from the original on 3 October 2017. Retrieved 24 March 2017.
  7. ^ "ŞÜVƏLAN VS. QARABAĞ 0 - 2". Soccerway. 23 August 2015. Archived from the original on 30 April 2016. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  8. ^ "2016-17 UEFA Champions League, Second qualifying round matches, UEFA.com". Archived from the original on 2017-10-16. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  9. ^ "2016-17 UEFA Europa League group stage matches, UEFA.com". Archived from the original on 2016-11-27. Retrieved 2017-03-24.
  10. ^ "2017-18 UEFA Champions League, Second qualifying round matches, UEFA.com". Archived from the original on 2017-11-01. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  11. ^ "2017-18 UEFA Champions League group stage matches, UEFA.com". Archived from the original on 2018-02-17. Retrieved 2017-10-16.
  12. ^ "Mahir Emreli Çempionlar Liqasında vurduğu qolu əsgər salamı ilə qeyd edib" (in Azerbaijani). 18 August 2020. Archived from the original on 19 August 2020. Retrieved 18 August 2020.
  13. ^ "Mahir Emreli – witamy w Legii". legia.com (in Polish). Legia Warsaw. 8 June 2021. Archived from the original on 20 June 2021. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
  14. ^ "SK Bischofshofen 0-5 Legia Warszawa". 90minut. 17 June 2021. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 8 July 2021.
  15. ^ "Mahir Emreli: Musimy już zapomnieć o tym meczu". legia.com. 7 July 2021. Archived from the original on 15 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  16. ^ Pietrasik, Maciej (27 August 2021). "Legia Warszawa. Mahir Emreli cieszy się z dubletu. "Nie wiem dlaczego, ale czułem, że strzelę"". Meczyki (in Polish). Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  17. ^ "Mahir Emreli Polşada tarix yazır". fanat.az (in Azerbaijani). 22 September 2021. Archived from the original on 16 October 2021. Retrieved 23 September 2021.
  18. ^ "Ekstraklasa: Emreli, Luquinhas i Lopes pobici przez kiboli? Skandal w Książenicach. Legia milczy" [Ekstraklasa: Emreli, Luquinhas and Lopes beaten by football fans? A scandal in Książenice. Legia is silent]. PolskieRadio24.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  19. ^ "Ekstraklasa: Mahir Emreli nie odpuszcza. Media: piłkarz pozwał Legię" [Ekstraklasa: Mahir Emreli is not letting go. Media: the footballer sued Legia]. PolskieRadio24.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  20. ^ "Mahir Emreli odchodzi z Legii" [Mahir Emreli leaves Legia]. www.90minut.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 5 February 2022.
  21. ^ "Mahir Emreli ipak u Dinamu! On će 'otplatiti' dug za Kastratija". www.24sata.hr (in Croatian). Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  22. ^ DINAMO ZAGREB VS. BODØ / GLIMT 4 - 1
  23. ^ Dinamo Zagreb qualify for the UEFA Champions League
  24. ^ "Mahir Emreli arabam.com Konyaspor'umuzda". konyaspor.org.tr (in Turkish). 14 February 2023.
  25. ^ "AZERBAIJAN VS. OMAN 2 - 1" (PDF). baku2017results.azureedge.net. 21 May 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 December 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2017.
  26. ^ http://www.affa.az/index.php/matches/azrbaycan-milli-komandas/59487?mt=latest Archived 2017-03-25 at the Wayback Machine AFFA.az
  27. ^ "QATAR VS. AZERBAIJAN 1 - 2". Soccerway. 9 March 2017. Archived from the original on 7 November 2017. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  28. ^ "AFFA - Azərbaycan Futbol Federasiyaları Assosiasiyası". Archived from the original on 2018-05-30. Retrieved 2018-06-02.
  29. ^ ""Nike" Mahir Mədətovla müqavilə bağladı". sportline.az. Sportline. 7 March 2018. Archived from the original on 18 March 2018. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  30. ^ "M.Mədətov". soccerway.com/. Soccerway. Archived from the original on 10 November 2015. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  31. ^ a b "Mahir Mədətov". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 12 July 2017.

External links

GNK Dinamo Zagreb – current squad
Azerbaijan Premier League top scorers
Categories