Fariz Abdulla oglu Najafov (Azerbaijani: Fariz Abdulla oğlu Nəcəfov; born 1 June 1978) is an Azerbaijani karateka, serving as the President of Gabala Sports Club.[1] As an officer serving in the Azerbaijani Armed Forces, he fought in the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war.[2]
Fariz Najafov | |
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 Fariz Najafov in 2015. | |
| Born | Fariz Abdulla oglu Najafov June 1, 1978 |
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Life
Early life
Fariz Abdulla oglu Najafov[3] was born on 1 June 1978 in Kəngərli, located in the Aghdam District of the Azerbaijani SSR, then Soviet Union. He was a student of the first vice-president of the Azerbaijan Taekwondo Federation Fuzuli Musayev[4] and became World and European champion in karate on several occasions.[5]
Career and military service
Fariz Najafov was appointed vice-president of Gabala Sports Club in 2008.[6] Gabala SC achieved various milestones during Najafov's vice-presidency. During his tenure, Gabala FC became the third Azerbaijani football club to qualify for the group stage of the UEFA Europa League after Neftçi and Qarabağ[7] in the 2015–2016 UEFA Europa League season.[8][9] Also, in the Azerbaijani Premier League, Gabala finished the 2013–2014, 2014–2015, 2015–2016 seasons in third place, while in 2016–2017 and 2017–2018, it finished the league as a runners-up.[10] On 18 April 2019, Najafov replaced Kamaladdin Heydarov's son Tale Heydarov and was appointed the President of Gabala Sports Club.[11] On 11 July 2019, he was awarded the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic 100th anniversary medal.[12]
Fariz Najafov voluntarily joined the Azerbaijani forces as a reservist officer during the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war, which began on September 27, and continued his military service in the frontline during the war.[2][13]