Gurban Gurbanov is the only person to have managed both “Qarabag” and “Neftchi” and also played for the capital club in their derby encounters.
According to Idman.Biz, citing the Professional Football League, only one coach has led both clubs from the sidelines, while having also participated in the Azerbaijan derby as a player for one of them.
Three specialists who played in the derby for both clubs later also experienced it as a head coach: Samir Abasov, Tarlan Ahmadov, and Arif Asadov all played for both teams and participated in the derby as Neftchi’s coach. Ahmadov scored goals for both teams.
Four players later experienced the derby as both a player and head coach for the same club: Asgar Abdullayev, Samir Aliyev, Fuzuli Mammadov for Neftchi, and Elshad Ahmadov for Qarabag.
Gurban Gurbanov and Samir Abasov once appeared together in the derby as teammates for Neftchi (March 13, 2004, Qarabag 1–3 Neftchi).
In the 2006/07 season, Gurbanov was Neftchi’s coach while Abasov played for Qarabag in two matches (September 18, 2006, Neftchi 0–0 Qarabag; April 27, 2007, Qarabag 0–2 Neftchi).
In the 2010/11 season, Gurbanov managed Qarabag while Abasov played for them in two derbies (August 8, 2010, Neftchi 1–1 Qarabag; April 3, 2011, Neftchi 2–0 Qarabag).
