Home ground
ASK Arena
Baku
8,125Capacity
after the playing surface was replaced
Baku · Azerbaijan
Shafa Football Club
“Şəfa” means healing
- Promoted 2026
- Cup winners 2000-01
Şəfa play at ASK Arena, capacity 8,125, are coached by Zaur Hashimov and stand 10th in the 2026/27 Misli Premyer Liqası on 3 points from 6 matches. Founded in 1998 in Baku. 26 registered players.
Updated
2026/27 season
MİSLİ PREMYER LİQASILeague position
10th
Played 6
Points
3
- 1 won
- 0 drawn
- 5 lost
Registered players
26
for 2026/27
Ground capacity
8,125
Seats
Recent form
- Won
- Lost
- Lost
- Lost
- Lost
Most recent last
Head coach
Zaur Hashimov
Management
Chairman MyGroup Holding
Squad
26
Registered players, 2026/27
Club colours
Royal blue & white
Last season2025/26
1st
First League, 57 points, promoted
Honours
1Azerbaijan Cup
1First League title
4thBest top-flight finish (2000-01)
League: None
Cup: 2000-01 (2-1 v Neftçi)
Squad 2026/27 — 26 players
Goalkeepers 4
Defenders 10
Midfielders 7
Forwards 5
Squad taken from the Professional Football League's registration list for this club. Shirt numbers can change during a transfer window.
History
Şəfa were founded in 1998, went straight into the top flight, and in 2000-01 finished fourth and won the Azerbaijan Cup, beating Neftçi 2-1 in the final. In the winter of 2004-05 the money ran out; the club withdrew mid-season, its remaining fixtures were awarded 3-0 to opponents, and it disappeared.
AFFA readmitted Şəfa to the Second League on 16 June 2023. MyGroup Holding took over, and the club went from the third tier to the Premier League in three seasons — runners-up in the Second League in 2024-25, then First League champions in 2025-26 with a round to spare. The crest unveiled in June 2026 is built entirely around Baku: the fortress wall and three towers of Icherisheher, a flame from the state emblem, blue for the Caspian, a star for the 2000-01 cup, and "1998".
In Europe
The original Şəfa played in Europe once, entering the 2001-02 UEFA Cup as cup winners and losing 7-0 on aggregate to NK Olimpija Ljubljana. The revived club has no European record.
Stories & legends
The manager who scored their first goals is back for their first Premier League season
Zaur Həşimov joined Şəfa in 1998 as a 17-year-old defender and finished the club's debut season as joint top scorer with six goals. He built a 17-year career — 86 games for Qarabağ, 19 Azerbaijan caps — and has returned to take the club he started at into the top flight, with a staff of fellow ex-internationals.
The “local players only” promise that lasted six weeks
Through the promotion campaign Şəfa briefed that they would compete with Azerbaijani players only. The new vice-president publicly denied the policy within weeks; by late July the squad contained eight foreigners — a higher share than most established Premier League clubs. Azerbaijan abolished its foreign-player quota in 2025, which is exactly what made the U-turn possible.
From 150 spectators to the Premier League
Şəfa won the First League in front of crowds of 200, and 150 for the title-clinching win. They must now host Qarabağ, Neftçi and Sabah — and as of late July the league's own database still had no stadium registered against them.
Fixtures & results
Next
Turan Tovuz
Kəpəz
Araz-Naxçıvan
QəbələRecent
Sabah
İmİşlİ
Transfers
Khayal TomarovMidfielder · Azerbaijan
Undisclosed
To Left the club · 2026-09-17
İsmayıl RzayevDefender · Azerbaijan
Undisclosed
To Left the club · 2026-09-17
Parviz AzadovMidfielder · Azerbaijan
Undisclosed
To Left the club · 2026-09-17
Ravan KazymovGoalkeeper · Azerbaijan
Undisclosed
To Left the club · 2026-09-17
Arsen AğcabəyovCentre-back · Azerbaijan
Free
Joined Şəfafrom Şamaxı · Jun 2026
Rauf HüseynliRight-back · Azerbaijan
Undisc.
Joined Şəfafrom Kəpəz · Jun 2026
Nicat MehbalıyevGoalkeeper · Azerbaijan
Undisc.
Joined Şəfafrom Sabah · Jun 2026
Andrei DraguLeft-back · Romania
Undisc.
Joined Şəfafrom Unirea Slobozia · Jul 2026
Vlad PopCentral midfield · Romania
Undisc.
Joined Şəfafrom Unirea Slobozia · Jul 2026
Moussa GuelAttacking midfield · Ivory Coast
Free
Joined Şəfafrom Tikveš · Jul 2026
Bafodé DansokoLeft winger · Guinea
Free
Joined Şəfafrom FC Winterthur · Jul 2026
Maudo JarjueDefender · Gambia
Undisclosed
Joined Şəfafrom Undisclosed · 2026-09-17
Farid YusifliMidfielder · Azerbaijan
Undisclosed
Joined Şəfafrom Undisclosed · 2026-09-17
Tray FullerForward · Canada
Undisclosed
Joined Şəfafrom Undisclosed · 2026-09-17
Luis FelipeForward · Brazil
Undisclosed
Joined Şəfafrom Undisclosed · 2026-09-17
Oumar DiawDefender · France
Undisclosed
Joined Şəfafrom Undisclosed · 2026-09-17
Christopher MamengiDefender · NDL
Undisclosed
Joined Şəfafrom Undisclosed · 2026-09-17
Eltun BabazadaMidfielder · Azerbaijan
Undisclosed
Joined Şəfafrom Undisclosed · 2026-09-17
Aykhan AlizadaGoalkeeper · Azerbaijan
Undisclosed
Joined Şəfafrom Undisclosed · 2026-09-17
Şəfa news
Şamaxı host Araz-Naxçıvan as Misli Premyer Liqasi action concludes
Matchday six concludes as Şamaxı take on Araz-Naxçıvan and Kəpəz face Sumqayıt in Monday's fixtures.
Azerbaijan U-21 squad announced for Euro qualifiers
Azerbaijan's under-21 team has named a 25-man squad for upcoming European Championship qualifiers against the Czech Republic, Scotland and Gibraltar.
Turan Tovuz host Zirə as Sabah face İmişli in league
The Misli Premyer Liqasi continues with Turan Tovuz taking on Zirə and defending champions Sabah playing İmişli in round six matches.
Qurban Qurbanov: we are building an entirely new team
Qarabağ head coach Qurban Qurbanov reflected on his side's 1-0 victory over Şəfa in the Misli Premyer Liqasi, noting that they are building a…
Qarabağ edge past Şəfa with narrow home win
Qarabağ defeated Şəfa 1-0 in the Misli Premyer Liqasi thanks to a 61st-minute penalty from Marko Janković at the Tofiq Bahramov Republican Stadium.
Araz-Naxçıvan takes on Turan Tovuz in Şamaxı
Araz-Naxçıvan meets Turan Tovuz in the Misli Premyer Liqasi while Zirə prepares to host Qarabağ.
Official channels
The ASK Arena was built as Şəfa Stadium in 2001 and is still known by that name; the club's only European tie was the first match ever played on it.
Frequently asked
Where does Şəfa play?
Şəfa play at ASK Arena in Baku, capacity 8,125. The ASK Arena was built as Şəfa Stadium in 2001 and is still known by that name; the club's only European tie was the first match ever played on it.
Who is the Şəfa head coach?
Zaur Hashimov.
When were Şəfa founded?
Şəfa were founded in 1998 in Baku.
What has Şəfa won?
League titles: None. Azerbaijan Cup: 2000-01 (2-1 v Neftçi).