Allahverdi Bagirov
Allahverdi Teymur oglu Baghirov (Azerbaijani: Allahverdi Teymur oğlu Bağırov, Cyrillic: Аллаһверди Тејмур оғлу Бағыров; April 22, 1946 – June 14, 1992) was an Azerbaijani officer, former leader of Azerbaijani Popular Front Party, head coach of Qarabağ FK and National Hero of Azerbaijan.[1][2]
Allahverdi Baghirov | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 22 April 1946 |
| Died | 12 June 1992 (aged 46) |
| Cause of death | Anti-tank mine |
| Burial place | Aghdam cemetery |
| Occupation | Football manager |
| Years active | 1976–19?? |
| Political party | Azerbaijan Popular Front |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Teymur Baghirov Zumrud Baghirova |
| Military Service | |
| Allegiance |  Azerbaijan |
| Years of service | 1988–1992 |
| Rank | Officer |
| Commands held | Aghdam Detachment |
| Battles/wars | First Nagorno-Karabakh War |
| Awards | _-_lent.png.webp){kind=small} |
Early years
Seven daughters were born before his birth in his family, and his parents gave a name to him "Allahverdi" (means "God gave"). Allahverdi Baghirov was born in Aghdam and finished Aghdam school city number one. After graduating from school, he started working at Qarabagh FK as a head coach.
Football career
He went in for sports especially athletics and volleyball from his early age. He had an important role in victory of Aghdam in various sports interregional competitions during school years and later. In 1970, he was captain of Aghdam - Jabrayil match for the "Golden Spike" Cup in Fuzuli.[3]
In 1976, he was appointed the head coach of the club and Azerbaijan took the fourth place with his help in the same year, on the World Unity Championship. In 1991 he took part in match between professional footballers of Qarabagh FK and "Neftchi". The match ended with a score of 1:1, The goal scored in the game belonged to Allahverdi.[4][5]
Military service
In 1988, he voluntarily enlisted in the Azerbaijani Army in the war against Armenia over Nagorno-Karabakh region. In 1990, Baghirov created his own battalion and rescued many Azerbaijani citizens from Khojaly, while exchanging dead bodies of Azerbaijani soldiers with Armenian soldiers.[6][7]
Participation in Karabakh War
Baghirov had helped with financial assistance provided by the people of Agdam and by his private money to the small self-defense groups created in the villages of Garabagh. He fought in all battles of the Aghdam region. During the war, he was elected chairman of the Popular Front of Agdam. The flag of Independent Azerbaijan for the first time was raised by Allahverdi Baghirov in Aghdam.
In 1988, when the guard post was created between Askeran and Aghdam without awarding of the government, his brother-Eldar Baghirov was first volunteer who went there then posts was created in all villages bordering with Armenians.
Military units of the Armed Forces of Azerbaijan in Aghdam were created under the command of Allahverdi and his brother on October 1, 1991. Eldar Baghirov was commanding officer of the Aghdam Area Self-Defense military unit. The military unit of 760 people was called "Sons of the Motherland". İn the same year, his brother, Eldar, he was mysteriously killed in front of his home when was returning from a meeting of the Supreme Soviet in Baku.
In January 1992, all the forces and techniques of the Armenians in Naxchivanli village was destroyed by Azerbaijani military units under the command of Allahverdi Baghirov, then progressed to the Askeran fortress with 150 warriors, created the opposite position with the village of Ketuk. It took just two hours for Allahverdi Baghirov's soldiers to complete the operation and replace Armenian flags with Azerbaijani flags. Allahverdi Baghirov was awarded the title of "General Mohammed Asadov" for this operation.
Death
Baghirov and his driver both died when their car ran over an anti-tank mine during their return to Aghdam, a strategically important town as well as a major historical and cultural center. He was posthumously awarded the title of the National Hero of Azerbaijan. It was planned to bury his corpse in the Alley of Martyrs in Baku. But for some reasons, he was buried in the Aghdam cemetery near his brother, Eldar Baghirov's grave on June 13, 1992.
National hero
Baghirov Allahverdi Teymur oglu was awarded the title of "National Hero of Azerbaijan" after his death by the decree of the Azerbaijani President dated February 24, 1993. Later, by the decree of Heydar Aliyev, Allahverdi Baghirov was awarded with “the Golden Star” medal.
Personal life
He was married and had two daughters.
See also
References
- Massacre and Flight From Khojali
- "Qarabag: The have-a-go-heroes who beat a war – and now want Spurs". FourFourTwo. 2015-11-26. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
- Gault, Matt (2014-08-06). "Qarabag are exiled from their home but could shock the Champions League". The Guardian. 0261-3077. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
- "Allahverdi Baghirov - From Team Coach to Azerbaijan's National Hero - Futbolgrad". Futbolgrad. 2017-03-06. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
- "Qarabağ Ağdam, storia di una squadra di calcio in esilio" (in Italian). www.mondofutbol.com. Retrieved 2017-12-29.
- Ходжалы. Хроника геноцида. Archived 2008-06-08 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)
- Xocalı faciəsinə aparan yollar... (in Azerbaijani)
