The Azerbaijan Premier League (), also known as Misli Premyer Liqası for sponsorship reasons, is a professional association football league in Azerbaijan and the highest level of the Azerbaijani football league system. It is contested by twelve clubs.
Seasons run from August to May, with teams playing 33 matches each (playing each team in the league three times, with home venues for the third round determined by a draw). The Premier League champion secures the right to play in the UEFA Champions League first qualifying round. The runner-up and the 3rd-place winner secure the right to play in the UEFA Conference League starting in the second qualifying round.
Since 1992, a total of eight clubs have been crowned champions of the Azerbaijani football system. The Azerbaijan Premier League was first organized in 2007 and succeeded the Top Division (), which existed from 1992 to 2007. The current champions are Sabah, who won the title in the 2025–26 season for the first time in their history.
History
The 1990s The league was dominated by teams like Qarabağ, Neftçi, Kapaz, Turan Tovuz and Shamkir. However, financial struggles had a bad impact on local clubs, and most teams such as Khazri Buzovna, Shamkir, Vilash Masalli and Shafa Baku went bust due increasing debts. Also, Qarabağ began to weaken due to financial problems. In 1997, Kapaz were known for their unbeaten run as the club's final record for the 1997–98 league campaign stood at 22 wins, 4 draws and 0 losses, out of 26 games total, an unbeaten run not matched in any single season by any team in an Azerbaijani league division. In the 1999 UEFA Intertoto Cup season, Qarabag became the first Azerbaijani club to advance to the next round of the European Cup.
The 2000s As the league entered a new century, the Neftçi found themselves facing new challengers. They were challenged by emerging Khazar Lankaran, Inter Baku and Baku in both competitions. The country's football received major blow in 2002, when UEFA imposed a two-year ban in response to a long-standing conflict between the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan and majority of the country's top flight clubs. The domestic championship was abandoned as a result of the conflict and the top clubs prevented their players from playing for the national team, with tax officials also probing allegations of fraud at the Azerbaijan federation. Under the management of Agaselim Mirjavadov, Khazar Lankaran finished as Azerbaijan Cup winners in 2006 and 2007, while becoming league champions in 2006–07 despite losing the title to Neftçi in 2004–05 during Championship play-off. Qarabağ was the first-ever team from Azerbaijan to reach UEFA Europa League play off-round during the seasons 2009–10 and 2010–11. Few gave chances for qualification to the next round, although the Aghdam side caused quite a stir against favorites Rosenborg, Honka, Twente and Wisła Kraków.
The 2010s
The 2010s brought a bright start, with Neftçi emerging as a champion after six years of unsuccessful run. In the next season, Neftçi repeated its domestic success after sealing its seventh title in club's history. In that year, Neftçi Baku became the first Azerbaijani team to advance to the group stage of a European competition. In 2012–13 season, Neftçi managed to win three titles in a row. In 2013–14 season, Qarabağ managed to win its 2nd title after 21 years, and continue to win domestic title consecutively. In 2014, Qarabağ became the second and most successful Azerbaijani team to advance to the group stage of a European competition. After consecutive participation in the Europa League, in 2017, Qarabağ became the first Azerbaijani team to advance to the group stage of a Champions League.
The 2020s On 19 June 2020, the AFFA announced that the 2019–20 season had officially ended without the resumption of the remaining matches due to the escalating situation of the COVID-19 pandemic in Azerbaijan. As a result, Qarabağ were crowned champions for the seventh season in a row, whilst also qualifying for the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League, with Neftçi, Keşla and Sumgayit qualifying for the 2020–21 UEFA Europa League.
The Azerbaijan Premier League has been expanded to 12 teams for the 2025–26 season due to the direct promotion of three teams from the First Division in 2024–25.
Competition format The competition follows the usual double round-robin format. During the course of a season, which lasts from August to May, each club plays every other club three times, two times at home and one time away, for a total of 33 games. Teams receive three points for a win, one point for a draw, and no points for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, with the highest-ranked club at the end of the season crowned champion.
Beginning from 2025–26 season Azerbaijan Premier League is planned to be extended to 12 teams.
Below is a complete record of how many teams played in each season throughout the league's history; 26 clubs = 1992 20 clubs = 1993 16 clubs = 1993–94 13 clubs = 1994–95 11 clubs = 1995–96 16 clubs = 1996–98
14 clubs = 1998–99 12 clubs = 1999–00 11 clubs = 2000–01 12 clubs = 2001–02 15 clubs = 2003 14 clubs = 2003–04
18 clubs = 2004–05 14 clubs = 2005–09 12 clubs = 2009–13 10 clubs = 2013–16 8 clubs = 2016–22 10 clubs = 2022–25 12 clubs = 2025–present
Qualification for European competitions The champions qualify for the UEFA Champions League, the second and third placed teams qualify for the UEFA Europa Conference League. As of the start of the 2020–21 Azerbaijan Premier League season qualification for European competitions is as follows: the champions qualify for the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, runners-up and third placed team qualify for the first qualifying round of the Conference League. A fourth spot is given to the winner of the Azerbaijan Cup, who qualify for the first qualifying round of the Conference League. If the Azerbaijan Cup winner has already qualified for European competition through their league finish, the next highest placed club in the league takes their place.
Members of the APL (2026–27 season)
Stadia and locations Note: Table lists in alphabetical order. TeamYear EstablishedLocationVenueCapacityAzərbaycan Peşəkar Liqası Araz Naxçıvan1967Nakhchivan, BakuDalga Arena6,502Imishli2022ImishliHeydar Aliyev Stadium8,500Kapaz1959GanjaGanja City Stadium15,343Neftchi1937BakuNeftchi Arena10,289Qabala2005QabalaGabala City Stadium3,748Qarabağ1987Aghdam, BakuTofiq Bahramov Stadium 31,200Sabah2017AbsheronBank Respublika Arena8,969Shafa1998BakuTBDTBDShamakhi1997ShamakhiShamakhi City Stadium2,176Sumgayit2010SumgaitMehdi Huseynzade Stadium9,502Turan Tovuz2014TovuzTovuz City Stadium6,500Zira2014Zira, BakuZira Sport Complex1,256
Azerbaijan SSR Champions
1928: Progress-2 Baku 1929–33: unknown 1934: Profsoyuz Baku 1935: Stroitel Yuga Baku 1936: Stroitel Yuga Baku 1937: Lokomotiv Baku 1938: Lokomotiv Baku 1939: Lokomotiv Baku 1940: Lokomotiv Baku 1941–43: unknown 1944: Dinamo Baku 1945: Neftyanik Baku 1946: Lokomotiv Baku 1947: Trudovye Rezervy Baku 1948: KKF Baku 1949: KKF Baku 1950: Iskra Baku 1951: Ordjonikidzeneft Baku 1952: Ordjonikidzeneft Baku 1953: Ordjonikidzeneft Baku 1954: Zavod im. S.M. Budennogo Baku 1955: Ordjonikidzeneft Baku 1956: NPU Ordgonikidzeneft Baku 1957: NPU Ordjonikidzeneft Baku 1958: NPU Ordjonikidzeneft Baku 1959: Baku Teams (Spartakiada) 1960: SKA Baku 1961: Spartak Guba 1962: SKA Baku 1963: Araz Baku 1964: Polad Sumgait 1965: Vostok Baku 1966: Vostok Baku 1967: Araz Baku 1968: SKA Baku 1969: Araz Baku 1970: SKA Baku 1971: Khimik Salyany 1972: Surahanets Baku 1973: Araz Baku 1974: Araz Baku 1975: Araz Baku 1976: Araz Baku 1977: Karabakh Khankendi 1978: SKIF Baku 1979: SKA Baku 1980: Energetik Ali-Bayramly 1981: Gandjlik Baku 1982: Tokhudju Baku 1983: Termist Baku 1984: Termist Baku 1985: Khazar Sumgayit 1986: Göyəzən 1987: Araz Naxçıvan 1988: Qarabağ Ağdam 1989: Stroitel Sabirabad 1990: Qarabağ Ağdam 1991: Khazar Sumgayit
Azerbaijani League Champions and Top Scorers SeasonChampionRunner-upThird placeTop scorers1992NeftçiKhazar SumgayitTuran Nazim Aliyev (Khazar Sumgayit, 39 goals)1993QarabağKhazar SumgayitTuran Samir Alakbarov (Neftçi, 16 goals)1993–94TuranQarabağKapaz Musa Gurbanov (Turan, 35 goals)1994–95KapazTuranNeftçi Nazim Aliyev (Neftçi, 26 goals)1995–96NeftçiKhazri BuzovnaKapaz Fazil Parvarov (Kapaz, 23 goals) / Rovshan Ahmadov (Kapaz, 23 goals)1996–97NeftçiQarabağKhazri Buzovna Gurban Gurbanov (Neftçi, 34 goals)1997–98KapazBakuShamkir Nazim Aliyev (Baku, 23 goals)1998–99KapazShamkirNeftçi Alay Bahramov (Viləş Masallı, 24 goals)1999–00ShamkirKapazNeftçi Badri Kvaratskhelia (Shamkir, 16 goals)2000–01ShamkirNeftçiVilash Masalli Pasha Aliyev (Bakili Baku, 12 goals)2001–022002–032003–04NeftçiShamkirQarabağ Samir Musayev (Qarabağ, 20 goals)2004–05NeftçiKhazar LankaranKarvan Zaur Ramazanov (Karvan, 21 goals)2005–06BakuKarvanNeftçi Yacouba Bamba (Karvan, 16 goals)2006–07Khazar LankaranNeftçiBaku Zaur Ramazanov (Khazar Lankaran, 20 goals)2007–08Inter BakuAZALNeftçi Khagani Mammadov (Inter Baku, 19 goals)2008–09BakuInter BakuSimurq Walter Guglielmone (Inter Baku, 17 goals)2009–10Inter BakuBakuQarabağ Farid Guliyev (Standard Baku, 16 goals)2010–11NeftçiKhazar LankaranQarabağ Georgi Adamia (Qarabağ, 18 goals)2011–12NeftçiKhazar LankaranInter Baku Bahodir Nasimov (Neftçi, 16 goals)2012–13NeftçiQarabağInter Baku Nicolás Canales (Neftçi, 26 goals)2013–14QarabağInter BakuGabala Reynaldo (Qarabağ, 22 goals)2014–15QarabağInter BakuGabala Nurlan Novruzov (Baku, 15 goals)2015–16QarabağZiraGabala Dani Quintana (Qarabağ, 15 goals)2016–17QarabağGabalaInter Baku Filip Ozobić (Gabala, 11 goals) & Rauf Aliyev (Inter Baku, 11 goals)2017–18QarabağGabalaNeftçi Bagaliy Dabo, (Gabala, 13 goals)2018–19QarabağNeftçiSəbail Mahir Madatov, (Qarabağ, 16 goals)2019–20QarabağNeftçiKeşla Peyman Babaei, (Sumgayit, 7 goals) & Joseph-Monrose (Neftçi, 7 goals) & Bagaliy Dabo (Neftçi, 7 goals) & Mahir Emreli (Qarabağ, 7 goals)2020–21NeftçiQarabağSumgayit Namik Alaskarov (Neftçi, 19 goals)2021–22QarabağNeftçiZira Kady (Qarabağ, 12 goals)2022–23QarabağSabahNeftçi Ramil Sheydayev (Qarabağ, 22 goals)2023–24QarabağZiraSabah Juninho (Qarabağ, 20 goals)2024–25QarabağZiraAraz-Naxçıvan Leandro Andrade (Qarabağ, 15 goals)2025–26SabahQarabağTuran Joy-Lance Mickels (Sabah, 19 goals)
Performances
Performance by club ClubWinnersRunners-upThird placeWinning yearsQarabağ 1993, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25 Neftçi 1992, 1995–96, 1996–97, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2020–21Kapaz 1994–95, 1997–98, 1998–99Shamakhi2007–08, 2009–10Shamkir 1999–00, 2000–01Baku2005–06, 2008–09Khazar Lankaran 2006–07Turan Tovuz 1993–94Sabah2025–26Zira –Gabala –Khazar Sumgayit –Karvan –Khazri Buzovna –Shuvalan –Araz-Naxçıvan –Sabail –Simurq –Sumgayit –Viləş Masallı –
League participation Note: The tallies below include up to the 2026–27 season. Teams denoted in bold are current participants.
35 seasons: Qarabağ, Neftçi 26 seasons: Shamakhi, Turan Tovuz 25 seasons: Kapaz 20 seasons: Gabala 18 seasons: Baku 16 seasons: Khazar Lankaran, Sumgayit 12 seasons: Shuvalan, Zira 11 seasons: MOIK Baku, Viləş Masallı 10 seasons: Shahdag Qusar 9 seasons: ANS Pivani Bakı, Khazar Sumgayit, Shamkir, Simurq, Sabah 8 seasons: Sabail 7 seasons: ABN Barda, Energetik Mingaçevir, Karvan, Shafa Baku 6 seasons: Araz-Naxçıvan, Bakılı, Khazri Buzovna 4 seasons: Genclerbirliyi Sumqayit, İnşaatçı Baku, Ravan Baku 3 seasons: Azeri Baku, Göyazan Qazakh, Kürmük Qakh, Mil-Muğan, Mughan, Pambiqci Neftcala, Standard Sumgayit 2 seasons: Adliyya Baku, Imishli, Avei Agstafa, Avtomobilçi Yevlax, Azerbaijan U-18, Azneftyağ Baku, Daşqın Zaqatala, İnşaatçı Sabirabad, Ümid Cəlilabad