FK Sabah, a football club from Azerbaijan established in 2017, is set to make its historic debut in the UEFA Champions League group stage. The team will face Manchester United on Thursday night, marking a significant milestone for the club which was not even in existence when Manchester United's Marcus Rashford made his debut in 2016.
Sabah, based in the town of Masazir with a population of approximately 19,000, a size comparable to Skegness in the UK, has quickly risen through the ranks of Azerbaijani football. The club, nicknamed 'The Owls,' entered the second division of Azerbaijani football for the 2017-18 season. Despite finishing fifth, they earned promotion to the top flight due to other clubs failing to secure the necessary licenses. Since then, Sabah has steadily progressed, culminating in winning the Azerbaijani Premier League title and the Azerbaijan Cup last season, ending Qarabag's long-standing dominance.
This success has made Sabah the youngest club ever to reach the league phase of the UEFA Champions League. The club's squad is valued at approximately £14.5 million, a stark contrast to Manchester United's squad, which is valued at over £775 million.
Navigating the Qualifying Rounds
Sabah's journey to the Champions League group stage was dramatic and challenging, involving navigating four qualifying rounds as the underdog in every tie. They defeated Welsh champions The New Saints 2-0 at home before securing a 2-1 aggregate win in the reverse leg. A 3-0 aggregate victory against Finland's KuPS followed in the second round. In the third round, after a 2-1 first-leg defeat to Denmark's AGF Aarhus, Sabah responded with a decisive 4-0 win at home to advance.
The play-off round against Hapoel Beer-Sheva of Israel provided the most significant drama. After losing the first leg 2-1 and trailing 4-3 on aggregate with seconds remaining, substitute Tellur Mutallimov scored in the 94th minute to force extra time. Sabah went on to score two more goals, securing their place in the group stage as the Israeli side finished with nine men.
Manager's Unconventional Path
The club is managed by Valdas Dambrauskas, a 49-year-old Lithuanian coach who has taken an unconventional route to reach this stage. Dambrauskas previously worked for Manchester United's Soccer Schools after using winnings from a Lithuanian game show, 'Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,' to move to London and pursue coaching. He studied Sports Science and Coaching at London Metropolitan University and gained coaching experience with various community clubs in London. Dambrauskas also holds the distinction of being the first Lithuanian to achieve a UEFA coaching license under the tutelage of the London Football Association.
His coaching career includes successful spells in Lithuania, Bulgaria, Latvia, and Croatia before he joined FK Sabah in 2025. Dambrauskas's influence extends beyond tactics, having instilled a strong winning mentality within the team, according to Sabah president Magsud Adigozalov. "Even in the most difficult moments, the team never abandons its game or fighting spirit, which is the result of the coach's work," Adigozalov stated.
Style of Play and Key Players
Sabah typically employs a 4-2-3-1 formation, similar to Manchester United's tactical setup. Manager Dambrauskas favors a fluid attacking style, with significant emphasis on full-backs creating overloads in wide areas. While Sabah has been a possession-dominant side in their domestic league, they are prepared to defend for significant periods in the Champions League.
Their physicality and height make set-pieces a key part of their strategy. The club's recruitment philosophy aligns with the 'Moneyball' approach, focusing on intelligent use of data to gain a competitive advantage, as stated by president Adigozalov: "We could not compete financially with many established European clubs, so we had to find our own competitive advantages."
Key players to watch for Sabah include winger Joy Lance Mickels, the club's top scorer last season, who developed in Borussia Mönchengladbach's academy. Polish left-back Tymoteusz Puchacz, who has experience playing for clubs like Lech Poznań and Union Berlin, and has represented Poland in two European Championships, also brings valuable experience and an attacking threat, particularly from set-pieces.
Ownership Structure
FK Sabah is supported by a group of prominent figures from Azerbaijan's business and public administration sectors, rather than a single wealthy owner. Founder Yagub Huseynov serves on the supervisory board, with Magsud Adigozalov overseeing the club's day-to-day operations as president. This collective ownership model, inspired by the 'Moneyball' philosophy, aims to allow the club to compete effectively despite financial limitations compared to established European clubs.