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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Michael Yokhin

A strict and successful disciplinarian – Liverpool face Azerbaijan’s Sir Alex Ferguson

Gurban Gurbanov Alex Ferguson Qarabag Liverpool the Champions League Azerbaijan Chelsea Europa League
Gurban Gurbanov (centre) has been in charge for 190 of Qarabag’s 204 European games.
Gurban Gurbanov (centre) has been in charge for 190 of Qarabag’s 204 European games. Photograph: Tofik Babayev/AFP/Getty Images

Remember the summer of 2008? That was when Pep Guardiola was appointed as first-team coach at Barcelona, Jürgen Klopp arrived at Borussia Dortmund and Chelsea gambled on a certain Luiz Felipe Scolari. Since then the west London club have had 12 different permanent managers. Qarabag, who Liverpool play in the Champions League on Wednesday, have had one: Gurban Gurbanov, also known as the Azerbaijani Sir Alex Ferguson.

Gurbanov has become one of the longest serving elite coaches in the world and he has built a remarkable empire, turning the club into a force to be reckoned with in European competitions.

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