| Season | 2016–17 |
|---|---|
| Dates | 6 August 2016 – 29 April 2017 |
| Champions | Qarabağ (5th title) |
| Relegated | AZAL |
| Champions League | Qarabağ |
| Europa League | Gabala Inter Baku Zira |
| Matches | 112 |
| Goals | 251 (2.24 per match) |
| Biggest home win | Qarabağ 6–0AZAL (9 September 2016) |
| Biggest away win | Neftçi Baku 0–8Gabala (10 September 2016) |
| Highest scoring | Neftçi Baku 0–8Gabala (10 September 2016) |
2017–18 → | |
The2016–17 Azerbaijan Premier League was the 25th season of theAzerbaijan Premier League, the top tier Azerbaijani professional league forassociation football clubs, since its establishment in 1992.Qarabağ were the defending champions, having won the previousseason. The season began on 6 August 2016 and concluded on 29 April 2017.
On 16 April 2017,Qarabağ defeatedInter Baku 3–0 to successfully defend their league title - their fourth league title in a row and fifth overall.[1]
On 13 June 2016 the Professional Football League of Azerbaijan announced that bothKhazar Lankaran andRavan had been refused licenses to play in the 2016–17 Premier League and that no First Division teams would replace them.[2]
On 25 April 2017,Zira were awarded a 3–0 victory overNeftçi Baku after Neftçi Baku fielded 7 foreign players in their 2–2 draw on 23 April 2017.[3]
| Team | Location | Venue | Capacity[4] |
|---|---|---|---|
| AZAL | Baku | AZAL Stadium | 5,000 |
| Gabala | Qabala | Gabala City Stadium | 2,000 |
| Inter Baku | Baku | Inter Arena | 8,125 |
| Neftçi Baku | Baku | Bakcell Arena | 11,000 |
| Qarabağ | Baku | Azersun Arena | 5,800 |
| Sumgayit | Sumqayit | Kapital Bank Arena | 1,500 |
| Zira | Baku | Zira Olympic Sport Complex Stadium | 1,500 |
| Kapaz | Ganja | Ganja City Stadium | 27,000 |
Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined underFIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
| Team | Manager | Team captain | Kit manufacturer | Shirt sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AZAL | Joma | Silk Way | ||
| Gabala | Joma | QafqaZ Hotels[5] | ||
| Inter Baku | Joma | IBA | ||
| Neftçi Baku | Kappa | Asan Xidmət | ||
| Qarabağ | Adidas | Azersun[6] | ||
| Sumgayit | Joma | Azerkimya[7] | ||
| Zira | Umbro | Santral | ||
| Kapaz | Umbro | Gəncə 4000 |
| Gabala | Inter Baku | Kapaz | Neftçi Baku |
| Gabala City Stadium | Inter Arena | Ganja City Stadium | Bakcell Arena |
| Capacity:2,000 | Capacity:8,125 | Capacity:27,000 | Capacity:11,000 |
| Qarabağ | Səbail | Sumgayit | Zira |
| Azersun Arena | Bayil Arena | Kapital Bank Arena | Zira Olympic Sport Complex Stadium |
| Capacity:5,800 | Capacity:5,000 | Capacity:1,500 | Capacity:1,500 |
| Team | Outgoing manager | Manner of departure | Date of vacancy | Position in table | Incoming manager | Date of appointment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neftçi Baku | Sacked | 14 September 2016[8] | 7th | 15 September 2016[9] | ||
| Zira | Mutual termination | 27 December 2016[10] | 6th | 27 December 2016[10] |
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Qarabağ(C) | 28 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 46 | 14 | +32 | 62 | Qualification for theChampions League second qualifying round[a] |
| 2 | Gabala | 28 | 14 | 10 | 4 | 48 | 21 | +27 | 52 | Qualification for theEuropa League second qualifying round |
| 3 | Inter Baku | 28 | 11 | 10 | 7 | 39 | 33 | +6 | 43 | Qualification for theEuropa League first qualifying round |
| 4 | Zira | 28 | 10 | 9 | 9 | 29 | 26 | +3 | 39 | |
| 5 | Kapaz | 28 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 24 | 27 | −3 | 36 | |
| 6 | Sumgayit | 28 | 9 | 8 | 11 | 28 | 35 | −7 | 35 | |
| 7 | Neftçi Baku | 28 | 9 | 2 | 17 | 24 | 45 | −21 | 29 | |
| 8 | AZAL(R) | 28 | 1 | 7 | 20 | 13 | 50 | −37 | 10 | Relegation to theAzerbaijan First Division |
Games 1–14[edit]
Source:Professional Football League(in Azerbaijani) Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win. | Games 15–28[edit]
Source:Professional Football League(in Azerbaijani) Legend: Blue = home team win; Yellow = draw; Red = away team win.
|
| Player | For | Against | Result | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gabala | Neftchi Baku | 8–0 | 10 September 2016 | [14] |