Azerbaijan Terminates Coach Fernando Santos After 5-0 Iceland Defeat

Fernando Santos has parted ways with the Azerbaijan national football team after a series of poor results, including a recent 5-0 defeat to Iceland in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Santos, who previously achieved success with Portugal, failed to win any of his 11 matches with Azerbaijan, managing only two draws and nine losses since his appointment in June 2024. The Azerbaijan Football Federation (AFFA) confirmed the mutual termination of his contract, which was originally set to run until 2027, with Ayxan Abbasov stepping in as interim coach for upcoming fixtures. The AFFA's Secretary-General Jahangir Farajullayev publicly criticized Santos's tactics and attitude, suggesting the coach did not fulfill his responsibilities and signaling that the federation was prepared to force his departure if he did not resign voluntarily. Santos expressed gratitude to the federation and Azerbaijani people and left behind a strategic plan aimed at rebuilding Azerbaijani football, emphasizing the importance of future investment in local talent. Financial negotiations are reportedly complex, as Santos is expected to seek a significant compensation package following his dismissal.