Mahir Emreli

{{Short description|Azerbaijani footballer (born 1997)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Mahir Emreli

| image = Mahir Emreli 2021.jpg

| caption = Emreli with Legia Warsaw in 2021

| full_name = Mahir Anar oğlu Emreli{{cite web |title=Официально: Махир Мадатов стал Махиром Эмрели Махир оглу (ФОТО) |url=http://www.azerifootball.com/ru/13/news/42435.html |website=azerifootball.com/ |publisher=Azeri Football |access-date=10 May 2019 |language=ru |date=10 May 2019 |archive-date=10 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510195307/http://www.azerifootball.com/ru/13/news/42435.html |url-status=live }}

| birth_name = Mahir Anar oğlu Mədətov

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1997|07|01|df=y}}

| birth_place = Tver, Russia{{GSA player|mahir-emreli/76830|access-date=}}

| height = 1.85 m{{cite web|url=htt.2.50ps://www.gnkdinamo.hr/en/Players/Single?Permalink=mahir-emreli2 |title=Mahir Emreli |publisher=GNK Dinamo Zagreb |access-date=7 September 2022}}

| position = Forward

| currentclub = 1. FC Nürnberg

| clubnumber = 30

| youthyears1 = 2006–2013

| youthclubs1 = Baku

| youthyears2 = 2014

| years1 = 2014–2015

| clubs1 = Baku

| caps1 = 17

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2015–2021

| clubs2 = Qarabağ

| caps2 = 185

| goals2 = 67

| years3 = 2021–2022

| clubs3 = Legia Warsaw

| caps3 = 15

| goals3 = 2

| years4 = 2022–2024

| clubs4 = Dinamo Zagreb

| caps4 = 32

| goals4 = 9

| years5 = 2023

| clubs5 = → Konyaspor (loan)

| caps5 = 12

| goals5 = 2

| years6 = 2024–

| clubs6 = 1. FC Nürnberg

| caps6 = 24

| goals6 = 10

| nationalyears1 = 2012

| nationalteam1 = Azerbaijan U17

| nationalcaps1 = 3

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| nationalyears2 = 2014–2015

| nationalteam2 = Azerbaijan U19

| nationalcaps2 = 8

| nationalgoals2 = 1

| nationalyears3 = 2016–2018

| nationalteam3 = Azerbaijan U21

| nationalcaps3 = 6

| nationalgoals3 = 3

| nationalyears4 = 2017

| nationalteam4 = Azerbaijan U23

| nationalcaps4 = 5

| nationalgoals4 = 2

| nationalyears5 = 2017–

| nationalteam5 = Azerbaijan

| nationalcaps5 = 48

| nationalgoals5 = 6

| club-update = 18 May 2025

| nationalteam-update = 1 July 2024

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}

{{MedalCountry|{{fba|AZE}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|Islamic Solidarity Games}}

{{Medal|Winner|2017 Azerbaijan|}}

}}

Mahir Anar oğlu Emreli (born Mahir Anar oğlu Mədətov; 1 July 1997) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for {{German football updater|Nürnberg}} club 1. FC Nürnberg and Azerbaijan national team.

Club career

Emreli made his professional debut in the Azerbaijan Premier League for FC Baku on 27 September 2014 in a game against Araz-Naxçıvan.{{Cite news|title=BAKI VS. ARAZ 2 - 1|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2014/09/27/azerbaijan/premyer-liqa/fk-baki/araz/1861611/|publisher=Soccerway|date=27 September 2014|access-date=21 February 2018|archive-date=16 October 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016135559/https://us.soccerway.com/matches/2014/09/27/azerbaijan/premyer-liqa/fk-baki/araz/1861611/|url-status=live}}

=Qarabağ=

On 16 July 2015, Emreli signed a three-year contract with Qarabağ FK.{{cite web|title=Mahir Mədətov "Qarabağ"da !|url=http://qarabagh.com/1987/?name=newsread&news_id=11577&type=&lang=1|website=www.qarabagh.com|publisher=Qarabağ FK|date=16 July 2015|access-date=24 March 2017|archive-date=3 October 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171003075125/http://qarabagh.com/1987/?name=newsread&news_id=11577&type=&lang=1|url-status=live}}

On 23 August 2015, Mahir made his debut and scored his first goal for Qarabağ in a 2–0 away victory against Shuvalan.{{Cite news|title=ŞÜVƏLAN VS. QARABAĞ 0 - 2|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/08/23/azerbaijan/premyer-liqa/olimpik-baki/fk-karabakh-agdam/2123840/|publisher=Soccerway|date=23 August 2015|access-date=21 February 2018|archive-date=30 April 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160430115840/http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2015/08/23/azerbaijan/premyer-liqa/olimpik-baki/fk-karabakh-agdam/2123840/|url-status=live}}

Emreli made his European debut in 2016 against Luxembourgish F91 Dudelange in the second qualification round of the UEFA Champions League which ended 2–0 for Qarabağ.{{Cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2020150--qarabag-vs-diddeleng/ |title=2016-17 UEFA Champions League, Second qualifying round matches, UEFA.com |access-date=24 March 2017 |archive-date=16 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171016123939/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2017/matches/round=2000780/match=2020150/postmatch/lineups/index.html |url-status=live }}

On 15 September 2016, Emreli made his debut for UEFA Europa League group stage game against FC Slovan Liberec.{{Cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2019396--qarabag-vs-liberec/lineups/ |title=2016-17 UEFA Europa League group stage matches, UEFA.com |access-date=24 March 2017 |archive-date=27 November 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161127132215/http://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/season=2017/matches/round=2000792/match=2019396/lineups/index.html |url-status=live }}

He scored his first European goal in a 1–0 home victory against Danish Copenhagen in the play-off round of the 2017-18 UEFA Champions League.{{Cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2021567--qarabag-vs-copenhagen/ |title=2017-18 UEFA Champions League, Second qualifying round matches, UEFA.com |access-date=16 October 2017 |archive-date=1 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171101040009/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2018/matches/round=2000880/match=2021567/index.html |url-status=live }}

Emreli made his debut for UEFA Champions League group stage game against Chelsea in Stamford Bridge on 12 September 2017.{{Cite web |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/match/2021591--chelsea-vs-qarabag/ |title=2017-18 UEFA Champions League group stage matches, UEFA.com |access-date=16 October 2017 |archive-date=17 February 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180217095049/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=2018/matches/round=2000881/match=2021591/index.html |url-status=live }} Mahir made five appearances in the UEFA Champions League group stage.

On 18 August 2020, Emreli, scoring against FK Sileks at the first qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, celebrated his goal with a salute to the Azerbaijani soldiers serving in the frontline during the border clashes with Armenia.{{Cite news |url=https://apa.az/az/futbol_xeberleri/Mahir-Emreli-Cempionlar-Liqasinda-vurdugu-qolu-sgr-salami-il-qeyd-edib-601558 |title=Mahir Emreli Çempionlar Liqasında vurduğu qolu əsgər salamı ilə qeyd edib |date=18 August 2020 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20200819014217/https://apa.az/az/futbol_xeberleri/Mahir-Emreli-Cempionlar-Liqasinda-vurdugu-qolu-sgr-salami-il-qeyd-edib-601558 |archive-date=19 August 2020 |access-date=18 August 2020 |language=az |url-status=live }}

=Legia Warsaw=

On 8 June 2021, Legia Warsaw announced the signing of Emreli on a contract until 30 June 2024.{{cite web |title=Mahir Emreli – witamy w Legii |url=https://legia.com/pilka-nozna/mahir-emreli-%E2%80%93-witamy-w-legii/13423 |website=legia.com |publisher=Legia Warsaw |access-date=22 June 2021 |language=Polish |date=8 June 2021 |archive-date=20 June 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620112013/https://legia.com/pilka-nozna/mahir-emreli-%E2%80%93-witamy-w-legii/13423 |url-status=live }}

On 17 June 2021, Emreli made his debut and scored his first goal for Legia in a 5–0 friendly victory over SK Bischofshofen.{{Cite news|title=SK Bischofshofen 0-5 Legia Warszawa|url=http://www.90minut.pl/sparing/1/sparing15622.html|publisher=90minut|date=17 June 2021|access-date=8 July 2021|archive-date=24 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210624202428/http://www.90minut.pl/sparing/1/sparing15622.html|url-status=live}} He scored his first officials goals for Legia in a UEFA Champions League first qualifying round match against Norwegian champions Bodø/Glimt on 7 July 2021.{{Cite news|title=Mahir Emreli: Musimy już zapomnieć o tym meczu|url=https://legia.com/pilka-nozna/mahir-emreli-musimy-juz-zapomniec-o-tym-meczu/13657|publisher=legia.com|date=7 July 2021|access-date=14 July 2021|archive-date=15 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210715092957/https://legia.com/pilka-nozna/mahir-emreli-musimy-juz-zapomniec-o-tym-meczu/13657|url-status=live}}

On 26 August 2021, during play-off match of the 2021–22 UEFA Europa League against Slavia Prague, following an unsuccessful 0–1 first half, Emreli scored two goals and secured Legia's qualification to the group stage of the tournament.{{Cite web |first=Maciej |last=Pietrasik |url=https://www.meczyki.pl/newsy/legia-warszawa-mahir-emreli-cieszy-sie-z-dubletu-nie-wiem-dlaczego-ale-czulem-ze-strzele/172358-n |title=Legia Warszawa. Mahir Emreli cieszy się z dubletu. "Nie wiem dlaczego, ale czułem, że strzelę" |date=27 August 2021 |access-date=27 August 2021 |language=pl |work=Meczyki |archive-date=27 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210827114622/https://www.meczyki.pl/newsy/legia-warszawa-mahir-emreli-cieszy-sie-z-dubletu-nie-wiem-dlaczego-ale-czulem-ze-strzele/172358-n |url-status=live }} He set a unique record by scoring in all the tournaments he participated in.{{Cite web |url=https://fanat.az/az/dunya-futbolu/80388/mahir-emreli-polsada-tarix-yazir/ |title=Mahir Emreli Polşada tarix yazır |date=22 September 2021 |access-date=23 September 2021 |language=az |work=fanat.az |archive-date=16 October 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211016135601/https://fanat.az/az/dunya-futbolu/80388/mahir-emreli-polsada-tarix-yazir/ |url-status=live }}

In December 2021, Emreli was one of the victims of an attack by hooligans on a bus returning after the Ekstraklasa match against Wisła Płock.{{Cite web|url=https://polskieradio24.pl/art4147_2867310|title=Ekstraklasa: Emreli, Luquinhas i Lopes pobici przez kiboli? Skandal w Książenicach. Legia milczy|trans-title=Ekstraklasa: Emreli, Luquinhas and Lopes beaten by football fans? A scandal in Książenice. Legia is silent|website=PolskieRadio24.pl|accessdate=5 February 2022|language=pl}} After this incident, Emreli decided not to play for Legia.{{Cite web|url=https://polskieradio24.pl/art4147_2882761|title=Ekstraklasa: Mahir Emreli nie odpuszcza. Media: piłkarz pozwał Legię|trans-title=Ekstraklasa: Mahir Emreli is not letting go. Media: the footballer sued Legia|website=PolskieRadio24.pl|accessdate=5 February 2022|language=pl}} On 2 February 2022, he terminated the contract by mutual agreement.{{Cite web|url=http://www.90minut.pl/news/317/news3174872-Mahir-Emreli-odchodzi-z-Legii.html|title=Mahir Emreli odchodzi z Legii|trans-title=Mahir Emreli leaves Legia|website=www.90minut.pl|accessdate=5 February 2022|language=pl}}

=Dinamo Zagreb=

Hours after leaving Legia, Emreli was announced as the new player of Dinamo Zagreb in the Croatian First Football League. Legia owed Dinamo one million euros because they bought Lirim Kastrati from them in September 2021 for 1.2 million euros, but by December 2021 Dinamo had received only 200,000 euros. Dinamo decided to drop Legia's debt on the condition that Emreli would leave Legia for free and sign for Dinamo.{{Cite web|url=https://www.24sata.hr/sport/mahir-emreli-ipak-u-dinamu-on-ce-otplatiti-dug-za-kastratija-813017|title=Mahir Emreli ipak u Dinamu! On će 'otplatiti' dug za Kastratija|website=www.24sata.hr|date=2 February 2022 |language=hr|accessdate=18 February 2022}}

On 24 August 2022, Emreli played in the play-off match against FK Bodø/Glimt with Dinamo Zagreb winning 4–1 and ensuring a place in the 2022–23 UEFA Champions League group stage.[https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2022/08/24/europe/uefa-champions-league/nk-dinamo-zagreb/fotballklub-bodoglimt/3903421/ DINAMO ZAGREB VS. BODØ / GLIMT 4 - 1][https://www.croatiaweek.com/dinamo-zagreb-qualify-for-the-uefa-champions-league/ Dinamo Zagreb qualify for the UEFA Champions League]

==Loan to Konyaspor==

On 14 February 2023, Emreli was loaned to Süper Lig club Konyaspor until the end of the 2022–23 season with an option of a permanent transfer at the end of the season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.konyaspor.org.tr/Haber/mahir-emreli-ve-marlos-moreno-arabamcom-konyasporumuzda-/8997|title=Mahir Emreli arabam.com Konyaspor'umuzda|website=konyaspor.org.tr|language=turkish|date=14 February 2023}}

=1. FC Nürnberg=

On 6 August 2024, Emreli joined German 2. Bundesliga club 1. FC Nürnberg.{{cite web|url=https://www.fcn.de/news/artikel/mahir-emreli-unterschreibt-beim-fcn/|trans-title=Mahir Emreli signs with FCN|title=Mahir Emreli unterschreibt beim FCN|language=German|website=www.fcn.de|date=6 August 2024|accessdate=6 August 2024}}

International career

=Youth=

He was part of the Azerbaijan under-23 team that won the football competition at the 2017 Islamic Solidarity Games. He was selected by Yashar Vahabzade for that tournament's squad, appearing in five games and scoring two goal in the final to help defeat Oman 2–1 .{{Cite news|title=AZERBAIJAN VS. OMAN 2 – 1|url=https://baku2017results.azureedge.net/2017/05/21/23/22/05/c8cc6f28-c966-4576-bb1a-a3f745c2bbfe/FBM400101_73%201.0.pdf|publisher=baku2017results.azureedge.net|date=21 May 2017|access-date=19 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222051141/https://baku2017results.azureedge.net/2017/05/21/23/22/05/c8cc6f28-c966-4576-bb1a-a3f745c2bbfe/FBM400101_73%201.0.pdf|archive-date=22 December 2017|url-status=dead}}

=Senior=

Emreli made his Azerbaijan debut on 9 March 2017 against Qatar in friendly match.http://www.affa.az/index.php/matches/azrbaycan-milli-komandas/59487?mt=latest {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170325025706/http://www.affa.az/index.php/matches/azrbaycan-milli-komandas/59487?mt=latest |date=25 March 2017 }} AFFA.az{{Cite news|title=QATAR VS. AZERBAIJAN 1 – 2|url=https://int.soccerway.com/matches/2017/03/09/world/friendlies/qatar/azerbaijan/2409135/|publisher=Soccerway|date=9 March 2017|access-date=21 February 2018|archive-date=7 November 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171107133713/http://int.soccerway.com/matches/2017/03/09/world/friendlies/qatar/azerbaijan/2409135/|url-status=live}}

He scored his first goal for Azerbaijan on 29 May 2018, in a friendly match against Kyrgyzstan.{{Cite web |url=http://www.affa.az/index.php/matches/azrbaycan-milli-komandas/61304?mt=upcoming |title=AFFA – Azərbaycan Futbol Federasiyaları Assosiasiyası |access-date=2 June 2018 |archive-date=30 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180530035910/http://www.affa.az/index.php/matches/azrbaycan-milli-komandas/61304?mt=upcoming |url-status=live }}

Sponsorship

In 2018, Emreli signed a sponsorship deal with American sportswear and equipment supplier, Nike.{{cite web|title="Nike" Mahir Mədətovla müqavilə bağladı|url=http://sportline.az/post/nike-mahir-medetovla-muqavile-bagladi|website=sportline.az|publisher=Sportline|date=7 March 2018|access-date=17 March 2018|archive-date=18 March 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180318120450/http://sportline.az/post/nike-mahir-medetovla-muqavile-bagladi|url-status=live}}

Personal life

In May 2019, Mahir changed his surname from Mədətov to his mother's family name of Emreli, expressing disapproval at his father's marriage to another woman.{{cite web |title=Официально: Махир Мадатов стал Махиром Эмрели Махир оглу (ФОТО) |url=http://www.azerifootball.com/ru/13/news/42435.html |website=azerifootball.com/ |publisher=Azeri Football |access-date=10 May 2019 |language=ru |date=10 May 2019 |archive-date=10 May 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190510195307/http://www.azerifootball.com/ru/13/news/42435.html |url-status=live }}

Career statistics

=Club=

{{updated|match played 26 May 2024}}{{cite web|title=M.Mədətov|url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/mahir-madatov/274867/|website=soccerway.com/|publisher=Soccerway|access-date=21 November 2015|archive-date=10 November 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151110074440/http://int.soccerway.com/players/mahir-madatov/274867/|url-status=live}}

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;"

|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

rowspan="2"|Club

!rowspan="2"|Season

!colspan="3"|League

!colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Azerbaijan Cup, Polish Cup, Croatian Football Cup}}

!colspan="2"|Europe

!colspan="2"|Other

!colspan="2"|Total

DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Baku

|2014–15

|Azerbaijan Premier League

|17

031colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—201
rowspan="7"|Qarabağ

|2015–16

|Azerbaijan Premier League

|16

75100colspan="2"|—218
2016–17

|Azerbaijan Premier League

|21

35360colspan="2"|—326
2017–18

|Azerbaijan Premier League

|24

820111colspan="2"|—379
2018–19

|Azerbaijan Premier League

|27

1640140colspan="2"|—4516
2019–20

|Azerbaijan Premier League

|16

721122colspan="2"|—3010
2020–21

|Azerbaijan Premier League

|22

183262colspan="2"|—3122
colspan="2"|Total

!126

59217495colspan="2"|—21672
Legia Warsaw

|2021–22

|Ekstraklasa

|15

23114{{efn|Six appearances and two goals in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and five goals in UEFA Europa League}}71{{efn|Appearance in Polish Super Cup}}13311
rowspan="4"|Dinamo Zagreb

|2021–22

|Prva HNL

|8

2002{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Europa League}}0colspan="2"|—102
2022–23

|Prva HNL

|10

3003{{efn|Appearances in UEFA Champions League}}0colspan="2"|—133
2023–24

|Prva HNL

|14

4119{{efn|Three appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League, four appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League}}000245
colspan="2"|Total

!32

911140004710
Konyaspor (loan)

|2022–23

|Süper Lig

|12

2colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—colspan="2"|—122
colspan="3"|Career total

!202

72281077121130895

{{notelist}}

=International=

{{Updated|match played 11 June 2024}}{{NFT player|67201|name=Mahir Mədətov|access-date=12 July 2017}}

:Scores and results list Azerbaijan's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Emreli goal.

class="wikitable sortable"

|+ List of international goals scored by Mahir Emreli

scope="col"|No.

!scope="col"|Date

!scope="col"|Venue

!scope="col"|Opponent

!scope="col"|Score

!scope="col"|Result

!scope="col"|Competition

style="text-align:center"|129 May 2018Baku Olympic Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan{{fb|KGZ}}style="text-align:center"|2–0style="text-align:center"|3–0Friendly
style="text-align:center"|217 November 2018Baku Olympic Stadium, Baku, Azerbaijan{{fb|FRO}}style="text-align:center"|2–0style="text-align:center"|2–02018–19 UEFA Nations League D
style="text-align:center"|38 June 2019Bakcell Arena, Baku, Azerbaijan{{fb|HUN}}style="text-align:center"|1–2style="text-align:center"|1–3UEFA Euro 2020 qualification
style="text-align:center"|46 September 2019Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff, Wales{{fb|WAL}}style="text-align:center"|1–1style="text-align:center"|1–2UEFA Euro 2020 qualification
style="text-align:center"|513 June 2022Dalga Arena, Baku, Azerbaijan{{fb|BLR}}style="text-align:center"|1–0style="text-align:center"|2–02022–23 UEFA Nations League C
style="text-align:center"|611 June 2024Haladás Sportkomplexum, Szombathely, Hungary{{fb|KAZ}}style="text-align:center"|1–2style="text-align:center"|3–2Friendly

Honours

References

{{reflist}}