Allahverdi Baghirov

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Allahverdi Baghirov (April 22, 1946 – June 12, 1992) was an Azerbaijani football coach, military officer, and political leader in Agdam during the First Nagorno-Karabakh War. Born in Aghdam, he built a long career in sports, coaching Qarabağ FK and leading the Agdam Children and Youth Sports School.

In the late 1980s, Baghirov became a leader of the Agdam branch of the Azerbaijan Popular Front. When the conflict over Nagorno-Karabakh broke out, he volunteered for the Azerbaijani army in 1988 and formed his own battalion in 1990. He and his fighters defended the Agdam region, helped rescue residents from Khojaly, and played a key role in prisoner exchanges.

Known by the nickname Goja Gartal (Old Eagle), Baghirov led operations across the Agdam area and organized efforts to strengthen his forces. On June 12, 1992, his convoy was struck by an anti-tank mine near Aranzamin; he and the driver were killed at age 46.

Baghirov was posthumously named National Hero of Azerbaijan in 1993 and was awarded the Golden Star medal. He is buried in the Aghdam city cemetery. His legacy lives on through the players he trained, the soldiers he led, and the impact he had on the fight to defend Azerbaijan’s territorial integrity.