Ilham Yadullayev

Ilham Yadullayev (born 17 September 1975) is an Azerbaijani former football defender, and current head coach of the Azerbaijan U18.

International career Yadullayev made 35 appearances for the Azerbaijan national football team from 1998 to 2004.

Managerial career

On 19 June 2014 Yadullayev was appointed as manager of Sumgayit on a one-year contract.

Ilham Yadullayev was appointed as the head coach of Azerbaijan's U15 and U16 national teams on March 7, 2023. Later, from 2024 onwards, he served as the head coach of the U17 national team. On February 3, 2025, his contract as the U17 head coach was extended until May 2025.

On June 11, 2025, he was appointed head coach of MOIK. Under his manegment, the team played four matches, losing three and drawing one. Following a 4–1 defeat to Shafa FK on October 2, Yadullayev stepped down as head coach, citing a string of poor results and disciplinary problems within the squad. He stated that the players' unethical behavior toward each other and their disregard for him were the main reasons for his decision.

National team statistics