After Azerbaijan’s 5-0 loss to Iceland in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, manager Fernando Santos parted ways with the team. Santos, who took charge in June 2024, left without a win in 11 matches.
Turkish coach Engin Fırat has emerged as the leading candidate to replace him. German outlets kicker.de, ran.de, and Sport1 called Fırat the “favorite,” while Iran’s Varzesh3 labeled him a “serious candidate.” His recent success with Kenya, including an eight-match unbeaten run and wins against top teams, boosted his profile for the role.