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Qoca Qartal — “Old Eagle”

Allahverdi Bagirov

1946–1992

A footballer and coach from Agdam who commanded a volunteer battalion in the First Karabakh War. In February 1992 he negotiated the rescue of Khojaly residents; that June he was killed when his vehicle struck a mine while returning from a combat assignment. He was posthumously named a National Hero of Azerbaijan.

Born
22 April 1946, Agdam
Died
12 June 1992, Aghdara district (aged 46)
Known as
Footballer, coach, military commander
Key event
The rescue of Khojaly residents, February 1992
Club
Agdam “Karabakh” (head coach, from 1976)
Title
National Hero of Azerbaijan (posthumously, 1993)
Buried
Agdam, Alley of Martyrs
Allahverdi Bagirov

He was born in Agdam, the only son after seven daughters — his parents named him “Allahverdi,” meaning “God-given.” After finishing school in 1965 he turned to football: first as a forward for Agdam “Karabakh” (then called “Mehsul”), later as the team's head coach for many years.

In 1988 he joined the National Movement, and after the Black January events of 1990 he formed a volunteer detachment to defend villages in the Agdam district. After his brother Eldar Bagirov was assassinated in Baku in 1991, he took command of his battalion and became known at the front as “Qoca Qartal” — the Old Eagle.

“There was never a case when I called him about something and it wasn't resolved” — Vitaly Balasanyan, the Armenian commander he negotiated with, on Bagirov.Vitali Balasanyan
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Football and family

From Agdam to the pitch — the team's forward, then its head coach.

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The war path

Battalion commander, the rescue of Khojaly's residents, death in combat.

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Memory

The National Hero title, memorials, and a family that carried the service on.