volleyball player and volleyball coach Vugar Gashimov (1986–2014), chess grandmaster Vali Gasimov (born 1968), footballer and football manager Natavan Gasimova (born 1985), volleyball player Ramil Guliyev (born 1990), sprinter Gurban Gurbanov (born 1972), footballer and football manager Mahmud Gurbanov (born 1973), footballer and football manager Boyukagha Hajiyev (born 1958), footballer and football manager Faiq Hasanov (born 1940), chess arbiter, coach and TV presenter Nazim Huseynov (born 1969), judoka and Olympic champion Yunis Huseynov (born 1965), footballer and football manager Ramin Ibrahimov (born 1978), judoka Shahin Imranov (born 1980), boxer Elchin Ismayilov (born 1982), judoka Isgandar Javadov (born 1956), footballer Vagif Javadov (born 1989), footballer Aygün Kazımova (born 1971), handball Sergey Kramarenko (1946–2008), footballer and football manager Rauf Mamedov (born 1988), chess grandmaster Shakhriyar Mamedyarov (born 1985), chess grandmaster Elnur Mammadli (born 1988), judoka and Olympic champion Aghasi Mammadov (born 1980), boxer Alakbar Mammadov (1925–2014), footballer Elkhan Mammadov (born 1982), judoka Fariz Mammadov (born 1980), boxer Ramiz Mammadov (born 1968), footballer and football manager Teymur Mammadov (born 1993), boxer Zemfira Meftahatdinova (born 1963), sport shooter and Olympic champion Aghasalim Mirjavadov (born 1947), footballer and football manager Rami Miron (born 1957), Israeli Olympic wrestler Olokhan Musayev (born 1979), athlete Oleg Panyutin (born 1983), athlete Nizami Pashayev (born 1981), weightlifter Zhala Piriyeva (born 2000), rhythmic gymnast Natali Pronina (born 1987), swimmer Teimour Radjabov (born 1987), chess grandmaster Jamal Rahimov (born 1987), equestrian Vidadi Rzayev (born 1967), footballer and football manager Rashad Sadygov (born 1982), footballer Vagif Sadygov (born 1959), footballer and football manager Sharif Sharifov (born 1988), wrestler and Olympic champion Samadagha Shikhlarov (1959–2021), footballer and football manager Mahir Shukurov (born 1982), footballer Nazim Suleymanov (born 1965), footballer and football manager Jeyhun Sultanov (born 1979), footballer Afag Sultanova (born 1987), judoka Zaur Tagizade (born 1979), footballer Kazbek Tuaev (born 1940), footballer and football manager Lala Yusifova (born 1996), rhythmic gymnast Ilham Zakiyev (born 1980), judoka Writers Chingiz Abdullayev (born 1959), best–selling detective writer Elchin Afandiyev (born 1943), writer and politician Ilyas Afandiyev (1914–1996), writer Mirza Fatali Akhundov (1812–1878), writer, educator, philosopher; founder of Azerbaijani drama Suleyman Sani Akhundov (1875–1939), playwright, journalist, children's author and teacher Sakina Akhundzadeh (1865–1927), first female playwright and dramatist of Azerbaijani literature Mammad Araz (1933–2004), poet Vidadi Babanli (born 1927), writer, dramatist and translator Banine (1905–1992), writer Yusif Vazir Chamanzaminli (1887–1943), writer Mirvarid Dilbazi (1912–2001), poet Fikrat Goja (1935–2021), poet Madina Gulgun (1926–1991), poet Shikhali Gurbanov (1925–1967), writer Mahammad