Gabala signed a 1.5-year deal with Zaur Hashimov as a coach for the senior football team. The 38-year-old built up his football career playing for Shafa, Inter, MKT-Araz, Khazar Lankaran, Qarabagh, Sumgayit and Azerbaijan national team, as well as age provisional groups. Before joining Gabala, he was a coach for Qarabagh and Zira, as well as a head coach for the Azerbaijan U18.