Saša Ilić (foto: uradna spletna stran kluba)
Saša Ilić is earning acclaim in Azerbaijan after Sumgait’s dramatic comeback against Shamaki, with Aleksa Janković starring in a crucial late turnaround.
Saša Ilić is rapidly becoming one of the standout coaching stories in Azerbaijan, as his work with Sumgait continues to draw praise and attention across the country.
The former Partizan captain took charge of the club unexpectedly at the start of the season, with a straightforward mission: stabilise the team and guide it to a calmer, more consistent campaign. Instead, the project has evolved into something far more impressive.
Under Ilić’s leadership, Sumgait are producing results well above preseason expectations. Their latest triumph, a dramatic 2–1 comeback against Shamaki in the 13th round, will likely be remembered as one of the defining matches of Ilić’s tenure.
Shamaki led through Swiss forward Rossi, and Sumgait looked set for defeat deep into the second half. Ilić, however, pushed aggressively for a turnaround, injecting energy into the team by introducing Aleksa Janković early after the interval and later Nikola Ninković.
The decision proved decisive. Janković – formerly of Partizan, Čukarički and Radnički 1923 – struck the equaliser in the 88th minute, before Madagascar international Loïc Lapoussin Ramalingom completed the comeback in stoppage time, sending the away bench into wild celebration.
The victory lifted Sumgait to fifth place in the Azerbaijan Premier League. If the team maintain this rhythm, they could realistically enter the race for a place in European competitions — a remarkable achievement for the club and a strong validation of Ilić’s work on the bench.