Candidacy of Rui Jorge for the position of head coach of Azerbaijan U-20 national team was discussed and approved during the AFFA Executive Committee meeting on February 19, 2026.
Considering the completion of legal procedures, Rui Jorge was appointed as head coach of the national team.
Azerbaijani Under-20 team will represent Azerbaijan at the FIFA U-20 World Cup to be held in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan in 2027.
A press conference with the newly appointed head coach and AFFA officials will be organized soon. The exact date, time and venue of the press conference will be announced.
Note that Rui Jorge began his coaching career at his last club, Belenenses, as a player. The Portuguese managed the club's Under-19 team between 2006 and 2010, while briefly served as head coach of the club's A- team in the season 2008/2009.
In 2010, Rui Jorge signed with Portugal's U-21 coach and has coached the team for 15 years. The team, managed by Jorge, reached five UEFA European Championship finals, winning silver medals in two of them (2015, 2021). During those years, Rui Jorge also managed Portugal's Olympic team.
