He started his career in Kur, and has since played for Mertskhali Ozurgeti, Daşqın Zaqatala, Alazani Gurjaani, Turan Tovuz, Neftchi Baku, Dinamo Stavropol, Baltika Kaliningrad, Fakel Voronezh and Volgar Gazprom.

In the 1996–97 season, Gurbanov was the leading scorer in the Azerbaijan Premier League for Neftchi with 25 goals.

[3][4][5][6][7] After Gurbanov ended his football player's career, he became sport director of the club Inter.

At the beginning of the season 2008–09 he became head coach of Qarabağ FK to replace Rasim Kara.

[10] In 2017, Qarabağ FK, managed by Gurbanov, became the first Azerbaijani team to reach the group stages of the UEFA Champions League.