OUTSIDE-RIGHT IN THE TOP THREE

He needs no introduction. Everyone knows one of the most outstanding individuals in the history of Azerbaijani football, Kaz-bek Tuayev, who played for Neftci (Baku) and the USSR. In Soviet times everyone remembers the strongest trio on the continent - Anatoliy Bani-shevskiy, Eduard Markarov and Kazbek Tuayev. And Tuayev, who played on the right wing in this threesome, contrived to score many goals in this position.

Azerbaijani soccer legend Kazbek Tuayev recently celebrated his 75th birthday. Talking to R+, he shared his memories of playing for Neftci and the USSR.

- People say that Kazbek Tuayev likes his food. I expect you spent your birthday with lots of friends?

- I like eating with friends but I don't celebrate my birthdays. I don't care for big functions. I celebrated my birthday with my family. Of course, there were lots of congratulations and I thank everyone for them.

- What comes to mind first when you think about the past?

- There's a lot to remember - my success as a player at Neftci and then winning the championship as a trainer was unforgettable. I have good memories of playing in the USSR national team. For example, nowadays players are allowed to exchange shirts, but in those days we handed over our shirts to the managers after a game. When I first donned the shirt of the Soviet national team, I was so happy I didn't want to take it off.

- The legendary goalkeeper Lev Yashin said the most dangerous striker for him was Kazbek Tuayev, because he himself didn't know which way the ball was going to go. 

- Do you know why Yashin said that? I scored more goals against him than anyone else. I don't remember exactly but he conceded about 5 or 6 goals against me. We were playing Dinamo (Moscow) in 1962. Although we were losing 0-1, the game ended in a 2-2 draw and I scored both the goals past Yashin. In one move I received a good pass, but until the last moment I wasn't sure whether to shoot or pass to a colleague. In the end, I shot and scored. Yashin didn't even move.

- You also played with Anatoliy Banishevskiy. In what way was he different from other players?

- Anatoliy had a lot of talent. Not everyone gets to put on the national team's shirt at the age of 20. He won a bronze medal at the World Cup. He was a "nightmare" to play against. He was very good with his head, and he loved to take penalties but never got the chance.

- What are your memories of Tofiq Bahramov?

- He was a gentle man, although this never showed on the field. He never forgave those who broke the rules. In his last years he was asked just the one question: "Was it a goal in the 1966 World Cup final?" Bahramov said beforehand that he would again be asked about this game.

- And what did Bahramov say?

- Tofiq was joking. He said: what difference does it make? The main thing is the Queen shook my hand. And at every event he would show his "gold whistle". That was a successful year for us. Neftci came third in the USSR championship and Bahramov was an official at the World Cup final.

- There are also a lot of rumours about the bronze in the USSR championship. Dinamo (Kiev) players Serebriannikov and Khmelnitsky said in interviews that they deliberately lost to Neftci because the Bakuvians offered them money.

- There are always rumours like that. It wasn't a question of money at all. We knew the players at the Kiev club. We had a discussion: "You can give the game away, but if you don't want to we'll win ourselves." Neftci's main players at the time were Markarov, Bani-shevskiy and myself. We would never agree to fix a game. Neftci eventually reached the final and won.

- You are also a member of the executive committee of the AFFA [Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan]. How do you assess the work of the Azerbaijani national team's chief coach, Robert Prosinecki?

- When we were choosing a coach, the executive committee discussed 25 candidates. Lots of people wanted to work with the national side. I think we made the right choice. Prosinecki has brought his family with him to Baku. He watches all games in the championship. The national team has played quite well in his first year, and next year will be better. He understands our football and he learns if there is something he doesn't understand. He's better than Bertie Vogts. The German didn't understand our mindset at all. When he was in charge the team would defend for the whole 90 minutes.

- Would you agree to become a coach if you got the offer?

- I'm not of that age yet. I work at the AFFA and I'm head of the children's soccer school, but now it's time to give way to the youngsters, although sometimes nostalgia pulls me back.

- Who would you single out among today's coaches?

- I would choose Qurban Qurbanov. He's worked for me. He was a fine player and is now a respected coach. We must have faith in Samir Aliyev. There are a lot of good coaches in Azerbaijan. They must be trusted and given a chance. Without support no coach can do anything. We give a chance to foreign coaches, but we want our own to win the championship straightaway.

- What is Kazbek Tuayev's main dream at the age of 75?

- I have a lot of wishes. First of all, I wish for good health. I would like to see our football develop and I would very much like to see Azerbaijan reach the final stages of Euro2020 and we in Baku support our national side.

ABOUT TUAYEV

Kazbek Tuayev was born on 13 November 1940 in the Bakuvian village of Alat. He spent most of his career at Neftci, but also played for Spartak (Vladikavkaz) and Spartak (Nalchik). With Neftci, he was a bronze medallist of the USSR Championship, and as a member of the USSR national side a silver medallist at the European Championships.

Tuayev also has a lot of experience as a coach. He has led the Azerbaijani clubs Neftci, Xazar-Lankaran, Turan, Taraqqi and Azneftyag and the Tunisian Club Afriken.

As a coach, he has been champion of Azerbaijan four times - once with Turan (in 1994) and three times with Neftci.

He has two sons, one of whom lives in Moscow and the other in Canada.