VOGTS FINISHED BADLY

Berti Vogts resigned. The Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan (AFFA) accepted the resignation of the head coach of the national football team. Vogts could not bear the humiliating 0:6 defeat of the national team to Croatia during the Euro 2016 qualifying round and said he did not see his future in the Azerbaijani team. Now the main question is who will lead the national team in the remaining games of the tournament, the first of which will take place in November this year.

The era of Vogts

Berti Vogts led the national team of Azerbaijan in four qualifying rounds, thus setting a record as the longest-serving head coach. Before him, not a single coach ever managed to stay in the team for such a long time. He led the team in three full qualifying rounds and at the beginning of the fourth round. Under the leadership of Vogts, the national team played a total of 71 games, of which it won 12, drew in 22 and lost 37 matches. In matches against Germany, Spain and Croatia, Azerbaijan suffered a crushing 0:6 defeat.

Under the leadership of Vogts, Azerbaijan gained its first victory with a score of 0:2 one and a half years after his appointment in an away match with Lichtenstein. The first home victory came in the game with Turkey (1:0). Under Vogts, Azerbaijan gained 9 points in one qualifying round, which is a record for the team. In FIFA rankings, the team rose from the 147th to 73rd position (now it ranks 93rd). Under Vogts, the team scored 50 goals and lost 110.

Analysis of the performance of the main football teams in the era of Vogts shows no great development in terms of play. Against this background, the team invited naturalized legionaries. For players playing in the lower leagues of Germany, Turkey and Russia, putting on the national team uniform was very prestigious. But we did not rejoice at their game. At the same time, the German coach was not able to build his work and communication with the media. His statements "we must learn to play football from the rival", "we have no chance in this game" and "there was no football in Azerbaijan before me" always aroused criticism.

Looking down at the national team, Vogts saw all the blame in the level of training of Azerbaijani clubs. At the same time, he made promises to bring the national team to the final of the European Championships in 2012 and then 2016. Berti Vogts explained the reasons for the resignation to the German media in the following ways: "The issue is not just about the results, but also about the situation. After the game with Italy, the team did not have the energy to play with Croatia. For seven years, the players have been hearing the same thing from me: 'You need to work hard and run more.' They hear, but do nothing. The clubs do not carry out normal workouts. Players who did not play in the match with Italy practiced reluctantly. I could no longer tolerate this. After the game with Croatia, I and two of my assistants - Uli Stein and Wolfgang Rolff - decided to leave the team. During my work with the national team of Azerbaijan, I achieved something. The team rose in FIFA rankings from 147th to 73rd place. The problem is that in Azerbaijan they play football for money. Players do not live for football. I asked many to go abroad. But then they would have earned five times less than in Azerbaijan. Although I began a policy of rejuvenation, the situation did not change. I could not do more with them."

Vogts said that he needs a certain rest and is going to play golf. At the same time, you can already predict that it will be difficult for the German coach to find a new job. After expulsion from the national teams of Scotland and Nigeria, Vogts also failed in Azerbaijan. So, it's time for him to finish his coaching career. After all, if you do not take into account his old successful experience in the German national team, the coaching career of Vogts does not abound with bright pages.

In Azerbaijan, what was discussed was not the work of the German coach, but his salary. They said that he earned 95,000 euros per month. But for the sake of fairness it must be said that no foreign coach is going to work with the national team of Azerbaijan for a small sum. In this case, the coach is risking his reputation. If we are not willing to pay more to the coach, then we have to hire a local specialist.

Problems remain

Vogts is gone, but problems in the national team remain. It is no secret that the German coach is right in his dissatisfaction with the level of football in the country. In Azerbaijan, good players can be counted on the fingers. And at the same time, footballers are thinking about a good job in a club in order to earn more. Not a single sufficiently talented footballer has appeared in Azerbaijan over the past 10 years. Everyone knows about the performance of our football "stars" Kamran Agayev, Vaqif Cavadov and Rauf Aliyev. Among the players, we can only highlight Rasad Sadiqov. The national team captain, who had a chance to play twice in Turkey, won the respect of fans with his stable play. The others realize that they will not last forever in the team and the club and therefore, do not show stable performance. It is no secret that the players quickly fall for the "star disease" and think only about money. This means that the problems identified by Vogts still have to be addressed. We should not forget the real strength of the Azerbaijani team. With this team and play, taking third place in the group is unrealistic, and it would be pretty brave to count even on fourth place. So why pay a lot of money to a foreign coach if the result is the same as that of local experts?

On 16 November, the national team will host Norway at home. It is unlikely that any substantial foreign coach will agree to take a job with the national team of Azerbaijan before the match. Therefore, in the game with Norway the team will be led by acting head coach Mahmud Qurbanov.

Possible replacements

But the main question is who can become the head coach of Azerbaijan.

The most popular face of football in Azerbaijan is currently the head coach of FC Qarabag, Qurban Qurbanov. Fans would love to see him at the head of the national team. But Qurbanov's five-year work on the formation of Qarabag is not over yet, and he is unlikely to want to leave his favourite club. And working in two places at once is quite risky. Other candidates for the post of coach are Nazim Suleymanov, Boyukaga Haciyev and Inter head coach Kakha Tskhadadze.

"AFFA has not yet made a formal proposal. If it is made, we can discuss it. Of course, working in the national team is very prestigious. But now I am concerned about Qarabag. If I think of something else, then there might be shortcomings in my work," Qurban Qurbanov commented on the possibility of his appointment to the national team.

A former assistant to Berti Vogts and one of the most successful Azerbaijani football players who was able to stand out with his play abroad, Nazim Suleymanov is ready to work with the team: "If there is no formal proposal, it is wrong to say something. But I would like a local specialist to become the coach. If they offer it, I will accept it. Working in the national team of Azerbaijan is an honour for me."

Boyukaga Haciyev, who terminated his contract with Neftci, is willing to work under certain conditions: "Vogts should have left a long ago time. It is necessary to change the whole national team. There is a need for reform. If there is an offer, I can think about it. I will express my conditions. But working in the national team is the dream of any coach."

Tskhadadze is not thinking about the possibility of working in the national team of Azerbaijan: "Heading the national team of Azerbaijan is a great honour for any coach. But I have not received such an offer. And all my thoughts are related to Inter and the performance of my team."

Certainly, AFFA's list of possible candidates for the post of coach includes foreign specialists as well. The choice will be made in the coming months. In the meantime, fans have to support the national team even more at the upcoming November game against Norway.