CAME AS A TOURIST, LEFT AS A FRIEND

It will hardly be a surprise in our hi-tech century if someone sneezes in Sydney and receives a "bless you" in New York. The world has become extremely small, having shrunk to the size of a smart phone. 

This peculiarity of the modern world has been fully experienced by Arsenal and Russian international midfielder Andrei Arshavin during his vacation in Baku. In the two hours the guest from England spent on the Caspian coast he became the main star of the beach and its surroundings. Pictures fans had taken of their favourite football player quickly moved from mobile phones to their personal pages in social networks. The news that Arshavin is in Baku spread through the Azerbaijani capital faster than the classical "Mikhaylo is in the city!" from the well-known film about Mehdi Huseynzada, an Azerbaijani intelligence officer and Hero of the Soviet Union. 

While Andrei and his wife Yuliya, having enjoyed sunbathing and the sea, were returning to the swimming pool, about 20-30 holiday-makers stopped the football star for a picture or an autograph. And no-one was refused. 

"I have a principle: either to refuse everyone or no-one," Andrei explained. By that time, pictures of Arshavin on an Abseron beach were already circulating on the Internet. 

Two years ago, after being defeated by Germany in the penultimate game of the qualification campaign for the World Cup in South Africa, Arshavin's Russian national team lost the chances of finishing top of the group to qualify. Therefore, the final game in Baku did not matter much from the tournament standpoint. So the Russian skipper joked that the trip to Baku in October would be no more than a tourist trip for his team. Many viewed this as a disparaging assessment of the Azerbaijan team, as arrogant faith in success. But according to Andrei, there was nothing scornful in the words, just grievance over the ill luck that deprived the Russian team of the chance to compete for a place in the World Cup. That was it. 

This time Arshavin is in Baku as a tourist, at the invitation of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation, and football has nothing to do with the journey. He has had enough time to get to know the country he first visited as a footballer two years ago.

"No, that visit cannot be seen as getting to know the country. What did I see then? Only the road from the airport to the hotel from the bus window, the pitch, training, the game, and then the road back to the airport. Now I have the opportunity to take a closer look at the city. Baku turns out to be an amazing city. It certainly has an identity, but to me it is reminiscent of Dubai because of the number of construction projects and skyscrapers, of London for the reverent attitude to old architecture. Baku also resembles Barcelona. One can feel the ease here. The elegance, so to speak…"

What stands out the most?

"The friends who invited me and my wife to Baku gave us another present. We were invited to a real Azerbaijani wedding where I even danced to an Azerbaijani tune for the first time in my life. This was an amazing experience and something to remember. In general, this trip will be remembered for the number of ethnographic discoveries we have made. Yuliya and I did not stay only in Baku. On one day we travelled to the ancient capital of Caucasian Albania, the town of Qabala. Of course, the magnificent views of the lake and the waterfalls were wonderful. But my wife was particularly impressed with the experience of baking Azerbaijani bread corak in the tandir, an oven in the ground, with the help of local women. She loves feeling the history and culture of the countries we visit. In the settlement of Qala, in a wonderful open-air museum, Yuliya span thread on an old spinning wheel and tried to mould a jug on an old potter's wheel. I don't think this can ever be forgotten. I liked the Qala settlement very much. In addition to it being a wonderful folk museum where tourists should be brought and shown what Azerbaijan represents, it is also a great attraction where everyone can feel like an ancient villager. And the guide we had! He is a true connoisseur, fascinated and devoted to what he does." 

While recalling the most memorable moments of his visit to Baku, Andrei was gesturing like a true southerner. Sitting in a comfortable, broad armchair in the hotel lobby, he even folded his feet beneath himself, not a sign of glamour or disregard for others. Arshavin can talk about any subject easily. In fact, he often cracks a joke and is quite self-deprecating, which makes a star a star. 

"We have been told about projects to construct a venue for the Eurovision Song Contest!" Andrei recalls excitedly. "I can tell you that the ambitions are grand. And you know what? I am sure Azerbaijan can cope with that. Azerbaijan is one of a handful of countries capable of handling such gigantic projects. Before coming to Baku I had heard of the idea of holding the contest in the Tofiq Bahramov stadium. I don't think it would be right. The stadium in Baku is rather old-fashioned. I would knock it down and build a new modern arena. Believe me, I have played in this stadium and understand that it needs modernizing not only on the inside but also outside. Your national team needs a good modern stadium. I have noticed that Azerbaijan has all the conditions to become a venue for pre-season training sessions for European and Russian clubs, as is the case with Turkey, Israel, China, Malaysia today. The infrastructure is already there. The only thing left to do is to build stadiums and bases like the one I saw in Qabala where a former Arsenal player, Tony Adams, is the coach. If that happens, I will be the first to lobby for Arsenal to conduct its pre-season training not in distant China, but in almost native Azerbaijan, which is much closer." 

Azerbaijan is investing heavily in sport, especially football. What should be done to elevate football to a higher level? 

First of all, it is important to understand that success does not come overnight. It takes a lot of hard work. I think it is necessary to develop children's football. Great attention should be paid to children and juniors. There should also be many stadiums in the country. Children should train on good pitches to improve. Good coaches should be attracted to children's clubs. 

Do you remember the Azerbaijan-Russia match which ended in a 1:1 draw? What is your assessment of the Azerbaijan team?

You have a tough team. Azerbaijan wanted to beat us for sake of the home crowd. But to your regret, we took away a point. Of the players I remembered Vagif Cavadov [who scored for Azerbaijan].

What about suggestions that you may return from Arsenal to Zenit St Petersburg?  

These are just rumours.

Is it possible that you will come to Azerbaijan at the end of your career?

I am not thinking about that now. When the time is ripe, I will think about that. I don't want to think about that yet.

What did you like in Baku most of all?

I liked the city. I sunbathed, tried national dishes. In other words, I experienced real Azerbaijani hospitality.

So are you pleased?

I have found out a lot about Azerbaijan. Earlier, when people spoke about your country, I did not have enough information. Now I know that people in Azerbaijan are always ready to help others and are very hospitable. I have seen your beautiful city and learned its history. The trip has been very useful. Of course, I have also relaxed. I may come back.