THE NATIONAL TEAM'S RECORD BREAKER

Rasad Sadiqov has become the first player to appear in 100 games for Azerbaijan. His hundredth match was against Italy in the qualifying stages of the European Champi-onships at the Olympic Stadium in Baku.

One could talk for ages about the captain of the national side and the Qarabag club. This defender, who has played with such assurance for both Azerbaijan and his club at the most difficult times, has had many ups and downs in his career. Fans have also seen him in the basketball court when Rasad, finding himself in mid-season without a club, tried his luck in this sport. However, after triumphing over all difficulties, the number 14 still came back to the soccer pitch.

Sadiqov was born in 1982. In 2000-2001 he played for Turan, but moved to Neftci in 2001 where he scored one goal in 23 matches in the 2001-02 season. In 2002-03 he played for the Iranian club, Foolad.

Then, at the invitation of chief coach Ertogrul Saglam, Rasad continued his career with the Turkish club Kayserispor. In the beginning things went well, but just before the winter break he was injured and out of the side. After recovering, Rasad went back to Neftci who had him on loan for six months. That season Kayserispor came third in the Turkish championship. At the end of the season Rasad returned to the club and played in the UEFA Intertoto Cup. But the chief coach played him on the right side of the defence and not in his usual position of centre-back. Rasad was unhappy with this and decided to part with the club.

In 2006 Sadiqov signed a contract with Neftci for the third time. He left after the appointment of Hans-Jurgen Gede as the team's chief coach. He turned out for the reserves of the Spanish club Valladolid and then moved to the Turkish club Kocaelispor. He also managed to play for Eskisehirspor. 

However, the brightest part of Rashid Sadiqov's career was with Qarabag, with whom he has a contract until 2017. Sadiqov spoke to R+ about some interesting moments in his career and about his future plans.

- What is the first rule of success for Rasad Sadiqov?

- I have always turned to Allah, first and foremost, for help. Perseverance, simplicity and hard work: that, I think, is the main formula for success. You may not succeed in everything, but you must reach the required standard. When I first started in football, my potential was not reckoned to be very high. So, at 15-16 my prospects weren't that good. I achieved a certain success by Azerbaijani standards only because I stuck to that formula.

- What do you think about before big matches?

- All kinds of thoughts go through one's head. I am always composed and motivated. The most important thing is to keep your discipline on the field. I have often lost it and not carried out the coach's instructions. And that's when your game suffers. You have to keep your cool and be motivated, otherwise there's no point in playing.

- What should you do if you want to beat the big teams?

- When you are a child play against stronger boys, older than you. This made me more motivated and I was able to show what I was made of. I want my opponent to feel that he is the one who is going to lose. You should never let your opponent settle. In other words, he may give you a rough time and even put you on the floor but never give up, but carry on. That's how to get the better of him.

- Were there times in your career when you later realized that you had made a mistake?

- I have made many mistakes in my life and in my career. You are not insured against error. It's a pity that most people don't accept that. Sometimes they talk about a couple of mistakes, but in fact we make a lot. The biggest mistake I made was leaving Kayserispor. I shouldn't have done what I did then. Although I was young, I shouldn't have made that mistake. They liked me, they trusted me, but I couldn't leave my problems alone so I yielded to temptation and left the club.

- What did you think when you were first called up to the national team?

- I first played for the Azerbaijan under-18s, who were coached by Sahin Diniyev. After playing in qualifying games for them I was invited into the Olympic team. I played two matches for the under-21s. Then we beat the Macedonian youth side 1-0 with Ramal Huseynov outstanding. Immediately after that game I was invited to join the main national squad. I roomed with Farruh Ismayilov. I was very excited. When we got to the stadium there was a terrific atmosphere. We were playing Macedonia and the match ended in a 1-1 draw. I was only 18 then. Ponomarev was chief coach. But I didn't get onto the pitch in that game.

- How do you remember your first game for the national side?

- They were preparing for an away match against Sweden and I was invited. Kamal Quliyev had exceeded his limit of yellow cards and there was no-one to play on the right side of defence, and the team played with five at the back. Ponomarev asked me if I could play on the right wing and I said I would play where he put me. In that game he gave me my chance and I was up against that great Swedish striker, Frederick Ljungberg. Then changes were made to the team. Vaqif Sadiqov was appointed chief coach. He had confidence in me and gave me the chance to play in the first team, but he left after two matches and was replaced by Asgar Abdullayev. At that time I was already one of the main members of the national side. He, too, had confidence in me. That's how I started my career in the national side.

- Is there a match with the national side that you can never forget?

- There are a lot of matches. Under Vogts the match against Turkey in Baku was a crucial one for me. There was a very negative atmosphere in the squad at that time. We had lost three matches in a row and the question of Vogts' resignation was on the agenda. As a team, we didn't discuss this much before the game. We had to win at all costs and we did so thanks to a goal scored by me. After that we grew more confident. That game was an unforgettable one for me and a turning point for all of us. There were a lot of unforgettable matches in the negative sense but I don't want to remember them.

- In 100 matches you scored four goals. I suppose you reckon the goal against Turkey was the best and most important one…

- I scored my first goal against Wales. It, too, was very important. After that I drew many people's attention. But the goal against Turkey was, of course, more important.

- Who do you think your best match in the national side was against?

- I think I played quite well in my first match against Sweden. I could say the same about the way I played against England in Baku and against Israel away. Overall, I could pick out 5-10 games. There were probably more bad games (laughs). But there were quite a lot of good ones.

- You have rubbed shoulders with a lot of players in the national side. Who were you most at home with?

- There were a lot. I could name Tarlan Ahmadov, Mahmud Qurba-nov, Qurban Qurbanov and Zaur Tagizada. They were not only experienced players but they had the right temperament. They had leader qualities. When they took the field they always wanted to win. It was a great pleasure to play with them. I could also mention Vidadi Rzayev from that generation, although I didn't play with him in the national side, but with my club. Of the present generation I would mention Kamran Agayev. When he is in goal I feel happier. In recent years Badavi Huseynov and I have made up a duo. We understand each other and he often covers for me.

- You have played under three coaches in the national team who are well known in world soccer - Carlos Alberto Torres, Berti Vogts and now Robert Prosinecki. How would you assess them individually?

[A] They are all quite different coaches, although the style of play of Torres and Prosinecki is rather similar. Both are attack minded. The only difference is that Prosinecki has a better knowledge of players and can get inside their minds better. During my career in the national side Torres was, probably, the coach who had the most confidence in me. Although, Prosinecki has, too. Under Berti Vogts I played for the national side for six years and was captain. Generally speaking, if you discount the defeats in the last three games, his career in the national side wasn't a bad one. In each subsequent qualifying round we improved on our results. Of course, there were negative aspects as well as positive ones about each of the coaches, but I don't want to speak about them. I, too, made mistakes, and so did the coaches. Mistakes are inevitable in any job. I think Vogts did quite a lot for Azerbaijani football and we, the players, did everything we could to justify this confidence.

- What do you think is more important in football - winning or entertaining?

- Winning is more important, because that is what most people are interested in. However well you play, it is the result that is remembered. After the match against Tottenham we were praised and thanked for the way we played. That's nice, of course, but it would be better if playing well led to a good result. Like Barcelona (laughs). For example, last season we didn't play very well against Dnipro in Ukraine but we won.

- You have played against a lot of strikers. Who was the hardest and whom do you remember most?

- Totti was very hard to play against. I was up against him on my own in the match in Italy and we lost 0-4. I found it very hard. He is one of the most skilful players I have ever met.

- Many great players of world soccer have written books about their career or their life. You are quite a well-known footballer in Azerbaijan. Do you have such plans for the future?

- To be honest, I haven't thought about it. But many people say it would make an interesting book. I have seen a lot of interesting things in my career. I suppose one could think up something along the lines of "the rise of an unpromising 15-year old footballer to captain of the national team" and write something. I'll think about that when I hang up my boots.

- Will you continue to play for the national side?

- I still have time to think about this. I'll make a decision before the friendly against Moldova. I need to make a proper assessment of the situation. We're talking about the national team. Playing for your country is a great honour. One must be worthy of that. I'll consider everything, weigh things up, and only then will I make a final decision. I feel I am needed, because there is not a great deal of choice for my position. As the chief coach said, there are three candidates. I shall talk to Prosinecki, then I'll announce my decision.