Azerbaijanis root for Tagizade

Despite being just 22-years-old, winger Zaur Tagizade is already being spoken of in the same breath as some of Azerbaijan’s favourite footballing sons.

Proud heritage
Having scored five goals in his 29 international appearances, it is hoped Tagizade will follow in the footsteps of players such as former Dinamo Moscow forward Alekper Mamedov, who once netted four goals against Milan AC in a match at the Giuseppe Meazza stadium in the 1960s, and Kazbek Tuaev, who was regarded by legendary Russian goalkeeper Lev Yashin as the finest forward of his generation.

Outstanding pace
Unlike Mamedov or Tuaev, Tagizade is no centre-forward, being far more at home on the right flank where he uses his outstanding pace to great effect. It is in this role that he has troubled the likes of Manuel Dimas, Olof Mellberg, and Vladimír Labant down the years. Several opposition coaches have expressed admiration for his play, raising hopes in Azerbaijan that he is the young man to drive the nation forward on the European stage.

First goal at 16
Tagizade started playing football when he was ten, his first coach being former FC Neftchi player Vjacheslav Semiglazov. Impressed by the youngster’s talent, Semiglazov was keen to push him on to bigger things and by the age of 14 he was already a member of the Under-16 squad. A year later Tagizade made his debut in the Azeri first division, appearing for Kur-Nur Mingehaur. At 16 he reached another milestone when scoring his first professional goal; it marked a rapid rise to the top.

Flora stepped in
It did not take Tagizade long to make an impression on the international stage either. Following his debut in Estonia, the chairman of FC Flora, the Estonian Meistriliiga champions, approached the national team coach and made clear his desire to sign the gifted wide man. As it turned out, he brokered a deal that also saw Tagizade’s international team-mates Ruslan Musaev and Elcin Rahmanov head to Tallinn.

Marred by injury
Tagizade’s two-year spell in Estonia was marred by an injury that saw him make only seven first-team appearances. He spent several months on loan in Iceland, with ÍA Akranes, before fate struck again on a pre-season training camp in Cyprus in March 1999. Ahmed Aleskerov, the coach of Neftchi, spotted Tagizade and several weeks later he found himself back in his homeland.

Military career on hold
However, a call up to the army threatened to spoil his return but Neftchi managed to put his military career on hold, allowing him a chance to fulfil his early promise. In the summer of that year Tagizade made his European bow, setting up both goals in a 3-2 defeat by FK Crvena Zvedza.

Memorable match
The match was only a prelude to what followed on 4 September - the most memorable match in the history of Azerbaijan’s national team, a draw with Portugal. Still a teenager, Tagizade scored an early opening goal, nipping in ahead of Paulo Sousa, Fernando Couto and Dimas to strike the ball between the legs of goalkeeper Vítor Baia. The minnows nearly held on for a famous victory, and were only denied when Luis Figo leveled proceedings in injury time. Tagizade not only returned a national hero, but was also named the Player of the Year for 1999.

Return to Shafa
Despite being heralded as the greatest player in his country, the threat of military service still hung over Tagizade and it was no surprise when the army recruited him to represent their top-flight side, FC OIK Baku. In 20 matches for OIK he scored just one goal as the side were relegated. Tagizade spent the first half of the following season trying to impress outside the Azeri first division, and obviously did so as FC Shafa, his hometown club, stepped in to sign him.

Another award
Despite his unhappy spell with OIK, Tagizade continued to shine on the international stage. He impressed against Sweden, scored and set up another against Slovakia, and created an equalising goal against F.Y.R. Macedonia from nothing. It was little surprise then, that the Player of the Year award was again bestowed upon him in 2000.

Clubs ready to pounce
Tagizade’s contract with Shafa is due to expire in May 2002, and there are a number of clubs reportedly ready to pounce. Swedish champions Hammarby IF FF and Willem II of the Netherlands have both been keeping tabs on his progress, and speculation is rife that clubs in Spain and Britain are also trailing him. Although Shafa are preparing to lose their prized asset, the people of Azerbaijan know Tagizade will never be taken away from them.