Interview with former Azerbaijan national team striker Vadim Vasilyev to Futbolinfo.az
– At what age did you start playing football?
– Since first grade. I started playing in Buzovna, the neighborhood I lived in. Our coach was Boris Tibilov. He trained many well-known players. He used to scout talent from schools and neighborhoods. Pasha Aliyev, Aleksandr Musatkin, and Vladislav Kadyrov were among his students.
– Is that how you joined Khazri?
– No, I first served in the army, in Ukraine. During that time, I was away from football. But when the Khazri-Eltaj team was formed here, people already knew I had played before. Tibilov’s players had a good reputation. Imankhan Sultani saw me on a bus, asked what I was doing. I said, “I’m a locksmith.” He replied, “Come to Khazri.”
– I heard you were also into basketball and hockey.
– We played everything in our neighborhood. We had a big field in front of our building, although it’s in bad shape now. We made hockey sticks from wood. Made fake guns and ran wild in the streets.
– You played for Medita and Metallurg Donetsk in Ukraine. How did that happen?
– Vladimir Kopeykin went to Rostov with some players. They told him clubs in Ukraine were looking for players. I was at Baku Fahlasi then. He came and told me, I agreed right away. I’d say I did well at Metallurg. Our coach was Yevgen Korol.
– Why did you return?
– I missed home. Maybe if I stayed longer, more offers would have come.
– How did you join Neftchi?
– Ahmad Alasgarov saw me playing at Baku Fahlasi and said I should join Neftchi. The president was Aqil Pashayev. They called me. Oktay Abdullayev also played a big role in bringing me there.
– You later went back to Ukraine, joining Tavriya. Why didn’t you stay long?
– The club president wasn’t happy with us. I went there with Ilham Yadullayev, Cahangir Hasanzada, and Emin Guliyev. After one match, I raised my voice in front of the president. He didn’t like it. We argued. He said since we were leaving for national team duty, we shouldn't return.
– How did you end up in Simferopol?
– I think Jahangir arranged it.
– In an interview, you once said only Elkhan Hasanov and Huseyn Mahammadov were real goalkeepers – the rest you scored on easily. Still feel that way?
– I even scored on Jahangir. Only Kopeykin was spared, we played together.
– Did Jahangir make mistakes against Crvena Zvezda?
– He made mistakes in that match and against Slovakia too.
– You praise Hasanov, but he was in goal for Neftchi’s 0–8 loss to Widzew.
– (Silent)
– Do you like Kamran Agayev?
– Yes, he had good positioning and reflexes, even though he wasn’t very tall.
– You were close to joining Energie Cottbus, but injury ruined the move. How did it come about?
– Their scouts saw our game vs. Slovakia and liked me. They came to watch a Neftchi match and liked what they saw. They met with Aqil Pashayev and made a deal. I was set to earn €1 million there. But I got injured in training. No collision – just unlucky.
– You once said you left Neftchi for Qarabag because of bad team atmosphere. Do you still talk to those players?
– No.
– Can you name them?
– No.
– Are they still in football?
– Yes.
– Why didn’t they like you? Jealousy?
– Maybe. I was a key player. Perhaps they expected a new coach and tried to influence things. Then Agaselim Mirjavadov joined.
– You said some people labeled you unfairly, even without knowing you. Who were they?
– Not teammates, just outsiders.
– Why target you?
– No idea. Why did some people try to undermine Banishevskiy?
– Did you drink alcohol while playing?
– Yes, but only on rest days.
– You coached the women's team Fidan. How did that happen?
– AFFA provided the conditions. We finished runners-up two years in a row. Working with women is hard, though. You can’t raise your voice or talk openly like with boys. There’s also discipline and personal issues.
– Did the team continue after you?
– For a while, but eventually shut down. Coach Fuzuli tried to keep it going, but it didn’t work.
– You have four children. Your son Timur joined Inter Baku’s youth team but left. Why?
– He wanted to focus on education. He’s now 23, graduated from Azerbaijan State Oil Academy, got a master’s, and works for a Canadian company. We’re preparing to send him to military service.
– Does he plan to move abroad?
– Maybe, if he gets an offer. No one’s holding him back.
– What about your other children?
– I’m not in touch. They live with their mother. Only Timur and my mother live with me.
– You have an “A” license but not “Pro”. You once said money was the reason. Did AFFA help?
– No. They want everyone to study locally. Ukraine was easier because they teach directly in the language.
– You turned down an offer to coach Neftchi’s U-15 team. Why?
– I was working with Kazbek Tuaev’s youth team and had good pay and freedom. I guess I was afraid to leave that.
– Do you regret it?
– Yes.
– How’s Tuaev’s team now?
– It still exists, now called Ulduz. Kazbek trained great players like Zaur Tagyzada, Ruslan Musayev, and Jahangir Hasanzada.
– You once said, “As long as Kazbek is alive, I’ll stay with him.” Is he still by your side?
– He checks in on me. He doesn’t coach anymore after falling ill.
– You said, “I consider myself Azerbaijani, even though I had chances to move to Russia or Bulgaria.” Which clubs wanted you?
– A serious Bulgarian club was interested, but I forget the name. Inter’s president Georgi Nikolov supported it. In Russia, Baltika wanted me, before Gurban Gurbanov.
– How’s your medical treatment going?
– It's okay. When I had money, it went well. Now that it’s gone, it's slower. The Heydar Aliyev Foundation covered initial treatment, but since leaving the hospital, no help, except from Shafa club, where I now work as an advisor.
– Do they provide transport for you?
– A neighbor, a former classmate, drives me.
– Are you able to contribute to the team?
– Yes, it’s a good club with strong finances. Even Barcelona once considered buying their stadium for an academy.
– Is your treatment funded by your salary or the club?
– Only my salary. I cover my needs and medication myself. I try to do physiotherapy on my own.
– Do former teammates check on you?
– Vladimir Poshekhontsev and Leonid Kalfa from Neftchi do. They live in Odessa and call regularly. Poshekhontsev coaches kids, Kalfa works on a ship.
– Anyone from Neftchi or Qarabag staff?
– No.
– Does that hurt you?
– Yes. Ilham Yadullayev calls often. I also want to thank Neftchi fans. They helped me when my health declined. I now see I was a beloved player. I couldn’t have done it without them.
– What about Agaselim Mirjavadov or other veterans?
– Only Kazbek Tuaev keeps in touch. I haven’t met with AFFA’s current leadership either.
– In 2021 you said you were attacked by three people. Do you remember why?
– I don’t recall exactly. Maybe it happened, but I can’t remember the details.
– If you played today, how would you perform?
– Just like before. Scoring goals was what mattered, and I would do that again. Today’s strikers lack ability. I’d stand out easily.
– If the conditions today existed back then, what could you have achieved?
– If Baku Fahlasi had money like now, we could’ve done more. As for Neftchi, they needed to prove themselves in Europe.
– What’s the core issue at Neftchi today?
– Player selection. Why they can’t choose properly, I don’t know.
– Why aren’t we producing good local strikers anymore?
– Maybe the coaches aren’t good enough, or maybe players lack motivation. Or they’re being asked to do different things.
– What’s the problem with kids in youth teams today?
– They all want to be Ronaldo or Messi instantly. They don’t realize they have to work for it.
– Were you lucky in your playing days? Could you have done more?
– I could’ve done better. I don’t consider myself unlucky, but not going abroad was a missed chance.
– After Renat Abdashov injured you, he ended his career. What do you remember?
– We met later. He apologized and admitted he did it on purpose. That moment ended his career too.
– Do you still visit the stadium in Buzovna?
– Yes, I was there at its reopening after renovations.
– Does it upset you that Khazri no longer exists in Buzovna?
– Of course. Maybe with a sponsor, it could be revived. But will it be the same? Hard to say. Money is the issue. Who would work for little pay?
– You’re ethnically Russian but speak fluent Azerbaijani. How come?
– I’ve spoken it since childhood. I kept birds, and all the bird lovers spoke Azerbaijani.
– How many birds did you have?
– Too many to count. I kept them on the rooftop.
– What sparked your interest?
– A friend started, and I got into it too.
– Maksim Medvedev also speaks excellent Azerbaijani, right?
– Yes, I saw him at Liv Bona Dea Clinic. He was chatting fluently with the nurses. I loved it.
– Do you watch the Russian league?
– Yes, I’ve always liked CSKA.
– Do you follow other sports?
– Some hockey. I followed Ovechkin chasing the scoring record.
– Do you support Russia’s national team because you’re Russian?
– No, I only support Azerbaijan’s national team.
– Does the Russia-Ukraine war upset you?
– Yes, deeply. Even our relationship with Russians has cooled. We were close to a conflict.
Idman.biz
