"I had the warmest gloves."
According to Idman.biz, Azerbaijan national football team and Qarabag goalkeeper Shahrudin Mahammadaliyev shared a childhood memory during his appearance on the "PODKAT" podcast, explaining how he first ended up in goal.
This incident took place when he was 10 years old in Dagestan. Initially playing as a winger, Mahammadaliyev recalled that the coach put him in goal simply because he had the warmest gloves. That random decision marked the beginning of his professional goalkeeping career.
He also spoke about spending a season in Turkiye after leaving Azerbaijan: "I just couldn’t handle it anymore. I play with emotions, and it was very difficult for me."
One of the reasons behind his departure was the defeat against Poland’s Rakow in the Champions League qualifiers, after which he was heavily criticized for mistakes made in international matches.
Mahammadaliyev spent the 2023/24 season with Adana Demirspor, where he played alongside Mario Balotelli.
Describing his experience with the well-known footballer, he said: “It was fun.” He mentioned that Balotelli's moods would swing drastically: “One day he would come to training smiling and joking, and the next day he might storm off the pitch angrily after kicking the ball away. But soon, he’d be laughing again.”
“My all-time favorite goalkeeper is Lev Yashin,” Mahammadaliyev said, introducing his top-five list of goalkeepers. He especially highlighted German keeper Manuel Neuer, praising him for revolutionizing the position and creating a new playing style.
Mahammadaliyev also recalled the match against Poland’s Legia in 2020: “It wasn’t just a game, it was a war for us.”
This match remains one of the most memorable and significant of his career. It coincided with the early days of the Second Karabakh War and took place during the Europa League qualifiers. Coach Gurban Gurbanov had motivated the team so strongly that, despite being an away match, losing was not an option. Qarabag won 3-0 in that unforgettable encounter.
At the end of the interview, Mahammadaliyev mentioned that there was a time when he considered leaving Qarabag due to limited playtime. However, a conversation with Gurban Gurbanov changed his perspective. Speaking on the "PODKAT" show, the goalkeeper described his coach: “The thing I admire most about him is his integrity, he always stands by his word.”
Idman.biz
