Azerbaijan is not a great football country and we have very few serious results in this sport at the international level. Old local fans may remember Alakbar Mammadov’s four goals against Milan at San Siro in the middle of the last century for Dinamo Moscow, and Anatoly Banishevsky’s third in the world for the USSR national team. The relatively later generation saw Igor Ponomaryov become an Olympic champion, Nazim Suleymanov win the title of Russia’s strongest in “Alania” and Veli Gasimov triumph in teams such as “Betis” and “Albasete”. In modern times, such examples are non-existent. Only Qarabag’s results in the European Cups can be excluded. It is true that in recent years the number of Azerbaijani footballers who wear uniforms outside the country has been increasing. But many of them have already returned. Names like Araz Abdullayev, Kamran Agayev, Ramil Sheydayev, Musa Gurbanli, despite having high hopes in recent years, could not find success abroad and soon returned.
“Caspian” The newspaper published an article on the subject.
Skillful showing character
In modern Azerbaijani football there is a name whose life as a legionnaire differs from that of other players. We are talking about Mahir Emreli, considered the most promising player in recent years. It is true that our footballers, like Anton Krivotsyuk and Jalal Huseynov, know how to “stand their ground” outside the country. However, the level of the leagues and clubs in which Emreli plays gives reason to distinguish him. Being the only example of this type, the attention of football fans and the pressure on it is greater.
Mahir, a student of the “Baku” club, attracted attention for his successful performance in “Qarabag” for many years, and in 2021 he was transferred to the Polish “Legia”. He has been playing in European clubs for more than three years and showing character by not backing down despite the challenges he faced. In fact, Emreli’s career in “Legiya” began with great success. He classified his goals in both the championship and the European cups. But an unfortunate conflict with the fans caused the forward to leave the Warsaw club. After long legal battles, he moved to the Croatian club “Dinamo” (Zagreb). Although the player had opportunities here from time to time and even scored goals, he lost the competition with young and promising local players and was first loaned to Turkish side Konyaspor. Not much has changed for him since he returned. It was expected that the 27-year-old player, who remained rather in the reserve, would be able to return to Azerbaijan, to his former club “Karabakh”. But he didn’t turn back and this time headed further west to try his luck once more.
Great performance in Nuremberg
Mahir Emreli’s next stop was expected to be Germany when he was still playing for Legiya. Although late, he turned to this country. The forward is showing excellent performance in the II Bundesliga club “Nürnberg”, where he moved last summer. He scored three goals in six championship games. In the cup he attracted attention for his distinction in the match against the Bundesliga representative, Hoffenheim. The forward is sometimes criticized by the local media for not taking advantage of his scoring opportunities, but his statistics are not bad at all. Considering it’s the start of the season and Mahir has just joined the team, we can expect him to improve his performance in the near future. Of course, if it continues at this pace.
Currently, the forward is part of the main team of the Nuremberg team. Mahir, who missed the first Bundesliga II games due to injury, has been in the starting eleven since matchday six. The most important thing is that the team’s coach, Miroslav Klose, trusts him. In one of his last statements, the famous striker of the past spoke about how Mahir is active with and without the ball and how this has a positive effect on the team. Emreli’s main advantage is the ability to play in all areas of the offensive line. And Klose uses a three-forward system, which increases the chances of our player playing and showing himself. Bundesliga II is a fairly prestigious competition. It is not easy to play for a club as established as “Nürnberg” and earn the favor of a name like Klose. Mahir’s path to the Bundesliga does not seem impossible. “Nuremberg” is currently only three points behind the first “three”.
Mahir’s national expectations
Emreli is perhaps the player with the highest expectations in the current team both due to his professional career and his qualities as a player. Actually, this is natural. In recent years none of our players have played in clubs as well-known as him. Mahir is already 27 years old and now he should be the main leader of the national team and lead the team. Although he really benefited the team in some games, it is still impossible to say that he has confirmed himself as a leader. On the contrary, the accumulation race is well below expectations. Mahir’s successful legionary life, especially with his recent performance in “Nuremberg”, endeared him to fans. Now he must maintain stability, fully reveal his qualities as the Azerbaijani footballer with the greatest potential in recent years, in addition to representing our country abroad, he must demonstrate his weight as a leader in the national team. Thus, Mahir Emreli can be a good example for the younger generations and open a new path in our football. It is very necessary.
