Shahin Diniyev is an Azerbaijani

Azerbaijani people

The Azerbaijanis are a Turkic-speaking people living mainly in northwestern Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, as well as in the neighbourhood states, Georgia, Russia and formerly Armenia. Commonly referred to as Azeris or Azerbaijani Turks , they also live in a wider area from the Caucasus to...

 football manager. Currently, he is an assistant manager with FC Terek Grozny

FC Terek Grozny

FC Terek Grozny is a Russian football club, currently playing in the Russian Premier League....

.

Life and career

Diniyev played football as a midfielder. His club career career included spells in the USSR, and later Russia

Russia

Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

, and finally back to Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...

, where he ended his career with Dinamo Baku. He competed 16 times for the Azerbaijani national team, gaining no international caps with the USSR before independence. Following a period as a youth coach, Diniyev moved into management, first with FK Karabakh

FK Karabakh

FK Qarabağ Ağdam , also known as FK Karabakh Aghdam, is an Azerbaijani football club from Agdam, playing in Azerbaijan Premier League and three times Azerbaijan Cup holders....

 and then FK Kapaz (now known as FK Gandja).

Azerbaijan national team career

In November 2005, he impressed the AFFA

Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan

The Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan is the governing body of football in Azerbaijan. It organizes the Azerbaijan Premier League, the Azerbaijan Cup and the Azerbaijani national football team...

 sufficiently to be awarded with the national team job, promising to restructure the squad with an emphasis on youth and to help turn Azerbaijan into a credible force within UEFA

UEFA

The Union of European Football Associations , almost always referred to by its acronym UEFA is the administrative and controlling body for European association football, futsal and beach soccer....

 competition. Replacing Vagif Sadygov

Vagif Sadygov

Vagif Sadygov is an Azerbaijani football manager.-Life and career:Sadygov started playing football as a midfielder for Araz Nakhichevan. His club career career included spells with Neftchi Baku, Khazar Sumgayit and FC Nistru Otaci. After end of his career, he moved into management, first with...

, Diniyev's first game in charge was a friendly against Ukraine

Ukraine national football team

The Ukraine national football team is the national football team of Ukraine and is controlled by the Football Federation of Ukraine. After Ukrainian Independence and breakaway from the Soviet Union, they played their first match against Hungary on 29 April 1992...

 in Baku

Baku

Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...

 at the Tofig Bakhramov Stadium; the result was 0-0, a minor success against stronger opposition.

In further friendlies, a shock 1-1 draw against Turkey

Turkey national football team

The Turkey national football team represents Turkey in association football and is controlled by the Turkish Football Federation, the governing body for football in Turkey. They are affiliated with UEFA...

 and another 0-0 draw against Moldova

Moldova national football team

The Moldova national football team represents Moldova in association football and is controlled by the Football Association of Moldova, the governing body for football in Moldova. Moldova's home ground is Zimbru Stadium in Chişinău and their head coach is Gavril Balint...

 followed. Diniyev was soon to witness his first defeat as Azerbaijan coach: in August 2006 he watched his team succumb to a 6-0 defeat against Ukraine, this time in Kiev

Kiev

Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....

. This game was the final friendly match before qualification for the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship

2008 UEFA European Football Championship

The 2008 UEFA European Football Championship, commonly referred to as Euro 2008, was the 13th UEFA European Football Championship, a quadrennial football tournament contested by European nations. It took place in Austria and Switzerland from 7 to 29 June 2008...

 began. (See Azerbaijan national football team

Azerbaijan national football team

The Azerbaijan national football team is the national football team of Azerbaijan and is controlled by Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan...

.)

Under Diniyev, the Azerbaijan squad has given debuts to not only young players but also some naturalised foreigners, such as Leandro Gomes of FK Baku

FK Baku

Football Club Baku is an Azerbaijani football club in Baku, Azerbaijan. The club sponsored by the Baghlan Group Company and ZQAN Holding.FC Baku plays in the Azerbaijan Premier League and have won two Azerbaijan Premier League championships and two Azerbaijan Cups.-History:FC Baku was founded in...

, who was born in Brazil

Brazil

Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...

.

External links

• Azerbaycan Futbol Federasiyaları Assosiasiyası - English language version also available