Odil Ahmedov

This name uses Eastern Slavic naming customs; the patronymic is Alimzhanovich and the family name is Ahmedov.
Odil Ahmedov

Ahmedov with Krasnodar in 2015
Personal information
Full nameOdil Alimzhanovich Ahmedov
Date of birth25 November 1987
Place of birthNamangan, Uzbekistan
Height1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing positionMidfielder
Club information
Current team
Krasnodar
Number10
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
2006–2011Pakhtakor Tashkent102(16)
2011–2014Anzhi Makhachkala86(3)
2014–Krasnodar21(2)
National team‡
2007–Uzbekistan[1][2]67(12)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 25 April 2015.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 22 January 2015

Odil Ahmedov (born 25 November 1987) is an Uzbek international footballer, who plays for FC Krasnodar. He usually plays as a central midfielder, but also played as a centre back during the 2011 Asian Cup, because of some injured defenders.

Club career

Early years

Born in Namangan Province, Ahmedov began playing football in reserve side of Pakhtakor Tashkent. After two seasons, he joined the first team and won the Uzbek League twice with the club.[3]

Pakhtakor

He made his official debut for the first-team of Pakhtakor on 16 May 2006 aged 18, in a Uzbek League away match against Qizilqum Zarafshon.

It was revealed by Pakhtakor that Odil Ahmedov had received offers from foreign clubs such as the Russian Premier League members Krylia Sovetov Samara and FC Dynamo Moscow. But Pakhtakor officials believed that Odil Ahmedov deserves a better offer referring to the top European clubs such as the ones from England, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France.

After his stunning performance at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, a lot of clubs showed interest in him, for example the Russian teams such as Rubin Kazan, Anzhi Makhachkala, and Lokomotiv Moscow, Spanish side Málaga CF, English side Bolton Wanderers, French side AS Monaco, Saudi side Al-Ittihad, Ukrainian sides Dynamo Kiev and Metalist Kharkiv, and the Turkish side Beşiktaş J.K.. The highest prices were from the Saudi side Al-Shabab who have offered 8 million euros, and the Qatari side Al-Gharafa offering 12 million euros.

Since the European transfer window closed on 31 January, Odil Akhmedov could not play in a European club till the summer transfer window opens. He still have had the offer from Al-Shabab for 8 million euros, and Al-Gharafa for 12 million euros, he needed to make his decision before the clubs canceled their offer, or else he might be left at his current club Pakhtakor.

There were rumours that Odil Akhmedov was seen in front of the Jeonbuk's office.

Odil Ahmedov as Anzhi player in 2013

On 4 February 2011 U.F.F. revealed that Odil Akhmedov moved to Russia where he would play his next season, but the name of the club was not revealed. According to unknown source Odil Akhmedov was going to play at Anzhi Makhachkala. Anzhi coach Gadzhi Gadzhiev revealed that the club didn't sign Odil Akhmedov. He went to Belek, Turkey with his current team Pakhtakor Tashkent, and this is the same place where Anzhi Makhachkala is training. Before he is officially an Anzhi, he is now having to pass some medical tests, which he is going through now. According to Pakhtakor, real offers only came from Al-Shabab and Anzhi, and rest was just rumours being spread. Pakhtakor also announced that Odil Akhmedov had been loaned to Anzhi Makhachkala for one year.[4]

There has been rumours that England's Arsenal has been interested in Odil Akhmedov.[5] Later Akhmedov confirmed the interest by Arsenal FC.[6]

Anzhi

On 13 February 2011 Ahmedov scored his first goal in his first match for Anzhi in friendly match against Obolon (Ukraine) with 1-0 win.[7] He made his official debut in Russia in 2010–11 Russian Cup Round of 16 match against Zenit Saint Petersburg on 1 March 2011.

On 29 December 2011 Anzhi Makhachkala official website announced Ahmedov was named as the best player of the club over season 2011. The winner was determined with the survey conducted among official website visitors and finally by club managers and coaches. He collected more points than Samuel Eto'o and Yuri Zhirkov.[8]

Ahmedov is set to leave Anzhi Makhachkala in summer 2014. England's Arsenal gave a bid of 4 million pounds, followed by Genoa and AC Milan.

FC Krasnodar

Ahmedov playing for FC Krasnodar in September 2014

Prior to Anzhi suffering relegation, Ahmedov joined Krasnodar in early June 2014, along with teammates Nikita Burmistrov and Vladimir Bystrov.[9] Weeks later, he was handed the number 10 shirt.

On 28 June 2014, he scored first goal on his debut match in friendly against Qarabağ FK in Austria.[10] The game ended with 1-0 victory of Krasnodar. On 3 July 2014 he scored his second goal on his second appearance for FC Krasnodar to equalize against Scottish football giants Celtic F.C., due to an awful defending error they made. Unfortunately, the game ended 3-1, with FC Krasnodar losing.[11]

Ahmedov scored his first official goal for Krasnodar on 1 August 2014 in 2014–15 UEFA Europa League third qualifying round match against Hungarian outfit Diosgyori VTK. Krasnodar won the match by 5-1, with Ahmedov scoring the team's second goal in the first half.[12]

On 17 August 2014, Odil Ahmedov scored his first official league goal for Krasnodar against FC Rostov in a 2-0 win. He scored the second goal of Krasnodar against Rostov in second half, assisted with a cross by Vladimir Bystrov.[13] On 6 March 2015, UFF announced results of pool conducted among journalists for Best Footballers of the Year award and Ahmedov was named Uzbekistan Footballer of the Year for the third time.[14]

International career

He made his international debut with Uzbekistan in a 9-0 win against Taiwan on 13 October 2007.[15]

He is known for his tough tackling style and thunderbolt shots. It is said that he 'releases the Kracken' almost like John Arne Riise and it may be true as he scored the goal and possibly goal of the tournament of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

Career statistics

Club

As of 22 November 2014
Club Season League Cup Asia/Europe Total
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Pakhtakor Tashkent 2010 24920633212
Total for Pakhtakor
Anzhi Makhachkala 2011–12 43121-452
2012–13 1714092303
2013–14 2610080341
Total for Anzhi 863611721096
Krasnodar 2014–15 1311091232
Total for Krasnodar 1311091232
Career total

International goals

Scores and results list Uzbekistan's goal tally first.
No Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 6 February 2008 Camille Chamoun Sports City Stadium, Beirut, Lebanon  Lebanon 1–0 1–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
2. 14 June 2008 MHSK Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan  Lebanon 1–0 3–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
3. 2–0
4. 12 October 2010 Al Ahli Stadium, Manama, Bahrain  Bahamas 3–1 4–2 Friendly
5. 7 January 2011 Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar  Qatar 1–0 2–0 2011 AFC Asian Cup
6. 16 January 2011 Thani bin Jassim Stadium, Doha, Qatar  China PR 1–1 2–2 2011 AFC Asian Cup
7. 15 November 2011 Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan  Tajikistan 2–0 3–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
8. 18 June 2013 Bunyodkor Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan  Qatar 4–1 5–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
9. 19 November 2013 Hong Kong Stadium, Hong Kong  Hong Kong 2–0 2-0 2015 AFC Asian Cup qualification
10. 7 September 2014 Pakhtakor Markaziy Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan  New Zealand 1–0 3–1 Friendly
11. 2–0
12. 14 January 2015 Brisbane Stadium, Brisbane, Australia  China PR 1–0 1–2 2015 AFC Asian Cup
As of 14 January 2015[16]

Honours

Club

Pakhtakor
Anzhi

International

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Uzbekistan – Record International Players". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Retrieved 28 January 2011.
  2. ↑ "Odil Ahmedov career stats". Uzfootball (in Uzbek).
  3. ↑ Tashhodzhaev, Zohir (29 April 2008). Одил Ахмедов: "Наша цель – участие в чемпионате мира" (in Russian). sportportal.uz.
  4. ↑ "Odil Ahmedov signs loan contract with Anzhi". FC Pakhtakor. 2011-02-09.
  5. ↑ „Arsenal make surprise move for Uzbekistan captain Odil Ahmedov, 6 Jun 2011"
  6. ↑ "Ahmedov claims Arsenal interest". ESPN. 2011-06-30. Retrieved 2011-07-04.
  7. ↑ "Ahmedov's first goal for Anzhi". FC Anzhi. 2011-02-13.
  8. ↑ СОдил Ахмедов – лучший игрок «Анжи» 2011 года. FC Anzhi (in Russian). 2011-12-29.
  9. ↑ Состав «Краснодара» пополнил Одил Ахмедов (in Russian). FC Krasnodar. 2014-06-11.
  10. ↑ Ахмедов начал в «Краснодаре» с гола, а «Краснодар» в Австрии – с победы (in Russian). FC Krasnodar. 2014-06-28.
  11. ↑ Расточительные «горожане» уступили бережливым шотландцам (in Russian). FC Krasnodar. 2014-07-04. Retrieved 2014-08-07.
  12. ↑ «Быки» в Европе играют по-крупному (in Russian). FC Krasnodar. 2014-08-01. Retrieved 2014-08-07.
  13. ↑ "Rostov vs. Krasnodar 0-2". soccerway. 2014-08-17.
  14. ↑ "Odil Akhmedov named as best football player in Uzbekistan". UzDaily. 2015-03-06.
  15. ↑ "Odil Ahmedov: Player statistics at uzfootball.uz, 2011, (Uzbek)
  16. ↑ http://uk.soccerway.com/players/odil-ahmedov/26645/matches/

External links