Odil Ahmedov

Odil Ahmedov

Personal information
Full name	Odil Alimzhanovich Ahmedov
Date of birth	25 November 1987 (1987-11-25) (age 23)
Place of birth	Namangan, Uzbek SSR, Soviet Union
Height	1.82 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Anzhi Makhachkala
Number	25
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2006-2010	Pakhtakor Tashkent	86	(0)
2011	→ Anzhi Makhachkala (loan)	22	(0)
2011-	Anzhi Makhachkala	8	(0)
National team‡
2007-	Uzbekistan[1]	43	(7)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 14:17, 5 November 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 16 November 2011

Odil Ahmedov (born 25 November 1987) is a footballer from Uzbekistan. He usually plays as an defensive midfielder, he also played as a center back on Asian Cup 2011, because of injuries of some defensive players. He is playing for FC Anzhi Makhachkala.

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 would win the Uzbek League twice with the club.^[2]

FC Pakhtakor

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

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

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 are 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 cannot play in a European club till the summer transfer window opens. He still has the offer from Al-Shabab for 8 million euros, and Al-Gharafa for 12 million euros, he needs to decide his decision before the clubs cancel their offer, or else he might be left at his current club FC Pakhtakor Tashkent.

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

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 is going to play at Anzhi Makhachkala. Anzhi Makhachkala coach Gadzhi Gadzhiev revealed that the club didn't sign Odil Akhmedov, but according to www.transfermarkt.co.uk, Akhmedov is officially an Anzhi Makhachkala player. 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 Makhachkala, 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 Makhachkala, and rest was just rumours being spread. Pakhtakor also announced that Odil Akhmedov had been loaned to Anzhi Makhachkala for one year.^[3]

There has been rumours that England's Arsenal has been interested in Odil Akhmedov. Beginning from June 7th, Akhmedov has been missing from Anzhi's squad, it is believed that he has left to London, England to complete his transfer to Arsenal.

FC Anzhi

On 13 February 2011 Ahmedov scored his first goal in first match for FC Anzhi in friendly match against Obolon (Ukraine) with 1-0 win.^[4] He made his official debut in Russia in 2010–11 Russian Cup Round of 16 match against FC Zenit Saint Petersburg on 1 March 2011.

International career

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

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.

National team career statistics

Goals for Senior National Team

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	6 February 2008	Beirut, Lebanon	Lebanon	1-0	Won	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
2	14 June 2008	Tashkent, Uzbekistan	Lebanon	3-0	Won	2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
3
4	12 October 2010	Manama, Bahrain	Bahrain	4-2	Won	Friendly
5	7 January 2011	Doha, Qatar	Qatar	2-0	Won	2011 AFC Asian Cup
6	12 January 2011	Doha, Qatar	China PR	2-2	Draw	2011 AFC Asian Cup
7	15 November 2011	Tashkent, Uzbekistan	Tajikistan	2-0	Won	2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Club

• Pakhtakor
  • Uzbek League: 2006, 2007
  • Uzbekistani Cup: 2006, 2007, 2009
  • CIS Cup: 2007

International

4th on 2011 AFC Asian Cup in Qatar

Individual

• Uzbekistan Player of the Year: 2009

References

1. ^ „Uzbekistan - Record International Players“Odil Ahmedov's statistics acc. RSSSF, retrieved 28 January 2011.
2. ^ Tashhodzhaev, Zohir (29 April 2008). "Одил Ахмедов: "Наша цель – участие в чемпионате мира"" (in Russian). sportportal.uz. http://www.sportportal.uz/page/football/paxtakor/756. 
3. ^ „Odil Ahmedov signs loan contract with Anzhi“Odil Ahmedov signs loan contract with Anzhi, 9 February 2011.
4. ^ „Ahmedov's first goal 13 February 2011.

External links

• Odil Ahmedov player info at FIFA.com (English)
• Odil Ahmedov player info at national-football-teams.com (English)
• Ahmedov: Uzbekistan going for gold at FIFA.com (English)

Persondata
Name	Ahmedov, Odil
Alternative names
Short description	footballer
Date of birth	25 November 1987
Place of birth	Soviet Union
Date of death
Place of death