Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Aliyev (Ukrainian: Олександр Олександрович Алієв, Russian: Александр Александрович Алиев; born 3 February 1985) is a Ukrainian former professional footballer. He plays as a right midfielder or central midfielder. Known for his spectacular goals from direct free-kicks, his former Dynamo Kyiv coach Yuri Syomin described him as "...the best free-kick taker in Europe". He also was known for being the youngest Dynamo player who debuted in 2002 at professional level when Aliyev was 17 years and 6 months old.[1]
 Aliyev in 2014 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Oleksandr Oleksandrovych Aliyev | ||
| Date of birth | 3 February 1985 | ||
| Place of birth | Khabarovsk, Soviet Union, (now Russia) | ||
| Height | 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Right midfielder Central midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| SKA Khabarovsk | |||
| 1998–1999 | Spartak Moscow | ||
| 1999–2001 | Dynamo Kyiv | ||
| 2000–2001 | Obukhiv | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2001–2002 | Borysfen-2 Boryspil | 10 | (4) |
| 2002–2010 | Dynamo Kyiv | 51 | (17) |
| 2002–2008 | → Dynamo-2 Kyiv | 99 | (53) |
| 2005–2006 | → Metalurh Zaporizhzhia (loan) | 8 | (1) |
| 2010–2011 | Lokomotiv Moscow | 25 | (14) |
| 2011–2013 | Dynamo Kyiv | 35 | (7) |
| 2012–2013 | → Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (loan) | 12 | (2) |
| 2014–2015 | Anzhi Makhachkala | 22 | (3) |
| 2015 | Rukh Vynnyky (amateurs) | 23 | (11) |
| 2016 | Katanzaro Kyiv (amateurs) | ||
| 2016 | Taraz | 9 | (1) |
| 2017 | Katanzaro Kyiv (amateurs) | ||
| 2018 | Khmelnytskyi (amateurs) | 4 | (0) |
| 2018 | Meliorator Bucha (amateurs) | ||
| 2019–2020 | Juniors Shyptky (amateurs) | 5 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2001–2002 | Ukraine U17 | 8 | (5) |
| 2003–2006 | Ukraine U21 | 30 | (8) |
| 2008–2012 | Ukraine | 28 | (6) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2018 | Khmelnytskyi (amateurs) (player-manager) | ||
| 2018 | Meliorator Bucha (amateurs) (player-manager) | ||
Medal record | |||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine Aliyev joined the Ukrainian army.[2]
Club career
Born in Khabarovsk, Aliyev began playing football as a child with FC Zaria Khabarovsk before entering the Dynamo Kyiv youth system.[3]
Dynamo Kyiv
Aliyev began his career in Borysfen-2 Boryspil (a second team of FC Borysfen Boryspil) in Druha Liha A. It was a youth club that was participating on the professional level similar to FC Dynamo-3 Kyiv and Aliyev at that time was a minor (underage). In 2002, he joined Dynamo Kyiv where he was featured mostly in FC Dynamo-2 Kyiv in the Ukrainian First League. He was really successful in the Dynamo-2 so he was loaned of to Ukrainian Premier League side Metalurh Zaporizhzhia. With Zaporizhzhia, he managed to get to the Ukrainian Cup finals.
After his loan ended, Aliyev was promoted to the main team of Dynamo, where he began to shine especially under new Russian head coach Yuri Semin during the 2008–09 season. In September 2008 Ukraine legend Serhii Rebrov hailed Aliyev's transformation into a "team player", when he thought "Aliyev was just about fun". He was key in Dynamo's campaign in the 2008–09 UEFA Champions League. On 21 October 2008, he scored a free kick from at least 30 yards out to give Dynamo Kyiv the win against FC Porto. On 25 November, at the end of the game against Arsenal, Aliyev pushed the referee, Alain Hamer, and received a red card for his action. Later, during the interview he called Hamer a "kozel" (the goat -eng.) which means similarly to "idiot" in this context.[4] Dynamo Kyiv finished third in their Champions League group, moving down to the 2008–09 UEFA Cup after the winter break. Aliyev was an instrumental player throughout the campaign here too. He played in most of the games, helping Dynamo get to the semi-finals, where they were eliminated by fellow Ukrainian rivals, and eventual UEFA Cup Champions Shakhtar Donetsk. Dynamo also won the 2008–09 Ukrainian Premier League that season. Later in 2009–10 season he was a part of starting lineup for Ukrainian Super Cup match against Vorskla Poltava. After a few minutes in that game he got injured and missed few months of the starting season. On recovery Aliyev was not able to secure a starting position and asked for a transfer during the winter break.
Lokomotiv Moscow
As soon as the first half of 2009–10 Ukrainian Premier League Aliyev began negotiations with Lokomotiv Moscow in the Russian Premier League.[5] These negotiations failed and Aliyev remained a Dynamo player[6] until 1 February 2010, when Lokomotiv officially announced the signing of Aliyev to a three-year contract.[7]
Anzhi Makhachkala
In January 2014 Aliyev moved from Dynamo Kyiv to Anzhi Makhachkala on a 2.5-year contract.[8] Aliyev left Anzhi at the end of the 2013–14 season by mutual consent. Shortly thereafter, he re-signed with Anzhi, before having his contract terminated by mutual consent once again in January 2015.[9]
Rukh Vynnyky and amateurs
In 2015 Aliyev returned to Ukraine playing for FC Rukh Vynnyky along with his former teammate Maksim Shatskikh at the 2015 Ukrainian Football Amateur League.
In 2016 and 2017 he was taking part at the Kyiv city championship for local amateur club.
Taraz
In June 2016, after eighteen-months without a professional club, Aliyev signed for FC Taraz of the Kazakhstan Premier League until the end of the 2016 season.[10] Aliyev left Taraz prior to the expiration of his contract on 6 October 2016.[11]
International career
Aliyev played the under-20 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship in Netherlands. He was one of the top scorers of the tournament with five goals, one less than Lionel Messi, the top scorer.Aliyev also played in the Ukraine national under-21 football team in the 2006 UEFA European Under-21 Football Championship, helping his side reach the final. His set piece goal from more than 40 yards that hit the cross-bar and went in against Turkey in the U-21 Championship has been regarded as one of the best goals in U-21 Football history. He is the current top goalscorer of the Ukrainian under-21 team with eight goals.
On 6 September 2008, Aliyev got his first senior cap for Ukraine. He was substituted on for Maksym Kalynychenko starting from the second half.
Coaching career
In March 2018 Aliyev became a manager of Ukrainian amateur club FC Khmelnytskyi which earlier in 2017 started out at the 2017–18 Ukrainian Football Amateur League.[12]
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 15 July 2015[13][14] included only games played at professional level and might not correspond to the actual record of Football Federation of Ukraine
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Borysfen Boryspil-2 | 2001–02 | Ukrainian Second League | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 10 | 4 | ||
| Dynamo Kyiv | 2002–03 | Vyshcha Liha | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 2003–04 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2004–05 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2005–06 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 2 | ||
| 2006–07 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2007–08 | 10 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | 4 | ||
| 2008–09 | Ukrainian Premier League | 26 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 16 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 44 | 17 | |
| 2009–10 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | ||
| Total | 51 | 17 | 13 | 2 | 19 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 87 | 23 | ||
| Metalurh Zaporizhzhia (loan) | 2005–06 | Vyshcha Liha | 8 | 1 | 3 | 1 | – | – | 11 | 2 | ||
| Lokomotiv Moscow | 2010 | Russian Premier League | 25 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | – | 27 | 15 | |
| Dynamo Kyiv | 2010–11 | Ukrainian Premier League | 6 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 2 |
| 2011–12 | 26 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 5 | ||
| 2012–13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| Total | 35 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 7 | ||
| Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk (loan) | 2012–13 | Ukrainian Premier League | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 2 | – | 18 | 4 | |
| Anzhi Makhachkala | 2013–14 | Russian Premier League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 1 | – | 11 | 1 | |
| 2014–15 | Russian Football National League | 15 | 3 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 16 | 3 | |||
| Total | 22 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | - | - | 27 | 4 | ||
| Taraz | 2016 | Kazakhstan Premier League | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | – | 0 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |
| Career total | 172 | 49 | 21 | 3 | 39 | 8 | 5 | 0 | 237 | 60 | ||
International
- As of match played 15 June 2012[13]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ukraine | 2008 | 4 | 0 |
| 2009 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 8 | 5 | |
| 2011 | 7 | 1 | |
| 2012 | 4 | 0 | |
| Total | 28 | 6 | |
- As of match played 11 October 2011[13]
- Scores and results list Ukraine's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Aliyev goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 May 2010 | Kharkiv, Ukraine |  Lithuania | 1–0 | 4–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 2–0 | |||||
| 3 | 29 May 2010 | Lviv, Ukraine |  Romania | 1–0 | 3–2 | Friendly |
| 4 | 11 August 2010 | Donetsk, Ukraine |  Netherlands | 1–1 | 1–1 | Friendly |
| 5 | 7 September 2010 | Kyiv, Ukraine |  Chile | 2–0 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 6 | 11 October 2011 | Tallinn, Estonia |  Estonia | 2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
Honours
Dynamo Kyiv
- Ukrainian Premier League: 2002–03, 2003–04, 2006–07, 2008–09
- Ukrainian Cup: 2002–03, 2004–05,[citation needed] 2005–06, 2006–07
- Ukrainian Super Cup: 2004,[citation needed] 2006,[citation needed] 2007, 2009
Ukraine U21
- UEFA Under-21 Championship: runner-up 2006
Individual
- Top assist provider of the Ukraine Premier League: 2008–09[15]
- 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship: Silver Shoe
References
External links
- Profile on Official Dynamo Kyiv website at the Wayback Machine (archived 26 September 2008)
- Stats about Dynamo Kyiv players on Ukrainiansoccer.net at the Wayback Machine (archived 11 December 2005)
- Oleksandr Aliyev at FootballFacts.ru (in Russian)
- Oleksandr Aliyev at UAF and archived FFU page (in Ukrainian)
- Oleksandr Aliyev at Soccerway
