Shahin Khadakerim oglu Diniyev (, ; born 12 July 1966) is an Azerbaijani football manager and former midfielder who most recently coached Azerbaijan Premier League side Sabail. He served as both captain and head coach of the Azerbaijani national team.Azerifootball.com - News Archive "Shakhin Diniyev will be the new coach of Azerbaijan national team" 7 December 2005 (retrieved 17 September 2006)
Early and personal life Diniyev was born on 12 July 1966 in the Beylagan district. At the age of 17, he was admitted to the Azerbaijan State Academy of Physical Education and Sports.
Diniyev's two sons, Karim and Coşqun, are also professional footballers, the latter having been a senior international since 2015.
Career Diniyev played for clubs in his native Azerbaijan, as well as Russia, Moldova and Israel.UEFA.com - Shakhin Diniyev 08/01/2006 (retrieved 17 September 2006) After retirement, he became a coach, first with FK Qarabağ and then Kapaz PFC.
In November 2005, he impressed the AFFA 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 competition. Replacing Vagif Sadygov, Diniyev's first game in charge was a friendly against Ukraine in BakuFIFA - Azerbaijan - Result Details (retrieved 17 September 2006) 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 and another 0–0 draw against Moldova 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 Kyiv. This game was the final friendly match before qualification for the 2008 UEFA European Football Championship began.
Under Diniyev, the Azerbaijan squad has given debuts to not only young players but also some naturalised foreigners, such as Leandro Gomes of FC Baku,Azerifootball.com - News Archive "Leandro Gomes to play for Azerbaijan" 4 September 2006 (retrieved 17 September 2006) who was born in Brazil.FK Baku - Official Website - Squad (retrieved 17 September 2006)
In December 2022, Diniyev was appointed as the head coach of the Azerbaijan Premier League club Sabail. On November 3, 2024, he announced his resignation from the head coach position at the club.
Career statistics International Azerbaijan national teamYearAppsGoals199210199330199450199540199620Total150 Statistics accurate as of 20 October 2015
Managerial
NameManagerial TenurePWDLWin % Terek Grozny 2001 Qarabağ 2001 –2004 Kapaz 2004 –2005 AzerbaijanNovember 2005 –31 October 200720479 Terek Grozny October 2009 –December 20095005 Ravan Baku7 October 2013 –3 January 201411137 KapazJune 2015 – November 201780272231 Sabail FK December 2022 – November 202472211437
Notes and references
External links Azerbaycan Futbol Federasiyaları Assosiasiyası - English language version also available