Elman Tagaýew (born June 2, 1989 in Kyzyl-ArvatElman Tagayev) is a Turkmen professional football midfielder of Azerbaijani descent. He plays for Ýokary Liga club FC Ahal and the Turkmenistan national team.
Biography Tagaýew was born in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan to an Azerbaijani family. He began playing football at eight years old. In 2014, he married his wife Arina. In 2015, they had two twin sons named Alan and Ali.
Career Club Tagaýew started his career at Aşgabat before going on trial with Khazar Lankaran in early 2012. During his trial with Khazar Lankaran he appeared as a substitute, and scored, against Turkmenistan. Khazar declined to sign Tagaýew due to the players attitude during a game. Tagaýew went on to sign for AZAL in the summer of 2012, but only made 8 appearances before leaving in March 2013.
In June 2017, Tagayev signed a one-year contract with newly-promoted Azerbaijan Premier League team Səbail FK. Tagayev was released by Sabail FK at the end of the 2017–18 season.
International Elman Tagaýew played for the Turkmenistan national under-23 football team at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.
Tagaýew's first international goal came against Nepal in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup group stage. As part of the national team of Turkmenistan, he became the finalist of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueNational CupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAZAL2012–13Azerbaijan Premier League8000––80Aşgabat2013Ýokary Liga –– 2014 –– Total ---- Altyn Asyr2014Ýokary Liga –– 2015 00– 2016 30–30Total 30--30Andijon2016Uzbek League12000––120Altyn Asyr2017Ýokary Liga 10–10Səbail2017–18Azerbaijan Premier League25221––92Career total4522140--513
International Turkmenistan national teamYearAppsGoals2012412013002014002015002016202017102018002019002020—202110202220202350202420202533Total234 Statistics accurate as of match played 18 November 2025
International goals # Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 12 March 2012 Dasarath Rangasala Stadium, Kathmandu, Nepal 1–0 3–0 2012 AFC Challenge Cup 2. 25 March 2025 National Stadium, Kaohsiung, Taiwan 2–1 2027 AFC Asian Cup qualification 3. 14 October 2025 Arkadag Stadium, Arkadag, Turkmenistan 2–1 4. 18 November 2025 2–1 3–1
Honours Turkmenistan AFC Challenge Cup runner-up: 2012
Individual Football Federation of Turkmenistan Footballer of the Year: 2021, 2024 Ýokary Liga Top Goalscorer: 2021 (10 goals)
References
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