Anatoliy Banishevskiy

Anatoliy Andreyevich Banishevskiy (Azerbaijani: Anatoli Andreyeviç Banişevski; Russian: Анатолий Андреевич Банишевский; 23 February 1946, in Baku – 10 December 1997, in Baku) was a Soviet footballer from Azerbaijan. Throughout most of his playing and coaching career, Banishevskiy was committed to his originally domestic club, Neftchi Baku. He is widely considered the greatest Azerbaijani footballer of all time. He played for the USSR national football team, winning 51 caps and scoring 19 goals. Banishevskiy played for the Soviet side in the 1966 FIFA World Cup, as well as in European Championship 1968 and 1972. His club team was PFC Neftchi, and he scored 136 goals in Soviet Top League competition. The striker was unofficially named Azerbaijan's Player of the Year three times-in 1966, 1967, and 1978.

In November 2003, as part of the celebration of UEFA's Jubilee, he was selected as the Golden Player for Azerbaijan by the Association of Football Federations of Azerbaijan as the country's most outstanding player over the past 50 years.

Banishevskiy was born in Baku to a family of Ukrainian descent.

He started playing football at the age of 16 and played all of his career for PFC Neftchi Baku, transforming into one of the best Azerbaijani players.

Upon making the club's senior roster at the age of 16, Banishevskiy immediately emerged into one of the best young talents of his generation. Banishevskiy maintained his status of a premier Azerbaijani player, and remained very influential football figure throughout his entire football profession and beyond.

Banishevskiy made his international debut at 19 years old on 4 July 1965 for USSR against Brazil during a friendly match. His international career ended in final of the 1972 European Championship match loss against West Germany.

After retiring as a player, Banishevskiy briefly coached Neftchi Baku, Kapaz and Automobilist Mingachevir. He has also worked as youth coach of Burkina Faso during 1987–1988 period.

Banishevskiy was diagnosed with diabetic coma in 1991, having surviving first attack in 1987. He suffered cerebral atrophy as result of a second attack, which also caused him memory loss.

Subsequently, following his wife's ill-timed behavior, Banishevskiy lost the ownership of his house, which led him to live a difficult life in alcoholism on the streets of Baku. However, he was rescued from this difficult situation by his old supporter and beloved follower Saida, who cared for him in his last years of his life and ultimately married him.

On 10 December 1997, Banishevskiy died after a third diabetic coma attack, having also suffered pancreatitis.

His grandson Ali Babayev Banishevskiy began to play in the youth team of Neftchi in 2011 when he was 15. Currently, Ali plays professional football in Azerbaijan's First Division for Shusha FK.

The home stadium of FK Masallı football club was renamed to Anatoliy Banishevskiy Stadium in his honor.

Other achievements

• Grigory Fedotov club's member: 38th with 115 goals
• List of the bests 33: 2nd (1965, 1966, 1967)