Role Footballer Height 1.74 m | Years Team Weight 71 kg Name Anatoliy Banishevskiy | |
![]() | ||
Full name Anatoliy Andreyevich Banishevskiy Date of birth (1946-02-23)23 February 1946 Date of death 10 December 1997(1997-12-10) (aged 51) Died December 10, 1997, Baku, Azerbaijan |
Anatoliy banishevskiy azeri football legend
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 of Russian descent 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. 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.
Contents
- Anatoliy banishevskiy azeri football legend
- Anatoliy banishevskiy the player 9 aztv 2007
- Early years
- Neftchi Baku
- International career
- Coaching career
- Later life and death
- Personal life
- Honors
- References

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.

Anatoliy banishevskiy the player 9 aztv 2007
Early years

Banishevskiy 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.
Neftchi Baku

Upon making the club roster, Banishevskiy immediately transformed into one of the electrifying young superstars of his generation, capturing the nation with his vision, speed and the finishing touch. Banishevskiy maintained his status of a premier Azerbaijani player, and remained very influential football figure throughout his entire football profession and beyond.
International career

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.
Coaching career
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.
Later life and death
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.
Personal life
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.
Honors
The home stadium of FK Masallı football club was renamed to Anatoliy Banishevskiy Stadium in his honor.
Other achievements