Former Indian soccer workforce coach Rustam Akramov, who launched the legendary Bhaichung Bhutia to the worldwide sport in 1995 and took the Blue Tigers to their highest-ever FIFA rating, has died at his native place in Uzbekistan.
He was 73.
The legendary Uzbek coach died on February 15, in response to the official web site of the National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan.
We mourn the passing away of former India National Team head coach Rustam Akramov. May his soul relaxation in peace 🙏#RIP pic.twitter.com/leIhDqWrNr
— Indian Football Team (@IndianFootball) February 20, 2022
“The National Olympic Committee of Uzbekistan, the Council of Sports Veterans of Uzbekistan express their condolences to the family and friends of Rustam Akramov in connection with his death,” the Uzbekistan Olympic physique mentioned.
During his profession, he made an enormous contribution to the event of Uzbek and former Soviet soccer.
The All India Football Federation (AIFF) condoled the dying of Akramov who was accountable for the nationwide workforce from 1995 to 1997.
Rustam Akramov handed away in the present day. His stint in mid Nineteen Nineties as coach of Indian workforce was blended. Most important success was successful gold in SAF Games #IndianFootball https://t.co/1q6Q5FgtAZ
— IndianFootball_History (@IndianfootballH) February 20, 2022
“We mourn the passing away of former India National Team head coach Rustam Akramov. May his soul rest in peace,” the AIFF’s official Twitter deal with mentioned.
Akramov didn’t have any main trophy to point out for throughout his quick tenure with the Indian workforce however it was he who gave then Sikkimese teenager — Bhaichung Bhutia — his debut in a Nehru Cup match in opposition to Thailand in March 1995.
Akramov helped Bhutia to form up as a striker as an alternative of taking part in as an attacking midfielder at membership stage. The Indian workforce underneath Akramov was filled with nice gamers like IM Vijayan, Carlton Chapman and Bruno Coutinho, apart from a younger Bhutia.
No surprise the Akramov-coached Indian workforce rose to 94th within the February 1996 FIFA rankings — its highest ever. The workforce got here near this achievement in 2017 and 2018 when it rose to 96th.
Born in 1948 at a spot close to Tashkent, Akramov was a legend in his nation as he was the primary coach of the Uzbek nationwide workforce after independence. During his two-year tenure from 1992-1994, the Uzbek nationwide workforce gained the Hiroshima Asian Games (1994) and the Central Asian Championship.
For his nice contribution to the event of Uzbek soccer, he was awarded the Shukhrat medal and the title of Honored Coach of the Republic of Uzbekistan by the federal government.
In 1970, he graduated from the soccer division of the Uzbek State Institute of Physical Culture as a coach. He additionally accomplished postgraduate research on the Moscow Institute of Physical Culture.
He had coached golf equipment in Algeria and was on the teaching employees of the nationwide workforce of that nation. He was additionally the coach of the Tashkent Pakhtakor and youth workforce of Moscow CSKA. He later labored as AFC technical director and FIFA teacher.
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With inputs from TheIndianEXPRESS
