Sport24.az
Sarkhan Aghayev, Executive Vice President of AFFA, attended the press conference of Rui Jorge, head coach of the U-20 national team. Sport24.az reports that the federation official expressed his views on the appointment of the Portuguese specialist:
- In 2027, Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan will host the U-20 World Championship. Certain organizational work has been carried out regarding the major event. Last week, the appointment of the head coach of the U-20 team was formalized. Rui Jorge will lead this national team. Certain information about him has been provided on the AFFA website. Rui has a good football career, having played 45 games for the Portuguese national team. He has been the head coach of the Portuguese U-21 team for nearly 15 years. We believe that his great football experience will have a positive impact on our players, he will be able to pass on his experience to our players, and our team will perform successfully at the World Championship. Rui Jorge has two assistants who will also live in Azerbaijan. Both are Portuguese. One of the local and young coaches will also be offered to our team. We will not be able to provide detailed information about that coach. Information about the appointment of the local coach will be provided in the near future.
- What goals have you set for Rui Jorge? Is it true that his salary is 500,000 euros?
- We do not disclose the terms of contracts with coaches to this day.
- Were there other candidates for the head coach position?
- On February 19, a meeting of the AFFA Executive Committee was held and the issue was considered on several candidates. When Jorge's candidacy was approved, legal processes were carried out after the meeting. The Executive Committee had instructed that the legal processes be resolved. The most important point when appointing was experience. Rui Jorge has great experience... He has worked for the Portuguese national team for many years. These issues were taken as the basis.
- What is the main goal set for the head coach? To perform successfully at the World Championship, or to provide players for the future of the main national team?
- Now the main goal is to form a team that will perform successfully in the group stage. At least our team should be able to fight against strong teams. That is what we mean by successful performance. I don't know what will happen in the future. We are currently only talking about the World Championship. The goal is only the goals set for the WC.
- When will the opening match of the World Championship take place? Will it be in Baku?
- Negotiations are still ongoing. We are in contact with FIFA and the Uzbekistan Football Federation. The months are clear, but the dates are not. It should be held from September to October, the tournament should be 21-23 days.
- As the host, we are obliged to play decently. In such a case, can a massive naturalization process take place? In the past, a large number of Turkish players were recruited from Germany to the national teams.
- I can say unequivocally that it will not happen on a massive scale. It may happen that the football player is of Azerbaijani origin or one of his parents is purely Azerbaijani. He must be a football player born and raised in Azerbaijan. This is the main condition. The head coach noted that, in any case, the naturalized football player must have a very strong desire to play in our national team. We must feel that he has a desire. But there will be no massive naturalization. That is, 17 out of 20 football players will not be naturalized.
