Kavazashvili Anzor Amberkovich - Soviet professional ex-football player, who acted as a goalkeeper from 1957 to 1974. In 1967 he received the title of Honored Master of Sports of the Soviet Union of Socialist Republics. Two-time holder of the title "best goalkeeper of the Soviet Union." During his football career, he played for such Soviet clubs as Dynamo Tbilisi, Zenit Leningrad, Torpedo Moscow, Torpedo Kutaisi and Spartak Kostroma. From 1965 to 1970 he played in the USSR national team. Anzor’s statistics of performances at the international level are amazing (i.e., positive) - in 25 matches he only conceded nineteen goals. In the period from 1973 to 1986 he was engaged in coaching. He coached football teams such as Spartak Kostroma, the national team of Chad, the junior team of the RSFSR and the national team of Guinea. In 2000 he was awarded the Order of Honor for his merits in the development of domestic sports.
Biography of a Soviet football player
Anzor Kavazashvili was born on July 19, 1940 in the city of Batumi (Georgian SSR, USSR). As a child, the guy began to be interested in football - he went to local football matches with his father and dreamed of becoming a professional football player. After the matches, the guy was nowhere to be found, except on a mini-field near his own yard. Soon, the parents of Anzor Kavazashvili gave their son to the football school of Dynamo Tbilisi Club. The first training was unforgettable and interesting, but Anzor was a field player. Over time, the head coach of the junior team saw the goalkeeper talent in the guy and offered to train in the appropriate position. Anzor did not argue with the chief and dutifully took a place of honor in the penalty area. Who then knew that such a simple experiment would give birth to the legendary goalkeeper of the USSR.
Football career
In 1957, Anzor Kavazashvili became a professional footballer in the Dynamo Tbilisi club. He played two seasons in the “white and blue”, among them he took part in five matches of the domestic championship, in which he missed 9 goals.
In 1960, Kavazashvili received an offer from the Zenit Leningrad club, which he could not refuse. In the Leningrad club, Anzor immediately took the position of a key goalkeeper and played in thirty games during the season, in which he conceded 37 goals. At the end of the season, Kavazashvili was already negotiating with the Moscow Torpedo, with which he subsequently signed a multi-year contract. As part of the "car factory" he played until 1968. During this time, Kavazashvili held 165 matches and was awarded the title of "best goalkeeper of the USSR" in 1965. The fame of the great and talented goalkeeper spread throughout the Soviet Union. Many clubs dreamed of getting his candidacy. In 1968, together with Torpedo, became the owner of the USSR Cup.
Career for Moscow “Spartak”, second title of the best in the USSR and triumph in the Soviet football championship
In the period from 1969 to 1971, Anzor Kavazashvili played already in the Moscow “Spartak”, where he became the champion of the USSR in 1969. In the same year he again became the best goalkeeper of the Soviet Union. In total, as part of the “gladiators” he played 74 matches in which he conceded a total of 45 goals. Two-year statistics in Spartak were the best among all the other goalkeepers of the Soviet championship. In 1971 he became the owner of the USSR Cup.
Further career
In 1972, Kavazashvili signed an agreement with the Torpedo Kutaisi club, where he spent one season playing in thirty-one matches. The goalkeeper missed the 1972/73 season due to an injury, and after recovering, continued to play as part of the Spartak Kostroma club. Age already made itself felt, and a recent injury prevented all the best. In his last season, Anzor Kavazashvili played in only three matches. In the summer of 1974 he ended his career as a player. Throughout his football career, Anzor held 163 “dry” matches, thereby writing his name in the history of Soviet football.
