# Elman Tagaýew

Elman Tagaýew (born June 2, 1989 in Kyzyl-Arvat) is a Turkmen professional football midfielder of Azerbaijani descent. He plays for Ýokary Liga club FC Ahal and the Turkmenistan national team.

## Biography

Tagaýew was born in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan to an Azerbaijani family. He began playing football at eight years old. In 2014, he married his wife Arina. In 2015, they had two twin sons named Alan and Ali.

## Career
### Club

Tagaýew started his career at Aşgabat before going on trial with Khazar Lankaran in early 2012. During his trial with Khazar Lankaran he appeared as a substitute, and scored, against Turkmenistan. Khazar declined to sign Tagaýew due to the players attitude during a game. Tagaýew went on to sign for AZAL in the summer of 2012, but only made 8 appearances before leaving in March 2013.
In June 2017, Tagayev signed a one-year contract with newly-promoted Azerbaijan Premier League team Səbail FK. Tagayev was released by Sabail FK at the end of the 2017–18 season.

### International

Elman Tagaýew played for the Turkmenistan national under-23 football team at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou.
Tagaýew's first international goal came against Nepal in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup group stage. As part of the national team of Turkmenistan, he became the finalist of the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup.

## Career statistics
### Club

    As of match played 20 May 2018
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | National Cup | National Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| AZAL | 2012–13 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 8 | 0 |
| Aşgabat | 2013 | Ýokary Liga | | | | | – | – | – | – | | |
| Aşgabat | 2014 | Ýokary Liga | | | | | – | – | – | – | | |
| Aşgabat | Total | Total | | | | | - | - | - | - | | |
| Altyn Asyr | 2014 | Ýokary Liga | | | | | – | – | – | – | | |
| Altyn Asyr | 2015 | Ýokary Liga | | | | | 0 | 0 | – | – | | |
| Altyn Asyr | 2016 | Ýokary Liga | | | | | 3 | 0 | – | – | 3 | 0 |
| Altyn Asyr | Total | Total | | | | | 3 | 0 | - | - | 3 | 0 |
| Andijon | 2016 | Uzbek League | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 12 | 0 |
| Altyn Asyr | 2017 | Ýokary Liga | | | | | 1 | 0 | – | – | 1 | 0 |
| Səbail | 2017–18 | Azerbaijan Premier League | 25 | 2 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 9 | 2 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 45 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | - | - | 51 | 3 |

### International

Turkmenistan national team :
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2012 | 4 | 1 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 |
| 2017 | 1 | 0 |
| 2018 | 0 | 0 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020 | — | — |
| 2021 | 1 | 0 |
| 2022 | 2 | 0 |
| 2023 | 5 | 0 |
| 2024 | 3 | 2 |
| Total | 20 | 3 |
Statistics accurate as of match played 11 June 2024

### International goals

| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
| 1. | 12 March 2012 | Dasarath Rangasala Stadium, Kathmandu, Nepal | Nepal | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2012 AFC Challenge Cup |
| 2. | 1 June 2024 | Sense De Luxe Hotel Stadium, Antalya, Turkey | Greenland | 1–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |
| 3. | 1 June 2024 | Sense De Luxe Hotel Stadium, Antalya, Turkey | Greenland | 2–0 | 5–0 | Friendly |

## Honours

Turkmenistan
* AFC Challenge Cup runner-up: 2012
Individual
* Football Federation of Turkmenistan Footballer of the Year: 2021, 2024
* Ýokary Liga Top Goalscorer: 2021 (10 goals)