Abışov earns Azerbaijan accolade
Monday, December 31, 2012
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Xäzär Länkäran FK's defensive midfielder Ruslan Abışov has pipped Cavid Imamverdiyev and Vugar Nadirov to finish first in the vote for the Azerbaijan player of the year.
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Ruslan Abışov has been voted the player of the year in Azerbaijan, the Xäzär Länkäran FK defensive midfielder finishing ahead Cavid Imamverdiyev and Vugar Nadirov in the annual poll.
Abışov collected 290 points in the vote conducted by newspaper Football +. Neftçi PFK midfielder Imamverdiyev finished second with 222 points, striker Nadirov of Qarabağ FK third with 115 votes. A total of 146 people took part in the vote, which has been run since 1999, including the coaches and captains of all 12 Azerbaijani Premier League clubs, club officials, former players and journalists.
Abışov started the year at Neftçi and joined Xäzär in July, finding the net in the UEFA Europa League first qualifying round win against JK Nõmme Kalju the same month as his new club won through a round of European competition for the first time. Abışov also scored against Israel in September to help Azerbaijan collect their first point in 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifying.
"Last year I finished third, so I set a goal to be the best in 2012," Abışov told UEFA.com having been named the best player of the national team earlier this month. "I will do all I can to help Xäzär and Azerbaijan."
