Tofik BakhramovIn 2004, director of the Republican stadium Akif Ismayilov initiated a project competition for preparing the monument of Tofig Bahramov. Mammad Nijat Salahov`s project was triumphant. Inauguration of the statue took place on 13 October 2004 during the group stage of the World Cup qualifying match between Azerbaijan and England. It has been included in the list of world football"s most bizarre monuments. The reaction of US-based "Bleacher Report" to the monument is particularly interesting. The edition had emphasized characteristic running of Bahramov along the pitch’s side-line with the flag in hand during 1966 World Cup Final. Author Emma Bus writes: "I would not find it surprising if Bahramov was awarded with “Order of the Knight" by the Queen, for services to England football”.