Ahmet Ataýew

Ahmet Didarovich Atayev or Ahmet Didarowiç Ataýew (Turkmen Cyrillic: Ахмет Дидарович Атаев; ; born 19 September 1990) is a Turkmen professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ýokary Liga club FK Arkadag and the Turkmenistan national team.

Club career He started playing football at 6 years old. His first coach was Atamyrat Jumamuradov, in Youth sport school of Bagyr (Ahal Region).

He began his professional career in Ashgabat; from 2007 to 2010 he played for FC Talyp Sporty. As part of the team, he won the title of champion of Turkmenistan in 2014 and 2015, the 2015 Turkmenistan Cup, and the 2015 Turkmenistan Super Cup. At the end of the 2015 season, Ataýew was voted the best player of 2015 Ýokary Liga.

On 15 May 2019, Ataýew signed by Malaysian Premier League club Sabah FA as one of two imports to fill their vacant player slots. Ataýew became part of the team squad that emerged as the champion of 2019 Malaysia Premier League since the team last lifted their old first division title back in 1996, subsequently qualifying them into the 2020 Malaysia Super League. In the team match against Kelantan FA, Ataýew notably scored the winning goal from a ball given by his teammate through corner kick in the 58th minute.

International career №19 Ataýew at 2019 AFC Asian Cup with Turkmenistan national football team. He played for the Olympic team of Turkmenistan in the Asian Football Confederation's Pre-Olympic Tournament.

Ataýew made his senior national team debut on 27 January 2012, in a friendly match against Romania. The captain of the national team from 2015.

In December 2018, he was included in the squad for the 2019 AFC Asian Cup. On 9 January, in the first match of the group stage against Japan, he scored in the 79th minute from a penalty kick. Turkmenistan ultimately lost the match 2–3.

International goals Scores and results list Turkmenistan's goal tally first.

No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 9 January 2019 Al Nahyan Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates 2–3 2–3 2019 AFC Asian Cup

Honors

Altyn Asyr Ýokary Liga: 2014, 2015 Turkmenistan Cup: 2015 Turkmenistan Super Cup: 2015

HTTU Ýokary Liga: 2013 Turkmenistan Cup: 2011

Sabah Malaysia Premier League: 2019

FK Arkadag AFC Challenge League: 2024–25

Turkmenistan AFC Challenge Cup runner-up: 2012

Individual Best player of Ýokary Liga: 2015

State medals Medal For the love of the Fatherland (2025)