Rinat Dasayev grew up near the city of Astrakhan. His father worked at a fish plant, and his mother as a traffic controller at a river port. Dasayev graduated from a local teachers’ training college and even tried working as a physical education teacher in a school, when he was invited to play in Moscow. His mother was initially against his going to Moscow, but she finally agreed. This is how the career of the legendary goalkeeper of Spartak Moscow and the national team begun.

Dasayev differed a lot from his predecessors by his physique. Being 1.90 meters tall, and weighing only 73 kilograms, Dasayev, some felt, was not built for playing football, that he was too fragile. But Dasayev replied: “Some think that I should add another five kilograms. Maybe so, but at least I”m light on my feet, which makes it easier for me to reach under the crossbar.’