Kairat created a sensation by overcoming one of the continent’s traditional clubs, Celtic, in the Champions League play-off stage. A major architect of this success, Rafael Urazbakhtin, will become the first Kazakhstani coach to be officially registered in the Champions League group stage. Interestingly, before obtaining his coaching license, Urazbakhtin worked as a shoe salesman.

His career path recalls that of legendary Italian coach Arrigo Sacchi from the 1990s. Sacchi, who went on to conquer the heights of world football by building one of the greatest teams in history with Milan, also sold shoes before starting his coaching career. After finishing his playing days in the lower leagues, Sacchi worked in his father’s small shoe factory and store in the city of Forlì. Sacchi himself has often joked in interviews: “I had no career as a footballer, I was a shoe salesman. People used to ask: how can this guy coach Milan?”

He would spend part of the day selling shoes, and the rest coaching amateur teams. Thanks to his passion for tactics and his innovative vision, he gradually climbed the ranks from the lower divisions.