2024-09-08 05:42:31
Today, the Russian “Sport Express” referred to Aras Ozbilis, the midfielder of “Spartak” Moscow and the Armenian national football team, talking about his family and explaining why he has a Turkish surname.
He was born in Turkey, grew up in Holland, lives in Russia, plays for the Armenian national team. This is the path of the young football player Aras Ozbilis. Not long ago, yerkir.am found out the history of the surname of the famous football player throughout Europe, and it turned out that his family went through a dramatic path.
The great-grandfather of the football player is the only one of the 9 brothers who managed to stay alive during the genocide of Armenians carried out in Ottoman Turkey at the beginning of the last century. In the struggle for survival, the orphaned child had to hide in the basement, it was difficult to find food for himself, and what is the most important thing, he did not say a word in Armenian. But at the same time, he did not forget his native language.
According to Araks Marutyan, lecturer of the Institute of Physical Culture of Armenia, he talked to himself. Years later, that very circumstance determined many things in his life. The Treaty of Lausanne not only legally confirmed the fall of the Ottoman Empire and the new borders of Turkey, but also forced the authorities to restore the rights of Armenians. In order to receive compensation, it was necessary to present a document proving the origin.
The boy, who was left without parents for 9 years, certainly had no documents, did not even remember how to spell his last name. Only by speaking in pure Armenian was he able to convince the officials that he was Armenian. He was given a new surname, Ozbilis, which means “preserved personality” or “the one who preserves himself”. According to family legend, Aras’ great-grandfather received a small compensation and a piece of land. He gave all the money as charity to a Turk who hid him from the Turkish authorities for a long time and thus helped him to survive.
Decades later, 21-year-old Aras, choosing between the national teams of Armenia and Holland, gave preference to the team of his historic homeland. At that time, many did not understand the talented midfielder who could play in one of the strongest teams in Europe and even participate in the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. to the championship.
“It was a difficult choice,” admitted the football player himself. “They tried to convince me to leave the Armenian national team.” In particular, my coach Ronald de Boer, who entrusted me to play in the main team of “Ajax”, always said that I should persevere and then I will be able to be included in the Dutch national team. He even invited me to the youth team, in which I went on a tour to the USA. But when we returned to Amsterdam, I decided to play for the team of my ancestors’ homeland. That’s what my heart decided. To be honest, I wasn’t sure I was doing the right thing. The Dutch team is one of the best in the world, and I consciously gave up on them. However, now I am happy that I made such a decision. I feel good. And it cannot be explained by ordinary logic.”