Yuri Kuznetsov, one of Neftchi's legendary footballers, opened his eyes to a family of footballers. His father, Konstantin Kuznetsov, was considered a strong player not only in Azerbaijan but also in the Caucasus in the early years of Soviet rule. He played for Progress, the strongest team at the time. After finishing his football career, he began his coaching career. Before the war, he even managed to work as a head coach of Neftyanik. Under his leadership, the team can become one of the winners of the Baku and Republican championships.

Jura was born in 1931 in Zabrat settlement. His childhood coincided with a period of severe war. In Baku, as in the rest of the country, the slogan "Everything for the front" was used. That's why football, in general, was a kind of sport in the background. However, despite the hardships of the times, small children, including Jura, roasted the ball in the dusty streets of Zabrat, among the dirty curls. He received his first football lessons and trainings in Zabrat.

Entering a vocational school in 1946, Jura became acquainted with "organizational football." Kuznetsov, who was taken to the youth team of the Reserve Labor Force, was admitted to the Physical Training College in Kirovabad in 1948. That is why he continues his football career in Kirovabad's Dinamo. He remained in Kirovabad (Ganja) until 1951, when he graduated from the technical school. After completing his education, he was drafted into the army. The military commissariat decides to send him to Turkmenistan. But at the last moment he was called to the team of the Baku House of Officers. At the same time, he does not stay away from football, he is engaged in his favorite profession. His game is already attracting the attention of experts.

On the eve of the beginning of the football season in 1952, a friendly match was organized between Neftyanik and the Baku national team to see the young talents. Yura is accepted to Neftyanik's team for his performance in this match. This is the beginning of his great football career. In his debut year, he can fully adapt to the team and is on the field in almost all games. Together with A.Mammadov, he can create an attacking tandem in the team. It is after his accurate passes that Alakbar can disappoint the opponent's goalkeepers. After A.Mammadov transferred to Moscow "Dynamo", he became the real leader of the team. Thanks to his ideal game, Neftyanik finished the first stage as a leader in 1954 and advanced to the final stage. In the final stage in Donetsk, the team took one place and remained one step ahead of the group of Strong. But Yura's game is not overlooked. After the final matches, the second coach of the USSR national team, K. Beskov, approached him and said that he had invited him to the national team. This was an unprecedented feat in USSR football. Kuznetsov was the first to enter the USSR national team from the B class. Only in the 70s of the last century, V. Kolotov, who played for Rubin (Kazan), was able to repeat this success. Only these two players were not invited to the national team and were invited to the national team.

However, he appeared in the national team against India in early 1955 and scored three goals in two games. As soon as the team returns from a trip to India, Moscow Torpedo first wants to see him in the squad. Even the then head coach of the team Y. Morozov and the curator of the Moscow trade union K. Yeliseyev got involved. However, Yura rejected these offers and returned to his native Baku. He started the 1955 season at Neftyanik. But other clubs did not give up. This is how the insidious policy of our "big brothers" works. In August 1955, a state telegram signed by the chairman of the USSR Sports Committee S. Romanov arrived in Baku. Kuznetsov is urgently needed to come to the capital to strengthen Dynamo (Moscow) in a friendly match against Milan. Thus, Jura went to Moscow to play against AC Milan, but as a result of fate, he transferred to Dynamo. There, they insist on Jura to agree to the transition. In fact, the head of the football department of the USSR Sports Committee, Antipenok, intervened and told Jura that everything would be within the rules, and that his transfer to Dynamo was for the national team. However, a telegram is sent to Baku, alleging that Kuznetsov was allowed to move to Dynamo in accordance with his personal application. Thus, in August 1955, Kuznetsov joined Dynamo Moscow, where he was able to demonstrate his skills.

Prominent Soviet writer Lev Kassil commented on his game: “Every pass of Kuznetsov is like the end of O. Henry's works. It can never be understood. " Indeed, the opponents could not understand Kuznetsov's passes. Only his teammates understood him and could stand in the right position at the moment of passing. The coaches didn't just play him as a striker, they pushed him back because of his unexpected passes. Jura was also able to pass to his teammates from this position.

After returning to Neftyanik in 1960, Yura returned to the team with his friend A.Mammadov. His experience is useful for his young players. Young players E.Makarov, V.Hajiyev, V.Brukhti, A.Banishevsky strengthened their games thanks to his experience.

Despite his advanced age, Kuznetsov was able to follow the young players of the team and could be a real leader. Considering all his football and human qualities, in 1962 he was named "Honored Master of Sports". He ended his football career in 1965 at Neftyanik. It will take him longer to return to the team. After finishing his football career, he started coaching. For this reason, he moved to Moscow. Only in 1988, he returned to Neftchi and became the head coach of the team. However, despite his father's work, his coaching career is not going well. It was during his tenure that the team left the Strong. However, despite this failure, he was always able to remain in the eyes of football fans as a virtuoso player of "Neftchi". Yuri Kuznetsov passed away on March 4, 2016.