UAF honors the memory of Valerii Lobanovskyi

13.05.2020 14:01

Photo by Volodymyr Rasner

18 years ago, on May 13, 2002, the heart of one of the most outstanding coaches of Ukrainian and world football - Valerii Lobanovskyi - stopped.

Today, representatives of the Ukrainian Football Association, football players and coaches visited the grave of the Legend at the Baykovo Cemetery and gathered near the monument to the Metro near the stadium of FC Dynamo (Kyiv).

In particular, UAF first vice-presidents Vadym Kostyuchenko and Oleh Protasov, the coach of Ukraine U-16 Serhii Nagornyak and the coach of Ukraine veterans team among Vladyslav Vashchuk came to honor the bright memory of Valerii Lobanovskyi.

Photo by Volodymyr Rasner

Representatives of the football community laid flowers and wreaths at Lobanovsky's grave, mentioned various facts from Metro's coaching biography and moments of personal communication with him.

"Lobanovsky's name has been one of the symbols of all Ukrainian football, its outstanding victories and achievements for many years. Valery Vasilyevich was a mentor, teacher and inspirer for many generations of football players. He was an incredible man and a professional, whose experience and football heritage remain relevant today. We are grateful and always remember our Metro with great warmth, "said Oleh Protasov, a former ward of Lobanovsky.

Photo by Volodymyr Rasner

"Valery Vasilyevich left a huge football legacy for Ukraine and the whole world. It is natural that today the achievements of the great Lobanovsky can be seen in the game and organization of the training process of many outstanding coaches in different countries. Lobanovsky remains in our hearts, and his genius will forever remain an integral part of football in Ukraine and the world, "said Vadym Kostyuchenko.

Photo by Volodymyr Rasner

It is symbolic that the famous coach actually went to eternity from the coaching bench, getting to the hospital in Zaporizhzhya during the Dynamo Kyiv's game against local Metalurh.

In addition to Dynamo, with which he became the eight-time USSR champion, five-time Ukrainian champion and won two Cup Winners' Cups (1975, 1986) and the UEFA Super Cup (1975), Valery Lobanovsky led the Ukrainian national team in 2000-2002. He managed to bring the Ukrainians to the playoffs of the World Cup in 2002, but, unfortunately, he was not destined to go with the blue and yellows to the World Cup. On the way of the Ukrainian team became the future silver medalist of the world championship - the national team of Germany.

Photo by Volodymyr Rasner