48 years ago Oleg Blokhin was recognized as the best football player in Europe

30.12.2023 15:00

In 1975, Oleg Blokhin became the first Ukrainian - the owner of the "Golden City'яча ».

On December 30, 1975, the world saw the New Year's issue of France Football, in which the results of the vote to determine the best football player in Europe were announced. The undoubted victory in the anniversary, 20th poll was won by the striker of Kyiv "Dynamo" and the USSR national team Oleg Blokhin (122 points), who defeated such world football stars as the German Franz Beckenbauer (42 points) and the Dutchman Johan Cruyff (27 points) in the voting. . 

That year, Dynamo led by Valery Lobanovsky won the Cup Winners' Cup and won the UEFA Super Cup, twice beating the famous Bayern Munich. Oleg Blokhin became the first Ukrainian football player to win the Golden Ball. Later, his success was repeated by Igor Belanov (recognized as the best player in Europe in 1986) and Andrew Shevchenko (winner of the "Golden Ball" in 2004).

Now Blokhin and Belanov work in the structure of the Ukrainian Football Association, which adds authority to Ukraine in the eyes of the international community. Oleg Blokhin is the co-chairman of the UAF National Teams Committee and the co-chairman of the UAF Professional Football Strategic Development Council, and Ihor Belanov is the co-chairman of the UAF Professional Football Committee.