Oleksandr Zavarov

Oleksandr Anatoliyovych Zavarov, also spelt Aleksandr Anatoljević Zavarov (Template:Lang-uk, Template:Lang-ru) – (born 26 April 1961 in Luhansk, Ukrainian SSR) is a former Ukrainian football midfielder and the former head coach at FC Arsenal Kyiv. In 1986, he was named the best footballer in the USSR and Ukraine and the 6th best footballer in Europe according to France Football. Zavarov is widely regarded to be among the greatest footballers in the history of the USSR and Ukraine, and in 2000 he was included in the Ukrainian Team of The Century according to a poll by the Ukrainsky Futbol weekly.

In 2015, he refused to join the Ukrainian army in the Donbass conflict, as he did not want to see war where he grew up.<ref>http://www.gazeta.ru/sport/news/2015/02/15/n_6927205.shtml</ref>

Club career

Zavarov started off his career in his home city of Zorya Luhansk. He played in the USSR Premier League for Zorya Luhansk (1977–79, 1982), and also SKA Rostov (1980–81). In 1983–88, he played for the Soviet-Ukrainian giants, Dynamo Kyiv, with whom he won the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1985–86, scoring in the final itself. Zavarov later played for Juventus between 1988 and 1990, winning the Coppa Italia and the UEFA Cup under Dino Zoff, wearing the number 10 shirt which had formerly belonged to club legend Michel Platini,<ref name="La chimera di Magrin">Template:Cite web</ref> although he later switched to the number 9 shirt.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He subsequently transferred to Nancy in 1990, where he remained for five seasons, before finally moving to Saint-Dizier in 1995, retiring after three seasons, in 1998.

International career

Zavarov had 41 caps for the USSR, scoring six goals including two in the World Cup finals in 1986 and 1990. He also played in the Euro 1988 in which the USSR team were runners-up.

Style of play

A creative, quick, agile and skilful midfielder,<ref name="Zavarov, un talento rimasto incompiuto">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="Il trampolino di lancio Zavarov, Rooney, Villa quando l' Euro fa volare">Template:Cite web</ref> Zavarov was primarily known for his excellent technical ability, two-footedness, stamina, and tactical intelligence, and was usually deployed as an attacking midfielder or as a supporting striker, although he was also capable of playing as a deep-lying playmaker, due to his versatility, vision, and long passing accuracy.<ref name="Gli eroi in bianconero: Aleksandr ZAVAROV">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="NUOVI MAESTRI ALL' OPERA">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="PARLACI DI TE UOMO DI KIEV">Template:Cite web</ref> Zavarov played a key role in Valeri Lobanovski's successes with Dynamo Kyiv, and his dribbling skills and playmaking ability led his Dynamo Kyiv coach to compare him to Diego Maradona.<ref name="Gli eroi in bianconero: Aleksandr ZAVAROV"/><ref name="NUOVI MAESTRI ALL' OPERA"/>

Despite the talent he demonstrated with Dynamo Kyiv and at Euro 1988,<ref name="Il trampolino di lancio Zavarov, Rooney, Villa quando l' Euro fa volare"/> and his reputation as one of the greatest players to ever come out of the Soviet Union,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> his time with Juventus was less successful, and he failed to live up to initial expectations in Serie A.<ref name="Zavarov, un talento rimasto incompiuto"/><ref name="LO CHIAMAVANO SACHA IL BIDONE">Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="FATEMI TORNARE NELLA MIA KIEV">Template:Cite web</ref> Due to his inconsistent displays and his lack of accuracy in front of goal,<ref name="FATEMI TORNARE NELLA MIA KIEV"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> he drew criticism from the press, who also singled out his surprisingly poor work-rate and movement off the ball;<ref name="PARLACI DI TE UOMO DI KIEV"/><ref name="LO CHIAMAVANO SACHA IL BIDONE"/> he was also accused of lacking confidence,<ref name="FATEMI TORNARE NELLA MIA KIEV"/> and of not being an effective assist-provider for the team.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Because of his timid character, it was also argued that he lacked the necessary leadership skills to carry the team,<ref name="FATEMI TORNARE NELLA MIA KIEV"/> and fill the void left by Michel Platini in the advanced midfield playmaking role during the post-Trapattoni crisis.<ref name="La chimera di Magrin"/>

Managerial career

Zavarov began his coaching career with Saint Dizier CO as a player-coach. He had a short spell as a head coach of FC Wil in 2003–04, however because he lacked the necessary UEFA licence, he was given the position of director of football with the club. He is currently manager of Ukrainian team Arsenal Kyiv.

Career statistics

International goals

#	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1.	9 June 1986	Estadio Sergio León Chavez, Irapuato, Mexico	Template:Fb	2–0	Win	1986 FIFA World Cup
2.	29 April 1987	Republican Stadium, Kiev, Soviet Union	Template:Fb	2–0	Win	UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying
3.	3 June 1987	Ullevaal Stadion, Oslo, Norway	Template:Fb	0–1	Win	UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying
4.	31 March 1988	Olympiastadion, West Berlin, West Germany	Template:Fb	2–4	Win	Four Nations Tournament
5.	19 October 1988	Republican Stadium, Kiev, Soviet Union	Template:Fb	2–0	Win	1990 World Cup qual.
6.	18 June 1990	Stadio San Nicola, Bari, Italy	Template:Fb	0–4	Win	1990 FIFA World Cup
Correct as of 21 May 2016<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Honours

Club

Dynamo Kyiv

Winner

• USSR Premier League (2): 1985, 1986
• USSR Cup (3): 1981, 1985, 1987
• UEFA Cup Winners Cup: 1985–86

Juventus

Winner

• Coppa Italia: 1989–90
• UEFA Cup: 1989–90

International

Soviet Union

• UEFA European Football Championship runner-up: 1988

Individual

• Soviet Footballer of the Year: 1986
• Ukrainian Footballer of the Year: 1986
• Ukrainian Team of the Century (poll by “Ukrainsky Futbol”): 2000 <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
• UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1985–86 top scorer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Ballon d'Or

• 1986 – 6th
• 1987 – 17th
• 1988 – 8th
• 1989 – 23rd

External links

• Player profile and statistics at Ukrsoccerhistory.com
• Template:KLISF
• Profile of Zavarov on Arsenal Kiev official site