Five of the greatest Ukrainian footballers of all time

Amidst the tragic events currently unfolding in Ukraine, we take a look at the five greatest Ukrainian footballers ever to lace a pair of boots.

Russia’s invasion of its western neighbours has seen an overwhelming reaction in the world of football. Teams and players alike from all corners of the world have come out to support Ukraine at this tragic time.

The Eastern European country has always been known by English football fans as a national side that is incredibly tough to play.

Read: Five of the best curling shots in football.

As a result, we have decided to celebrate five of the very best Ukrainian legends.

Andriy Shevchenko

When many football fans think of Ukraine, Shevchenko is the first name that comes to mind. A hard-working striker who thrived under the bright lights of AC Milan, Shevchenko was a prolific goalscorer in his day.

One of his stand-out moments that fans everywhere will never forget came in the Champions League final in 2003. In a tie between Milan and Juventus that ended 0-0 after 120 minutes, the game was decided on a penalty shoot-out.

After seeing teammates Clarence Seedorf and Kakha Kaladze miss their penalties, Shevchenko had the chance to win his side the competition, which he did by sending Gianluigi Buffon the wrong way.

The former Ukrainian captain found the back of the net 173 times across 296 appearances for Milan. As an out-and-out striker, Shevchenko played a role many football fans miss in today’s game.

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Oleg Blokhin

Many may only know Oleg Blokhin as a football manager. His presence was feared on the pitch, too, with fans on edge whenever he got sight of goal.

The now 69-year-old scored 266 goals in his 582 appearances for Dynamo Kyiv. As well as possessing an outstanding goalscoring record, Blokhin was similarly known for his lightning pace as a winger and a forward.

His dazzling footwork is on full display in the video below. See for yourself, it would match that of any creative player in today’s game.

The former talent later hung up his boots in 1990 to pursue a career in coaching. Having managed Ukraine, Moscow, and Dynamo Kyiv, Blokhin has a number of honours as a player and coach to his name. He even won the Ballon d’Or in 1975.

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Andriy Yarmolenko

A name that will be more familiar to modern football fans is West Ham United’s Andriy Yarmolenko.

Adorning the number 7 shirt, the 32-year-old cost the Hammers £17.5 million when he signed in 2018. His best form however was seen back in Ukraine, representing Dynamo Kyiv, for whom he scored 137 goals.

His one-and-only season at Borussia Dortmund was less successful. However, he scored a stunning solo goal against Spurs which Dortmund fans remember fondly.

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Yevhen Konoplyanka

A player that has made headlines all across Europe, Yevhen Konoplyanka currently represents Cracovia in Poland. In his sparkling career, he has featured for the likes of Sevilla, Schalke 04, and Shakhtar Donetsk.

Linked with a £16 million move to Liverpool back in 2014, Konoplyanka impressed in a European World Cup qualifier, where his spectacular strike helped Ukraine secure a 1-1 draw against England. His blistering right-footed strike was too much for any goalkeeper to handle.

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Anatoliy Tymoshchuk

A former player who recently began his managerial career as assistant manager for Zenit Saint Petersburg, Tymoshchuk was a phenomenal defensive midfielder in his day. His glittering career speaks for itself, with credentials in the name of Shakhtar Donetsk, Zenit, and Bayern Munich.

Tymoshchuk shared a trait that all five of these players possessed in their playing days – tenacity. The former player never reaped the headlines like the other names, yet his on-field performances were just as crucial.

Most importantly, the now 42-year-old is the most capped player for the Ukrainian national team. He made a total of 144 international appearances, 33 more than second-placed Shevchenko.

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