Football player Andriy Shevchenko: biography, personal life, sports career

Andriy Shevchenko is one of the most famous players of Ukraine and the former Soviet Union. In his best football years, he starred in the most famous clubs in Europe, and there was one of the leaders.

Shevchenko made an invaluable contribution to the development of football in Ukraine, because he is the only player in the post-Soviet space, which in the 21st century has become the owner of the most prestigious individual awards - the "Golden Ball". Currently, he is the head coach of the Ukrainian team. At this post he was appointed July 15, 2016.

Childhood and adolescence

Andrei Shevchenko was born September 29, 1976 in a small village called Dvirkivshchyna, located in the Kiev region. Father of the future football star Nicholas G. saw his son as a general. he was in the military and wanted to Andrew went down the same path. Andrei's mother, Lyubov, worked as a teacher in a kindergarten for 20 years. She told me that even with three years of little Andrew fell in love with football.

Andriy Shevchenko has been very active and agile as a child, constantly went bruised. As often happens, he began coming forward with the goalkeeper position. Then he moved to the defense and only after a while began to attack. Shevchenko became the first coach Alexander Shpak, who saw the game 9-year-old Andrew for the school team and immediately took him to the "Dynamo". So begins the path of a great football player.

The first steps in football. "Dynamo" (Kiev)

At the age of 16, and in the spring of 1992, Shevchenko was the player of "Dinamo 2". But how long Andrew did not stay there, because a year later trainer of Kiev "Dynamo" Jozsef Szabo took the talented young man in his team.

He made his debut Shevchenko for the senior team in 1994, 8 November, in the game against Donetsk "Shakhtar". In his first season the striker has scored 3 goals in 23 matches, but one of them - in the game of the group stage of the Champions League against the "Bavaria" in Munich. The following season, Shevchenko has gradually become a leader of the club, despite his young age. From Kiev "Dynamo" Andrew first became a national champion and won twice in the Cup.

The popularity of football

Fame striker was not for appearances in the Cup and the championship of Ukraine, but for the game in the Champions League. At that time, under the leadership of a brilliant coach Valeriy Lobanovskiy "Dynamo" a real threat to the entire European football. In the season 1997/1998 the young man draws a hat-trick at the "Camp Nou" in Spanish "Barcelona" gates. The name of this guy - Andriy Shevchenko. Footballer gained popularity just after the game, which is still remembered by loyal fans of the club.

A year later, the team Valery Lobanovsky reach the semi-finals of the Champions League, which gives shame all the same "Bavaria" on aggregate. On the way to the semi-finals of "Dynamo" was able to beat Madrid "Real". All goals scored Spaniards Shevchenko.

This year was a turning point in the career of a football player. After this great season ranks of the Italian "Milan" joins a new striker - Andriy Shevchenko. Biography of him as a great player starts in Kiev, and finds its continuation in Italy, where Shevchenko became a real hero.

The time spent in the "Milan"

Andriy Shevchenko is the best fit to play, "Milan" scheme and in the first match in Serie A, scored a goal. In his debut season, Andrew was the best scorer of the championship, scoring 24 goals. At the same time, he designed the first hat-trick in Italy, scoring three goals in the Roman "Lazio". The following seven seasons was like a fairy tale. "Milan," Shevchenko won all possible trophies, with the status of being one of the team leaders.

Fans adored Ukrainian football club and gave him the nickname "The King." In season 2002/2003 it was he who scored the winning penalty against "Juventus", bringing "Milan" victory in the most prestigious club tournament. A new winner of the "Golden Ball" was named in 2004 - Andriy Shevchenko. Footballer before been nominated for this award, but was twice third.

There were bad times for Shevchenko "Milan". In 2005 in the final of the Champions League against the "Liverpool" the striker has not realized the decisive penalty, and the Italians have lost the title. But do not blame for it hang on the Ukrainian striker, because the best goals of Andriy Shevchenko had scored it in games for "Milan".

The game of "Chelsea"

When Shevchenko was 30 years old, he moved in 2006 to London "Chelsea". Many experts believe that this was his fatal mistake, because after the transition Shevchenko became a completely different player. Some believe that the whole thing in permanent injuries, but most still leaning toward another embodiment.

The fact that the owner bought Shevchenko "Chelsea" Roman Abramovich, without asking the team's head coach. As you know, Jose Mourinho is not one of those who allow this attitude to yourself. Most likely, he just did not expect it, and so all it happened.

In the first match of the "Chelsea" Shevchenko scored, but then began a long decline. Soccer player injured his back and suffered a very serious operation. However, after the recovery, he still failed to win a place in the "aristocrats". Andriy Shevchenko played very rarely, mostly in the FA Cup matches.

End club career

In 2008, after two unsuccessful seasons in England, Andrew decides to return to the "Milan" on the rights of one year lease with option to purchase. For a year he played 26 games, which has managed to distinguish only twice. The club decided not to buy a football player and Shevchenko returned to the "Chelsea", where he stayed for a year contract.

On the expiry of the contract Andriy Shevchenko returns to his hometown club - "Dynamo" (Kiev). From 2009 to 2012 he played regularly, often scoring. In total, he spent three seasons 56 games in which scored 23 times. In the summer, at the European Championship in 2012, a great player finished career as a professional player.

Symbolically, it is here, in Kiev, hung up his boots one of the greatest players of the national team of Ukraine Andriy Shevchenko. His biography as a footballer began and ended in the same place.

The national team of Ukraine

Glorious career in the national team began to Andrew 19 years old when he was first called upon to defend the country's colors. In total, Shevchenko played for the national team of Ukraine 111 matches, losing on this indicator only Anatoliy Tymoshchuk (144 matches). All matches conducted in a T-shirt Ukraine, Andrey made its mark 48 times, which is an absolute record.

Unfortunately, for a long time, Ukraine was unable to overcome the qualifying rounds to the big tournaments. Three times the team conceded in the play-offs (1998, 2000, 2002). Shevchenko scored in all the matches, but the overall level of the team is not allowed to break into the European and World Championships.

Everything changed in 2006 when the team still managed to get into the final round of the World Championship. The main hero of the selection was Andrei Shevchenko. Ukrainian team at the tournament has achieved considerable success, reaching the quarter-final stage. Here a team of Oleg Blokhin lost to eventual winners of the championship - the Italian national team. The final tournament in the team for Shevchenko became the home European Championship in 2012. In the first match he scored twice, making Ukraine won a strong-willed victory over Sweden. Last game for the national team for Andriy Shevchenko was the match against England at the same tournament. Shevchenko had a small problem with health, and so spent is not the most outstanding match. On this, his career in the national team over.

Family and personal life of a football player

Personal life football has never been the subject of heated debate. About striker can say that he is an exemplary husband and family man. Andriy Shevchenko family consists of 5 members: wife and four sons. In July 2004, Andrew married American model Kirsten keyway, which is two years younger player.

They have been together for 12 years and raising 4 sons: Jordan, Christian, Alexander and Ryder Gabriel. It is noteworthy that the godfather of the eldest son of Shevchenko Jordan could become a well-known Italian politician Silvio Berlusconi. However, this did not happen, because according to the laws of the Catholic Church godfather can not be divorced people. Andriy Shevchenko still maintains friendly relations with Silvio Berlusconi, who until recently was the owner of the football club, "Milan."

Interesting Facts

A few interesting facts from his personal life and career of the great football player:

• During the second joining, "Milan" Andrew chose number 76, the year of his birth, as his favorite "Seven" was busy.
• All the time spent in "Milan," Shevchenko was able to score 175 goals, which is the second highest in the history of the club.
• In addition to a dizzying football career, Andrew has to its credit the "silver" in the Ukrainian championship golf.
• Andrew managed to show himself as an actor. He starred in several documentaries and feature films.
• After football Shevchenko went into politics and even in the composition of the party "HC" participated in the parliamentary elections.
• Shevchenko is the "Hero of Ukraine" is the highest award of the country.