Andriy Shevchenko

Andriy Mykolayovych Shevchenko, also known as Andrii Mykolaiovych Shevchenko, is a Ukrainian politician, former professional football player, and manager. Born on September 29, 1976, he played as a striker for Dynamo Kyiv, AC Milan, Chelsea, and the Ukraine national team. Shevchenko is widely regarded as one of the greatest strikers of all time and is considered Ukraine's greatest-ever player. He holds the record for being the all-time top scorer for the Ukraine national team with 48 goals.


Shevchenko's football career began at Dynamo Kyiv, where he won five consecutive league titles before joining AC Milan. In Milan, he became one of Europe's top strikers and achieved success, including winning the UEFA Champions League in 2003. He secured various league and cup titles in Ukraine, Italy, and England. Shevchenko was a Champions League runner-up in 2005 and 2008 and received several accolades, such as being named in the FIFA World XI for 2005 and winning the Ballon d'Or in 2004. FIFA also included him in the list of the top 100 greatest living footballers during its 100th-anniversary celebration.


In his international career, Shevchenko captained Ukraine to the quarter-finals in their first FIFA World Cup appearance in 2006 and participated in UEFA Euro 2012 on home soil. He is ranked as the seventh top goalscorer in all UEFA club competitions with 67 goals. With 175 goals for Milan, he is the club's second-most prolific player in history and holds the record for the all-time top scorer in the Derby della Madonnina, the derby between Milan and Inter Milan, with 14 goals.


Shevchenko transitioned from football to politics in 2012, standing for election to the Ukrainian Parliament. Although his party failed to win parliamentary representation, he returned to football in 2016 as the assistant coach of the Ukraine national team. In July 2016, he was appointed Ukraine's head coach, leading the team to the quarter-finals at UEFA Euro 2020. Shevchenko became the Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine in November 2022 but left the committee in January 2023 due to disagreements with the election results of its new President, Vadym Gutzeit.


Andriy Shevchenko initially failed a dribbling test for admission to a specialized sports school in Kyiv. However, he caught the attention of a Dynamo Kyiv scout while participating in a youth tournament, leading to his recruitment by the club. Four years later, Shevchenko played for the Dynamo under-14 team in the Ian Rush Cup , finishing as the tournament's top scorer and receiving a pair of boots from Liverpool's Ian Rush as a prize.


Shevchenko made his professional debut at the age of 16, coming on as a substitute for 12 minutes in a 0–2 home loss to Chornomorets-2 Odesa on May 5, 1993. He was a substitute for the last six home games of the 1992–93 Ukrainian First League but did not score. In the 1993–94 season, playing in the second tier, Shevchenko emerged as the top goal scorer for Dynamo-2 with 12 goals and made his first appearance in the starting XI. He scored his first goal against Krystal Chortkiv in a home 1–1 draw on October 7, 1993, and recorded his first hat-trick against Artania Ochakiv in a home game on November 21, 1993.


Staying with Dynamo-2 until the end of 1994, Shevchenko made his Vyshcha Liha debut for the Dynamo squad on November 8, 1994, in an away game against Shakhtar Donetsk at the age of 18. He became a national champion and won the cup with Dynamo in his debut season. Shevchenko secured his second league title the following season, scoring 6 goals in 20 matches. In a UEFA Champions League away match against Barcelona in the 1997–98 season, he scored a hat-trick in the first half, contributing to Dynamo's 4–0 victory. Shevchenko's 19 league goals in 23 matches and six Champions League goals in ten matches, including a hat-trick against Real Madrid, marked a prolific 1998–99 season. He won the domestic league title with Dynamo in each of his five seasons with the club.


Andriy Shevchenko was renowned as a fast, hardworking, and versatile striker with a prolific goalscoring record. While typically deployed as an out-and-out striker in a central role, he showcased adaptability by playing anywhere along the front line. His playing style allowed him to operate in a free role, attacking from the left wing and making runs into the penalty area with speed and intelligent movement off the ball.
At times, Shevchenko even took on wider positions, serving as an outright winger on the left flank, especially earlier in his career and during his second stint with Dynamo Kyiv in his later years. He demonstrated effectiveness in various attacking positions, including occasional appearances on the right side.


Shevchenko's strengths included his proficiency from set-pieces and accuracy as a penalty taker. As a strong and physical striker, he possessed exceptional positional sense, adept movement off the ball, and clinical finishing ability inside the box. Known for his composure in front of goal, he had a powerful and accurate shot with both feet, from various distances on the field. Despite not engaging frequently in aerial duels, he demonstrated heading ability when needed.
Pundits often compared Shevchenko to fellow former Milan striker Marco van Basten. While he may not have been as elegant as the Dutch forward, Shevchenko showcased good technique. Beyond being a prolific goalscorer, he contributed to his team's play by participating in link-up play and providing assists for his teammates.


The couple has four sons: Jordan, born on 29 October 2004; Kristian, born on 10 November 2006; Alexander, born on 1 October 2012; and Rider Gabriel, born on 6 April 2014. Shevchenko marked the birth of his first son, Jordan, by scoring against Sampdoria the following day, with Milan winning 1–0. Silvio Berlusconi, the owner of Milan and former Prime Minister of Italy, is the godfather of Shevchenko's first son, Jordan. After the birth of Kristian, Shevchenko scored in a 4–0 Chelsea victory over Watford, and he and his teammates celebrated with the popular "rock-the-baby" goal celebration as a tribute.

References

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