Oleg Kuznetsov
Encyclopedia
Oleh Volodymyrovych Kuznetsov – or Oleg Wladimirowitsch Kuznetsow (in German) (born 22 March 1963 in Magdeburg
, East Germany) is a former professional Ukrainian
football
player. Kuznetsov had started playing football when he was 8 years old. However, it wasn't until he was 20 when his talent was noticed by the Soviet giants at that time, Dynamo Kyiv.
A stopper, Kuznetsov stayed with Dynamo until September 1990, when he transferred to Scottish club Rangers F.C.
in the prime of his career. He injured his cruciate ligament in his second game (against St Johnstone) and did not play again for a full year. The time out meant that new players had been brought in and he was never a first choice again. After a four year stint, hampered by injuries, he moved on to the Israel
i team Maccabi Haifa
to play for one season. He returned to Ukraine to finish his career with CSKA-Borysfen Kyiv.
Kuznetsov retired in 1997. He appeared in 63 games for the USSR
/CIS
national team (1 goal), and 3 times for the Ukraine
side after the fall of the Soviet Union
. He was a silver medal winner with the USSR
team at the 1988 UEFA European Football Championship
. He also represented the USSR at the 1986
and 1990 FIFA World Cup
s, and the CIS at the 1992 UEFA European Football Championship
. A six-time domestic champion (3 with Dynamo Kyiv and 3 with Rangers), and a four-time domestic cup winner (3 with Dynamo Kyiv and 1 with Rangers). He won the UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1986, and was a European Cup
semi-finalist in 1987 with Dynamo Kyiv. He was in 11th place in the European Footballer of the Year
award in 1988, and in 17th place in 1989.
Kuznetsov began coaching in 1998 at the last club he played for professionally, CSKA Kyiv. Starting out as an assistant coach he became head-coach for the 2001–2002 season. He moved to the coaching staff at Dynamo Kyiv and is currently on the coaching staff of the Ukraine
national team. As coach, he was part of the Ukraine
national team that reached the quarter-finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup
in Germany.
Magdeburg
Magdeburg , is the largest city and the capital city of the Bundesland of Saxony-Anhalt, Germany. Magdeburg is situated on the Elbe River and was one of the most important medieval cities of Europe....
, East Germany) is a former professional Ukrainian
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player. Kuznetsov had started playing football when he was 8 years old. However, it wasn't until he was 20 when his talent was noticed by the Soviet giants at that time, Dynamo Kyiv.
A stopper, Kuznetsov stayed with Dynamo until September 1990, when he transferred to Scottish club Rangers F.C.
Rangers F.C.
Rangers Football Club are an association football club based in Glasgow, Scotland, who play in the Scottish Premier League. The club are nicknamed the Gers, Teddy Bears and the Light Blues, and the fans are known to each other as bluenoses...
in the prime of his career. He injured his cruciate ligament in his second game (against St Johnstone) and did not play again for a full year. The time out meant that new players had been brought in and he was never a first choice again. After a four year stint, hampered by injuries, he moved on to the Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
i team Maccabi Haifa
Maccabi Haifa F.C.
Maccabi Haifa Football Club is an Israeli football team from the city of Haifa, a section of Maccabi Haifa sports club. The club has won 12 championships, 5 State Cups and 4 Toto Cups...
to play for one season. He returned to Ukraine to finish his career with CSKA-Borysfen Kyiv.
Kuznetsov retired in 1997. He appeared in 63 games for the USSR
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
/CIS
CIS national football team
The CIS national football team represented the Commonwealth of Independent States, a regional confederation formed by 12 of the 15 newly formed sovereign states that emerged out of the break-up of the Soviet Union between 1990 and early 1992...
national team (1 goal), and 3 times for the Ukraine
Ukraine national football team
The Ukraine national football team is the national football team of Ukraine and is controlled by the Football Federation of Ukraine. After Ukrainian Independence and breakaway from the Soviet Union, they played their first match against Hungary on 29 April 1992...
side after the fall of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. He was a silver medal winner with the USSR
USSR national football team
The Soviet Union National Football Team was the national football team of the Soviet Union. It ceased to exist after the break up of the Union...
team at the 1988 UEFA European Football Championship
1988 UEFA European Football Championship
The 1988 UEFA European Football Championship final tournament was held in West Germany. West Germany won the right to host the tournament with five votes ahead of a joint bid from Norway, Sweden and Denmark, who gained 1 vote, and a bid from England. It was the eighth European Football...
. He also represented the USSR at the 1986
1986 FIFA World Cup
The 1986 FIFA World Cup, the 13th FIFA World Cup, was held in Mexico from 31 May to 29 June. The tournament was the second to feature a 24-team format. Colombia had been originally chosen to host the competition by FIFA but, largely due to economic reasons, was not able to do so and officially...
and 1990 FIFA World Cup
1990 FIFA World Cup
The 1990 FIFA World Cup was the 14th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 8 June to 8 July 1990 in Italy, the second country to host the event twice. Teams representing 116 national football associations from all six populated...
s, and the CIS at the 1992 UEFA European Football Championship
1992 UEFA European Football Championship
The 1992 UEFA European Football Championship final tournament was hosted by Sweden between 10 and 26 June 1992. It was the ninth European Football Championship, which is held every four years and supported by UEFA. Eight national teams contested the championship, which was won by Denmark, one of...
. A six-time domestic champion (3 with Dynamo Kyiv and 3 with Rangers), and a four-time domestic cup winner (3 with Dynamo Kyiv and 1 with Rangers). He won the UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1986, and was a European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
semi-finalist in 1987 with Dynamo Kyiv. He was in 11th place in the European Footballer of the Year
European Footballer of the Year
The "", literally translated as "the golden ball" and often referred to as the European Footballer of the Year award, was an annual association football award. It was presented to the player who had been considered to have performed the best over the previous calendar year...
award in 1988, and in 17th place in 1989.
Kuznetsov began coaching in 1998 at the last club he played for professionally, CSKA Kyiv. Starting out as an assistant coach he became head-coach for the 2001–2002 season. He moved to the coaching staff at Dynamo Kyiv and is currently on the coaching staff of the Ukraine
Ukraine national football team
The Ukraine national football team is the national football team of Ukraine and is controlled by the Football Federation of Ukraine. After Ukrainian Independence and breakaway from the Soviet Union, they played their first match against Hungary on 29 April 1992...
national team. As coach, he was part of the Ukraine
Ukraine national football team
The Ukraine national football team is the national football team of Ukraine and is controlled by the Football Federation of Ukraine. After Ukrainian Independence and breakaway from the Soviet Union, they played their first match against Hungary on 29 April 1992...
national team that reached the quarter-finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup
2006 FIFA World Cup
The 2006 FIFA World Cup was the 18th FIFA World Cup, the quadrennial international football world championship tournament. It was held from 9 June to 9 July 2006 in Germany, which won the right to host the event in July 2000. Teams representing 198 national football associations from all six...
in Germany.