Oleh Kuznetsov Explained

Oleh Kuznetsov
Upright:1.1
Fullname:Oleg Wladimirowitsch Kuznetsow -
Oleh Volodymyrovych Kuznetsov
Height:1.84 m
Birth Date:1963 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Magdeburg, East Germany
Position:Central defender
Youthyears1:1971–1980
Youthclubs1:SDYuShOR Desna
Years1:1981–1982
Clubs1:Desna Chernihiv
Caps1:86
Goals1:0
Years2:1983–1990
Clubs2:Dynamo Kyiv
Caps2:181
Goals2:5
Years3:1990–1994
Clubs3:Rangers
Caps3:35
Goals3:1
Years4:1994–1995
Clubs4:Maccabi Haifa
Caps4:6
Goals4:0
Years5:1995–1997
Clubs5:CSKA-Borysfen Kyiv
Caps5:11
Goals5:1
Totalcaps:247
Totalgoals:7
Nationalyears1:1986–1991
Nationalteam1:USSR
Nationalcaps1:58
Nationalgoals1:1
Nationalyears2:1992
Nationalteam2:CIS
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:0
Nationalyears3:1992–1994
Nationalteam3:Ukraine
Nationalcaps3:3
Nationalgoals3:0
Manageryears1:1998–2001
Managerclubs1:CSKA Kyiv (assistant)
Manageryears2:2001–2002
Managerclubs2:Arsenal Kyiv
Manageryears3:2002–2004
Managerclubs3:Dynamo Kyiv (assistant)
Manageryears4:2002–2007
Managerclubs4:Ukraine (assistant)
Manageryears5:2008
Managerclubs5:Moscow (assistant)
Manageryears6:2010
Managerclubs6:Ukraine U17
Manageryears7:2011
Managerclubs7:Ukraine U18
Manageryears8:2012
Managerclubs8:Ukraine U19
Manageryears9:2013
Managerclubs9:Ukraine U16
Manageryears10:2014
Managerclubs10:Ukraine U17
Manageryears11:2015
Managerclubs11:Ukraine U18
Manageryears12:2016
Managerclubs12:Ukraine U19
Manageryears13:2017
Managerclubs13:Ukraine U16
Manageryears14:2018
Managerclubs14:Ukraine U17
Manageryears15:2019
Managerclubs15:Ukraine U18
Manageryears16:2020
Managerclubs16:Ukraine U19
Manageryears17:2021–2023
Managerclubs17:Ukraine U16
Manageryears18:2023
Managerclubs18:Ukraine U19

Oleh Volodymyrovych Kuznetsov (born as Oleg Wladimirowitsch Kuznetsow in Germany) (Ukrainian: Олег Володимирович Кузнєцов) (born 22 March 1963) is a Ukrainian football coach and former professional player. He won domestic honours in the Soviet Union with Dynamo Kyiv (as well as the UEFA Cup Winners Cup in 1986), in Scotland with Rangers, in Israel with Maccabi Haifa and in Ukraine with CSKA-Borysfen Kyiv. Kuznetsov won 58 caps for the USSR national team between 1986 and 1991, being suspended for the final of UEFA Euro 1988 then was also selected for its successors, the CIS (five caps) and Ukraine (three caps).

Club career

Desna Chernihiv

Kuznetsov was born in Magdeburg, East Germany into a military family stationed in East Germany. His family returned to their native Ukraine and the town of Chernihiv when his father retired from the army and got a job as an engineer at a local radio plant. His mother worked as an engineer in a construction and design institute, from where she retired. Kuznetsov started playing when he was eight years old with local football schools before signing for the city's professional club Desna Chernihiv in 1980, continuing to improve his technique and tactics under the guidance of coach Yukhym Shkolnykov. He made 86 appearances for Desna and helped the team to finish twelfth in the Soviet Second League (Zone 5) in the 1981 season,[1] improving to second place in the 1982 season (Zone 6).[2] [3] [4] [5]

Dynamo Kyiv

After a successful 1982 season, Kuznetsov moved to Dynamo Kyiv[2] where he remained until September 1990. He won the Soviet Top League in 1985, 1986 and 1990, the Soviet Cup in 1985, 1987 and 1990, and the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup in 1985–86. He became regarded as one of the best defenders in Europe in the second half of the 1980s, known for his strong ball-winning skills and long-range shooting power.

Rangers

Kuznetsov transferred to Scottish club Rangers in 1990. He injured his cruciate ligament in his second game (against St Johnstone)[6] and did not play again for a full year. New defensive players were brought in during his layoff such as Dave McPherson, and he was never a first choice again.[7] A year after his arrival another Ukrainian, his former Dynamo Kyiv teammate Oleksiy Mykhaylychenko, joined the club, but they only played in 20 matches together across three seasons.[8] He moved on in 1994 after a four-year stint badly hampered by injuries, with Basile Boli coming to Glasgow to take his place in the squad.

Maccabi Haifa

After being released by Rangers, Kuznetsov played for one season in Israel with Maccabi Haifa, winning the 1994–95 Israel State Cup and finishing runners-up in the 1994–95 Liga Leumit.[9]

CSKA-Borysfen Kyiv

Kuznetsov returned to Ukraine to finish his career with CSKA-Borysfen Kyiv. In 1995–96 he won the Ukrainian Second League to achieve promotion to the Ukrainian First League.[10] [11]

International career

He appeared in 58 games for the USSR national team (one goal), five times for the interim CIS after the fall of the Soviet Union and three times for the independent Ukraine side. He claimed a silver medal with the USSR at Euro 1988,and also appeared for them at the 1986 and 1990 FIFA World Cups;[12] On 9 September 1990, he scored his only goal for the USSR in a 2–0 win against Norway in UEFA Euro 1992 qualifying at the Central Lenin Stadium in Moscow;[13] subsequently he played for the CIS at Euro 1992 Finals.

Coaching career

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 (with CSKA Kyiv becoming Arsenal Kyiv in the meantime).

He moved to the coaching staff at Dynamo Kyiv and later had several roles with the Ukraine national team, including as a member of the staff with the senior squad that reached the quarter-finals of the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, and taking charge of various youth age group teams over the next decade.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[14]
ClubSeasonLeagueCupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Desna Chernihiv1981Soviet First League420000000420
1982Soviet First League440000000440
Dynamo Kyiv1983Soviet Top League110000000110
1984Soviet Top League152300000182
1985Soviet Top League291500000341
1986Soviet Top League272200000292
1987Soviet Top League243516000354
1988Soviet Top League261410000302
1989Soviet Top League294506000404
1990Soviet Top League202510000253
Rangers1990–91Scottish Football League2000000020
1991–92Scottish Football League180001000190
1992–93Scottish Football League9000000090
1993–94Scottish Football League6100000061
Maccabi Haifa1994–95Liga Leumit6000200080
CSKA-Borysfen Kyiv1995–96Ukrainian Second League183000000183
1996–97Ukrainian First League111001000121
Career total337202931700037423

Honours

Player

FC Desna Chernihiv

Runner-up 1982

Dynamo Kyiv

1985–86

1985, 1986, 1990

1985, 1987, 1990

Rangers

1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1993–94

1990–91, 1992–93, 1993–94

1991–92

CSKA Kyiv
Soviet Union

Runner-up 1988

Individual

Ballon d'Or

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Чемпионат СССР 1981 . www.footballfacts.ru/ . 18 December 2020.
  2. Web site: From Desna to Dynamo. Players who have become legends . www.fcdynamo.kiev.ua . 14 June 2020.
  3. Web site: 1983-1991 . www.desna.football/ . 2 September 2020.
  4. Web site: Oleg Kuznetsov, central defender of Dynamo Kiev . www.www.cnopm.ru/ . 2 September 2020.
  5. Web site: Чемпионат СССР 1982 . www.footballfacts.ru/ . 18 December 2020.
  6. https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12420628.alexei-takes-the-mikhailichenko-the-reluctant-rangers-runner-predicts-his-former-club-will-have-to-work-hard-for-success/ Alexei takes the Mikhailichenko The reluctant Rangers runner predicts his former club will have to work hard for success
  7. https://www.fitbastats.com/rangers/player.php?playerid=1342 (Rangers player) Oleg Kuznetsov
  8. https://www.fitbastats.com/rangers/player3.php?playerid=1342 (Rangers player) Kuznetsov, Oleg: Managers & Teammates
  9. Web site: Israel State Cup 1994-95 . . 2 September 2020.
  10. Web site: Чемпионат Украины 1995/96 . www.ukranianfootball.narod.ru . 2 September 2020.
  11. Web site: Сезон 1995-1996 . www.uafootball.net.ua . 18 December 2020.
  12. Web site: Oleh Kuznetsov . https://web.archive.org/web/20080228025108/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/statisticsandrecords/players/player=166396/index.html . dead . 28 February 2008 . FIFA.com . 7 September 2015.
  13. Web site: Oleg kuznetsov - International Appearances. RSSSF. 3 January 2015.
  14. Web site: Кузнецов Олег Владимирович . www.footballfacts.ru . 18 December 2020.