Ex-Footballer of the Year heads FC Moscow
Published 14 December, 2007, 17:47
Former Ukraine boss Oleg Blokhin has been named the new coach of FC Moscow.
The ex-soviet striker Oleg Blokhin, once a Footballer of the Year in Europe, replaces Leonid Slutsky who was sacked by the club at the end of last season.
Then FC Moscow came fourth in the league and reached the final of the Russian cup. But the management wants greater success and has given Blokin a three-year contract.
Blokhin quit as Ukraine coach last week after failing to secure a new contract there. And he doesn’t rush into promising great things at his new club just yet.
“I used to be very ambitious as a player and I'm still very ambitious as a coach, but to make any predictions I have to see the team at the pre-season training sessions first,” Blokhin told RT.
Nevertheless FC Moscow’s President Yuri Belous is convinced Blokhin will bring success to the Russian Premiership side.
“There is only one task for us – becoming champions and performing well in European cups. But we face tough competition and have to work hard to succeed. I look to efficient cooperation with the new head coach on achieving this,” Belous said.
A tall order, but FC Moscow believe they've got the man who can bring them to within reach of their first ever trophy.
Magnificent striker turned aspiring coach
But looking at Blokhin’s CV – you can see why many have big expectations.
During his playing days he was top scorer in the Soviet Union league. He also netted 42 times for his country.
1975 was his pinnacle as a striker – leading Dynamo Kiev to their first UEFA Cup Winner's Cup. Blokhin also helped his side overcome Bayern Munich with three goals to lift the Super Cup. So he was named European Footballer of the Year.
After retiring he transferred his drive and determination into coaching.
Having taken charge of the Ukrainian national team in October 2003, Blokhin promised to guide his country to the World Cup 2006 for the very first time in history. And kept his word.
Under his leadership Ukraine was the first European nation to qualify for the tournament and made it to the quarter-finals losing to eventual champions, the Italians.
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