Best Striker of UCL Andriy Shevchenko Takes Helm of Ukrainian Football Association
On January 25th, the congress of the Ukrainian Association of Football (UAF) took place at the House of Football in Kyiv, where the primary agenda was the election of a new president. According to the UAF, the sole candidate for the position, Andriy Shevchenko, emerged as the head of the Association following the voting of delegates.
Shevchenko, hailed as the best striker in the Champions League, secured an overwhelming mandate, with 93 out of 94 delegates casting their votes in his favour. Interestingly, Shevchenko, who is also a congress delegate, abstained from participating in the voting. Additionally, it was announced that the current head coach of the Ukrainian national football team, Serhiy Rebrov, will assume the role of UAF vice president while concurrently holding his coaching position.
Renowned as one of Ukraine's most prominent athletes, Andriy Shevchenko served as a key ambassador for the country in the late 1990s and early 2000s, as reported by The Gaze. Beginning his illustrious career with FC Dynamo Kyiv under the guidance of legendary football coach Valeriy Lobanovskyi, Shevchenko quickly gained popularity in Europe in the late '90s. His stellar performances in the Champions League, including goals against formidable opponents like Barcelona and Real Madrid, contributed to his acclaim.
Moving to Italy's AC Milan in 1999, Shevchenko became a leader in the star-studded team, winning the Champions League and rightfully earning the Ballon d'Or in 2004. In 2005, he played a significant role in Ukraine's qualification for the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, serving as the team captain and finishing as the top scorer with two goals.
A defining moment in Shevchenko's football career was his decisive double in Ukraine's first match against Sweden at the 2012 UEFA European Championship on June 11, where Ukraine secured a hard-fought 2-1 victory.
Post-retirement, Andriy Shevchenko has taken on coaching roles, leading the Ukrainian national team to the quarterfinals of the 2020 European Championship. He has also managed Italy's Genoa and, since May 2022, serves as the inaugural ambassador for the "United24" project, aimed at garnering global support for Ukraine. As of September 2023, Shevchenko holds the position of an external advisor to the President of Ukraine.