In the beginning of the 80th Shevchenko was noticed by Dynamo youth football school coach Olexandr Shpakov. He noticed that Andriy was very fast and persistent boy. Really the talented teenager was very lucky to have met such an experienced specialist being a kid. Shpakov put Shevchenko on the position of striker which was a correct decision. Andriy always worked very hard to achieve his aim.
But after Chernobyl disaster Shevchenko stopped attending training sessions. Shpakov came to his place and talked to Andriy’s father who wanted his son to become a military.
After that outspoken chat Shpakov persuaded Shevchenko’s father in pure football talent of his son.
In a rocket way
After graduation from Kyiv Dynamo youth football academy Shevchenko started playing for Dynamo-2 at once and then – for the main squad.
Andriy made his debut for Dynamo on the 5th of November 1994 in the Ukrainian national Cup home match against Hazovyk Komarno (2:0). On the 8th of November 1994 he played in Ukrainian Premier League home match against Shakhtar (3:1). On the 1st of December 1994 Andriy scored his first goal for Dynamo in the match against Dnipro Dnipropetrovs’k. On the 23rd of November, being 18 years old he played in UEFA Champions League group stage match against Spartak in Moscow (0:1). On the 7th of November 1994 Shevchenko scored his first goal in UEFA Champions League match against Bayern Munich (1:4).
Later he became a real star and helped Dynamo to take five national championships (1995-1999) and four Ukraine Cups. On the 5th of November 1997 Shevchenko scored 3 goals in UEFA Champions League away match against Barcelona (4:0).
In 1999 Andriy moved to AC Milan. Playing for this Italian club he scored 176 goals, won the Champions League and got Ballon d'Or as the European Footballer of the Year 2004. After that he played for Chelsea London and came back to Milan for a while.
120,000. Is it few or many?
On the 28th of August 2009 Shevchenko came back to Dynamo Kyiv. Such news made 120,000 fans visit the official web site of our club. 3 days later Shevchenko scored his first goal after return in the home match against Metalurh Donetsk (3:1). After that match Andriy told that he was happy to play for his native team again.
On the 4th of November 2009 Shevchenko scored in UEFA Champions League group stage home match against Inter Milan (1:2). Despite problems with his back Andriy played in 32 matches what season for Dynamo and scored 16 goals.
Before Andriy’s 35th birthday the president of Dynamo Igor Surkis told that he welcomed Shevchenko's return to Kyiv as anybody else.
In spite of his age Andriy Shevchenko was really a real dressing room man and great motivator as well as real pro example for his younger Dynamo team mates.
True legend
Shevchenko is a Ukraine legend. He made his International debut in 1994/1995 season and netted his first goal against Turkey in 1996. Even though Ukraine failed to qualify for 2002 World Cup Andriy found the net 10 during qualifiers.
Sheva was the captain of Ukraine side reaching the World Cup in 2006 for the first time and led the National team to the quarterfinal there.
Even though he scored five goals in Euro 2008 qualification matches, Ukraine did not qualify for the tournament. Shevchenko has scored four goals for Ukraine in 2010 World Cup qualification matches.
Than came the domestic for Ukraine Euro 2012 finals. He waited for this moment for five long years. He wasn’t supposed to start; he squandered the only chance in a rather poor first half; he was screaming with pain after being hit hard on his knee. And at times, he looked frustrated.
But in the end it was a night of glory for Shevchenko, as he netted two sumptuous headers to give Ukraine their maiden European Championship win in their first-ever game in the tournament. Blokhin said he had a dream of Sheva scoring a brace in the match against the Swedes, but Andriy himself didn’t believe it was possible. In the end, the dream came true.
Soon after, the 35-year-old has opted to bring an end to his illustrious playing career following Euro 2012, with two tournament goals in the 2-1 win against Sweden the striker’s final memorable moment.
«Perhaps, I will shock everyone: my future has nothing to do with football. It is related to politics», he told the Kyiv Dynamo club’s official website.
All in all for Dynamo Kyiv Sheva played 249 gamed and scored 124 goals while Internationally Andriy represented our nation 111 times, netting 48 goals.
