Oleg Blokhin - 70. Greatness in simplicity or Deputy Maitre

This morning, on the day of the 70th anniversary of Oleg Blokhin, I read on one resource: "The man is number two in the history of Dynamo." It is clear that number one is Valery Lobanovsky. But I thought to myself, would number one be number one if it weren’t for such a nominally “number two” on the field? First - a young, one of the best forwards in the world of that time, and then a wise veteran, not a veteran, but a mature football player who can ensure the implementation of your ideas on the field?

I found only the late Blokhin, and the early one, according to eyewitnesses, simply threw the ball and ran away from his opponents. As a matter of fact, now we are convinced of this on the numerously available chronicles ...

So, the “late Blokhin”, whom I had the good fortune to see at the stadium, made a magical impression on me, then a novice fan. He seemed to be above the whole team, appeared on those parts of the field and in those playing places where he was most needed. Sometimes he made partners, sometimes he reassured. And, when necessary, he went ahead himself and showed by his example what needs to be done. As, for example, in the return match with Utrecht, from which Dynamo began the path for the Cup Winners' Cup. After all, it was Blokhin who equalized the score two minutes after the missed goal.

For me, the greatness of Blokhin was most clearly captured in three matches.

The first, of course, was the final of the already mentioned Cup Winners' Cup, which Blokhin was not supposed to enter at all due to injury. From the autobiographical books of Oleg Vladimirovich himself, we later learned that before the game itself, he assured Lobanovsky that he could play. I think that 90% of the players now, citing an injury, would watch the match from the podium. And here the main player did not just say that he would play, but assured that everything was in general in order, and nothing hurt. Reassured the coach. And he scored the most important second goal, after a great combination, with a brilliant kick with his “non-native” right foot.

The second is the match of the 1/8 finals of the European Cup against Celtic, which took place on Blokhin's 34th birthday. And his magnificent goal from a free kick in the debut of this most difficult match and two assists, and in general the game itself, made the stingy Lobanovsky after the match say: “Usually we do not single out anyone from our team, but today I would like to make an exception for Oleg. ..”

What is the third match? It may seem surprising, but this is a game against Canada at the 1986 World Cup. Blokhin was not at the heart of the USSR national team either in the enchanting match against Hungary, or in the less bright one with the French team. In the match with Canada, Lobanovsky made a controversial decision, giving half of the team a rest before the 1/8 finals with Belgium, and Blokhin led the team with the captain's armband. Blokhin entered the field and scored. A real professional in his field who wanted to play, but does not play, who was given a chance to show his worth, who understands that this chance may be the last, who is eager to once again prove to everyone that he can and feels responsible to himself that he is obliged do it. Blokhin scored this goal at the cost of injury. He was already ready for Belgium and was on the bench, but Lobanovsky did not give him another chance at the Mundial... But on the other hand, Blokhin played the end of the triumphant season for Dynamo from "a" to "z", including the aforementioned match with Celtic...

And now about what I started with. It is with this synergy: the master is on the “coaching bridge”, his first assistant and conductor of ideas is on the field, in my opinion, the unprecedented success of Dynamo Kyiv in its Soviet history is connected. The greatness of the player on the field and the greatness of the coach on the bench. And, probably, that’s why not “man number one and man number two”, but everyone is number one in his place.

Blokhin decided to leave Dynamo (read from big football) after he failed to realize two correct chances in the return game against Rangers in the first European Cup match after the triumphant season of 1986, without scoring this saving goal in Glasgow. He realized that if he lowered the level of his game, the fans simply would not understand him. “I play for the people,” Blokhin often repeated.

This mixture of simplicity and grandeur in one person has allowed and allows him to feel confident always, at any time, under any authorities and regimes. This also helped him to achieve so far unattainable success at the head of the Ukrainian national team. Behind the simplicity of presentation lies a deep understanding of football, which is manifested even in separately thrown phrases. Well, a football player of this caliber cannot have any other understanding.

It seems to me that I remember all the anniversaries of Oleg Vladimirovich, starting from his birthday when he scored against Celtic (although then there was no round date). I myself am no longer quite a young man, but I expect that I will continue to celebrate these anniversaries, as well as the important dates of my relatives. Yes, what can I say, Blokhin is a member of the family of any Ukrainian football fan, not only Dynamo.

Artem ZHOLKOVSKY for Dynamo.kiev.ua