Development Director of Dynamo Maxim Radutsky spoke about the charity tour, his work, his favorite football player and his relationship with Igor Surkis and Mircea Lucescu.
— Maxim, tell us, when did Dynamo appear in your life? What was the first match of Kiev players you attended?
- I don't remember the first match I attended. But I remember for sure that since childhood I loved Dynamo. We are all professional fans and the expression "Dynamo hearts" is about our family, and far from being about one generation.
- Who was your idol at that time in Dynamo?
- I found the golden Dynamo in 1999. This team did not even notice Barcelona on the field. Shevchenko and Rebrov are just fantastic. I also note Shovkovsky. I also really liked the way Luzhny plays. It seems to me that in the current Dynamo Luzhny, Denis Popov reminds me of the way he plays. They are both textured.
— Now let's fast forward to the present times and talk about your work. You were the organizer of the Dynamo charity tour. What did you get out of your plans and what didn't?
- Unfortunately, because of the northern bastard [Putin], my restaurant business is not working now. I would then return to normal life. I would gladly help organize a tour for Dynamo for the sake of pleasure, and not because it is necessary.
The idea of charity matches belongs to Igor Mikhailovich Surkis and Mircea Lucescu, and I put it all on show business. As a result, we got a cool product that was seen by millions of viewers in more than a hundred countries around the world. This product has collected full areas in Berlin and Amsterdam and more than 13 stadiums in Europe.
Everton, Lyon, Galatasaray and Borussia (Dortmund), Antwerp, Basel, Dynamo (Zagreb), Legia... The team played charity matches in ten European countries: Germany, France, Poland, Switzerland, Turkey, Austria, Croatia, Estonia, England , Romania! Constant flights from point A to point C, through point B. By the way, the team sometimes had to fly low-cost to these matches.
Thanks to Match for peace, a stadium in Chernihiv is being rebuilt. Just recently, Dynamo together with Everton donated ten million for the construction of a hospital in Chernihiv. The tour also covered a large number of humanitarian needs.
I believe that we have 100 percent succeeded in our mission. I acted as the producer of the project, and financed the entire Dynamo club, because it is, after all, a costly story.
- Many Ukrainian stars performed on the Dynamo tour (Tina Karol, Nastya Kamensky, Dorofeeva and others). Were there any performers who refused to perform?
- Show business during the war became a single entity and the word "no" is practically not used. Now you can dial any artist if you are in this market and say: "I need your help."
No one will refuse, at least those with whom I work. These are Tina Karol, and Jamala, and Nastya Kamensky, Michel Andrade, Nadya Dorofeeva, Ruslana - the winner of Eurovision, the Verevka choir, Inna Gritsaenko, Skazka, Mint, Ekaterina Pavlenko and others. Okean Elzy in Berlin at a concert... even the world-famous Kadebostany and Craig Eddy, who sang in Liverpool, agreed to support us.
The only refusal was due to force majeure for a good reason. Tayanna couldn't come to us because of problems with her knee, she fell badly.
- In one of the interviews, you said that Milan and PSG refused to take part in charity matches due to the tight schedule. Were there other clubs that refused?
- There was no such club that would refuse to play with us. Perhaps Spartak (Moscow), but we didn’t offer them (laughs, - approx. A.P.). If they could be pulled out somehow... I think it would be interesting for us to get them with the whole team, at least for half an hour.
But seriously, we planned to play with PSG at the end of May. We even started to write a concept for their stadium. However, they had a hard time in the championship, they apologized and said that they would not be able to play.
Milan also had a tense fight in the championship. And so, Dynamo had no problems finding sparring partners. It was a unified impulse, where everyone, without exception, supported Ukraine, including club presidents and representatives of fan movements. In addition to the ultras of Legia and Borussia (Dortmund).
Surkis was surprised: “I mean, they transfer money directly to me?! The Embassy of Ukraine gave us the bills. Money is just leaving me directly”
- Legia fans staged protests, urging the club not to transfer money to the Surkis brothers, accusing them of a pro-Russian position.
- This is generally strange. Dynamo raised more than 200 thousand euros during the match with Legia, which were successfully transferred to the Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine.
Now for the match with Legia. Poland helps Ukraine a lot and it was important for Dynamo to hold the first charity match in Warsaw. However, the Legia ultras boycotted the game.
- How did Igor Surkis react to this?
— I remember that we stood with Igor Mikhailovich, and I told him about this situation. He was still surprised: “I mean, they transfer money directly to me?! The Embassy of Ukraine gave us the bills. Money is just leaving me directly.”
- As far as I understand, immediately after the tour you received an official position in Dynamo. Tell us who offered you a job at Dynamo?
- It was not after the tour, but at a time when I was with Dynamo for a long time in stressful conditions. You understand that the first team is not used to this. In terms of comfort, Dynamo has never been inferior to Barcelona or Real Madrid. I had to adapt to the stressful situation all together.
We used to stand at a rehearsal before a match and a new issue appeared that needed to be resolved. I won't say: "Sorry, I'm only doing the concert part." We worked and are working on all issues together, so several girls from my director's group are now working with me in Dynamo.
I was offered the position in June after the Dinamo U16 match against Marcet in Barcelona as part of a charity tournament. The match was very difficult technically. Although it was a junior team, we did not make any discounts, everything was real. The match was held at the stadium, not on the training field, there were invited artists.
After the game, we sat at the table with Igor Mikhailovich and Grigory Mikhailovich [Surkis]. I tell them: “I will, as long as you say. But I love Dynamo too much and don't want to leave here." They supported me. That's how I got a job at Dynamo.
It can be said that I went through the interview for three months, collecting stadiums and concerts, showing what benefit I can bring to the club.
— Tell us, what are your duties in the club?
— I work as a development director of Dynamo. My main KPI is brand strength, because the Dynamo brand represents Ukraine in the world. Plus, I am fully responsible for the charity wing. I also participate in both the preparation and organization of charity matches.
I don't go into sports. Mircea Mikhailovich [Lucescu] and I immediately discussed: I don’t get involved in football. Dynamo receives a lot of tasks, and each of them is performed by the one who can perform it more efficiently. At the moment, unfortunately, we are in such conditions.
- Describe how your working day goes in Dynamo.
— One day is not like another. It could be a thousand-mile drive, ten meetings, or an endless Zoom meeting. I go to bed as soon as the card falls, but I try not later than one in the morning, and I always get up at 7:30 without an alarm clock.
- Does your experience as a restaurateur somehow help in working at Dynamo?
— Of course, it helps: I eat professionally.
- Who from Dynamo can compete with you in this?
— Denis Boyko. In this he is an equal contender.
- In a recent interview, you said that you knew Boyko from your youth and you had many stories with him. Tell us the funniest one.
“Everyone has a cross to carry. I have this cross - Denis Boyko. Any story with Denis is the most fun. He and I spent a lot of time in a student company. There were bright years, there is something to remember. We had everything - parties during our school years at our parents' apartment, distribution of humanitarian aid during the war. We just didn’t have common women. He is married.
— How do you like working with Igor Surkis? What kind of leader is he?
- He is authoritarian, but what I like about him is that Igor Mikhailovich surrounds himself with people who are not weaker than him. Believe me, it is very difficult mentally. He listens to all proposals, draws conclusions and makes decisions for which he is responsible. Well, what do you want from a person who spent more than ten years next to Lobanovsky.
— Igor Surkis often rejects your ideas?
- It happened when I was very upset because he cut off several of my sentences. In the end, it turned out that he was right - the ideas were so-so and we found the best options. So in this regard, we listen to each other.
— How do you communicate with Mircea Lucescu?
— Mircea Mikhailovich is very cool. He is a leader and he has a core. When I am next to him, I directly feel his wisdom, it envelops me. This is a person who personally knows Pele and even exchanged T-shirts with him after the World Cup match. Lucescu is a titan of real football, which is for centuries.
- To what extent does he support progressive management issues?
Everything is connected in one way or another. After all, I can't do a charity match with a concert if the team doesn't come. It is clear that everything needs to be coordinated with Lucescu. And in order not to enter into verbal skirmishes with him and defend my opinion, I send a specially trained person to him, who knocks out a decision from him, from which it will be good for all of us. And Mircea and I just ask how each other is doing, drink coffee and talk about life.
- Which of the Dynamo football players is most likely to make contact, and who is more secretive and, perhaps, does not understand what football management is?
- Absolutely everyone makes contact, and everyone knows what football management is. Even in U16 everyone understands everything. Dynamo has a past that guarantees a great future.
— Very often, Dynamo is accused of poor work with fans. Once, the fans even held a protest rally by entering the stands wearing Nesenyuk masks and showing him red cards. How do you feel about such a performance?
- As a performance - cool and creative. I know that now there are certain difficulties between the club and the fan movement, but it's still Dynamo. It's like talking with your best friend, already dear people, but they just took it and quarreled. But sooner or later make up anyway, because you are close friends. It will all pass, I'm sure.
Especially now is the time when everyone should unite. Dynamo is now helping the front and ultras serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. I am sure that if Dynamo needs support, they will not refuse us.
- Do you have plans to organize a meeting between the brothers Surkis, Lucescu and ultras, who oppose the president, honorary president and head coach of the club?
“Perhaps this is the way out of the situation. I believe that only stupid people do not change their views. Maybe if we sit down and talk, then both sides will look at this situation differently. Ultras is Dynamo and we are Dynamo. Now we quarreled, but one day we will make up.
— Dynamo is often criticized for poor management. In one of the interviews, you said that he is not weak, but "special and classic." What did you mean by this?
- I'll give you an example. Everyone understands that advertising on TV is not as effective as targeted advertising on the Internet. And if you make high-quality advertising on TV and on the Internet, then it will be good advertising. The current management of Dynamo is fundamental. But if you put modern things on it, find a modern approach and modern vision, it will be an irresistible power. This is what we are doing right now.
- Do you agree with the expression that Shakhtar's management is head and shoulders above Dynamo?
— No, I do not agree.
- Do you think Dynamo's management is better than Shakhtar's?
- Yes.
- How?
- For me, anything with the Dynamo prefix is better than Shakhtar. Okay, let's be objective. There are two types of doing business - In-House and Outsourcing. Cool guys work for Shakhtar, a cool agency. They take the best in the market, this applies not only to management, but also to transfer policy. Dynamo has a different story. The Kyiv club took and raised Mikolenko.
- But then the miner sells his legionnaires for good money, but Dynamo does not.
- Wow, what about Yarmolenko, what about Mikolenko?
“It's more of an exception that proves the rule. If we take the total amount of sales of Dynamo and Shakhtar players over the past ten years, this is heaven and earth.
— Let's not measure the possibilities of clubs. Mikolenko went from the youth school of Dynamo to the main team of Everton. Yes, you can buy a ready-made player, like Shakhtar, but it is not a fact that he will take root and adapt in the club. It is not in vain that the Surkis run football schools of different ages - from youth to the first team. Imagine how many pupils this is. It costs, believe me, not cheaper than buying a conditional Brazilian.
— The miner also has children's schools and academies.
- Dynamo are better. And this is a fact that is confirmed on paper. Let me remind you that Dynamo Kyiv is in the top five clubs in Europe in terms of the number of pupils in the major leagues of European championships.
- To close this topic, would you rate the management of Dynamo and Shakhtar on a ten-point scale?
- I will rate both management as eights, because the approach is different.
- If you were offered a job at Shakhtar on more favorable terms than at Dynamo, would you agree?
- Rinat Leonidovich [Akhmetov] is not a poor man, but he is unlikely to consider it expedient to spend such money on me. Therefore, it is unlikely that they will make such an offer to me. And secondly, I am too devoted to Dynamo. This is family love since childhood. I am also devoted to the leadership of the club, because being here, I see what they are doing.
- You say that you will never go to Shakhtar. And how did you react to the fact that Lucescu moved from Shakhtar to Dynamo?
- I think that he is handsome, because this is an act. I can't do that, but he did. Lucescu is the core and power.
— Shakhtar's fans after that consider him a traitor.
- I believe that they still deep down continue to love him. He built a miner.
— The winter break is coming. Do you plan any activities during the break?
- Tonight I will have a meeting with one of the heads of the international department of Dynamo, where we will plan the winter calendar and hold charity matches. I think there will definitely be something.
- How do you think football should be developed now, when fans cannot go to stadiums because of the war, there are problems with electricity and not all matches can be watched?
- Now, during the war, as with business, the task is not to develop, but to preserve. Because if everything stops, then starting it will cost a titanic effort.
- In 2017, Shakhtar sealed the emblem of Dynamo in the conference hall at the V. Lobanovsky Stadium, hanging his own. How did you react to such an outburst of the Pitmen?
— We know how to wait and endure. We will show ourselves. It will be fun and creative. Dynamo will definitely answer. Maybe tomorrow, maybe after the war, maybe in 2025. Let the miner be in suspense.
Well, they temporarily hung up their emblem, what's wrong with that? It's like a war between Audi and Mercedes.
- Dynamo fans did not like such impudence of Shakhtar in Kyiv.
- I am a fan of Dynamo and came to the position at the club in order to give a worthy answer to Shakhtar after winning the war.
- In one of the interviews, they said that they were personally acquainted with Valery Lobanovsky. What impression did he make on you?
- I was 7-9 years old and it so happened that my family was related to football, so I saw Valery Vasilyevich with my own eyes. Lobanovsky is a legend. He is on a par with Pele, Maradona and Oliver Kahn.
What impression did he make on me? I was completely at a loss and fell into a stupor, and this despite the fact that at that time I did not know that a great football player and coach. I still carry this first emotion received from Lobanovsky, it only strengthened my love for Dynamo.
- In September, Dynamo presented a new uniform. Tell us how the equipment presentation went?
— How can a presentation be held during a war? We got a new uniform, took a couple of photos, shot a cool video, which we will publish soon.
- Is it possible that in the future fans will choose sketches of the Dynamo kit?
— Cool idea. I think it's possible. We will definitely take into account the opinion of the fans, because they are part of Dynamo.
— Are you getting high from the Dynamo game now?
— I would call it empathy. The high causes the understanding that this black streak will end soon and victories will come.
- What, in your opinion, lies behind the protracted crisis of Dynamo?
— There are a million different reasons that Igor Surkis voiced in an interview with your website. It will pass. I have nothing to add.
— What is your favorite Dynamo player at the moment?
— Vladislav Vanat. I think this is the future Shevchenko. If it doesn't go out now, it will become a superstar. In the future, it will cost at least 50 million. When the miner sells Mudrik, we will get the lowest value of Vanat.
- What is your goal in terms of management in Dynamo?
- I'll just get ahead of myself and list the brands so that you understand where Dynamo is heading. Apple, Tesla, Dynamo Kyiv, Mercedes-Benz and Honda. My goal is for this to be a line of equivalent brands.
- How difficult will this goal be to achieve and how much time do you need for this?
- If the bastard from the north lags behind us today, then in three years we will meet at the Metropolitan Opera at the presentation of a new form.
Andrey PISKUN
Вот только не видно прогресса, от этих делков!
Суркисы, вам цепляют лапшу, а вы на старости лет им до сих пор верите!