FC Dynamo Kyiv has always had reliable goalkeepers. They contributed to the success of the Kyivans with their reliable play: Anton Idzkovsky, Oleg Makarov, Evgeny Lemeshko, Viktor Bannikov, Evgeny Rudakov, Viktor Chanov, Mikhail Mikhailov, Yuriy Romensky, Alexander Shovkovsky, Georgy Bushchan.
In the game Oleg MakarovI always liked the game of the goalkeeper, constantly playing in his green sweater. I knew him well, I interviewed him more than once. About him.
Oleg Makarov
Honored Master of Sports. At the age of 17 in 1948, the capable goalkeeper of the Odessa "Pishchevik" was invited to Dynamo, whose gates he defended in 205 matches of the championship of the former USSR. Makarov, silver medalist of the national championships in 1952 and 1960. In 1961, together with his teammates, he became the national champion. The people of Kiev interrupted the 25-year hegemony of the Moscow clubs.
In the autumn of 1954, after defeating Spartak Yerevan 2:1 in the final of the Cup of the country, Makarov and his partners won their first trophy. The Dynamo goalkeeper played well in that match.
He is the first Kyiv goalkeeper who was invited to the national team. His debut took place on July 29, 1957 in the qualifying match of the 1958 World Cup with the Finnish team.
His goalkeeping style was distinguished by great reliability, quick reaction, and the ability to choose a position in the penalty area. He parried penalties more often than other goalkeepers. Teammates joked: "Our Oleg's goalie gloves are smeared with glue." He rarely let go of the received ball, depriving the forward of the opponents of the opportunity to finish him off the goal.
In the first championship season for Dynamo in 1961, in which the people of Kiev were four points ahead of the Moscow torpedoes, Makarov played 29 matches. About one of them.
The match on September 3 in Tbilisi with "Dynamo" was of great importance for the people of Kiev. They claimed their first championship. Each point was for the entire "gold".
A few days before the game with teammates from Tbilisi, who are playing successfully at home, Makarov gets injured in training, doctors forbade him to fly to Tbilisi.
But Oleg could not sit at home. Realizing the importance of this match, he rushed to the airport 15 minutes before the departure of his team. His appearance inspired the partners. The coaches took the risk of entrusting Makarov with a place at the gate in this match. And he justified the trust. 10 minutes before the final whistle, taking out the “dead ball”, he hit the post with his shoulder, could not raise his arm, but the Kiev goalkeeper, having clenched his teeth, survived, and his partners survived.
On October 17, having drawn the penultimate match of the championship with Kharkiv Avangard 0:0, Dynamo Kyiv became the strongest. Their final meeting in Moscow, they held as befits the champions - 4:3.
The “golden” season for Dynamo did not end there. Kievans went to England, where they played 3 meetings: in Birmingen, Liverpool and London.
In 1963, after spending 16 seasons at Dynamo, Makarov ended his brilliant goalkeeping career. Having taken the baton from the unforgettable Anton Idzkovsky, he selflessly did his difficult goalkeeping job, passing the baton to Viktor Bannikov and Evgeny Rudakov.
For many years, Oleg Alexandrovich worked as a coach, a football functionary. In 1995, at the age of 76, he left the football world. In 1996, literally three months after the death of the great goalkeeper, the first "Makarov memorial" took place. This tournament has been held for the third decade. Mostly Ukrainian clubs participate in it, but teams from abroad also came.
This tournament is a tribute to the memory of a great football player and a worthy person.
Alexander LIPENKO for Dynamo.kiev.ua
