The former press secretary of the Ukrainian national team — about working with Blokhin: "He could send anyone as a mother"

Former press secretary of the Ukrainian national team Ihor Miroshnychenko shared his memories of working with Oleg Blokhin.

"He has a very difficult character. In the first couple of months of work, I had several cases when he would break down on the mat and could send anyone, including me. Since Blokhin was and is a football legend for me, I had the honor of working with him. Therefore, I honestly told him that I have very respectful feelings for him, but there is no need to shout at me.

He could yell at his subordinates, which he did regularly, maybe they liked it. And I don't. I frankly told him that I did not ask for this position, I was invited. If I've made a mistake, no question, we'll fix it, I'll admit my mistakes. But if you snap and assert yourself by yelling, then I just quit and walk away.

But Blokhin heard me and there were no more such stories. I respect and am grateful to him for this. He saw that people respect him as a football player and coach, and on the other hand, he does not hold on to this job at any cost, including humiliation.

He could sometimes behave harshly with journalists and I had to smooth these situations out. Hryhoriy Surkis, when he invited me to work, set before me such a task, which seemed to me strange, but pleasant. He tells me: "I want you to teach Blokhin to speak Ukrainian." This is what Hryhoriy Surkis told me in 2004.

I regret that I failed to convince and teach Blokhin the Ukrainian language. Not because Blokhin is a Ukrainophobe. He's just an old man. But Surkis understood the importance of the Ukrainian language in the Ukrainian national team even then," Miroshnychenko said.