What everyone had speculated for so long has finally come true: last Wednesday, Serhiy Rebrov was officially presented as the head coach of the Ukrainian national team. The contract with him and his assistants, who include both local and foreign experts, is valid till July 30, 2026. This means that the new staff of the main team of the country will lead it during two qualifying cycles.
Sergei Rebrov (Photo: P.Kubanov)On the same day, 7 June, Serhiy Rebrov gave a press conference for journalists, and in the evening the team left for Bremen, where on the 12th of June they will play a friendly against Germany, which will be preceded by official matches in the Euro 2024 qualification against North Macedonia (16 June) and Malta (19 June).
Competition for every position
Actually, the epic with the possible appointment of Rebrov as the coach of the national team, which lasted, in fact, since August 2021, was finalized at the beginning of the month by Serhiy Stanislavovych himself, who said on the air of the Snidanok z 1+1 programme:
"I'm going to Kiev ta, probably, on the 6th of the day I will be in the capital of Ukraine. I believe and hope that we will finish all our dealings with Al-Ain. So, if everything goes well, I believe, we`ll sign the contract. In principle, we have already agreed on everything. Only the consent of Al-Ain - and nothing needs to be discussed.
The Ukraine national football team is too great responsibility, so I`ve started to work with my team and we`ve been preparing for these games for several months, as these games are very important for our country. All the more so at this time ... ". (Оbozrevatel.com, 03.06.23).
And during an interview with media representatives at the House of Football he clarified that all the formalities with the club from the UAE are finally settled and the relevant documents have been received. Though Rebrov admitted that a month before the end of the season Al Ain offered him to prolong the agreement, which expires on June 30. However, the decision to return home has already matured.
"I am glad to come back to Ukraine, I am glad to work here again. My familyis also happy about it, they returned to Ukraine with me. I am glad that my friend is happy with my decision. I would like to thank ZSU for protecting our country andgiving us the opportunity to talk about football, " said Serhiy Rebrov(Dynamo.kiev.ua, 07.06.23).
Answering the question why it has not happened earlier, the newly-minted charge of the Bilo-Syni responded rather decisively: "You are the journalists who have been waiting for my appointment for two years. I've been working for Al Ayni all this time. So I did not create this atmosphere when there was a lot of luggage in the press. I had a contract, I completed it and now I am here".
Rebrov's agreement to build a unified national team vertical looked relevant if the employer so wished. The more so that he was engaged in such a practice at Dynamo Kyiv.
Speaking about the relationship with the youth national team, Serhii Rebrov said he talked to Ruslan Rotan about who will go to the latter's team which these days has its preparation training camp in Austria on the eve of the start of the final tournament of Euro 2023.
"It is important to understand which team is a bigger priority, which team is more important. I believe that the national team is such a team. And if anyone thinks that we can play Malta with any footballers, I will tell you thatwe have already played with this team in 2017 andwe did it"(Dynamo.kiev.ua, 07.06.23).
As for the list of players who are preparing for the match in Bremen and the one which will follow it, Rebrov stressed that the choice was made by him. He mentioned the newcomers: Dynamo's Vanat, who showed a stable football in the second half of the season, and Polish champion Kochergin, whom he knows well from his performances for Zorya. I also noted a good form of Yarmolenko.
In general, when commenting on the squad he said: "I talk to a lot of players. But it is important not so much to speculate as to watch the players in action. I watched a lot of matches of the Ukrainian championship, matches of other championships featuring candidates for the national team. I also have enough information. Now it is very important to begin the training process and see the shape the boys are in. There is competition for every position".
Rebrov agreed that we are running out of time to prepare. That the Ukraine national team must be more aggressive compared to the recent match with England. That there are enough players for the next three games, despite injuries to Zinchenko and Yaremchuk, and now it is important to prepare for them properly.
As for the friendly with Germany, which will be Rebrov's first game at the helm of the national team, the coach said: "This match is also important regarding the relationship between our countries. It is also the 1000th match in the history of the German national team. It is very exciting for us to play such an opponent.
On his part, the president of the German Football Association Bernd Neuendorf said he was proud to celebrate the anniversary together with Ukraine and for Ukraine as the proceeds from the match will be used for social projects in our country.
Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Minister of Agriculture Cem Ozdemir, City Mayor Andreas Bovenshulte and Ukrainian Ambassador to Germany Oleksiy Makeyev confirmed their presence at the Weserstadion in Bremen. Around a thousand children of Ukrainians forced to flee their homeland due to Russian aggression are expected to attend the fight.
The most titled and sought-after
Serhiy Rebrov's press conference was the main topic of discussion in the domestic sports media last week. However, no less attention was paid to the fact of appointment of the new coach and his person, as well as the expectations and doubts that arise in this regard.
Perhaps, for the first time since the days of Lobanovskiy, the Ukraine national team has been led by the strongest Ukrainian coach of the present day, " says journalist Serhii Tishchenko.-It is a great achievement. I only oppose Rebrov's role as the Messiah. His arrival will not dramatically change everything at once. Everything takes time and patience.
The biggest problem is that Rebrov was successful in club football. The national team institute is a slightly different job. Here, you work with players 4-6 times a year. No physical training, selection. Only tactics, psychology, the ability to combine the available performers into one team come first. The big hope is that Rebrov's experience as a footballer in the Ukraine national football team will play its part"(Dynamo.kiev.ua, 07.06.23).
The same thoughts have occurred to Trueua.info columnist Andriy Romaniuk. Romaniuk, like his colleague, focuses attention on Rebrov's lack of experience at the new level: "He played with players almost every day and was able to develop training process following his own script. But it is not like that in the team: training sessions are short, players arrive exhausted, injured. In such conditions it is extremely important to form a fighting team" (07.06.23).
A second important aspect is the pressure of the press and demanding Ukrainian fans. Of course, at the club level, it is also a familiar phenomenon, but it is quite another matter to be responsible in front of the whole country.
Finally, the factor of war and the psychological state of the team. Even their home games the team will actually play away, and each such encounter will be accompanied for the coach and the players by constant thoughts of enemy rocket attacks on Ukrainian territories.
Obviously, one cannot fully agree with all conclusions of the authors. However, the fact that Rebrov is currently the most titled and in-demand domestic specialist is a fact. He has become the champion of Ukraine twice with FC Dynamo Kyiv and won the National Cup as many times. Three times he led Ferencvaros to the top of the Hungarian championship, with whom he played in the Champions League. He won the UAE Cup and the UAE Championship with Al Ain.
As for the national team, he has defended the colours of the national team for more than a decade, was a participant in the 2006 World Cup and knows well the training kitchen from the inside. In addition, at the dawn of his coaching career, he was one of Yuriy Kalitvintsev's assistants before UEFA EURO 2012. So, the effect of expectations of a real breakthrough in the national team's game has a right to live on, as well as doubts.
"We know very well that Rebrov has enough coaching experience in the club teams andhas a good track record of success - Jozsef Sabo, Serhiy Stanislavych's former coach, said.-But working in the national team is something else.Moreover, in wartime there are nuances and quite serious. But despite everything, I believe in his diligence, experience, knowledge of coaching, ability to build a good team"(Footboom1.com, 07.06.23).
Artem Frankov also believes in Rebrov: "First of all, I am attracted by his readiness to work impartially as a coach. I think well of him as a person and as a specialist. He has a good, promising team. We haven't lost our chances for Euro 2024. If we concede the first two positions we will have a chance of making it through the play-offs of the Nations League. But for now I simply wish Rebrov every success, less politics and more football, unity in the coaching staff and ideas"(Fanday.net, 08.06.23).
And Sergii Tishchenko summed up: "It is very important that at such an important time for our country Sergii Stanislavovych decided to return home. Today, many football players are looking for a chance to travel abroad for the sake of personal safety and security of relatives. And Rebrov came back. This will give him some reputation points and increase the respect of the national team.
Rebrov is 49. He has been in the best coaching years. He has great experience behind his shoulders, a formed team of assistants. And hecan still develop further"(Football24.ua, 08.06.23).
Assistance to Dynamo military and civilians
Most clubs in the Ukrainian Premier League are now on summer break. Naturally, with the exception of those players who have been called up to the national and youth teams of the country.
Dynamo Kyiv has ten of them: Buschan, Tymchyk, Sydorchuk, Buyalskiy and Vanat (main team), and also Nesheret, Sirota, Vivcharenko, Brazhko, Mihaylenko (U-21). In addition, midfielder Perris was invited to the Jamaican national team, while his colleague Ramadani joined the youth team of Northern Macedonia.
As Ihor Surkis, the club president told TatoTake, Denis Boyko and Mykyta Burda are nearing the end of their contracts. However, Brazhko and Buletsa returned to their native city after being on loan at Zorya and will go to their first training camp which will be held in Austria or Switzerland. The team will take their leave on June 26.
Meanwhile, the charitable mission of FC Dynamo continues. On June 6, the club handed over seven vehicles for the combat missions at the front to the soldiers of the united assault brigade Lyut' of the National Police, which is a part of the Offensive Guards. The event took place at Dynamo Stadium named after Valerii Lobanovs'kyi, and Ihor Surkis personally handed the keys to the off-road cars to the soldiers.
"We do not hesitate for a minute to help our soldiers, - said the club president.-We have already transferred bothmachines and foodstuff, including more than ten tons of vanshan to the front, and continue to do so. More vehicles, which are undergoing the final preparations, will arrive in due course. It is very important, as we do everything for our victory. FC Dynamo (Kyiv) and the Surkis Brothers Foundation had been supporting us since the early days of the war, andwe will always support and back up our defenders in the future"(Fcdynamo.com 06.06.23, rbc.ua 08.06.23).
Ihor Mihajlovych told that the "Lyut" brigade asked them to provide as many vehicles as possible for the soldiers: not one or two, but 10-20. A part of them has been handed over earlier, seven off-road cars have arrived now, two more will appear quite soon, and more cars have been purchased, which are undergoing training in Poland.
"At the front, you need vehicles all the time, because today you have one, tomorrow you need a new one, so the guys can move around, " continued Ihor Surkis.-We also need trailers so that they can be equipped with some equipment, so we will address this issue as well. We must act very quickly, and not stretch the help out for months. After all, we are getting closer to our victory every day.
The handover of the off-road vehicles to the soldiers took place on the day before the Rashists blew up the Kakhovska hydroelectric power station, which led to a global man-made disaster in the south of the country.
"After today's news, I held a meeting, and we also decided to support the people of Kherson who suffered from this unhuman terrorist attack against the civilian population, " confessed the president of FC "Dynamo". - We will help people with building materials, food, resettlement, etc.".
It's been said and done! Soon the first two lorries with more than 40 tonnes of drinking water were delivered to the inhabitants of Kherson region. Eight more powerful lorries are in the queue - the club Telegram channel reported.
The Dynamo club and the Surkis brothers' Foundation also respond to individual requests of the Ukrainian soldiers. Thus, recently a night vision device was purchased for a soldier called Oleksandr who defends the country near Bakhmut within the 207th battalion of the 241st Brigade of Territorial Defense in Kyiv.
Having received such an important device, which helps to save his life and effectively perform combat missions in the dark hours, Oleksandr, right from his position under bombardment by the occupants, recorded a video with gratitude to the club and its president Ihor Surkis.
And at the Dynamo Stadium a celebration was held for children from the occupied territories of Ukraine and those who lost their parents in the war. The children are undergoing the rehabilitation process at the Dzherelo Psychological Rehabilitation Centre.
"We work withsocial categories of children who are referred to us by the relevant services ", said Elena Dyachuk, founder of the medical centre.-Most of them have a very important psychological state. They do not sleep or eat, they have experienced fear and saw people being killed and rolled over in their presence.
Therefore the holiday which took place at the Dynamo Stadium became an unbearable respite for them. The children could have photos taken, get autographs from the Dynamo stars, talk to the players. They asked how their careerbegan, they were interested in their regime, even in food products"(Podrobnosti.ua, 06.06.23).
And Serhiy Balanchuk, a pupil of Kyiv Dynamo, who died in July 2022 in a battle with the racists near Bakhmut, has left his mark in Israel. Haifa City Council unanimously decided to rename one of the city's streets in honor of the former Ukrainian footballer, who in the second half of the 1990s defended the local Maccabi, as reported by Sports.walla.co.il.
Notably, Balanchuk Street is located just across from the Russian consulate in Haifa. As a reminder of the inflexibility of our people.
Jovicevic may be leaving?
Over the past week the sports media have been circulating persistently about the likely resignation of Shakhtar coach Igor Jovicevic. In fact, they started talking about the coach's pad being shaken by the Croatian even before the end of the season. But then Darijo Srna, the sporting director and Jovicevic's compatriot, called it a hoax by the detractors and competitors, trying to undermine the team's psychological state on the eve of crucial duels.
Now the season is over, FC Shakhtar Donetsk are the champions and have a direct ticket to the group stage of the main continental competition, and the subject of the head coach's resignation has not only not subsided, but also got hot with renewed vigour.
First it was picked up by the TaToTake programme, and then by other outlets, and Igor Burbas, who makes no secret of his closeness to the Pitmen, confirmed that they were looking for a replacement for the Croatian. Among the possible replacements are Patrick van Leeuwen, FC Feyenoord coach Arne Sloot, Fiorentina head coach Vincenzo Italiano, and the currently unemployed Gennaro Gattuso.
However, Burbas did not fail to note: "No one has ever offered his resignation to Jovicevic himself. He gets news, rumours, and speculation from the press. The team is also not aware and is not happy about a probable change of coach, who built the team from scratch and gave the necessary result"(Fanday.net, 08.06.23).
"The informationabout the termination of the contract with IhorJovicovic is confirmed, " TV journalist Roman Bebekh added fuel to the fire.-This is thepresident's decision. It has already been taken and announced. Shakhtar currently has two candidates. One is a coach from Europe, very well known. I don't believe he'll come to Ukraine now. And another one, more real - has already been named in media van Leeuwen"(Sport.ua, 08.06.23).
True, Bebekh did not specify to whom it was voiced. The club's general director Serhiy Palkin talks about various things, only not about a possible change of coach. About the prosecution of Tottenham, if Manor Solomon goes there. About Mudrick, who will be Chelsea's main weapon in winning future titles. About FIFA abandoning Ukrainian clubs during the war.
Somewhat inappropriately, the memories and impressions of Jovicevic himself about his move to Shakhtar came through.
"They thought I was the best choice among the many applicants for the club's new project without foreign players, " the Croatian admitted.-I realised I couldn't say no. I wanted to progress, play in the Champions League, see if I was ready to lead a club like Shakhtar.
A significant part of the team consisted of the players on loan at Mariupol and other players with no experience at the highest level. All this caused many doubts. There was also a lot of pressure. At a club of Shakhtar's level there is always a lot of scepticism towards the coaches.
But you have to live with it. I can't say that I wasn't afraid that things wouldn't go well. I would be lying if I did. But being afraid is not a bad thing. I tell the players, "You can't get the adrenaline if there is no fear. This adrenaline carries you forward"(ua.tribuna.com, 06.06.23).
"Shakhtar took Jovicevic's adrenaline to the championship summit, at the same time leaving a noticeable mark on the European stage. But was it all so clear during the season?
"In the spring, the Pitmen didn't look very competitive, " said Serhiy Tishchenko.-They were close to losing points against the best team in the championship and the fourth outsider FC Lviv. Against Minaya, only a referee error allowed them to take three points from Uzhhorod. It was very important to defeat Veres in Rivne. They have shown nothing in the match with Dynamo. Since June every match looked very problematic. The team has lost the lightness. Only towards the end of the season again started to win confidently"(Football24.ua, 05.06.23).
And then there were the strangeness of the final game with Vorskla, which Artur Valerko hinted at when he asked if the Pitmen thanked the Poltavians for the victory over Dnipro 1: "Many things in this match seemed strange. Why did it got off to a late start, even though the air raid ended before the scheduled kickoff? Why did the team field a 38-year-old goalkeeper, a debutant defender and several reserves? Then we marvelled at the goals conceded by the Pitmen, although it was more of a surprise if the goalkeeper played clean"(FanDay.net, 06.05.23).
A summary by the same Sergiy Tyschenko: "The coach gave the team everything he could, and now it is still there. We need something new to move forward. I believe Jovicevic is a limited coach, who can give the team some qualities, but it is not a long term prospect. Igor is a great motivator, psychologist. He knows how to motivate the players, to charge them with his energy, help them be self-reliant. But after the downward spiral, it is already difficult for him to continue the progress or keep the team on the same level"(Football24.ua, 05.06.23).
Obviously, the combination of these factors, as well as possible intra-club conflicts, prompted talk of Jovicevic's resignation. It seems that the Croatian himself, who is now in Zagreb, does not rule out such a development. Otherwise he would not have stated at the end of the season: "I'd like to play against Shakhtar in the Champions League again. But we'll see what happens next. It is very difficult to live in a situation where there is a war going on. I almost do not see my family, we are separated. I am a little tired of it"(Sport.ua, 09.06.23).
And in a blitz commentary to the local website germanijak.hr he made a candid disclosure that he is no longer Shakhtar's coach...
Viktor Zhuravlev
