Alexander Lipenko's column. "Vladimir Bessonov's Golden Ball

I continue to tell you about the leading Dynamo players of different generations. Friends, today Vladimir Bessonov is in the centre of your attention.

Born in 1958. Honoured Master of Sports (1986). A pupil of Kharkiv sports boarding school. Played in Metalist (Kharkiv) - 1975, Dynamo (Kyiv) - 1975-1990, Maccabi (Haifa, Israel) - 1990-1991.

In the USSR championships played 278 matches, scored 27 goals. Six-time champion of the Union (1977, 1980, 1981, 1985, 1986, 1990), silver medallist (1978, 1982, 1988), bronze medallist (1979, 1989).

Five-time Cup winner (1978, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1990). Captain of Dynamo (1980-1984). Winner of the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (1986). 10 times was included in the lists of "33 best players of the country", 8 times under No.1.

Played in the USSR national team from 1977-1990. Vice-champion of Europe (1988). Bronze medallist of the 1980 Olympic Games. Three times participated in the World Championships (1982, 1986, 1990). Winner of the European Junior Championships (1976) and World Junior Championships (1977). At the World Championship in the final scored the only goal against Hungary.

Universal player

Vladimir Bessonov is called a universal player. And it is fair - he successfully played in all lines. In 1977 he had his first significant success - as a member of the national team, he won the first Junior World Championship. The captain of the team, its leader, top scorer was Vladimir. His game amazed coaches, journalists and fans. Bessonov was named the best player of the World Championship and he received the award "Golden Ball".

In the same year in a match against the GDR national team made his debut in the first team of the former USSR.

In August 1976, Bessonov made his debut in the understudies of Dynamo Kyiv and soon opened the scoring in the match. He immediately liked the Kyiv fans. He was invited to Kyiv by Anatoliy Suchkov, the player of the first "golden" Dynamo team of 1961 and at that time the club's selector. Anatoly Andreevich came to Kharkiv for the young talent.

Bessonov played in attack (or under the forwards), owned a unique dribbling - a wide step rushed forward, let the ball go a decent distance. But when the opponent rushed forward to take possession of the ball, Bessonov quickly threw the ball further - and the opponent remained behind his back.

For a long time could not determine his role Vladimir. Valeriy Lobanovsky put him in midfield, then in defence. At any moment the versatile player could change his role and it was in favour of the team.

Medals and Cups

In his rich collection of awards - 6 (!) gold medals of the national champion. The first one was won in 1977. "Dinamo" was four points ahead of their Tbilisi teammates in the tournament. Vladimir's partners, who played 16 matches that season, were: Blokhin, Konkov, Fomenko, Buryak, Reshko, Matvienko, Onishchenko, Muntyan, Kolotov, Slobodyan....

1990. Bessonov became the champion for the sixth time. That "golden" squad already included Litovchenko, Shmatovalenko, Salenko, Chanov, Rats, Tsveiba, Protasov, Yakovenko, Mikhailichenko, Yaremchuk, Yuran.... The Kyivians were three points ahead of CSKA in the standings.

1986. 2 May. Lyon. Stadion "Gerlan". Dynamo (Kyiv) and Atletico (Madrid) met in the Cup Winners' Cup final. 3:0 - victory of Kyiv. They played brilliantly and, naturally, Volodymyr Bessonov stood out in their line-up.

Valeriy Lobanovskiy's team came to their hometown for the second time with the Cup Winners' Cup.

But they failed to win the UEFA Super Cup for the second time. On 24 February 1987 in Monaco at the Louis II stadium Dynamo lost to the Romanian club Steaua (Bucharest) - 0:1. The famous Hadji scored the only goal in the goal of Chanov.

"Man-injury."

Playing 15 years in "Dinamo", Bessonov desperately fought in every match without sparing himself. He was haunted by numerous injuries, fractures, torn ligaments.... In football circles he was called "man-injury". He never had the patience to get to the end. The team needed him, always in any place. And he was in a hurry to get on the field.

Having finished his career in Dynamo, Vladimir decided to play in the Israeli club Maccabi (Haifa) for a year. But after a comprehensive medical examination the club doctors were shocked. In Israel Bessonov did not stay long and returned to Kyiv.

Now Volodymyr Vasilyevich works in his native FC Dynamo.

Oleksandr LIPENKO for Dynamo.kiev.ua