This day marks 10 years since Andriy Husin passed away. "UV turned to Oleksandr Khatskevych to share his memories of the legendary Dynamo and Ukraine midfielder.
- How do you remember Andriy Gusin?
- Andriy was a wonderful person, husband, father and son. As for his football skills, he was a great partner who could give advice and support, as well as decide the fate of a match.
- When did you find out about Gusin's passion for fast driving?
- In general, Andrii was an atypical football player in terms of spending his free time. At the base and on the plane, most of the guys played cards, but Gusin was always reading his magazines about cars and motorcycles. He was very fond of it, he probably had the fastest cars on the team. I remember how he improved his Subaru somehow, flashed it.
- Is there a story about Gusin and racing?
- He and Kakha Kaladze liked to race to see who could get to our base faster from the house on Peremohy Avenue, where we lived in the same building. I can say that it looked very dangerous for the people around us. But back then there were no such traffic jams, and the guys managed to "fly" from the Polytechnic to Koncha Zaspa in 15-17 minutes. Speed was something he prioritized right after family and football.
- What was your last conversation with Andriy?
- We were going to play soccer that day. He confirmed in the morning that he would be there. After that, it was all over...
- Under what circumstances did you meet Gusin, who was still a striker at the time?
- Andrii had just returned from CSKA Borisfen, but I knew he was a forward. However, immediately, from the first training session after his return, Valerii Vasylovych reclassified him as a midfielder, who was supposed to play primarily on defense. It was hard for Husin to adjust because he did not yet have the necessary skills.
Probably, Andriy did not realize or know that his potential was in this position, and Lobanovsky noticed him. He was one of the best players in terms of ball selection, tackling, intransigence and aggressiveness on set pieces in attack.
Husin took advantage of his chance from Valeriy Vasylovych and proved that he was worthy of being a player of that Dynamo team and the national team of Ukraine.
- If we talk about Husin's style of play, which world-famous footballers have played in a similar style?
- It's incorrect to compare him to modern players, because in the late 90s, football was a little different. Nowadays, the position Andriy played in requires, among other things, skillful attacking action.
Although in our time, when we played against the top clubs in the Champions League, each of these teams had a similar player. You can think of Roy Keane from Manchester United, Edgar Davids from Juventus - just like Andriy, very unyielding players who are focused on destruction. I can safely say that Husin was one of the best players in Europe in his position.
- Husin himself, by the way, said that he had many offers from Europe and even contacted representatives of Bayer Leverkusen.
- It is natural for such players to be interested in top clubs. Husin met all the requirements of the football at that time. Therefore, the fact that he met with Rudi Feller of Bayer Leverkusen is not surprising. We can only guess why this transfer never happened. However, I know for sure that Andriy had a dialog with Bayer.
- What was Husin like in his communication with the coaches, in particular with Lobanovsky?
- Many players in our team had their own opinions. There were no conflicts because Valerii Vasylovych always listened to the players. However, only if it did not turn into a hysteria or failure to fulfill his requirements - in this case, there were consequences. Therefore, Husin and Lobanovsky had no misunderstandings.
For example, when Europe began to reorganize to play in a line, without the last defender, Andriy had his own opinion about this. We continued to play with the last defender, or even the last two, when we had Vashchuk and Gerasymenko. Later, when Husin became a coach himself, he began to use modern methods in his practice that impressed him.
- Husin was an important part of Lobanovsky's team that reached the semifinals of the Champions League in 1998/99. However, there is also a story associated with him that happened later, when on the eve of a match against Manchester United, all Dynamo players shaved their heads. There is a version that Husin was the initiator.
- So far, history is silent on whose idea it was:) The main thing is that we were united in this impulse! And who took the initiative is not so important. The most important thing is that everyone supported the idea.
There are many stories about Lobanovsky's reaction, but I think Valery Vasilyevich took it as one of the manifestations of our team's unity after the bad games. We have not heard a single word from Lobanovsky about this act, neither good nor bad.
- Gusin spent the last years of his career abroad. There is a version that he left Dynamo precisely because of a conflict with Jozsef Szabo, who was then in charge of the team.
- I was no longer in the team at that time, and I did not discuss this with Andriy. You see, you just need to know Jozsef Jozsefowicz.
- Husin began his coaching career in Russia, although he is best remembered for his work with Dynamo-2. Can you tell us more about what Husin was like as a coach?
- Andrii and I worked together at that time. He was in charge of Dynamo-2, I was in the youth team, and Oleh Volodymyrovych Blokhin was in charge of Dynamo's first team. Every week after the tours we met and discussed football. This is where Andriy was already defending his vision of football.
There were quite interesting moments when Andrii Leonidovych entered into a discussion with Oleh Volodymyrovych. If Blokhin was more of an old school, Husin tried to play modern, systematic, structured football. Andrii clearly understood what he wanted from the team and how it should act on the football field.
- Both of Husin's sons, Andrii and Ivan, tried their hand at football. It was said that Andriy Jr. was very similar to his father in the way he played.
- Andrii, the younger one, would come to the base and train with the first team. I remember he had a rather difficult temper. While his father was more diplomatic, his son had a different personality. But that's normal, people are different.
Andriy Jr. was also a "biter", unyielding and quite aggressive, he also played in the center of the field. And Ivan was still young at that time, I haven't seen him for a long time, so I can't say anything.
- What kind of relationship did Husin have with his wife, Khrystyna?
- They were a perfect couple. They were very fond of hosting guests, and Andriy used to cook a great barbecue. We visited their house quite often. All their birthdays had a specific theme. Husin was an ideal husband, he and Khrystyna respected, loved, and appreciated each other very much.
- In general, Gusin was a very atypical football player for his time: he liked to dress brightly, participated in the TV project "I Dance for You 2". Could the team have gotten into trouble for that?
- Of course, Andriy had some rather peculiar outfits. His girlfriend Khrystyna is quite creative, she is a fashion designer, and apparently this influenced Andriy. So he stood out in terms of style and clothing against the background of other players.
- Before Husin's death in 2014, two other Dynamo legends passed away, Andriy Bal and Valentyn Belkevych. What were your thoughts on this series of tragic news?
- The black end of summer... No one expected this. It is clear that everyone has their own life, their own death and destiny. I believe that we cannot even think that this is a pattern. We are talking about the fate of each of these people.
- What is the first thing that comes to mind when you think of Husin now?
- You know, Andriy was a rather private person, a family man. He loved humor, but I can't remember any memorable moments. So much time has passed, and it's been 11 years since the boys have been gone... The most important thing is that we remember them. They were real.
Vladyslav Liutostansky