Today, on September 29, 2024, one of the best players in the history of Ukrainian football, Yevhen Konoplyanka, turns 35. Yevhen reached his peak at Dnipro, after which he managed to play in Europe - for Sevilla, Schalke and other clubs. "Kono won the Europa League, became the champion of Ukraine and played as many as 87 matches for the Ukrainian national team (scoring 21 goals, which is the third best result in the history of independent Ukraine). Sport.ua talked to Yevhen's ex-partner and close friend, with whom he spent most of his career together: first in the youth national team, then in Dnipro and the adult national team of Ukraine - Roman Zozulya.
- Roman, do you remember your first meeting with Yevhen Konoplyanka and what was your first conversation about?
- The first meeting was when we were called up to the youth team together, but we didn't communicate much then because he was from Dnipro and I was from Kyiv. "Dynamo players talked more with each other. I can note that it was immediately noticeable that Konoplyanka was a top footballer. We didn't communicate in the youth team, but then we started talking when I joined Dnipro.
- What kind of person is he?
- We all know, we all saw his interviews. Very cheerful, very positive, I don't remember in all the time I've known him that he wasn't in a good mood. He is a great friend, he will never back you up or stab you in the back. A decent person, that's how I can characterize him.
- What is your most vivid football memory associated with him?
- Basically, all the years we played with him at Dnipro, every game with him was great. He was probably the best player I've ever played with. Give him a pass and he will run to the penalty area and find you. I was lucky to be in that Dnipro team and play side by side with a player of such a high level.
-Did it happen that when the attacking play didn't work out, the team gave the ball to Yevhen and let him come up with something?
- I never had such instructions from the coach, but it happened so often. It's understandable, because he's a creative player. We played more through the left flank than the right, because Konoplyanka was there. When we had problems getting past the defense, sometimes we played through Zhenya. He would always find his moment and help the team.
He didn't like to go back to defense, he was constantly shouting at me: "Zyuzya, come back for me!" and he was always ahead of me. It was difficult for Konoplyanka to give me the full amount of work, so we helped each other. At Dnipro, everyone was for each other and everyone helped each other.
- You played right back for a few matches then, did you play against Konoplyanka in training?
- When I came to Dnipro for my first training session, Juande Ramos didn't know me and sent me to the second team, saying: "Boy, who are you?" Then he was told that I didn't come from the double, but was bought from Dynamo, and he offered me to play right back. Imagine, I played for Dynamo, in European competitions, in the youth team - and always as a striker, and here I was a right back. So for about half a year I played on the right side of the defense and played against Konoplyanka in training, and I beat him so hard on the legs that he even complained to Ramos. It all ended with Konoplyanka telling the coach that Zozulya was a striker, so don't put him in defense. Zhenya was very angry then, asking me not to hit him in the legs, and I answered him: "Zhenya, how can I stop you? Only this way". As a result, it helped him a lot in official matches (laughs - Sport.ua).
- Was there any special relationship between you on the field?
- When I came to Dnipro, I already knew many players there: Mandzyuk and Kravchenko. We knew Konoplyanka from the youth team, but we didn't really communicate. Over time, we became best friends, he and I were called "Lelek and Bolek", that is, we were so inseparable.
We were very close friends with him, and that's probably how this relationship appeared on the field. I had to open up, and he immediately felt my movements. I could understand his actions just by looking at him. Of course, it wasn't a Shevchenko-Rebrov connection, but there was definitely a special relationship. Also, before the game, he gave me various instructions, so I knew where he would pass.
- What about non-football stories? Maybe you went out together somewhere and you have a story?
- Listen, such stories are probably not for the press. Because everyone went out. What was going on behind the base cannot be told to children or other people. There was nothing outright like that, of course, but it's still not for a wide audience.
- What was Konoplyanka's best goal, in your opinion?
- Zhenia scored a lot of beautiful goals, but I remember the game against England at Wembley because it was my first official game for the national team, we were young guys then, we were given a chance. We tried very hard in that match, and one of our partners rolled out a masterpiece shot for Yevhen. We were very nervous at the time, and the goal helped us a lot to enter the game against a strong opponent with star names in the team.
I don't remember him scoring any ugly goals, they were all exquisite: "Ajax, Chornomorets, Dynamo, when I was still playing for them. There were almost no cases when Zhenya scored from nothing.
- In your opinion, did Konoplyanka realize his potential, and if not, why not?
- You know, let at least 1% of our players realize their potential the way Yevhen did. He played in such serious teams as Schalke and Sevilla. He also played a lot of matches for the national team - as many as 87. Those who do not realize their potential do not play in such teams. Perhaps he could have done better, but that's his business. For me, Konoplyanka is the best left winger in the history of Ukraine. I think he had a very strong and wonderful career, few Ukrainian players can boast of such a career.
- Do you continue to communicate closely with him now?
- Yes, there was a short break in our communication, because he and I have families, I am in Spain, Konoplyanka is in Germany, so we lost touch a bit. Now we are in close contact again, every day.
- You and Konoplyanka set up a joint agency company, is it true?
- Yes, it's true. Zhenia and I set up an agency company because we see the shortcomings that existed and still exist in this area in Ukraine. We have recently finished our careers as football players and have faced many problems with agents, so we decided to help current players and change the situation in this area.
- What would you like to wish Yevhen for his birthday?
- The most important thing is patience, because this work requires patience, and peace to all of us.
Ihor Lysenko