About the first steps in football of the defender of English "Arsenal" and the national team of Ukraine Oleksandr Zinchenko told his childhood coach Serhii BORETSKY.
Oleksandr Zinchenko— Can you recall when and under what circumstances you met the then very young Zinchenko?
— Sashko was born in a family that I knew a long time ago. Together with his father, I trained in the same group, we played "Leather Ball" since childhood. I saw his dad taking Sashko with him to training, running with him.
— What was Oleksandr like when he took his first steps in football?
— He was born in 1996, but he trained with kids from the 1993/94 group. I was the one who formed the first group then, because at that time, there was no football section in Radomyshl. Sashko gradually observed and learned. I can note him as a quiet and calm boy. Perhaps if he trained with his peers, the situation would have been different, but the leaders were older boys.
— What distinguished Zinchenko among the older boys in your group?
— Players with a strong left foot always stand out among others with their thinking on the pitch — they are more creative. I don't remember the ball bouncing off Sashko; he received it very gently. In fact, it was enough for him to show once how to do things. Zinchenko learned very well and absorbed everything quickly.
Working with him was very easy and calm. He trained with older boys, and he had someone to look up to. I also remember that Sashko was constantly in front of the TV; he knew all the football players, clubs, and national teams. For those boys who genuinely love football and are completely interested in it, this helps because they see how real masters play and to what level they should aspire.
— And in what position did you initially use Zinchenko? Did you try to play him in the center of the field?
— When he was small, I didn’t place him in the center of the field. We had Oleg Nychiporenko there, who previously played for "Agrobusiness" and "Epicenter," and now he plays for “Kulykiv-Bilka.” By the way, a good player — a leader, he acted well in the attack.
Zinchenko played for me on the left in midfield. Although it was noticeable that he had the qualities of a playmaker. Sashko is a boy who thinks on the football field, plays with his head up, and doesn’t pass just anywhere.
— How was Oleksandr's discipline? Did he have any problems with behavior or a serious attitude toward football?
— I have a story on this topic. When Zinchenko returned from Illichivsk (now Chornomorsk, Odesa region) to Radomyshl, he surprised me significantly. Our training in the group started at 9 in the morning, and I saw how he independently (also at 9) began training according to a plan created for him by a coach in "Monolit".
I asked him: “Sashko, play with the boys, so they can see the level.” And he replied, “Volodymyrovych, I'm sorry, but the coach told me not to touch the ball for two weeks. I need to focus on my general physical preparation.”
And so, day after day at 9:00, he was already working according to his schedule, "to the dot." Iron discipline! He never arrived late for training or matches. The same goes for school — Zinchenko studied well, there were no questions about him.
— And by the way, how did Zinchenko move from Zhytomyr region to "Monolit," which is located in Odesa region?
— Once we played in a district championship, held for both children and adults. And we had a legionnaire coach from Odesa region, who came to watch the match and approached me after the game. He pointed to Zinchenko and asked: “What year is he?” I replied: “1996.” He immediately said to me: “Don’t lie.” I asked: “Why would I lie? What do I have to hide?”
Sashko was then playing in competitions among boys born in 1993/94. And then this coach said to me: “So what? Let’s take the kid to ‘Monolit,’ there is a branch of ‘Shakhtar’.” By the way, before that, Sashko's father took him for a trial at Kyiv "Dynamo" (this refers to 2008, when Zinchenko was 12 years old, - ed.).
— Did Dynamo not recognize Zinchenko's talent in the capital?
— They rejected him. They said he was “skinny,” small... At "Dynamo," both then and now, they recruit boys who will immediately deliver results. Not everyone can weigh 60-70 kilograms at the age of 5. (Smiles).
— So, Oleksandr went to "Monolit"...
— Yes, together with his mother. I was in contact with the then club president; he promised me to call after training and give me an answer about Sashko. And then he called me 10 minutes later. I thought: “Well, that’s it — they rejected him.” But the president of “Monolit” asked me: “Did you find this diamond? We recorded him after three touches on the ball.” It was August then, and by September, Zinchenko fully moved to "Monolit".
— Were other clubs interested in Zinchenko at that time?
— He had the opportunity to move from "Monolit" to "Mariupol," where his coach moved. But there was also an option with the "Shakhtar" academy; going to "Mariupol" could always wait. In the end, he passed all the tests at "Monolit" with flying colors and received an invitation to "Shakhtar".
I was constantly in touch with the president of "Monolit." I told him that if there were any issues regarding his behavior or discipline, he should contact me — we would sort it out. He replied that there were no such problems at all, only said: “If only everyone were like him, we wouldn’t know such troubles.”
— Did you cross paths with Zinchenko after he moved to "Shakhtar"?
— He visited when he was playing U-16/U-17. I remember he brought kits for our sports school from the national team of Ukraine, footballs. Sashko helped then and still helps to this day. Everything we need for training — he provides it all. Moreover, when I ask him to send a few hryvnias for tournaments, he doesn’t refuse. Now all competitions are paid; you need to pay a fee everywhere, and funding... Before the full-scale war, it was still manageable; now it’s very difficult, but we survive, what can we do.
— Were other clubs interested in Zinchenko at that time?
— To be honest, I was pleased that Sashko left "Shakhtar." I remember how many talents were in that team — there was Beka Vachiberadze and Viacheslav Tankovskyi, with whom I sometimes confused Zinchenko when videos were sent to me. These guys, you could say, “perished” because they all had chances to reach the top level. And to go on loan... Where they would send him is the first question. Secondly, you have to deliver results right away. Not all young boys can be mentally ready for that.
So, Sashko went to Russia, but that’s how it turned out. At that time, it was perceived somehow more or less positively. In professional terms, for Zinchenko, as it turned out, leaving "Shakhtar" was the best option.
— During Alexander's performances in the Russian championship, it was written that he was wanted to play for the russia national team.
— We talked about this issue back then. He didn’t even have thoughts of playing for Russia. Zinchenko told me that he was ready to go on loan from “Ufa” because they were pressuring him, setting conditions for him to obtain Russian citizenship. Sasha clearly stated that he had one homeland — Ukraine. I don’t want to praise him; I’m just recounting our conversation because I love the truth.
— Did you communicate with Zinchenko's family before his move from "Ufa" to "Manchester City"? Do you remember your emotions when you learned about this transfer?
— His mother remarried the coach who was with Sashko at "Monolit," and they moved to Moscow together. So at that moment, I didn’t particularly communicate with them, at most exchanging a few words, asking: “How is Sashko doing?”. She answered that everything was fine.
You know, I was really touched by Victor Leonenko’s words back then, who said something like: “What ‘Man City’? Only in PlayStation.” Here they are, supporting a Ukrainian who made it to such a club...
— What expectations did you have from Zinchenko after his move to Pep Guardiola's team?
— I understood perfectly well that no one would include him in the starting lineup from the first matches, because it’s a completely different level, and he’s a young boy. In loan at PSV, he got experience, saw European life — this certainly was not a wasted stage in his career.
When Sashko came to Radomyshl after his loan at PSV, I met him again at training. I asked him: “So what? Again on loan?”. And Zinchenko immediately said to me: “No, Volodymyrovych, I will fight for a place in ‘Man City’. Good for him; I really liked his attitude. He didn’t start whining about how this is England, there are such stars, it is so hard for him, and so on. Zinchenko is a fighter, both on the pitch and in life. He’s a very decent person.
— And what, there have never been signs of star fever in Alexander?
— Absolutely not. I talked with some boys from Zhytomyr region, who don’t even play in the first team of their clubs, and you know what... There are such stars, such crowns on everyone's heads...
— Was the move from "Manchester City" to "Arsenal" by Mikel Arteta the right decision?
— You know, I discussed this quite a bit with Serhii Kovalets, who once coached "Polissia" (Stavky). We concluded that Arteta took Zinchenko for the position of central midfielder. After all, Sashko’s physical qualities aren’t for a defender in the English league. At “Manchester City,” he played on the left in defense because they held the ball 70% of the time, and Sasha, thanks to his technique and vision of the field, looked harmonious in that team. However, this is still not his usual position.
Why hasn’t he excelled in Arsenal in the center? There is Ødegaard, his competitor in the center, who is a very strong player physically and technically — a fantastic boy. Then Sashko also started having injuries. He played a few matches now, seeming to return to form — and again injuries.
— Right now at Arsenal, things are tough for Zinchenko: little playing time, frequent injuries...
— I spoke with his uncle about this. He replied that at "Arsenal," the loads are much greater than at "Man City." They want to increase muscle mass, and the body does not withstand here. I hope that in his future career everything will be fine for him. Knowing his character, I am convinced of this.
— What championship would ideally suit Zinchenko at this stage of his career? Perhaps it’s worth considering leaving the intensive EPL in light of his constant injuries?
— It all depends on him. Each championship has its own specifics; the main thing is to find the right team, the right coach. Personally, I thought that Zinchenko would end up at Bayern Munich under Vincent Kompany, who once took the young Sasha under his wing at "Man City." Perhaps this transfer will still happen, but in our correspondence, I don’t want to raise this issue. Life will show where he will play next.
— And how do you think, can Zinchenko be a good coach? Or will Alexander rather go to higher football authority, considering his current political activities and presence among the members of the UAF executive committee?
— When I asked him how Guardiola sets up his team, he replied: “It’s some kind of magic! After his words, my legs carry me to play by themselves.” He notes such moments, but it seems to me that Zinchenko is more likely to become a football agent.
We didn’t discuss his coaching future, but I see that he is already in the UAF executive committee, familiar with Shevchenko and Zelensky, so I think he will continue moving in this direction. Especially since Zinchenko is now helping Ukraine along with other players, making his contribution to our victory.
But now I want Sashko to play at a high level for at least another five years. Overall, I am very proud to have such a pupil, a player of world level.
Vladyslav Liutostansky
