Famous Ukrainian forward Oleksandr Hladkyi recalled his performances in Donetsk’s “Shakhtar” and Kyiv’s “Dynamo”.
Oleksandr Hladkyi— I don’t know when “Dynamo” was leading me, but in the summer of 2007 (at that time Hladkyi was a player of FC “Kharkiv”, — ed. note) I was told to choose — “Dynamo” or “Shakhtar”. I moved to Donetsk. “Dynamo” was my childhood dream, Serhiy Rebrov, Andriy Shevchenko… But at the moment of the transfer I preferred “Shakhtar”, which started to attract Brazilians, the team’s play was vivid, so I chose Mircea Lucescu’s team.
— “Kharkiv” received 2.5 million euros for you then. However, the team gradually began to fall apart. Why?
— This question should be addressed to the then-president of the club. It’s a pity. This was the team where I really took my first steps in my professional career; I was a fan of them, I worried about them, but eventually, it disappeared from the football map of the country.
— What was your most memorable match in the “Shakhtar” jersey?
— There were many. But one of them was the final of the Ukrainian Cup in 2008. You could say, in my native Kharkiv we beat “Dynamo” 2:0. I scored one of the goals. Also, in that match, there were five red cards, including my own. (Smiles). Naturally, we cannot overlook the victory in the UEFA Cup, the win against “Barcelona” at Camp Nou — 3:2, when I was lucky to score twice.
— Your productive play for “Shakhtar” helped you debut for the national team…
— I agree. At that time I was constantly in the starting lineup of “Shakhtar,” scoring goals, so I attracted the attention of the coaching staff of the national team of Ukraine.
— And in your debut match, a friendly against Uzbekistan in August 2007, you scored a goal. Not a bad start?
— I was happy about it, but at the same time, I understood perfectly that it wouldn’t always be like this. At that time, the national team’s attack line had such monsters that it was very difficult to break into the starting lineup.
— How did you find working under Oleg Blokhin?
— It was fine. I can say more: with all the coaches I have worked with, I had good professional relationships, no matter how my fate turned out.
— Under Oleksiy Mykhailychenko, you only played a bit in friendly matches before the 2010 World Cup qualifiers and that's it…
— I don’t know what to say about this. The thing is that under that coach I also played in the youth national team. He had known me for a long time. Probably, at that moment, other forwards fit his vision of football. But I have no grievances about this. It was the coach’s choice, and he is responsible for the results.
— The next time you appeared in the national team was under Mykhailo Fomenko. What do you remember about this coach?
— A great coach. The national team under his leadership achieved results, reached the final part of the European Championship. What else can I say.
— And why in the playoff round of Euro-2016 in the first match against Slovenia were you on the bench, and before the return match, you didn’t even make the squad?
— That question is not for me. Again, who plays or is in the squad is decided by the coach.
— Throughout your career with the national team, could you have performed better?
— Any footballer who has gone through a lot will say they could have performed better. I am no exception. It depends on many factors. This includes the player’s condition, the trust of the coach, etc.
— In 2016, your next stop was in Kyiv. Did the head coach invite you?
— Yes. Serhiy Rebrov was the initiator of my move to “Dynamo”.
— At “Dynamo,” things did not go well for you. Can we say that this was the least successful period in your career?
— Yes, and I don’t hide it. I wasn’t doing anything at all. Like a few years ago, I again went on loan to Karpaty.
— Why couldn’t you become, as they say, one of your own at “Dynamo”?
— I couldn’t get used to the team’s style of play. The football of “Shakhtar” and even “Karpaty” was different. I worked hard, but nothing came out, and I couldn’t add anything. I certainly don’t blame anyone. The reason was only in me.
— Did you ask to terminate the contract, or were you asked?
— I think it was a mutual desire. We shook hands and parted ways.
Serhiy Demyanchuk
