Today’s day gifted the world several famous people who closely tied their lives with football:
Sergey FedorovSergey Fedorov (1975) — former Ukrainian footballer. He played as a defender. A graduate of Kyiv’s “Dynamo”. He spent most of his career with the “white-blues”. He also played for teams: CSKA (Kyiv) and “Chornomorets” (Odesa). He played 29 matches for the national team of Ukraine (scored 1 goal) and 17 games for the youth team. He is now an assistant coach of the first team of “Dynamo”.
Claude Makélélé (1973) — former French footballer of Zairian descent. Known for his performances for Real Madrid, Chelsea, and French PSG. After retiring from playing, Claude remained at the Parisian club, where he worked as the assistant coach of the team.
Roberto Baggio (1967) — former Italian footballer. He played as a withdrawn forward and attacking midfielder. Best player in the world and Europe in 1993, winner of the UEFA Cup 1992/93, silver medalist of the 1994 World Cup, bronze medalist of the 1990 World Cup, Italian Champion in the 1994/95 and 1995/96 seasons, winner of the Coppa Italia 1994/95. The only Italian footballer to have scored goals in three World Cups.
Bobby Robson (1933-2009) — former English footballer and coach. During his 20 years of professional career, Robson played as a forward for just 3 clubs: Fulham, West Bromwich Albion, and the Canadian Vancouver Royals. He played 20 matches for the England national team, scoring 4 goals; he participated in the World Cups of 1958 and 1962.
After finishing his football career, he became a renowned coach. After 13 years with Ipswich, in 1982 he took charge of the England national team, which he led in the 1986 and 1990 World Cups, as well as at the European Championship in 1988. In the 1990s, despite health problems (in 1991 doctors found cancer in Robson), he successfully managed various European clubs, winning the Dutch and Portuguese championships, and with Barcelona, he won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1996/97. Robson’s last club was Newcastle United, which he left in 2004.
Vladimir Levchenko (1944-2006) — former Soviet defender. He dedicated his entire football career to one club — Kyiv’s “Dynamo”, where he became the champion of the USSR three times and the holder of the USSR Cup twice. He played three games for the USSR national team and participated in Euro 1968.
On May 13, 1971, while driving a car, he got into a car accident in Kyiv at the intersection of Bohdanivskyi Lane and Vozdukhoflotskyi Avenue. He sustained serious injuries and experienced clinical death. He survived but was forced to end his playing career and became an ordinary builder after the accident.
