
Andriy Shevchenko turns 50: born in Dvirkivshchyna in 1976, after a childhood marked by Chernobyl, he became a star of Dinamo Kiev, top scorer on his debut in Serie A with Milan in 1999, won the Champions League in 2003 and the Ballon d'Or in 2004, then experience at Chelsea, return to Milan and Dinamo Kiev, became technical commissioner of Ukraine until in the quarterfinals of Euro 2020, today president of the Ukrainian Football Federation and ambassador of peace for the country at war.
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Andriy Shevchenko, born in 1976 in Dvirkivshchyna, grew up after his family was displaced by the Chernobyl disaster. Football became his opportunity for redemption, leading him to become one of the brightest stars in European and world football.
Andriy Shevchenko turns 50, career and victories of the former AC Milan striker
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THE LANDING AT DYNAMO KIEV AND THE FIRST EUROPEAN REFLECTION
Born in Dvirkivshchyna on September 29, 1976, Andriy Shevchenko soon crossed paths with history with a capital 'S', when his family was forced to evacuate due to the Chernobyl disaster. Football immediately becomes an opportunity for redemption. Noticed by the legendary coach Valeriy Lobanovsky, Shevchenko grew up in the Dynamo Kiev academy, revealing himself to the world in the 1997-98 season, when the hat-trick at the Camp Nou against Barcelona certified the birth of a new star on the European scene.
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TOP GOALSCORER IN THE FIRST YEAR OF SERIE A
In 1999, president Silvio Berlusconi spared no expense and did not hesitate to shell out 41 billion lire to bring him to Milan. Shevchenko's impact on Serie A was devastating: he won the title of top scorer on his debut with 24 goals. Under the guidance of Carlo Ancelotti, Sheva established himself as one of the most prolific strikers in the history of the Rossoneri club, scoring 175 goals in eight seasons.
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THE CONQUEST OF THE CHAMPIONS AND THE GOLDEN BALLON
The high point of his AC Milan epic came in May 2003, when he kicked and scored the decisive penalty in the Champions League final in Manchester against Juventus. The following year, in 2004, he raised the Golden Ball to the sky which consecrated him as the best player on the planet. Shevchenko thus becomes the third Ukrainian to win the award after Oleg Blochin and Igor Belanov.
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THE CHIAROSCURO EXPERIENCE AT CHELSEA
In the summer of 2006 he gave in to the flattery of Roman Abramovich and moved to Chelsea. In England, also due to some injuries, he was unable to replicate the Italian scoring averages, but still enriched his palmares with an FA Cup and a League Cup.
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RETURN TO THE ORIGINS BEFORE THE GOODBYE TO PLAYING FOOTBALL
After a romantic, albeit negligible, loan return to Milan, he decided to close the circle of his competitive career where it all began, wearing the Dynamo Kiev shirt and saying goodbye to the football he played after the home European Championship in 2012.
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THE EXPERIENCE AS TECHNICAL COMMISSIONER OF UKRAINE
Having finished his career as a footballer, Shevchenko did not abandon the colors of his country, not even in its darkest historical period. She became the first coach of the Ukrainian national team, guiding them to the historic goal of the quarter-finals at Euro 2020.
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COMMITMENT ON THE FRONTLINE IN THE COUNTRY WOUNDED BY THE WAR
Today, however, he holds the position of president of the Ukrainian Football Federation, facing the toughest challenge: keeping sport and hope alive in a country wounded by war.
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AN AMBASSADOR OF PEACE FOR UKRAINE
In a dramatic historical moment for his country, Shevchenko has chosen to transform himself into Kiev's ambassador, so as not to draw attention to a conflict that has now lasted for more than four years. A commitment also certified by the appointment as independent advisor received by President Volodymyr Zelensky in 2023.
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Shevchenko will continue to lead the Ukrainian Football Federation in the coming years, working to rebuild the country's football after the war.
Likely · Within years
Ukraine could qualify for the next international tournaments despite the difficulties of the war.
Possible · Within years

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