 |
Team News |  |
World Cup Player Profiles | |
Fixtures | |
Betting | |
Mobile |  |
Ukraine
Latest News / Squad / Team Profile / Player Profiles / Betting / Results
Andriy Shevchenko
06/04/2006: Someone with the God-given football ability of Shevchenko is almost always spotted early.
The striker was just nine when he was picked out by then Dynamo Kiev coach Olexandr Shpakov.
He made his professional debut at 16, making his first appearance in Europe's premier competition the Champions League just a year later.
After spending a dominant spell with Dynamo picking up no less than five Ukranian championships and scoring a memorable hat-trick against Barcelona in 1997, Shevchenko made the inevitable move to one of Europe's giant clubs, AC Milan.
The 29-year-old is arguably at the height of his career. Despite being in an ageing Milan side, he earned the title of European Player of the Year in 2004.
The most prolific scorer ever to put on the Ukrainian shirt with 28 goals, Shevchenko has a very good claim as the world's greatest striker.
Ranked 42 in the world, this summer's World Cup is the first ever for the Ukranians and with such a gem at their helm, no one would bet against them progressing.
Ukraine
Andriy Shevchenko (06/04/2006)