Lobanovsky Tournament


Valeri Lobanovsky was probably one of the most famous coaches that the world has known. He started his career off as a left winger for Dynamo Kyiv and also played for Chernomorets Odessa, and Shakhtar Donetsk. As a player he was known as a maverick, who could not be told what to do. it therefore seems ironic that as a coach he pioneered a system where the players had to fit into the system or get out, and he was known as a strict authoritarian, who would not tolerate players breaking the system.


He started his coaching career at Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, where he had four unremarkable seasons before returning to Dynamo. At Dynamo he built one of the most feared teams in Europe, and a team that would dominate the Soviet and later the Ukrainian League. He also coached the USSR team, who did so well in the Olympics in the 1980's, who were tipped to do well at Mexico 1986 and who reached the final of the European Championships in 1988. Not surprisingly the backbone of these teams was made up of Dynamo Kyiv players, it has also been suggested that he would have played only Ukrainians, as they already knew his system, but was afraid of the fall out from Moscow if he failed. He is therefore one of the greatest heros in Ukrainian history, and not just its footballing history. Sure, he did have his bad side, and one that is characteristic of Ukraine, Dynamo were once kicked out of Europe for trying to bribe a referee, and his alcohol problem was probably even worse than Brian Clough's. However, his Dynamo team are the only ukrainian team ever to win a European trophy, and he should be remembered for his triumphs.


He died on 14 May 2002, shortly after a 0-0 draw with Tavria, a game at which I was present. Since then Dynamo stadium has been renamed after him and a bronze statue has been erected outside. On the 1st anniversary of his death a tournament in his name was started. In 2003 the teams were CSKA Moscow, Lokomotiv Moscow, Dynamo and Shakhtar. The final was eventually won by Dynamo, but it was a fiercly contested affair with both teams going all out for the win. Platini was also in attendance. The games took place at Dynamo and the national stadium. That

year there were promises of Western Teams including Atletico Madrid taking place in the tournament the following year. At the time that didn't seem likely, as the tournament was in May obviously, and this was the end or near the end of the season for most Western teams. Sure enough the following season was also a few teams from the ex-Soviet Union.


I left Ukraine in 2003, shortly after that tournament and only returned last year. By then the tournament was being held in August and featured the Under 21 sides of Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Israel and Macedonia and was held at Bannikov and Dynamo. This year the tournament, according to the FFU site is going to be a one off game in Dnipropetrovsk with the under 21 sides of Ukraine and Bulgaria playing . If this is in fact the case then it seems sad that the tournament seems to be fizzling out. It's probably time for them to give up the tournament and remember the man in other ways or get some sponsors to inject some cash and enthusiasm back into the games.

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