Andrey Biba Football player Date of Birth: 10.08.1937 Country: Ukraine

1. Soviet football player, midfielder
2. Early Life and Career
3. Playing for Dynamo Kyiv
4. Relationship with Valeriy Lobanovskyi
5. Meeting Pele

Soviet football player, midfielder

Andrei Biba was a Soviet football player who played as a midfielder. He had a successful career playing for Dynamo Kyiv and was part of the team that won the Soviet Union championship in 1961. Biba was known for his technical skills and physical fitness, which were attributes valued by his coach Vyacheslav Solovyov.

Early Life and Career

Andrei Biba was born in the Soviet Union and began his football career at a young age. He was fortunate to be accepted into the Kyiv Youth Football School, which produced many famous football players. Biba later joined the Kyiv Football School of Youth, where he received a scholarship of 800 rubles, which was a significant amount of money at the time. He continued his education in the evening school and later attended the Institute of Physical Education.

Playing for Dynamo Kyiv

In 1959, at the age of 34, Vyacheslav Solovyov became the coach of Dynamo Kyiv and started building a young team. Biba, along with other talented players such as Anatoliy Banishevskiy and Valeriy Voronin, became part of this new generation of players. Under Solovyov's leadership, Dynamo Kyiv achieved great success, winning the Soviet Union championship in 1961 and becoming the first non-Moscow team to win the title.

Relationship with Valeriy Lobanovskyi

Solovyov was known for his cultural and intellectual approach to the game, and he introduced his players to other aspects of life beyond football. This influenced Biba and his teammates, including Valeriy Lobanovskyi, who later became a successful coach himself. They frequented theaters and cultural events, and this exposure to arts and culture became a significant part of their lives.

Meeting Pele

In 1966, Biba had the opportunity to play against the legendary Brazilian team, led by Pele and Garrincha, in a friendly match held in Moscow. Despite losing the game, Biba had the chance to meet Pele and even got an autograph from the football icon. This encounter became a memorable moment in Biba's career.

Overall, Andrei Biba had a successful football career, playing for Dynamo Kyiv and representing the Soviet Union. He was known for his technical skills and contribution to the team's success. After retiring from professional football, Biba remained involved in the sport and continued to be a respected figure in the football community.