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Konstantin EseninAn outstanding Soviet sports journalist and statistician, a football specialist
Date of Birth: 03.02.1920
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Content:
- Early Life and Family
- Education and Military Service
- Professional Career
- Football Passion
- Journalism and Writing
- Achievements
- - Players with the most appearances in the USSR championships.
Early Life and Family
Konstantin Сергеyevich Yesenin, the renowned Soviet sports journalist, was born in Moscow on February 3, 1920. His father was the legendary poet Sergei Yesenin, and his mother was the actress Zinaida Reich. Konstantin had a close bond with his father, but following his tragic death in 1925, he was raised by Reich and her second husband, the renowned theater director Vsevolod Meyerhold.
Education and Military Service
After graduating from Moscow School No. 86 in Krasnaya Presnya, Yesenin pursued higher education at the Moscow Civil Engineering Institute, which he completed after the Great Patriotic War. During the war, Yesenin volunteered for the front in November 1941. He fought valiantly in the 92nd Leningrad Rifle Division, defending Leningrad during the siege. After the blockade was broken, he was deployed to the Karelian Isthmus and later commanded a company in the 1st Assault Battalion. He received three severe wounds during the war and was awarded the Order of the Red Star twice.
Professional Career
After the war, Yesenin contributed to Soviet construction efforts, working as a foreman and construction site manager on various projects, including the Central Lenin Stadium in Luzhniki. He also held positions as a consultant in the Cabinet of Ministers of the USSR and as a chief specialist at Gosstroy of the RSFSR.
Football Passion
Yesenin's passion for football began before the war, and he excelled as a young player, even playing in the Moscow youth championship finals in 1936. After the war, he continued to play football at the competitive level and began collecting football statistics, quickly establishing himself as an expert in the field. His unique approach to data analysis, which he jokingly referred to as "football arithmetic," brought a fresh perspective to the sport.
Journalism and Writing
From 1955 onward, Yesenin embarked on a prolific journalistic career, contributing to prominent publications such as "Sovetsky Sport," "Moskovsky Komsomolets," "Football," and "Sportive Games." He was a renowned historian and popularizer of football, known for his meticulous research and entertaining writing style. Yesenin initiated the creation of the "Grigory Fedotov Club" in 1967 and the "Nikolai Zhigulin's Club" in 1980, which honored legendary Soviet footballers.
Achievements
Yesenin made significant contributions to the world of football statistics. He compiled comprehensive lists of:
- All matches played by the USSR national team (both official and unofficial).
- Top scorers, which led to the establishment of the Grigory Fedotov Goal-Scoring Club.
- Players with the most appearances in the USSR championships.
- Trainers of Soviet football clubs.Personal Life
Yesenin married three times. His first marriage resulted in the birth of his daughter Marina. He later married Sicilian Markovna in 1951, and their marriage lasted until 1980. His third and final marriage was to Alina Ivanovna Yesenina, who passed away in 2019. Konstantin Yesenin passed away on April 26, 1986, and was laid to rest at Vagankovo Cemetery in Moscow, next to his father's grave.
