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Leonid GaidarzhiSoviet and Ukrainian football player and coach
Date of Birth: 20.05.1959
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
Football Career as a Player
Born of Bulgarian descent, the Soviet and Ukrainian football player began his professional career with Chornomorets Odesa's reserve team. Over three seasons, he scored 16 goals before moving on to SKA Odesa and Krystal Kherson. In 1986, he returned to Chornomorets Odesa, helping the team return to the first division the following year after being relegated.
In 1987, he reached the Higher League of Ukraine with Chornomorets, earning the title of Champion of the First League of the USSR and the title of Master of Sports of the USSR. He played for Tavriya in 1989 before returning to Kherson, where he briefly served as a player-coach from May to June 1992.
Football Career as a Coach
Following his playing career, he became involved in coaching. He received the highest qualification of football coach in 1995-1996 after studying at the Higher School of Coaches of Ukraine.
In 1997/98, he was the player-coach of Desna Chernihiv and became the head coach of Vinnytsia in the 1998/99 season. He also served as the head coach of Vinnytsia in the 1999/00 season until May.
Coaching Career Highlights
In 2000/01, he worked as a coach for Zvezda Kirovohrad. From 2001 to 2003, he became the head coach of Chornomorets Odesa, leading the team to the Higher League of Ukraine. He later returned as an assistant coach until December 2004.
From 2005-2007, he was the head coach of MFC Mykolaiv, leading the team to victory in the Second Ukrainian League in 2005/06.
In 2003, he received a Category "A" football coaching license and was appointed director of Chornomorets Odesa's youth academy in December 2008. Since December 2014, he has been coaching the Odesa football club SOHO.NET.
Achievements
- Champion of the First League of the USSR (Chornomorets 1986-1987)- Champion of the Second Ukrainian League (MFC Mykolaiv 2005/06)
- Finalist of the Ukrainian Cup (FC Nyva Vinnytsia 1996)
- Received Category "A" football coaching license in 2003
- Played 101 matches in the Higher League of Ukraine and 482 matches in various master teams, scoring 66 goals
