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Oleg BazilevichHonored coach of the USSR and Ukraine.
Date of Birth: 06.07.1938
Country:  Ukraine |
Content:
Oleg Bazylevych - A Biography
Oleg Bazylevych was a Soviet football player and coach, born on September 4, 1937, in the Ukrainian SSR. He was a highly respected figure in the world of football, known for his contributions as a player, coach, and strategist.
Playing Career
Bazylevych began his playing career at Dynamo Kyiv, where he played alongside the renowned coach Valeriy Lobanovskyi. He was part of the Dynamo Kyiv team that achieved significant success, winning the Soviet championship in 1961 and the Soviet Cup in 1964. Bazylevych played as a forward and displayed great skill and scoring ability throughout his career. In total, he played 228 matches in the Soviet championships and scored 68 goals.
Coaching Career
After retiring as a player, Bazylevych shifted his focus to coaching. He started his coaching journey at Shakhtar Donetsk, where he built a strong and talented team. In 1974, he was invited by Valeriy Lobanovskyi to join Dynamo Kyiv as a coach. Together, they formed a successful coaching duo and achieved remarkable victories for both Ukrainian and Soviet football on the European stage.
However, their success was short-lived, as Dynamo Kyiv and the Soviet national team had a disappointing performance in 1976, losing to their opponents in all international tournaments. As a result, Bazylevych was asked to leave the team.
Following his departure from Dynamo Kyiv, Bazylevych spent two seasons coaching Dynamo Minsk before accepting an offer to work with Uzbekistan's Pakhtakor Tashkent for the 1979 season. Unfortunately, that year witnessed one of the most tragic incidents in Soviet football history when the majority of the Pakhtakor team perished in a plane crash over Dniprodzerzhynsk. Bazylevych, by sheer chance, did not board that flight.
Bazylevych continued to contribute to the football community by assisting in the recruitment of players from other clubs for Pakhtakor. However, he did not remain with the team for the next season, as he had his sights set on potential success with the CSKA Moscow team.
Although Bazylevych did not achieve the same level of success with CSKA Moscow, he later acknowledged that negative influences from the "shadow sports economy" hindered the team's progress. Despite his best efforts, he was unable to counteract these influences without support from the club's management and the military establishment.
After his tenure with CSKA Moscow, Bazylevych dedicated part of his time to writing his dissertation. In 1984, he made the decision to coach Zorya Voroshilovgrad, which he later admitted was a mistake.
Later Career and Honors
In October 1992, Bazylevych became the head coach of the Ukrainian national team, but he did not achieve significant success with the team. Throughout his career, he made invaluable contributions to the development of football strategies and tactics, earning him the title of Honored Coach of the USSR and Ukraine.
Bazylevych received several honors and awards for his achievements in football, including the Order of Merit of the III Degree in 2004.
Oleg Bazylevych's passion for football, dedication, and strategic insights continue to make a lasting impact on the sport even after his passing on March 26, 2017.
