Vitaliy Staruhin Footballer for Donetsk Shakhtar, recognized as the best player of the year in the USSR in 1979. Date of Birth: 06.06.1949 Country: Russia

1. Childhood and Early Footballing Career
2. Early Club Career
3. Controversial Transfer to Shakhtar Donetsk
4. Breakthrough with Shakhtar Donetsk
5. Departure from Shakhtar Donetsk
6. Later Career and Legacy
7. Personal Life

Childhood and Early Footballing Career

Vitaly Starukhin was born on June 12, 1949, in Minsk, Belarus. His father was a World War II veteran and a guerrilla commander. Starukhin began playing football at the age of 11 at a local youth academy. Initially a goalkeeper, he later transitioned to midfield.

Early Club Career

Starukhin played for Sputnik Minsk and Gvardeets Minsk, winning two Belarusian republic championships with the former. During his military service, he played for SKA Odessa before moving to Stroitel Poltava. Despite playing primarily in midfield, his abilities as a forward were recognized by coach Yuriy Voynov.

Controversial Transfer to Shakhtar Donetsk

In 1972, Shakhtar Donetsk officials attempted to "steal" Starukhin from Poltava. Despite a Federation ban, Starukhin played for Shakhtar's reserve team under an alias. However, his prolific goalscoring drew attention, leading to a summons to the USSR youth team. Starukhin's absence from the hospital allegedly due to meningitis prevented him from joining the team. He later played under various false names in Shakhtar's reserve team.

Breakthrough with Shakhtar Donetsk

Starukhin made his debut for Shakhtar in a friendly against Cuba in 1972. As a natural center forward, he seamlessly integrated into the team's style of play. His peak came in the 1979 season, when he became the league's top scorer with 26 goals and was named USSR Footballer of the Year.

Departure from Shakhtar Donetsk

Despite being relatively injury-free, Starukhin was released by Shakhtar in 1981 as the club sought to rejuvenate its squad. Some speculate that his departure was due to an injury he sustained in a match against Spartak Moscow, which was seen as suspicious behavior by club management.

Later Career and Legacy

Starukhin retired as a player in 1984. He went on to coach at Shakhtar's youth academy and officiated local football matches. He played in veterans' matches and was a member of the Grigory Fedotov Club for scoring over 120 goals.

Starukhin's legacy includes leading Shakhtar to the European Cup, winning the USSR Cup, and being named Ukraine's Footballer of the Year in 1979. In 2010, a slag heap in Donetsk near the Shakhtar stadium was named in his honor.

Personal Life

Starukhin's wife was Larisa, and his son, Vitaly Jr., played football in the Ukrainian lower leagues. One of his most famous students as a coach was Valeriy Kriventsov, a former Shakhtar player. Starukhin passed away on August 9, 2000, at the age of 51, from pneumonia and pulmonary edema.