Andriy Shevchenko facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Andriy Shevchenko
Андрій Шевченко
Shevchenko as Ukraine manager in 2017
President of the Ukrainian Association of Football
Incumbent
Assumed office 25 January 2024
Preceded by	Oleh Protasov
Personal details
Born	Andriy Mykolayovych Shevchenko (1976-09-29) 29 September 1976 (age 48) Dvirkivshchyna, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union (now Ukraine)
Political party	SDPU(u) (1998–2005) Ukraine – Forward! (2012)
Spouse	Kristen Pazik ​ (m. 2004)​
Children	4
Relatives	Mike Pazik (father-in-law)
Occupation	Footballer manager sports administrator
Andriy Shevchenko Personal information Height 1.83 m Playing position Striker Youth career 1986–1993 Dynamo Kyiv Senior career* Years Team Apps† (Gls)† 1993–1996 Dynamo-2 Kyiv 51 (16) 1993–1999 Dynamo Kyiv 117 (60) 1999–2006 AC Milan 208 (127) 2006–2009 Chelsea 48 (9) 2008–2009 → AC Milan (loan) 18 (0) 2009–2012 Dynamo Kyiv 55 (23) Total 497 (235) National team 1994–1995 Ukraine U19 8 (5) 1994–1995 Ukraine U21 7 (6) 1995–2012 Ukraine 111 (48) Teams managed 2016–2021 Ukraine 2021–2022 Genoa Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Andriy Mykolayovych Shevchenko (born 29 September 1976) is a famous Ukrainian former professional football player and manager. He played as a striker for top clubs like Dynamo Kyiv, AC Milan, and Chelsea. Shevchenko also played for the Ukraine national team. He is known as one of the greatest strikers ever and Ukraine's best player. He is the all-time top scorer for the Ukraine national team with 48 goals.

Shevchenko started his career at Dynamo Kyiv, winning five league titles. He then moved to Milan, becoming one of Europe's best strikers. He won the UEFA Champions League in 2003 with Milan. He also won many league and cup titles in Ukraine, Italy, and England. In 2004, he received the Ballon d'Or award, given to the best football player in Europe. He also captained Ukraine to the quarter-finals in their first FIFA World Cup in 2006.

Shevchenko is the seventh top goalscorer in all UEFA club competitions. He scored 175 goals for Milan, making him the club's second-highest scorer ever. He also holds the record for most goals in the Derby della Madonnina (the Milan vs. Inter Milan derby) with 14 goals. After retiring from playing in 2012, he briefly entered politics. He returned to football in 2016, becoming the head coach of the Ukraine national team. He led them to the quarter-finals at UEFA Euro 2020. In January 2024, Shevchenko became the President of the Ukrainian Football Association.

Early Life and Football Start

Andriy Shevchenko was born in Dvirkivshchyna, Ukraine, in 1976. His family moved to Kyiv when he was young. At age 9, he joined a football section. Due to the Chernobyl accident, he was temporarily moved away from the city with his sports group. He also played boxing as a child but chose to focus on football.

Joining Dynamo Kyiv

In 1986, Shevchenko tried out for a special sports school in Kyiv but didn't pass. However, a Dynamo Kyiv scout saw him play in a youth tournament. This led to him joining the famous club. Four years later, he played in the Ian Rush Cup for Dynamo's under-14 team. He was the top scorer and won a pair of boots from the famous player Ian Rush.

Shevchenko began his professional career at 16. He played his first game for Dynamo-2 Kyiv in May 1993. In the 1993–94 season, he was the top scorer for Dynamo-2 with 12 goals. He scored his first hat-trick in November 1993.

He made his top league debut for Dynamo Kyiv in November 1994 when he was 18. That year, he helped Dynamo win the national league and cup. He won his second league title the next season, scoring 6 goals. He scored a hat-trick against Barcelona in a 1997–98 UEFA Champions League match, which Dynamo won 4–0. He scored 28 goals in all competitions in the 1998–99 season. He won the domestic league title with Dynamo in all five of his seasons there.

Playing for Top European Clubs

AC Milan Success

In 1999, Shevchenko joined Italian club Milan. This was a record transfer fee of $25 million at the time. He quickly became a star, scoring 24 goals in his first season. He was one of only a few foreign players to win the Serie A top goalscorer award in their first year. He continued his great form in the 2000–01 season, scoring 24 league goals.

Shevchenko with AC Milan during a UEFA Champions League game in 2004

In 2003, Shevchenko became the first Ukrainian-born player to win the Champions League with Milan. He scored a key goal against rivals Inter Milan in the semi-final. He then scored the winning penalty in the final against Juventus. After winning, he took his medal to the grave of his former coach, Valeriy Lobanovskyi. He also scored the winning goal in the 2003 UEFA Super Cup. In the 2003–04 season, he was the top scorer again with 24 goals. Milan won the Scudetto (Italian league title) that year. In 2004, he won the Ballon d'Or, becoming the third Ukrainian to do so.

On 23 November 2005, Shevchenko made Champions League history. He scored all four goals in Milan's 4–0 win against Fenerbahçe. He was only the fifth player to achieve this. Milan later lost the final to Liverpool, with Shevchenko missing the deciding penalty. He finished the 2005–06 Champions League as the top scorer with 9 goals. He left Milan in 2006 with 175 goals in 296 games.

Time at Chelsea

Shevchenko with Chelsea in 2007

In May 2006, Shevchenko moved to Chelsea for a record fee of £30.8 million. He wore the number seven shirt. He scored on his debut for Chelsea in the FA Community Shield in August 2006. He scored his first Premier League goal later that month. He scored 14 goals in 51 games in his first season. This season was cut short due to injury.

In the 2007–08 season, he scored an important goal against Rosenborg. This was José Mourinho's last game as Chelsea manager. Shevchenko scored twice in a thrilling 4–4 draw against Aston Villa. He finished the season with five league goals in 17 games.

Loan Back to Milan

Shevchenko was not playing often at Chelsea. In 2008, he was loaned back to Milan for the 2008–09 season. He struggled to score, getting only 2 goals in 26 games. After this loan, he returned to Chelsea briefly.

Return to Dynamo Kyiv

On 28 August 2009, Shevchenko signed a two-year deal with his old club, Dynamo Kyiv. He scored a penalty in his first game back. He often played as a left winger or central midfielder. In October, he was named the best player in the Ukrainian Premier League. He scored against Inter Milan in the Champions League, his 15th goal against them. On 28 July 2012, Shevchenko announced he was quitting football to go into politics.

International Career for Ukraine

Shevchenko presented with a Ukraine shirt before making his 100th appearance in 2010.

Shevchenko played 111 games and scored 48 goals for the Ukraine national team. He played in the 2006 FIFA World Cup and UEFA Euro 2012. He first played for Ukraine in 1995. He scored his first international goal in May 1996.

He scored six goals in the qualifiers for the 2006 World Cup. This helped Ukraine reach their first major tournament. He was the team captain at the finals. He scored in Ukraine's first World Cup win, a 4–0 victory over Saudi Arabia. He then scored the winning penalty against Tunisia. Ukraine reached the quarter-finals but lost to Italy.

Shevchenko celebrates scoring against Sweden at Euro 2012.

Shevchenko wanted to play in UEFA Euro 2012 in his home country. In May 2012, he was picked for the squad. In Ukraine's first game, he scored two headers to beat Sweden 2–1. After Ukraine was out of the tournament, Shevchenko announced his retirement from international football. He was Ukraine's youngest and oldest goalscorer, and their record goalscorer.

Playing Style

Shevchenko's number 7 Milan jersey in the San Siro museum

Shevchenko was a fast, hardworking, and skilled striker. He was great at scoring goals and finding good positions. He could play as a main striker or from the left side. He was known for his speed and clever movement without the ball. He also had a powerful and accurate shot with both feet. Even though he didn't often head the ball, he was good at it. Many compared him to the great striker Marco van Basten. Shevchenko also had good technical skills and could dribble well. He could also help his teammates by setting up goals.

Coaching and Management Career

Ukraine National Team Coach

Shevchenko during a game between Ukraine and Iceland in 2016

In November 2012, Shevchenko first said no to becoming the head coach of the Ukraine national team. But from February to July 2016, he worked as an assistant manager. On 15 July 2016, Shevchenko was named the manager of the Ukraine national team. He signed a two-year contract. He brought in former players and coaches to help him. On 14 October 2019, Shevchenko led Ukraine to qualify for Euro 2020. They beat Portugal 2–1 at home.

At UEFA Euro 2020, Shevchenko led Ukraine to the quarter-finals. This was the first time in their history. They got through the group stage and beat Sweden in extra time. They then lost to England. On 1 August 2021, he announced he was leaving the role.

Genoa Coach

On 7 November 2021, Shevchenko became the new head coach of Italian club Genoa. He signed a contract until 2024. His first game was a 2–0 loss to Roma. On 15 January 2022, Shevchenko was sacked after just two months. He had won only one match and lost seven.

Beyond Football

Political Involvement

In the late 1990s, Shevchenko and other Dynamo Kyiv players supported a political party. After retiring from football in June 2012, Shevchenko joined a political party called Ukraine – Forward! He was second on their list for the October 2012 Ukrainian parliamentary election. However, his party did not win enough votes to get seats in parliament.

National Olympic Committee

Shevchenko became the Vice President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine on 17 November 2022. He left in January 2023 because he disagreed with the election results for the new President. In January 2024, he was elected President of the Ukrainian Football Association.

Personal Life

Shevchenko in a poster campaign for the Ukrainian branch of UNICEF, 2012

Andriy Shevchenko is married to American model Kristen Pazik. They met in 2002 and married in 2004. They have four sons. When his first son was born, Shevchenko scored a goal and dedicated it to him. The owner of AC Milan, Silvio Berlusconi, was his son's godfather.

Shevchenko is good friends with fashion designer Giorgio Armani. He has modeled for Armani and opened two stores with him in Kyiv. He also started an online fashion website with his wife. Shevchenko is an ambassador for the SOS Children's Villages charity. He also has a foundation to help orphaned children. In 2022, he became an ambassador for United24, a Ukrainian aid organization.

Shevchenko enjoys golf and played in his first professional golf tournament in 2013. He has also played in charity football matches like Soccer Aid. Besides his native Russian, he speaks English, Italian, and some Ukrainian. He is working to improve his Ukrainian. Shevchenko has spoken out for peace in the War in Ukraine.

Honours and Awards

Dynamo Kyiv

• Vyshcha Liha: 1994–95, 1995–96, 1996–97, 1997–98, 1998–99
• Ukrainian Cup: 1995–96, 1997–98, 1998–99
• Ukrainian Super Cup: 2011
• Commonwealth of Independent States Cup: 1996, 1997, 1998

AC Milan

• Serie A: 2003–04
• Coppa Italia: 2002–03
• Supercoppa Italiana: 2004
• UEFA Champions League: 2002–03; runner-up: 2004–05
• UEFA Super Cup: 2003

Chelsea

• FA Cup: 2006–07
• Football League Cup: 2006–07
• UEFA Champions League: runner-up: 2007–08

Individual Awards

• Ballon d'Or: 2004
• Ukrainian Footballer of the Year: 1997, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2004, 2005
• UEFA Champions League top scorer: 1998-1999, 2005-2006
• UEFA Club Forward of the Year: 1998–99
• UEFA Team of the Year: 2004, 2005
• Serie A Foreign Footballer of the Year: 2000
• Serie A top scorer: 1999-00, 2003–04
• Golden Foot: 2005
• FIFPro World XI: 2005
• FIFA 100 (list of top 125 living footballers)
• AC Milan Hall of Fame
• Italian Football Hall of Fame: 2023

Images for kids

• 

  Anatoliy Tymoshchuk and Shevchenko being honoured by UEFA in 2011 for their 100th cap. They are the first and third, respectively, most capped players in the history of Ukraine.

See Also

In Spanish: Andriy Shevchenko para niños

• List of footballers with 100 or more UEFA Champions League appearances
• List of top international men's football goalscorers by country
• List of men's footballers with 100 or more international caps