Viktor Ponedelnik facts for kids

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Viktor Ponedelnik

Ponedelnik in 2015
Personal information
Full name	Viktor Vladimirovich Ponedelnik
Date of birth	(1937-05-22)22 May 1937
Place of birth	Rostov-on-Don, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union
Date of death	5 December 2020(2020-12-05) (aged 83)
Place of death	Moscow, Russia
Height	1.80 m
Playing position	Striker
Youth career
	Burevestnik Rostov-on-Don
	Rostov Military College
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1956–1958	Torpedo/Rostselmash	50	(31)
1959–1960	FC SKA Rostov-on-Don	45	(17)
1961	CSKA Moscow
1961–1965	SKA Rostov-on-Don	111	(37)
1966	FC Spartak Moscow
National team
1960–1964	Soviet Union	29	(20)
Teams managed
1969	Rostselmash Rostov-on-Don
Honours Representing  Soviet Union UEFA European Championship Winner 1960 France 1964 Spain
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Viktor Vladimirovich Ponedelnik (Russian: Виктор Владимирович Понедельник, born May 22, 1937 – died December 5, 2020) was a famous Russian footballer and manager. He played for the Soviet Union national team. He is best known for scoring the winning goal in the 1960 European Championship final. This was the only time the Soviet Union won this big football tournament.

Viktor Ponedelnik's Football Journey

Viktor Ponedelnik started playing football in 1956. His first team was called Rostselmash. In 1958, he moved to another team, SKA Rostov-on-Don. Soon after, he was asked to join the Soviet national team.

Winning the European Championship

In the 1960 European Championship, Viktor Ponedelnik made history. He scored the winning goal in extra time during the final game. This important goal was against Yugoslavia. It helped the Soviet Union win their only major football championship.

Ponedelnik played 29 games for his country. He scored 20 goals in these games. He stopped playing football in 1966. This was because he gained weight and had surgery for appendicitis.

Life After Football

After his playing career, Ponedelnik worked in different roles. He was a coach for a while. He also became a sports journalist. He even worked as an editor for a sports magazine called Football. Later, he became an advisor to the President of Russia.

Viktor Ponedelnik received many awards. These awards were for his great contributions to sports in the Soviet Union and Russia. He was married and had three children and four grandchildren.

Remembering a Legend

On August 28, 2015, a special monument was put up in Rostov-on-Don. It is at the Olimp-2 stadium. The monument shows a young Ponedelnik holding a cup. It reminds everyone of his famous win.

Monument depicting a young Ponedelnik with the cup in his hands.

Viktor Ponedelnik passed away on December 5, 2020. He was 83 years old. He was the last living player from the 1960 Soviet Union team that won the European Nations' Cup.

Awards and Achievements

Viktor Ponedelnik earned many awards during his career. These are called "honours."

International Achievements

USSR

• UEFA European Championship:
  • Winner: 1960
  • Runner-up: 1964

Individual Awards

• UEFA European Championship:
  • Golden Boot (top scorer) in 1960
  • Named to the Team of the Tournament in 1960
• Honored Master of Sports
• Order of the Badge of Honour: 1980
• Order of Friendship: 1997

See also

In Spanish: Víktor Ponedélnik para niños