Igor Belanov: biography and sporting achievements, photo

Who does not know the name of Igor Belanov from the true connoisseurs of football? A great football player, the owner of the "Golden Ball", there is much more to be said about this man. But let's talk about everything in order.

Igor Belanov: biography

A well-known football player was born on September 25, 1960 in Odessa. Spent a lot of time in the yards, playing with the guys. After the attempt to enter the school Odessa "Chernomorets" was denied due to small growth. However, Igor did not abandon his favorite occupation and played for the team of the local housing office, where he still got into the double of the main Odessa football club. In parallel, he graduated from vocational school and worked for a while at a local construction site.

When he turned 18, began to serve in the SKA "Odessa". Matches in the second league gave him confidence in their abilities, so in 1981 he was able to get into the main part of "Chernomorets". On the football field, Belanov differed in that he hit the ball hard and accurately. Possessing high-speed qualities, he, along with the ball, went into isolation from the defenders to meet the goalkeeper.

In 1983, his game was noticed by the mentors of the USSR Olympic team. For this team, Belanov played 2 matches at the official level and the same number in friendly matches. In the asset of the player - one goal scored.

Kyiv Dynamo - career peak

In 1985, Igor Belanov changed Odessa to Kiev, taking the transition to Dynamo. In this club the football player has fully revealed his talent. The main coach of the USSR national team Eduard Malofeev invited him to play against the Danes. However, the first pancake for Belanov turned out to be a lump: the team was defeated with a score of 2-4, and he himself received negative feedback from the coach. Subsequently, Igor was not involved in the fights for the national team, until it was headed by Valery Lobanovsky.

Recognition in matches for the first team of the country

At the 1986 World Championships in Mexico, Belanov was the player of the USSR national team's base and 100% justified the hopes placed on him. In all its glory, the player showed himself in a duel against the Belgians at the stage of the 1/8 finals, despite the final defeat. The main time of the winner did not reveal - 2-2, and in overtime Lobanovsky's wards lost with a score of 3-4. Distinguished Igor Belanov in the game. It was he who scored the goals in this dramatic duel for his national team. After the ill-fated duel in the USSR, the culprit of the loss was the referee Eric Fredrickson, who made many mistakes.

"Golden Ball"

A beautiful game of a football player at the world championship in Mexico and his successful performance in Kiev Dynamo, in 1986 he added to his club collection Cup of Cup Winners, received universal recognition. According to the magazine "France Football", Belanova was considered the best player in Europe in 1986. He was a big winner from the nearest competitors in the poll, earning 86 points. Ukrainian rivals were players Gary Lineker and Emilio Butragueño, who scored 62 and 59 points respectively.

His football club "Dynamo" received his "Golden Ball" award only on March 18, 1987 before the match with the Turkish "Besiktas" in the ¼ finals of the European Champions Cup. As later noted Belanov, from the surging emotions he was worried and could not hit the opponent's gate. 4 minutes before the end of the main time, the player had the opportunity to score from the penalty spot, but ran the ball into the crossbar. Thus, for the first time, Belanov did not differ from the penalty mark.

Another such insulting case with the footballer occurred in the final match of the European championship in 1998 in Germany, when the USSR national team was confronted by the Netherlands team. During the match representatives of the country of tulips won with a score of 2-0. Belanov in the 60th minute had the opportunity to revive the intrigue in the match. However, he launched the ball from the penalty spot on his way found the goalkeeper's boot.

German tour

In 1989, Igor Ivanovich Belanov signed a contract with Borussia from Mönchengladbach. A successful start, when he managed to lead the list of scorers and effectively hit the gate, "Bayer", soon gave way to a series of injuries and conflict situations with coaches. The football player could not fully prove himself in the German championship for a number of reasons.

Strongly spoiled Belanov's reputation scandalous story with the friends of his wife, who were caught stealing in the store. German media strongly distorted the situation and tried to denigrate the name of the player himself. Belanov on the advice of football player Lothar Matthaus did not start to sue journalists. The place in the first team was lost because of the conflict situation with the head coach. After that, the club decided to sell the player to Eintracht from Braunschweig in 1991. In his new club, Belanov stayed until 1994, having scored 21 times in 67 games at the opponent's gate.

Sunset career

After appearances abroad Belanov came to Ukraine and played a little in the championship of the Odessa region. Then he moved to Odessa "Chernomorets", but after playing three matches was injured and could not help out the team until the end of the season. Then he went to the Mariupol Metallurg, where he played 5 matches and decided to finish the player's career. In his hometown footballer in 2012 was installed a commemorative star in his honor.

Igor Belanov - a football player with a capital letter. He often takes the "Golden Ball" with him to show it to the athletes. According to him, this will motivate children to engage in football more intensively. In the world there is nothing impossible, therefore it is necessary to set a goal and to go to it persistently, emphasizes Belanov in his example.