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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Oleksandr Anatoliyovych Zavarov | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1961-04-26)26 April 1961 (age 64) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Luhansk,Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Midfielder | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Dynamo Kyiv (scout) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1968–1977 | Zorya Luhansk | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1977–1979 | Zorya Luhansk | 23 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1980–1981 | SKA Rostov | 64 | (13) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1982–1983 | Zorya Luhansk | 30 | (10) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1983–1988 | Dynamo Kyiv | 136 | (36) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1988–1990 | Juventus | 60 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1990–1995 | Nancy | 133 | (23) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–1998 | Saint-Dizier | ? | (17) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| International career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1979 | USSR youth | 3 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1981 | USSR under-21 | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| 1985–1990 | USSR | 41 | (6) | ||||||||||||||||||||
| Managerial career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1995–2003 | Saint Dizier CO | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2004 | FC Wil | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004 | FC Astana-1964 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005 | FC Metalist Kharkiv | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2010 | FC Arsenal Kyiv | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Ukraine (caretaker) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2016 | Ukraine (assistant) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2021 | Dynamo Kyiv (scout) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2025– | Vilkhivtsi (consultant coach) | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Oleksandr Anatoliyovych Zavarov (Ukrainian:Олександр Анатолійович Заваров; born 26 April 1961) is a Ukrainian formerfootballer and the former head coach ofFC Arsenal Kyiv. He became first among Soviets footballers who got transferred to West European world class club when he was picked byJuventus to replace the outgoingMichel Platini.[1][2]
In 1986, he was named the best footballer in theUSSR andUkraine and the 6th best footballer in Europe according toFrance Football. Zavarov is widely regarded to be among the greatest footballers in the history of theUSSR andUkraine, and in 2000 he was included in the Ukrainian Team of The Century according to a poll by theUkrainsky Futbol weekly.
Zavarov was born in Luhansk to family of worker who worked at foundry for one of the city's factories. He started to play early in his life first on streets and then the Zorya sports school of Olympic reserves. Later as senior in school he was offered to enroll to theKyiv sports boarding school to gain an opportunity to try forDynamo Kyiv reserves. However, the hometown club was quick on its feet and kept its player. When Zavarov was 16, the head coach of ZoryaYozhef Sabo took him to play for reserve squad and two years later Zavarov made his debut in theSoviet Top League.
With the Zorya sports school team, twice Zavarov reached finals of a children republican tournament "Leather Ball" but, alas, never won it.
Zavarov made his debut at professional level on April 27, 1979 in away match against the defending Soviet championFC Dinamo Tbilisi when he came on substitute forIgor Gamula after the first half. Zorya lost that match 0:3. His first goal Zavarov scored in his third match on "Victory Day" May 9, 1979, in away tie (2:2) againstSKA Rostov-na-Donu where both goals from Zavarov saved the game for Luhansk. In his first season for the Zorya first team, Zavorov played 23 games and scored 7 goals. However, his team placed second to lastthat season and was relegated. In the summer of 1979 following the1979 Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR,Valeriy Lobanovskyi offered Zavarov to joinDynamo Kyiv for the first time, but Zavarov refused by stating that he needs to consult with his mother.[3]
In 1979 Zavarov was a student at the Voroshilovgrad Pedagogical Institute, but nonetheless received a notice from the Soviet military entrance processing office to carry out hiscompulsory military service.[3] He had a choice to serve either in the army or the MVD (Ministry of Internal Affairs), but older teammates, the 1972 champions, were suggesting him against Dynamo (part of the MVD system). He was told that it would be difficult to outperform such players likeOleg Blokhin,Volodymyr Onyshchenko and others who played at that time for Dynamo.[3] Eventually, Zavarov joinedSKA Rostov-na-Donu (part of the Armed Forces society) and still has an ambiguous feeling about it whether he has done the right thing.[3] Particularly Zavarov hated that during his demobilization after two seasons he was pressured to remain at SKA, offered a higher military rank (praporschik), possibility of moving to the Central Armed Forces club,PFC CSKA Moscow, and, when refused, placed in for 10 days long "Gauptvakhta" (type of military prison).[3] Coincidentally, at that time SKA was coached byGerman Zonin who made Zorya in 1972 the Soviet champions. It was him who actually turned Zavarov from forward into midfielder. In 1981 with different coach SKA won theSoviet Cup and in the final game on assist of Zavarov, his "homeboy"Sergey Andreyev scored the winning goal againstSpartak Moscow. Two weeks after the cup final in the league match against Spartak Zavarov scored his first career hat-trick, however SKA playing at home lost to Muscovite team 3:4. In SKA Zavarov also played with his friendIgor Gamula and according to some rumors (Sovetsky Sport[3] among others) they may have overindulged themselves with SovietAbrau-Durso, but in later interviews Zavarov claimed that it was an innocent celebration of a victory in the Soviet Cup.[3]
In 1981 Zavarov also made his first appearance in the European clubs' competitions on September 16 when SKA was hosting TurkishMKE Ankaragücü in the first round of1981–82 European Cup Winners' Cup. The Soviets won 3:0 and Zavarov scored twice. In the next round SKA played against GermanEintracht Frankfurt and again their first match of the two legs tie they played at home. The home win over the Germans also came about not without help of Zavarov.
SKA Rostov-na-Donu leadership tricked Zavarov accused him in being "absent without leave" which would make him do another two years in disciplinary battalion.[3][4] While being in military detention, Zavarov remained determined to leave the service.[3][4] His wife when she found out wrote a grievance letter to the Minister of DefenseDmitriy Ustinov.[4] On the 9th day Zavarov gave up after all and signed an agreement to receive a rank and remain in the service.[4] However, once freed, Zavarov was requesting to be demobilized immediately. From the Ministry of Defense arrived a commission which told him if he leaves, they will bar him from playing.[4] Zavarov told them that does not care and was disqualified indefinitely.[4] For almost 6 months he worked at theOctober Revolution Factory in Luhansk making train wheels until one of workers, two timesHero of Socialist Labor, blacksmith Kurylo didn't appeal to the Football Federation and disqualification was removed.[4]
After being reinstated following his disqualification Zavarov joined the factory team where he workedFC Zorya Luhansk that played in thePervaya Liga (2nd tier). His first match after the disqualification was on May 11, 1982 in away game againstKolos Nikopol which Zorya lost 0:2.
In 1983–88, he played for the Soviet-Ukrainian giants,Dynamo Kyiv, with whom he won theUEFA Cup Winners' Cup in1985–86, scoring in the final itself. In Dynamo Zavarov also was offered a militsiya (police) rank, but he refused.[3]
Zavarov later played forJuventus between 1988 and 1990, becoming the first Soviet player to play in Serie A; he won theCoppa Italia and theUEFA Cup under managerDino Zoff in 1990, and also wore the iconicnumber 10 shirt in hisfirst season with the team, which had formerly belonged to club legendMichel Platini,[5] although he later switched to the number 9 shirt, and the number 10 shirt was given toGiancarlo Marocchi thefollowing season.[6] Although much was initially expected of Zavarov at the Turin-based club, his time with Juventus was considered to be less successful, despite his two title victories; in spite of the arrival of compatriotSergei Aleinikov in his second season with the team, Zavarov also had difficulties settling in at the club, due to his strenuous relationship with the club's manager, Dino Zoff, and also as he struggled to learn Italian.[7][8] For his transferJuventus paid $5 million which was a record for the Soviet football. It was one of the highest paid transfers of the decade. The transfer was conducted through a Soviet intermediary "Sovintersport". Upon conclusion of the transfer $3 million went to the Soviet government, $2 million toDynamo Kyiv. Two million dollars were allocated by the Soviet government to the Soviet Olympic team for the1988 Summer Olympics inSeoul.[4]
He subsequently transferred toNancy in 1990, where he remained for five seasons, before finally moving toSaint-Dizier in 1995, retiring after three seasons, in 1998.
At the end of summer of 1979, Zavarov took part in the1979 FIFA World Youth Championship on the Soviet team losing in the final to Argentinians led byDiego Maradona. In one of the group stages matches Zavarov scored his only goal against Hungarians as a header from a corner kick. The final match against Argentine was one of his two that he actually witnessed from substitution bench.
In October 1981 Zavarov played couple of matches for the under-21 team in group qualifications. Next month he had some issues with club.
Zavarov had 41 caps for theUSSR, scoring six goals including two in theWorld Cup finals in1986 and1990. He also played in theEuro 1988 in which theUSSR team wererunners-up.
A creative, quick, agile and skilfulmidfielder,[9][10] Zavarov was primarily known for his excellent technical ability, two-footedness, stamina, and tactical intelligence, and was usually deployed as anattacking midfielder or as asupporting striker, although he was also capable of playing as adeep-lyingplaymaker, due to his versatility, vision, and long passing accuracy.[11][12][13] Zavarov played a key role inValeri Lobanovski's successes with Dynamo Kyiv, and hisdribbling skills and playmaking ability led his Dynamo Kyiv coach tocompare him toDiego Maradona.[11][12]
Despite the talent he demonstrated and the success he had both with Ukrainian club Dynamo Kyiv and the Soviet national team at Euro 1988,[10] which earned him a reputation as one of the greatest players to ever come out of the Soviet Union,[14] his time in Italy with Juventus was less successful, and he failed to live up to initial expectations in Serie A.[9][15][16] Due to his inconsistent displays and his lack of accuracy in front of goal,[16][17] he drew criticism from the press, who also singled out his surprisingly poor work-rate and movement off the ball;[13][15] he was also accused of lacking confidence,[16] and of not being an effective assist-provider for the team.[18] Because of his timid character, it was also argued that he lacked the necessary leadership skills to carry the team,[16] and fill the void left by Michel Platini in the advanced midfield playmaking role during the post-Trapattoni crisis.[5]
Zavarov began his coaching career withSaint Dizier CO as a player-coach. He had a short spell as a head coach ofFC Wil in 2003–04, however because he lacked the necessary UEFA licence, he was given the position ofdirector of football with the club. He is currently manager of Ukrainian teamArsenal Kyiv. In 2025 he was appointed as consultant coach ofVilkhivtsi inUkrainian Second League.[19][20]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Europe | Other[a] | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Zorya Voroshilovgrad | 1979 | Vysshaya Liga | 23 | 7 | – | – | – | 23 | 7 | |||
| SKA Rostov-na-Donu | 1980 | 34 | 6 | 5 | 1 | – | – | 39 | 7 | |||
| 1981 | 30 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 2 | – | 42 | 10 | |||
| Total | 64 | 13 | 14 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 17 | ||
| Zorya Voroshilovgrad | 1982 | Pervaya Liga | 30 | 10 | – | – | – | 30 | 10 | |||
| Total | 53 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 53 | 17 | ||
| Dynamo Kyiv | 1983 | Vysshaya Liga | 29 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | – | 33 | 8 | |
| 1984 | 24 | 6 | 2 | 2 | – | – | 26 | 8 | ||||
| 1985 | 31 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | – | 40 | 14 | |||
| 1986 | 20 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 2 | – | 28 | 6 | |||
| 1987 | 14 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 5 | 0 | – | 24 | 8 | |||
| 1988 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 19 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 136 | 36 | 15 | 7 | 19 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 170 | 48 | ||
| Vysshaya Liga | Total | 223 | 56 | 29 | 9 | 22 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 274 | 72 | |
| Juventus | 1988–89 | Serie A | 32 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | – | 35 | 4 | |
| 1989–90 | 28 | 5 | 6 | 3 | 7 | 1 | – | 41 | 9 | |||
| Total | 60 | 7 | 8 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 76 | 13 | ||
| Nancy Lorraine | 1990–91 | Division 1 | 30 | 7 | 2 | 0 | – | – | 32 | 7 | ||
| 1991–92 | 28 | 3 | 4 | 1 | – | – | 32 | 4 | ||||
| 1992–93 | Division 2 | 28 | 9 | – | – | – | 28 | 9 | ||||
| 1993–94 | 22 | 1 | – | – | – | 22 | 1 | |||||
| 1994–95 | 26 | 3 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 28 | 4 | ||||
| Total | 134 | 23 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 142 | 25 | ||
| Division 1 | Total | 58 | 10 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 64 | 11 | |
| Division 2 | Total | 76 | 13 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 78 | 14 | |
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| USSR | 1985 | 4 | 0 |
| 1986 | 11 | 1 | |
| 1987 | 4 | 2 | |
| 1988 | 12 | 2 | |
| 1989 | 7 | 0 | |
| 1990 | 3 | 1 | |
| Career total | 41 | 6 | |
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 9 June 1986 | Estadio Sergio León Chavez,Irapuato,Mexico |  Canada | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1986 FIFA World Cup | |||||
| 2. | 29 April 1987 | Republican Stadium,Kyiv,Soviet Union |  East Germany | 1–0 | 2–0 | UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying | |||||
| 3. | 3 June 1987 | Ullevaal Stadion,Oslo,Norway |  Norway | 1–0 | 1–0 | UEFA Euro 1988 qualifying | |||||
| 4. | 31 March 1988 | Olympiastadion,West Berlin,West Germany |  Argentina | 1–0 | 4–2 | Four Nations Tournament | |||||
| 5. | 19 October 1988 | Republican Stadium,Kyiv,Soviet Union |  Austria | 2–0 | 2–0 | 1990 World Cup qual. | |||||
| 6. | 18 June 1990 | Stadio San Nicola,Bari,Italy |  Cameroon | 3–0 | 4–0 | 1990 FIFA World Cup | |||||
| Correct as of 21 May 2016[21] | |||||||||||
Winner
Winner
Winner
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Soviet Union squads | |||||||||||||||||||
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