Oleh Protasov

Oleh Valeriyovych Protasov (Ukrainian: Олег Валерійович Протасов; born 4 February 1964) is a Ukrainian and Soviet former footballer who played as a striker. He was a key member of the Soviet Union national team throughout the 1980s; his 29^[1][2] goals for the Soviet Union are second in the team's history, behind Oleg Blokhin's 42. Protasov also holds the record for the number of goals per season by scoring 35 goals.^[4] It should be considered that his first name is often spelled as Oleg on most international rosters, particularly during his playing career (Russification of Ukraine).

Club career

Oleh Protasov started playing football at the age of 8 years old in his hometown of Dnipropetrovsk in Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, where he played until 1987. His father, who was an engineer at Yuzhmash, brought him to the Meteor Stadium. Later, Protasov enrolled in the Dnipro-75 sports school led by Igor Vetrogonov.^[5][6] In 1983, he was on the champion's roster of Dnipro, which gained its first domestic title. While playing for Dnipro during the 1985 season, he became the top goalscorer of the season with 35, which became the record of goals scored in a single season.^[4] For this achievement, on 13 November 1986, he was awarded the European Silver Shoe during the annual award ceremony held at Le Lido.^[4] The award was handed to him by former French international footballer Roger Piantoni.^[4]

In 1987, Protasov moved to play for the Soviet-Ukrainian football giants, Dynamo Kyiv. His transfer to Dynamo, which took place along with Hennadiy Lytovchenko, was arranged as a compulsory military service.^[4] In all, in the Soviet Union, he won the Soviet Championship twice and was named Soviet Footballer of the Year in 1987. He scored 125 goals in the Soviet Championship, making him the eighth-best scorer of all time in the Championship.

Following the fall of the Soviet Union, Oleh Protasov got a chance to play abroad. In 1990, he joined Greek side Olympiacos Piraeus that was coached by Oleh Blokhin.^[4] Leaving Olympiacos in 1994, he played in Gamba Osaka, Veria FC, and finally Proodeftiki FC, from where he retired in 1999.

International career

Protasov played for the Soviet Union 68 times, including at the 1986 and 1990 FIFA World Cups, as well as Euro 88, where he scored two goals. He also played one game for the Ukraine national team, in 1994.

In 1983, Protasov took part in the Summer Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR, representing the Ukrainian SSR.^[7]

Managerial career

After retiring as a player, Protasov went into coaching, and led Olympiacos to the Greek title in 2003. In 2005, he coached Romanian team Steaua București.

Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk

In December 2005, Oleh Protasov returned in Ukraine to coach his hometown team, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, after an impressive UEFA Cup performance with Steaua București. Protasov left by his own choice and was on very good terms with the entire team and owners of the club.^[8]

In his first 2005–06 season as Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk's coach, Oleh Protasov led the team to a 6th-place finish in the Ukrainian Premier League. In the next, 2006–07 season, Protasov improved on this, finishing 4th in the league.

In the 2007–08 season his side unexpectedly led the title race ahead of the winter break, before a poor second half left his side in 4th once again. Dnipro sacked him on 29 August 2008 after an embarrassing defeat from AC Bellinzona in UEFA cup qualification match.^[9]

Kuban Krasnodar

After that, Protasov took over FC Kuban Krasnodar in the nearby region of Russia. Kuban had been recently relegated to the Russian First League. Under Protasov's leadership, the club finished 2nd in the league, with an 8-point lead over their nearest competitors. This finish earned them right to be promoted to the Russian Premier League.

However FC Kuban was affected by the 2008 financial crisis, which greatly decreased the club's budget. In a mutual agreement with the club, Protasov left the club on 19 November 2008.^[10]

Iraklis

Then, he signed a two-year deal worth 400,000 euro per year with Iraklis, starting from the summer of 2009. On 30 October, it was announced by Iraklis the termination of their contract, after 5 continual defeats in Super League and Greek Cup.

Astra Giurgiu

On 13 October 2014, Oleg became manager of FC Astra Giurgiu.^[11] He was sacked on 2 March 2015.^[12]

Aris

Protasov agreed on a three years contract with Aris, though Arvanitidis expulsion as head of the football department of the club, led to amateur Aris to terminate the deal after 15 minutes of its announcement.^[13]

Personal life

Protasov is married to Natalia (née – Lemeshko), a daughter of Yevhen Lemeshko.^[14][4] They met through a post letter exchange. She wrote him a letter after reading his interview in "Nedelya".^[4] He is a naturalised citizen of Greece and can speak Greek, alongside English, Russian and his native Ukrainian.^[15][16]

Career statistics

Club

International

Scores and results list the Soviet Union's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Protasov goal.

Honours

Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk

• Soviet Top League: 1983
• USSR Federation Cup: 1986

Dynamo Kyiv

• Soviet Top League: 1990
• Soviet Cup: 1989–90

Olympiacos

• Greek Cup: 1991–92
• Greek Super Cup: 1992

Soviet Union

• UEFA European Championship runner-up: 1988

Individual

• ADN Eastern European Footballer of the Season: 1985^[19]
• Soviet Footballer of the Year: 1987
• Soviet Top League top scorer: 1985, 1987, 1990
• UEFA Silver Boot: 1986^[4] (behind Marco van Basten, holder of the European Golden Shoe)
• Oleh Blokhin club: 275 goals
• Gazeta Sporturilor Romania Coach of the Year: 2005

References

1. ^ Oleg Protasov - International Appearances. www.rsssf.org
2. ^ Олег ПРОТАСОВ. www.rusteam.permian.ru
3. ^ "Юношеский чемпионат Европы–1982 – Юношеская сборная России по футболу". Archived 2021-07-24 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
4. ^ Протасову – 50: «Решил в эти дни не давать интервью». footclub.com.ua. 4 February 2014
5. ^ Умер Игорь Ветрогонов. fcdnipro.com
6. ^ Люди Днепра: Игорь Ветрогонов. gorod.dp.ua
7. ^ Composition of teams at the Summer Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR.
8. ^ Protasov parting on good terms – uefa.com; Thursday 15 December 2005
9. ^ Protasov carries the can at Dnipro – uefa.com; Tuesday 2 September 2008
10. ^ Олег Протасов: "Все вопросы с "Кубанью" уладим без шума" (Oleh Protasov: "We will handle all questions with 'Kuban' without much noise" – ua-football.com (in Russian) 20 November 2008
11. ^ "Protasov positive as he takes charge at Astra". UEFA. 13 October 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
12. ^ "Despărţire de Oleg Protasov". afcastragiurgiu.ro. 2 March 2015. Archived from the original on 2 April 2015. Retrieved 2 March 2015.
13. ^ Σεπ. 2015 21:51, Επιμέλεια: Δημήτρης Σαμόλης Δημοσίευση: 09. "Καρυπίδης αντί Αρβανιτίδη στον Άρη". sport24.gr
14. ^ "Олег Протасов: "Смотрю на себя молодого – взял бы такого в команду"". 29 January 2019. Archived 30 September 2023 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 1 January 2026.
15. ^ https://www.scotsman.com/news/bloomin-help-called-littlehampton-2347129 ^{[dead link]}
16. ^ "Oleg Protasov and Piotr Nowak". 9 June 2012.
17. ^ "Олег Протасов". Footballfan.net.us. Archived from the original on 24 February 2014. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
18. ^ "Oleg Protasov – International Appearances". Rsssf.com. Retrieved 3 January 2015.
19. ^ "Eastern European Footballer of the season". WebArchive. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 5 July 2024.

External links

• Info on Dnipro official website (in list)
• Oleh Protasov at Kopanyi-Myach.info Archived 20 April 2014 at the Wayback Machine (in Russian)