All football fans know such a name as Buryak Leonid Iosifovich. A difficult and interesting way this man went. How was his life? What did he manage to achieve? This will be discussed in the article.
Leonid Buryak: biography
The future footballer was born on July 10, 1953. What country citizen is Leonid Buryak? The nationality of the football player is Ukrainian. His hometown is Odessa. At the age of ten, he made his first steps in his football career in the children's team of the Prodmash enterprise. After 3 years, he began to play for the team of football school No. 6. After the rumors about a talented young man appeared in the city, the Chernomorets selection service took note of his game and involved the teams in matches for the double. However, the Odessa team coach was worried about the guy’s low weight - there were not even 50 kilograms on the scales. Due to insignificant muscle mass, on the recommendation of head coach Sergei Shaposhnikov, he was forced to spend more time in the gym using special simulators, rather than on a green lawn with a ball. Wanting to support the young footballer, the mentor repeatedly told him about the benefits of labor, which would make him a good player. The result was not long in coming, and the young Leonid Buryak began to go out at the base of the main team of Odessa.
Going to Dynamo Kyiv
In 1972, actions on the football field of Leonid Buryak were seen by the leadership of Kiev Dynamo. The head coach of Chornomorets made a lot of efforts to prevent the transition. During conversations with Leonid Buryak, the coach of the Odessa team gave the main argument a strong squad in midfield against Kiev, who was young and high. The head coach recommended a little wait to get stronger.
In 1973, Sergei Shaposhnikov realized that a talented football player outgrew the level of his team and gave the green light to his transition to Dynamo Kyiv. It is worth considering that at that time a serious struggle was waged for Leonid Buryak between the grandees of the USSR championship. In addition to Kiev, 4 teams from Moscow had their interests on a football player. However, the pupil of Odessa football preferred Dynamo Kyiv, largely due to the proximity to home. Already living in Kiev, he secretly from everyone came to his native city, feeling affection for him.
The adaptation period of Leonid Buryak in the new team went quickly and without problems. In many ways, this was facilitated by the fact that one of his best friends, Oleg Blokhin, was located in the city of Kiev. Leonid Buryak knew many football players of Dynamo Kyiv from the youth team. Therefore, problems with understanding on a green lawn with his partners did not arise, as a result of which the Kiev coaching staff soon recorded him in the main team.
Scored goal in the first game for Dynamo
Leonid Buryak held his debut match for the new club on August 20, 1973 against Ararat from Armenia, who later became the owner of gold medals of the USSR championship. The rookie did not get into the starting lineup, but the Kiev mentor decided to release him in the second half of the meeting. Leonid Buryak fully justified the confidence of Alexander Sevidov, noting a goal 20 minutes after entering the field. As soon as the Kiev team played a free kick, from a long distance he hit the goal of the Armenian goalkeeper. Fans in the stands began to shout out his name loudly, supporting his success. The goal scored by Leonid Buryak turned the tide of the game, as a result of which Dynamo won with a score of 3-1.
Success in the Kiev team
After a short period of time, the rookie ran into the leaders of the Kiev club, which at that time was on the move. Surprisingly, Leonid Buryak demonstrated the best game against the Odessa “Chornomorets”, showing excitement and sports anger.
In 1974, Dynamo managed to win the USSR Championship and win the final of the country's cup. The next year was a triumph for the people of Kiev in the international arena. Leonid Buryak made a lot of efforts on the football field in matches against European clubs. In the return game of the semifinal stage of the Cup Winners' Cup, in a head fall he beautifully hit the goal of the Dutch PSV. In the decisive battle for the European trophy Kiev Dynamo opposed the Hungarian Ferencvaros. Leonid Buryak took a direct part in one of the three goals scored in this match, and his team, under the leadership of Valery Lobanovsky, eventually won. When presenting the cup to Dynamo Kyiv, the UEFA president noted the strong superiority of one of the teams. And subsequently, in the sum of two matches, Munich Bayern itself was replayed in the confrontation for the UEFA Super Cup.
Until 1984, Leonid Buryak brought a lot of benefit to the Kiev club as a midfielder, constantly getting into the main team. During his performance at Dynamo, he took part in 386 matches, 50 of which were against European clubs. Together with Kiev, Leonid Buryak became the owner of three USSR Cups and a five-time national champion. Just a brilliant game pleased the fans Leonid Buryak. The photo in the article demonstrates his flawless possession of the ball. It is unlikely that anyone will argue!
Conflict Care
As a result of the rejuvenation of Dynamo Kyiv, which began to take place in the early 1980s, the expected deterioration of results occurred. Seventh place according to the results of one of the seasons did not become the limit for Kiev. The following year, Dynamo finished in tenth position, which was a clear failure. Responsibility for the negative results was assigned to the remaining veterans of the team, in particular Oleg Blokhin and Leonid Buryak. On the eve of the start of the new football season in 1985, a conflict between Odessa and Valery Lobanovsky took place, and the player decided to change his residence permit. Leaving Kiev Dynamo was difficult for Leonid Buryak, but he had no other way out of the situation at that time.
Period in Torpedo and Metalist
Leonid Buryak was very close to becoming a player in Moscow “Spartak”, and took part in two control fights for the “red and white”. However, the key to the decision was the understanding that Kiev fans would react negatively to his transition to the location of his main opponent on the football field. That is why Leonid Buryak ended up in the Moscow Torpedo. However, the footballer did not stay at the new place for long and in 1986 he visited Kiev to conduct an important operation, which in the end was not needed. Having regained his strength, Leonid Buryak in 1987, after receiving an invitation from the Kharkiv Metalist leadership, went to play in the first capital of Ukraine. He significantly strengthened his new team, with which he managed to win the USSR Cup the following year. In the final match, “Torpedo” from Moscow was beaten.
Foreign voyage and first steps as a coach
In 1988, Leonid Buryak continued his football career in Finland. At that time, many Soviet footballers who were in years left to try their strength abroad. He defended the honor on the football field of such Finnish clubs as KPT-85 and Van Pa, while at the same time carrying out the training process. In Finland, his career as a football player was over.
After the collapse of the USSR, representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora invited Leonid Buryak in 1991 to visit the United States. Until 1993, he was a trainer for the Evansville University team, acquiring the necessary skills.
Homecoming
A five-year foreign voyage bored Leonid Buryak, and he decided to return to Ukraine in the autumn of 1993. Being in a coaching position in Ternopil “Niva” during the second half of the season, he managed to keep the team a residence permit in the major league. Subsequently, he returned to Chernomorets, but not as a football player, but as a coach. Did Leonid Buryak, taking his first steps in the Odessa team, think that he would lead it several decades later? The first 2 seasons under his leadership were successful for Odessa residents - silver medals of the Ukrainian championship were received. Given the strength of Dynamo Kyiv at that time, the second place was an excellent result. Financing problems in 1998 had a negative impact on Chornomorets. Leonid Buryak left the location of the team, which was expected to decrease in class.
Ukraine national team
After the failure of the qualifying tournament for the 2002 World Cup, Valery Lobanovsky focused on Dynamo Kyiv, and the reins of the Ukrainian national team at the end of 2001 passed to Leonid Buryak. In the selection for Euro 2004, where the Spanish team was a clear favorite of the group, he was tasked with getting into the final part of the competition. However, unexpectedly for all, the Greeks showed excellent results, who eventually won first place. The Spaniards, the Ukrainian team was not able to push out from the second position, and the team began to prepare for a new qualifying round Oleg Blokhin.
Personal life
Is Leonid Buryak married? The footballer’s wife is Zhanna Vasyura, a well-known former gymnast. Leonid met his future wife in November 1973, at the age of twenty. When leaving the gym, the girl came across Leonid Buryak, who was in the company of Oleg Blokhin. Football players congratulated the gymnast on successful results. During the conversation, Jeanne noticed the modesty, restraint, intelligence and masculine character of young Leonid. After some time, the future spouses accidentally met at a call center, while in line. After that, they began an affair, which ended in a wedding. Son Andrei and daughter Oksana were raised by Leonid Buryak. Family for a football player is in the foreground. He is a caring father and a loving husband, and just a wonderful person.
Leonid Buryak is a football player from whom to take an example to the younger generation. Talent, perseverance, a firm position in life are the qualities that Leonid possesses. They are so necessary for everyone!