Who of the true connoisseurs of football does not know the name of Igor Belanov? A great football player, the owner of the Golden Ball, much more can be said about this man. But let's talk about everything in order.
Igor Belanov: biography
The famous football player was born on September 25, 1960 in Odessa. Spent a lot of time in the yards, playing with the guys. After trying to enroll in the Odessa school "Chernomorets" was refused due to small growth. However, Igor did not give up his favorite pastime and played for the team of the local housing office, from where he still got into the double of the main football club in Odessa. In parallel with this, he graduated from vocational school and for some time worked at a local construction site.
When he was 18 years old, he began to serve in SKA “Odessa”. Matches in the second league gave him confidence in their capabilities, thanks to which in 1981 he was able to break into the main team of Chernomorets. On the football field, Belanov was different in that he hit the ball hard and accurately. Possessing high-speed qualities, he, together with the ball, went away 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. The football player has one goal scored.
Dynamo Kyiv - peak of career
In 1985, Igor Belanov changed Odessa to Kiev, making the transition to Dynamo. In this club, the football player 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 lumpy: the team was defeated with a score of 2-4, and he received negative reviews from the coach. Subsequently, Igor was not involved in 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 championship in Mexico, Belanov was considered a player in the foundations of the USSR national team and fully 100% lived up to his expectations. In all its glory, the football player showed himself in a duel against the Belgians at the stage of 1/8 final, despite the final defeat. The main time was not revealed by the winner - 2-2, and in overtime, Lobanovsky's wards lost 3-4. Igor Belanov excelled in the game. It was he who scored goals in this dramatic duel for his team. After the ill-fated fight in the USSR, the referee Eric Eric Fredrickson was considered the culprit of the loss, who made many mistakes.
"Golden Ball"
The beautiful game of a football player at the world championship in Mexico and his successful performance in Dynamo Kyiv, in 1986 replenished his club collection with the Cup of Cup Winners, was widely recognized. According to France Football magazine, Belanova was considered the best European football player in 1986. He by a wide margin from the closest competitors became the winner in the survey, earning 86 points. Opponents of the Ukrainian players were Gary Lineker and Emilio Butrageno, who scored 62 and 59 points respectively.
The Dynamo Kiev football player received his Golden Ball award only on March 18, 1987, before the match with the Turkish Besiktas within the framework of the ¼ final of the European Cup. As Belanov later noted, from surging emotions he was worried and could not hit the opponent’s goal. 4 minutes before the end of the regular time of the match, the player had the opportunity to score from the penalty spot, but fired the ball into the crossbar. Thus Belanov for the first time did not distinguish himself from the penalty spot.
Another such insulting incident with a football player occurred in the final match of the 1998 European championship in Germany, when the Netherlands team opposed the USSR 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 of the match. However, the ball fired by him from the penalty spot on his way found the goalkeeper's boot.
German tour
In 1989, Belanov Igor Ivanovich signed a contract with Borussia from Monchengladbach. A successful start, when he managed to lead the list of scorers and effectively hit the Bayer goal, soon gave way to a series of injuries and conflict situations with coaches. The footballer could not fully prove himself in the German championship for several reasons.
The scandalous story with his wife's friends who fell into theft at the store greatly spoiled Belanov’s reputation. The German media greatly distorted the situation and tried to denigrate the name of the football player himself. Belanov, on the advice of football player Lothar Matteus, did not sue the journalists. A place in the first team was lost due to a conflict with the head coach. After that, the club management decided to sell the player to Eintracht from Braunschweig in 1991. In his new club, Belanov lingered until 1994, distinguishing himself at the opponent’s goal 21 times in 67 games.
Sunset career
After playing abroad Belanov came to Ukraine and played a little in the championship of Odessa region. Then he moved to Odessa "Chernomorets", but after playing three matches he was injured and could no longer help the team out until the end of the season. Then he went to Metallurg Mariupol, where he played 5 matches and decided to end his player’s career. In 2012, a memorial star was erected in his honor in the football player’s hometown.
Igor Belanov - a football player with a capital letter. He often takes the Golden Ball with him to show it to athletes. According to him, this will motivate children to play football more intensively. There is nothing impossible in the world, therefore, it is necessary to set a goal and work hard towards it, Belanov emphasizes by his example.