Albert Shesternyov
Encyclopedia
Albert Alekseyevich Shesternyov (20 June 1941 in Moscow
– 5 November 1994 in Moscow) was a soccer player for CSKA Moscow and the Soviet Union. He is generally regarded as the best football defender in Soviet football history.
Nicknamed "Ivan the Terrible", he was the captain of the great Soviet team of the 1960s, he earned 90 caps an appearance record only broken subsequently by Oleg Blokhin
and Rinat Dasaev in the late 1980s.
An international from 1961 to 1971, the CSKA Moscow libero played and represented his country at three FIFA World Cup
s and two European Championships: 1964 European Nations' Cup and the UEFA Euro 1968. During the latter tournament the Soviet team faced Italy
in one of the semi-finals. The game finished in a 0–0 tie, (including extra time), and according to the rules at the time the winner was to be decided by a coin toss. The Soviet side were given the opportunity to call the coin, and as captain Shesternyov called it. Unfortunately for the team he called it incorrectly and they were out of the final. They finished in 4th place, after losing to England
in the Third place play-off game. Shesternyov was captain of the Soviet national team for 62 of his 90 caps.
He was CSKA Moscow's youngest ever debutant at 17 years old and also the clubs youngest ever captain at just 21 years old. He captained the club for nearly 10 years and played his entire career with CSKA Moscow.
Shesternyov featured in the European Championships - UEFA Teams of Tournament twice and was the Soviet Footballer of the Year
in 1970, he was also voted 3rd in 1966, 1968 & 1969.
After leading CSKA to their first national title in 19 years he chose to retire from football on a high at only 30.
He was voted, by Ballon d'Or, the 14th, 11th, 10th and then 22nd best footballer in the world in 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971 respectively. During these years he was regarded as one of the best defenders in the world and if he had chosen to join one of the many European big teams that were chasing him, many said he would have been even more so highly regarded in the footballing world. He was however always commended for his one club career.
He was recently voted into the Soviet Union all-time World Cup team by football media website PlanetWorldCup.
In 1970 he became the Soviet Footballer of the Year
.
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
– 5 November 1994 in Moscow) was a soccer player for CSKA Moscow and the Soviet Union. He is generally regarded as the best football defender in Soviet football history.
Nicknamed "Ivan the Terrible", he was the captain of the great Soviet team of the 1960s, he earned 90 caps an appearance record only broken subsequently by Oleg Blokhin
Oleg Blokhin
Oleh Volodymyrovych "Oleg" Blokhin is a Ukrainian football coach and current head coach of the Ukrainian national team. Blokhin was formerly a standout striker for Dynamo Kyiv and the Soviet national team...
and Rinat Dasaev in the late 1980s.
An international from 1961 to 1971, the CSKA Moscow libero played and represented his country at three FIFA World Cup
FIFA World Cup
The FIFA World Cup, often simply the World Cup, is an international association football competition contested by the senior men's national teams of the members of Fédération Internationale de Football Association , the sport's global governing body...
s and two European Championships: 1964 European Nations' Cup and the UEFA Euro 1968. During the latter tournament the Soviet team faced Italy
Italy national football team
The Italy National Football Team , represents Italy in association football and is controlled by the Italian Football Federation , the governing body for football in Italy. Italy is the second most successful national team in the history of the World Cup having won four titles , just one fewer than...
in one of the semi-finals. The game finished in a 0–0 tie, (including extra time), and according to the rules at the time the winner was to be decided by a coin toss. The Soviet side were given the opportunity to call the coin, and as captain Shesternyov called it. Unfortunately for the team he called it incorrectly and they were out of the final. They finished in 4th place, after losing to England
England national football team
The England national football team represents England in association football and is controlled by the Football Association, the governing body for football in England. England is the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside Scotland, whom they played in the world's first...
in the Third place play-off game. Shesternyov was captain of the Soviet national team for 62 of his 90 caps.
He was CSKA Moscow's youngest ever debutant at 17 years old and also the clubs youngest ever captain at just 21 years old. He captained the club for nearly 10 years and played his entire career with CSKA Moscow.
Shesternyov featured in the European Championships - UEFA Teams of Tournament twice and was the Soviet Footballer of the Year
Soviet Footballer of the Year
The award Soviet Footballer of the Year had been awarded to the best footballer of the former Soviet Union from 1964 until 1991. The poll was conducted by the weekly sport newspaper Football .-List of winners:-Most Wins by Club:...
in 1970, he was also voted 3rd in 1966, 1968 & 1969.
After leading CSKA to their first national title in 19 years he chose to retire from football on a high at only 30.
He was voted, by Ballon d'Or, the 14th, 11th, 10th and then 22nd best footballer in the world in 1968, 1969, 1970 and 1971 respectively. During these years he was regarded as one of the best defenders in the world and if he had chosen to join one of the many European big teams that were chasing him, many said he would have been even more so highly regarded in the footballing world. He was however always commended for his one club career.
He was recently voted into the Soviet Union all-time World Cup team by football media website PlanetWorldCup.
In 1970 he became the Soviet Footballer of the Year
Soviet Footballer of the Year
The award Soviet Footballer of the Year had been awarded to the best footballer of the former Soviet Union from 1964 until 1991. The poll was conducted by the weekly sport newspaper Football .-List of winners:-Most Wins by Club:...
.
External Links
RussiaTeam biography UEFA Teams of Tournament 14th in Ballon d'Or 1968 11th in Ballon d`Or 1969 10th in Ballon d`Or 1970 22nd in Ballon d`Or 1971 Record of Appearances "All time Eleven" Soviet Footballer of the YearSoviet Footballer of the Year
The award Soviet Footballer of the Year had been awarded to the best footballer of the former Soviet Union from 1964 until 1991. The poll was conducted by the weekly sport newspaper Football .-List of winners:-Most Wins by Club:...