Andriy Nesmachniy

Andriy Mykolaovich Nesmachniy
Personal information
Date of birth 28 February 1979 (1979-02-28) (age 32)
Place of birth Bryansk, Soviet Union
Height 1.82 m
Playing position Left back
Club information
Current club Retired
Youth career
Tavriya Simferopol
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1997–1999 Dynamo-3 Kyiv 30 (4)
1997–2004 Dynamo-2 Kyiv 56 (3)
1997–2011 Dynamo Kyiv 226 (11)
National team
2000–2009 Ukraine 67 (0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 16 June 2011.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 13 August 2009

Andriy Mykolayovych Nesmachniy (Ukrainian: Андрій Миколайович Несмачний, born 28 February 1979 in Bryansk, Russia) is a retired Ukrainian footballer. He has spent his entire career at FC Dynamo Kyiv in the Ukrainian Premier League. He is a skillful, attacking left-back who can also play central defense and left midfield. Nesmachnyi also played for the Ukrainian national football team.

Contents

Club career

Nesmachniy started as a graduate of the Tavriya Simferopol school. He then joined Dynamo Kyiv for the 1997–98 season. He was originally intended for the main team, but he spent the next two seasons in Dynamo-2 Kyiv. Beginning in the 2000–01 season, Nesmachniy appeared much more often on the main team, where he has stayed until now.[1]

Nesmachniy almost joined Blackburn Rovers of the FA Premier League during the January Transfer window of 2007. Manager, Mark Hughes had confirmed his interest saying that he had "good football intelligence" and "a great international experience". He also confirmed that the defender was training with the squad in late December 2006. However he did not make a promise that a move was going to be a possibility. Nesmachniy in the end, did not join Blackburn.[2]

International career

Nesmachnyi was first called up to the Ukraine national football team in 2000. Since then he has been capped 63 times.[1] His career was highlighted in 2006, when Ukraine made it to their first ever FIFA World Cup. Ukraine made it to the quarterfinals, getting out to eventual champions Italy.

During the World Cup in Germany, Nesmachnyi noticeably did not sing Ukraine's national anthem or place his hand on his heart. When asked about this in an interview, Nesmachnyi announced that "My parents and I are Jehovah's Witnesses for a long time. Our religion does not allow us to idolize anyone and anythig, such as a flag or an anthem, or to put my hand on my heart. All glory and praise belongs to God, or Jehovah."[3]

On March 17, Nesmachnyi announced that he personally decided to retire from the Ukraine national football team, and that he continues to have good relations with head coach Oleksiy Mykhailychenko. He explained his decision by saying that he wants to concentrate on his club career in Dynamo as well as on his spiritual and family life. Upon retiring, Nesmachnyi has played 67 games for Ukraine, the first being against Bulgaria on 26 April 2000, and the last being on 10 February 2009 against Slovakia.[4]

Accomplishments

From Official website of Dynamo Kyiv.[1]

Ukrainian Premier League
2000, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2007
Ukrainian Cup
2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007

Other

"Nesmachniy" is a homonym for the Ukrainian "not tasting good".

References