Lev Yashin

Lev Ivanovich Yashin (Russian: Лев Ива́нович Я́шин) (October 22, 1929 - March 20, 1990) was a Russian Soviet football (soccer) goalkeeper, arguably the best ever in the sport, known for his supreme athleticism in goal, imposing stature (he was 6' 3", 189 cm) and amazing reflex saves.

Life and Career

Yashin was born in Moscow in a family of industrial workers. Still twelve years old in summer of 1942, during World War II, he started to work as the helper at metal workshops.

He played his entire career for Dynamo Moscow sports club, from 1949 to 1971, winning the football championship of the USSR five times and the USSR Cup three times. He also won a USSR ice hockey championship (1953) as a goalkeeper for his club after three disastrous tryout attempts to get his place in the starting line-up of the main football team. Yashin's club team-mate, rival and mentor was 'Tiger' Khomich, the keeper of the Soviet national team, who had become famous for his role in Dynamo Moscow's British tour.

In 1954, Yashin was finally called up to the national team, with which he would win 78 caps and the titles at the 1956 Summer Olympics and the 1960 European Championship. As a member of the USSR team he played in three World Cup finals (1958, 1962 and 1966, below at Roker Park.) Always ready to give advice to his comrades, he even made his fourth trip to the World Cup finals in 1970 as the third-choice back-up and an aide. Yashin is credited for four clean sheets out of 13 games played in WC finals. In 1971 in Moscow he played his last match for Dynamo Moscow against European stars.

One of his best performances was the 1963 FA Centenary match when he appeared in the 'Rest of the World XI' against England at Wembley Stadium and made a number of the breathtaking and almost unbelievable saves. Known all over the world as the 'Black Panther' for his distinctive all-black outfit, acrobatic saves and agility, he was feared by his opponents who also called him "Black Spider" and "Black Octopus" because of his very long hands. He often played wearing a cloth cap of burnt-brick colour.

Lev Yashin is the only goalkeeper ever to win the European Footballer of the Year Award (1963). He is also believed to have blocked around 150 penalty kicks during his career; far more than any other goalkeeper in history. When asked for his secret, he would say the trick was "to have a smoke to calm your nerves, then toss back a strong drink to tone your muscles."

For his outstanding service to the people and for his country he was awarded Order of Lenin (1967), the second highest award of the USSR. Lev Yashin's FIFA testimonial match was held at the Lenin Stadium in Moscow with 100,000 fans attending, and a host of stars and superstars, including Pelé, Eusébio and Franz Beckenbauer. For some time he coached minor league and youth soccer teams in Finland. A Bronze statue of Lev Yashin was erected at the Dinamo Stadium in Moscow. In 2000, FIFA polls placed Yashin in the "Century XI" team, and also named him 'World - Keeper of the Century' .

Lev Yashin died in 1990 of complications caused by an earlier amputation of one of his legs following a knee injury.

He is remembered as a brilliant keeper and a true sportsman. FIFA established the Lev Yashin Award for the best goalkeeper of the World Cup finals.

Quotes

"What kind of a goalkeeper is the one who is not tormented by the goal he has allowed? He must be tormented! And if he is calm, that means the end. No matter what he had in the past, he has no future."
"The joy of seeing Yuri Gagarin flying in space is only superseded by the joy of a good penalty save."
"There have only been two world-class goalkeepers. One was Lev Yashin, the other was the German boy who played in Manchester — Trautmann."

Statistics

812 career games played
326 games played for Dynamo Moscow main line-up (soccer team)
78 caps for the USSR national team (70 goals conceded)
13 caps at the World Cup (4 clean sheets)
2 FIFA 'Best of the World XI' appearances (1963-vs England,1968- vs Brazil)
FIFA testimonial match (1971)
480 career clean sheets
150 career penalty kick saves

Awards

Domestic

1 gold medal for the USSR ice hockey championship
5 gold, 5 silver, 1 bronze medals for the USSR championships (soccer)
3 times USSR Cup winner

International

1 Olympic gold medal
1 gold medal as the European Championship winner
1 silver medal as the European Championship runner-up

Other achievements

European Footballer of the Year "Golden Ball" Award (1963)
4th place in the World Cup finals (1966)
3 times The Best Goalkeeper of the USSR (1960,1963,1966)
22 official seasons with the same club (1950-1970)
Order of Lenin (1967)
Olympic Order (1986)
FIFA Golden Order for Merits (1988)
Golden medal of 'Hammer and Sickle' (star) of Hero of Socialist Labor with Order of Lenin (equals to military award of Hero of the Soviet Union) (1989)
FIFA 'World-Keeper of the Century' title and FIFA 'Century XI' team membership (2000)

External links

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