For the first time since 2004, the Pitmen can be coached by a specialist who already has experience playing in the elite division of Ukrainian football
The arrival of the Croatian specialist Igor Jovicevich, who recently headed Dnepr-1, to Shakhtar – the issue seems to be practically resolved. Bombardier claims that such a development of events has a 99% probability, and according to our information, SC Dnepr-1 is already actively looking for a replacement for the Croat and has decided on key candidates.
See also: Shakhtar offered Jovićević a two-year contract
Of course, the possible appointment of Jovicevich, who knows Ukrainian football well and knows how to work with young people, as well as the departure of Roberto De Zerbi, who did not work with Shakhtar for a full season, is a consequence of Russia’s large-scale military aggression against Ukraine. However, it may mark a new stage in the development of the Donetsk club. We explain why.
First in 18 years
For the first time since 2004, after the change from Viktor Prokopenko to Mircea Lucescu on the coaching bridge, Shakhtar can invite a coach with experience in the Ukrainian Championship. After the departure of the Romanian specialist in 2016, the Pitmen gave preference to coaches who did not work in the UPL – Paulo Fonseca, Luis Cashto and Roberto De Zerbi played their first matches in the Ukrainian championship against Shakhtar.
At the same time, of all the Pitmen’s mentors in the era of independent Ukraine, eight specialists had no experience of playing in the championship of our country before their appointment – Volodymyr Salkov (he worked with the team in the USSR championship), Anatoly Byshovets, Nevio Scala, Bernd Schuster Mircea Lucescu, and the already mentioned Fonseca, Kashtru and De Zerbi.
Ninth Legionnaire Coach
Jovićević may become the first Croatian coach in the history of Shakhtar and the ninth foreign specialist at the head of the Pitmen’s first team. Previously, representatives of Italy (Scala and De Zerbi), Portugal (Cashtru and Fonseca), Russia (Salkov and Byshovets), Romania (Lucescu) and Germany (Shuster) worked in the Donetsk club.
And in general, Jovićević is only the second Croatian coach who worked in the top division of Ukrainian football. The pioneer was Ivan Katalanich, who at one time headed Zaporozhye Metallurg (15 matches).
Golden mean
If Jovićević leads Shakhtar, he will be the fourth in the “age” list of foreign specialists who worked with the Donetsk team – now the Croat is 48 years old.
The youngest legionnaire coach is Roberto De Zerbi (41 years old at the time of appointment). Next come Paulo Fonseca and Bernd Schuster (43). Jovićević is followed by Anatoly Byshovets (52), Nevio Scala (54), Luis Castro (57), Vladimir Salkov and Mircea Lucescu (58).
Justified Risk
Jovičević, if invited, will become the Pitmen’s fifth foreign coach who, at the time of the invitation to Shakhtar, did not have any trophies as a coach at the club level. Before that, Bernd Schuster, Vladimir Salkov (silver and bronze medalist of the USSR championship with Shakhtar), Luis Castro and Roberto De Zerbi came to the Donetsk club without significant achievements in their coaching careers.
Anatoly Byshovets had a victory with the USSR national team at the 1988 Olympics. Mircea Lucescu has championship titles in Romania and Turkey, won the European Super Cup, Nevio Scala has the Cup Winners’ Cup, UEFA Cup and European Super Cup, Pauolo Fonseca has the Portuguese Cup and Super Cup.
Two without trophies
Foreign experts have brought Shakhtar 13 league titles in Ukraine (Lucescu alone – eight), 10 domestic Cups, nine Super Cups. Of the foreign coaches, only Anatoly Byshovets and Bernd Schuster finished their work at Shakhtar without trophies. By the way, of all foreign coaches, Byshovets spent the least number of matches at the helm of Shakhtar – 28.
Castro – the most “deprived”, Fonseca – the most effective
If we talk about the funds used by foreign specialists (based on Transfermerkt data), then it is not surprising that in total Mircea Lucescu spent the most on acquiring new players – 288 million euros over 12 seasons. On average, the Romanian specialist spent 24 million per season, winning 22 trophies during this time, including eight league titles and the UEFA Cup.
This is followed by Roberto De Dzebi – 58 million (the Italian spent an incomplete season with the Pitmen because of the Russian invasion of Ukraine), Paulo Fonseca – 43.6 million (on average – 14.5 million euros per season), Bernd Schuster – 18 million in his only season at the helm of the Pitmen, Luis Castro – 5.8 million (average – 2.9 million euros per season) and Nevio Scala – who spent 1.5 million euros on the purchase of players. True, when evaluating the effectiveness, one must also take into account the strength of the championship as a whole: for example, the 2012/2013 season is several goals stronger than, for example, the 2016/2017 season.
Igor Jovicevich, based on the situation in the country and Ukrainian football, apparently will have to do without serious transfer budgets. In any case, in his first Pitmen’s off-season.
Bogdan Gryschuk
Source: Sportarena
I am Sandra Jackson, a journalist and content creator with extensive experience in the news industry. I have been working in the news media for over five years. During this time, I have worked as an author and editor at various outlets producing high-quality content that attracts readers from different demographics.
