13 Facts About Oleh Protasov

Oleh Valeriyovych Protasov is a Ukrainian and Soviet former footballer who played as a striker.

Oleh Protasov was a key member of the Soviet Union national team throughout the 1980s; his 28 goals for the Soviet Union are second in the team's history, behind Oleg Blokhin's 42.

Oleh Protasov started playing football at the age of 8 years old in his hometown of Dnipropetrovsk in Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, where he played until 1987.

In 1987, Protasov moved to play for the Soviet-Ukrainian football giants, Dynamo Kyiv.

Oleh Protasov scored 125 goals in the Soviet Championship, making him the 8th best scorer of all-time of the Championship.

Oleh Protasov played for the Soviet Union 68 times, including at the 1986 and 1990 FIFA World Cups, as well as Euro 88, where he scored two goals.

Oleh Protasov played one game for the Ukraine national team, in 1994.

In 1983, Oleh Protasov took part in the Summer Spartakiad of the Peoples of the USSR, representing the Ukrainian SSR.

In December 2005, Oleh Protasov returned in Ukraine to coach his hometown team, Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk, after an impressive UEFA Cup performance with Steaua Bucuresti.

Oleh Protasov left by his own choice and was on very good terms with the entire team and owners of the club.

Oleh Protasov agreed on a three years contract with Aris Thessaloniki, though Arvanitidis expulsion as head of the football department of the club, led to amateur Aris to terminate the deal after 15 minutes of its announcement.

Oleh Protasov is married to Natalia, a daughter of Yevhen Lemeshko.

Oleh Protasov is a naturalised citizen of Greece and is able to speak Greek, alongside English, Russian and his native Ukrainian.