Gennadiy LITOVCHENKO and Oleg PROTASOV. Photo from archive “SE”

In the late eighties of the last century, leading Soviet players not to mass (it’s all the same piece-goods), but rapidly went on to conquer Western Europe.

Sometimes we had to face unexpected challenges. As, for example, Oleg Protasov in the “Olympiakos”.

In Kiev “Dynamo”, except for Oleg Blokhin sent into honorable retirement in the Austrian Forverts, so the first sign was Alexander Zavarov, who transferred to Juventus for five million dollars.

In 1989, to Borussia mönchengladbach left Igor Belanov, “Hispaniola” visited Vasily rats, Sergei Baltacha has left for Ipswich. Then started talking like a club from Italy had his eye on the trio, comprised of Alexei Mikhailichenko, Oleg Protasov and Gennady Litovchenko.

But the pioneer in the Apennines disappointed, the other in 1989-1990 is also slightly reduced. As a result of the Ukraine in 1990, “satisfied” Sampdoria, with which, however, became the champion of Italy.

IN GREECE IT WAS ALL

Following him abroad went to Protasov. But not in Italy and in Greece. September 1, scoring two goals to Spartak, which provided the most important to fight for the gold victory (3:1), Oleg brought the score to goals in the USSR League until 12 (he eventually will be the best scorer!) and with a sense of duty has left for Olympiakos, which had already been coached by Oleg Blokhin.

A few days in Athens appeared torpedo Yuri Savichev. Was waiting for the third. The Central Soviet press has long been prepared fans. 5 August in the “Football” published an article “Man of the jungle operates”. Greek journalist Panagiotis Lipkens wrote: the manual for “Olympiacos” asserts Protasov, Dobrovolsky, and Savichev already agreed with him, and their contracts” allegedly lying in the drawers of the Greek football Federation.

Need only the permission of the football Federation of the USSR. Published photo of Oleg, solemnly met during the two-day spell in Greece.

Then came the story about the President of Olympiacos Solarlease Argyris, who was named “man of the jungle”. And “Ruby”. He worked for many years in the Belgian Congo and Kenya, where he owned land, rich in precious stones. Later began to grow coffee, engaged in shipbuilding.

Mentioned predecessor Salarios President “Oli” Georgios Koskotas. He allegedly contained all the Greek government headed by Prime Minister Andreas Papandreou, in return, with considerable financial benefits, including the purchase of the Bank “Crete”, the percentage of activities which were carried out all the business activities of Koskotas.

PASOK lost the elections of 1989 forced Koskotas to run on a private plane through Brazil to the USA. As it turned out, it was a personal plane Salaries. He also claimed that neither sleep nor spirit, and Koskotas just bribed the pilot. Salaries did not believe, engaged in the collection of evidence, and therefore contented himself forbade him to travel abroad and offered to pay a Deposit of one hundred million drachmas.

The football Federation of the USSR “good” for the transition for a long time did not give, saying that no Protasov another 28 years. Although Zavarov was not there. And the player Pryakhin, the first Soviet anguelova, too.

Then ears of corn, and To have mercy. It happened 21 (!) Sep. In Kiev had already shone in a pair of 20-year-old Oleg Salenko and Sergey Yuran, in the “torpedo” is fired up star 19-year-old Yuri Tishkov. Dobrowolski did not let go. He later signed a contract with Genoa but played for “castellón” and “Servette”. Consider ruined his career.

TWO OF THE CONTRACT. OR THREE?

Our “Greeks” at first everything went smoothly. Olympiakos went in the first place, Savichev was leading the scorers. Sorry, with the Cup winners ‘ Cup did not work, but there the Soviet players has not been declared – later moved. The questions appeared in the spring of 1991.

Flashed from both sides. “Torpedo” asked: “where is the money for Savicheva?” Greece began an investigation aimed to find out how many Olympiakos was rescued from the sale of “Bologna” Hungarian Lajos Detari. The processes are interrelated, because it was believed that just the “Hungarian” amount and went to pay the passages of Soviet players.

And here meticulous Greek journalists have found that both (switched on later Gennady Litovchenko we have not discussed), there are two contract.

Five-year agreement Savicheva was estimated at $ 2.4 million and 900 thousand. Ex-torpedo, it seems, a special compensation is not achieved, two years later, Olympiacos left, therefore, leave this narrative. On Protasov will continue.

Was a five-year contract with compensation of eight million dollars, was three-year to 3.2 million. There salary is unknown. But to this we shall return.

Copies of the contracts were promptly published in the Greek media. Stir the investigating authorities, became interested in the Soviet press. The motives that could move Salerosa, clear – reduce taxes. But there is another point: if we assume that the used Soviet players money is taken from the sum received for Detari (this was believed to have millions), anyway, it turned out “fork”.

Either Salaries have the club the difference, or, on the contrary, he spent their money – and the club have to share with him.

Then the Manager-Cypriot Aristide said that there is a third contract Protasova – on system “3+2” at $ 4.5 million. Along the way, demanded that the Olympiacos half a million for mediation.

How to respond to the Soviet side? The representative of the football Federation of the USSR Pronichev showed two “little” contract of the Soviet players, saying that other of his organization does not have. By the way, one more thing: federativny the contract was identical in content to the copy at the disposal of “Soviet sport”, with the exception of a small, but significant detail: the signature of the parties to the transaction were standing in different places.

It would seem, a trifle…

TO SIT!

The then President of “Dynamo” Viktor bezverkhii categorically said to the correspondent of UKRINFORM:

“When signing the contract on our part there were no violations of the law. The common rules provide for the confidentiality agreements, without the consent of one partner the other has no right to disclose the terms. Otherwise it will lead to a breach of contract.

Knowing our ambiguous position, the President of Olympiacos Argyris, Salaries promised to contact us soon, to agree on the publication of relevant information. We will inform about it to the press”.

Not reported. Or not agreed. Or he didn’t. Meanwhile, passions continued to run high. It turned out that Olympiacos are in debt as in silks, and the President for a long time delays the salary of the players. The abscess burst, when Salaries gave Protasov bad check.

The newspaper found that the signature on it belongs to a man sitting in prison for drug trafficking. For beginning players (the whole team, for the rest of the players fared as well), not refusing to play, did not come to the gym. When the case went to trial, the lawyer Salaries showed the contracts under which the players were to receive much less money.

They immediately responded that signatures are forged.

As a result, in late 1991, the world media reported that the court of Piraeus decided on the confiscation of property of “Olympiacos” in favor of the Kiev “Dynamo”. The judgment provided that the Piraeus club property will be confiscated and all his future income in order to collect the amount of $ 7.5 million for the payment of debts of Kiev “Dynamo”. He Salarios sentenced to 16 years in prison.

The lawyer of “Dynamo” not only won the case, but found a way, which made it possible to implement his decision. Olympiakos – the pride of Greece, for it hurts the vast majority of Greeks living abroad. No wonder he is the proud nickname “the Legend.” To help Olympiacos expressed the readiness of many businessmen, who is given the opportunity to join a great club, and even the Greek government, because it was already a matter of national pride.

AND PARTED LIKE SHIPS AT SEA

With the players settled quickly, and in the may interview to “Sport-Express” Oleg Protasov said: “fortunately, this story ended happily for us. The money was returned. New club President Stavros Divas resolved the issue.”

And “Dynamo” did not break relations with Olympiakos, as evidenced by the fact that in November 1992, Olympiacos Protasov and Litovchenko in the train arrived in Kiev for the match in honor of the 40th anniversary of Oleg Blokhin. But this, however, did not prevent the user “Oli” January 25, 1993, to dismiss Oleg Vladimirovich, who in two hours after that received an offer from PAOK.

In the summer of that year, the coach moved to the “Borisfen” and Protasov has signed with Olympiacos new two-year contract. And then went to Japan, then to return in another incarnation. And Dynamo once in a while ran out of money…

AN AFFAIR WITH A “LEGEND”

In the land of the rising sun Protasov who defended the colours of club “Gamba Osaka” (together with Sergey Aleynikov and Agricom Coyboy), lived for two years. And then returned to Greece. Played for “Berea” and “Proodeftiki”. After became the head coach of “Berea” – club second division. But native Olympiakos beckoned.

There he was accepted in 2002 for the position of head of the scouting Department (and later became an assistant chief). The season 2002/03 was for “Oli” in a special sense, a change in the coaching staff. Four main visited him. The third was an ex-captain and ex-coach of Slovenia, Srecko katanec, a year senior Oleg Valerevich.

Before it worked Takis Lemonis, a year earlier, leading the team to the championship, and Annias Kollias. They all coped with the task. Slovenian, for example, for dismissal had the defeat against Panathinaikos after a good unbeaten run. Maybe reckless statements: “I don’t understand why everyone thinks that Olympiacos have once again become a champion.”

February offer to lead Olympiakos Protasov taken immediately. His Athens soccer Academy Club on Protasov 150 boys have already got to his feet and with a head dive into a new business. The more that gentleman’s agreement was valid only until the end of the season, and the words Catanese: “the Appointment of Protasov in charge? This is ridiculous!” were just an additional challenge.

Not everything always went well. There was a draw with the “Panionios”, and defeat at home to AEK. But apparently, President Sokratis Kokkalis felt that the fifth coach for the season – it’s too much. And the defeat of Panathinaikos chalked all. Still – he opened the way to a seventh consecutive League title.

Victory in the final round of the “Xanthi” brought Olympiacos the title. And Protasov, who became the first Ukrainian coach, who won gold in the European championship of the top ten contract. Year.

Longer the trainer-the debutant did not have to count. From June Protasov finalized until March. Destiny’s Greek coach…

Eugene BELOZEROV, Sport-Express in Ukraine