Andriy Shevchenko

Andriy Shevchenko was born in Dvirkivshchyna in the Ukraine on the 29th of September 1976. Shevchenko and has lived most of his life in Kiev. When he was nine years old he was spotted by Dynamo youth coach Olexandr Shpakov during the 'Leather Ball' tournament. Under the guidance of Shpakov Shevchenko won many trophies. His career successes include five Ukrainian Championships and three Ukrainian Cups.

In 1990 Andriy Shevchenko played in the Ian Rush Cup in Wales and became the top goal scorer of the competition and Ian Rush presented him football shoes. Shevchenko's first professional appearance in football came in the winter of 1993. Shevchenko became the top scorer for Dynamo-2 with twelve goals. After this Shevchenko was invited to be part of the Ukrainian Olympic team and appeared in the main Dynamo Kiev roster. Andriy Shevchenko's first European Cup debut was in a Champions League game against Spartak in Moscow in 1994

His first European Cup goal was against Bayern Munich at the age of 18. Shevchenko played his first game for Dynamo in the Ukrainian League in 1994 against Donetsk.

In 1997 Shevchenko scored a hat-trick for Dynamo Kiev in the European Cup game against Barcelona. His 100th goal came in April 1999 in the Ukrainian Cup game against Zirka Kirovohrad. Shevchenko is currently the Ukrainian top national team scorer.

So far, Shevchenko played for Dinamo Kiev in the Ukraine and for Milan in Italy. Shevchenko became appreciated in Europe during his Dinamo Kiev's Champions League match appearances.

Shevchenko was crowned European Footballer of the Year in 2004 and is also the winner of the France Football magazine’s award, the Ballon d’Or (Golden Ball), chosen by journalists from fifty two different countries.