“Spit in the Soul” and “Why Not Romantsev”: How Ukraine Reacts to Luchescu’s Appointment at Dynamo

The Kyiv club’s leadership made a choice that, to put it mildly, is controversial.

After the dismissal of coach Oleksiy Mykhailychenko, a decision on which was made long before the actual parting of ways, Dynamo was looking for a foreign specialist. Such a move suited the club’s fans, who were tired of Lobanovsky’s followers who stuck rigidly to the textbook but lacked the Dynamo spirit. But that was only until the name of this foreign specialist became known.

Even though the press had been talking about the likely arrival of Mircea Lucescu at Dynamo for almost a day, his official appointment as head coach caused a huge stir in the football community. Not only the Dynamo side is shocked; people close to Shakhtar also find this appointment hard to understand.

Below — a selection of the most striking statements about the controversial choice made by the club’s president, Ihor Surkis.

Oleh Blokhin, former Dynamo coach (Tribuna.com): “This is a spit. It’s a personal spit at me. What Lucescu said about Dynamo, about its history, about Lobanovsky, about the club’s entire tradition. It’s a spit in my soul. A man who worked at Shakhtar for 12 years said so much about Dynamo that – well, how so? You probably read all of it, right? What has he done with the Turkish national team, with Zenit? What has he done? He hasn’t worked for four or three years now, so what can he do with Dynamo?”

Myron Markevych, head of the UAF National Teams Committee (Football 24): “It’s hard to say anything now. Such a decision. I wish him success in the new position. Honestly, I don’t know what the transfer policy will be there. What Mircea could afford at Shakhtar is unlikely to be possible at Dynamo. Only time and the team’s results will give the answer. If he wins the Ukrainian championship, then, probably, they will accept him. If he doesn’t win it, it will be difficult.”

Józef Sabo, former Dynamo coach (Football 1/2/3): “The Dynamo president was too hasty in firing Mykhailychenko. He should have been kept. ‘If you don’t get into the Champions League group stage, you leave, we fire you’ – that would have been normal. I don’t know whether there was such a conversation or not. In any case, Mykhailychenko understood that they were unlikely to reach the group stage.”

Mykola Pavlov, former Dynamo coach (Meta-ratings.com.ua): “Did I expect Lucescu could end up at Dynamo? These days you can expect anything. I’ll be interested to watch him. From the outside. Age? I finished my coaching career five years ago. Now, looking back over that time, I can say I should have finished it even earlier. I feel great, but coaching takes a lot of strength and health. For me, when I finished, it was already enough. Maybe Lucescu is immortal, I don’t know.”

Oleksandr Aliyev, former Dynamo footballer (1927.kiev.ua): “Let Dynamo fans wonder how much the club’s president is mocking them and spitting on them. Mircea Lucescu worked for 12 years at Shakhtar. Back then we had such battles: what he said about the club, how the team plays, about the players... In short, anything went. And now the president is mocking die-hard Dynamo fans with this appointment. I don’t understand how he will look them in the eye.”

Andriy Vorobey, former Shakhtar footballer (Football 1/2/3): “Lucescu at Dynamo – I find it incomprehensible. Football has all sorts of cases: Barcelona – Real, there are examples in European championships. Lucescu achieved a lot at Shakhtar and gave the club good years. And after some time he heads the eternal rival. It’s a bit incomprehensible to me. I know him as a specialist. He won’t embrace Dynamo’s style. Lucescu will push the club for carte blanche. He’ll focus on Latin American players. But whether Dynamo can afford it financially.”

Vyacheslav Shevchuk, former Shakhtar footballer (Meta-ratings.com.ua): “For me this is unexpected news. I spoke with Lucescu two weeks ago. But then I didn’t call. I think Dynamo needed him. Kyiv fans want to fight for the title, so they are looking for options that will help them get back into the fight for the championship. I think Lucescu is an experienced coach and can change the game. There are decent players left at Dynamo, and Mister likes working with young players. So it’s quite possible he can improve Dynamo’s game. Mister is in excellent shape and understands football perfectly. The last time I saw Mister was about a year ago in Kyiv. He feels and lives modern football, constantly watches, observes and develops.”

Artem Milevsky, former Dynamo footballer: “I told you so! 2020 is dark times. Trash, f*ck.”

Viktor Vatsko, journalist: “I don’t know what Mircea Lucescu will achieve with Dynamo, but I can say for certain that with his decision Ihor Surkis adds color, brightness and originality to our championship. We look forward to fire in the new season, both on the pitch and off it. Good luck, Mister.”

Denys Bosyanok, commentator (Tribuna.com): “I cannot explain it in polite words. As a Dynamo fan, I can’t take this decision seriously. For me it is such an unacceptable option that I still can’t understand it. I don’t understand the logic of either this decision or the person who made it at all. This isn’t even a spit in the face of the club’s army of fans, but an outright and cynical disrespect for all true Dynamo fans. It shows that a person has nothing in his head except unhealthy, utterly disgusting egoism if he makes such a decision. There are simply no polite words. I think this will be the end for the club’s board if it goes ahead with such a coach. After all, none of the real Dynamo fans can support this decision. The most terrible and catastrophic decision in the life of two brothers.”

Dmytro Dzhulay, commentator: “I don’t understand why not Romantsev.”

Serhiy Stakhovsky, tennis player (Sport.ua): “I’m a Dynamo fan and I understand the mood in our fans’ camp. Mircea Lucescu coached Shakhtar against Dynamo and constantly spoke rather negatively about the Kyiv club. And now they are appointing him... If you look at what he achieved after leaving Shakhtar, I think there are no more questions.”

Ilya Marchenko, tennis player (Sport.ua): “As an athlete myself, I treat this appointment completely calmly. If Lucescu teaches Kyiv’s club to buy and sell Brazilians, as Shakhtar does, then the championship may become interesting again. But I think he will have much less freedom at Dynamo. A weak Dynamo is not beneficial to anyone, including Shakhtar. As a coach, I don’t think he should be feared. We’ll see. Probably Mister still dreams of playing at the Donbass Arena.”