Oleg Luzhny enjoyed a successful football career playing for Torpedo Lutsk, SKA Karpaty Lviv, Dynamo Kiev, Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers, while he represented both the USSR and Ukraine at international level before heading into management.
The boy from Lviv —
Oleg Luzhny enjoyed a successful football career playing for Torpedo Lutsk, SKA Karpaty Lviv, Dynamo Kiev, Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers, while he represented both the USSR and Ukraine at international level before heading into management.
Michael Steele /Allsport
Luzhny, who played at right-back or in central defense, signed for Dynamo Kiev in 1989 and spent 10 years there. He became club captain and won the USSR league and cup double, as well as seven Ukrainian league titles and four Ukrainian cups.
Breaking onto the scene —
Luzhny, who played at right-back or in central defense, signed for Dynamo Kiev in 1989 and spent 10 years there. He became club captain and won the USSR league and cup double, as well as seven Ukrainian league titles and four Ukrainian cups.
Ben Radford /Allsport
Luzhny's form at club level led to an international call-up for the USSR in 1989. He won eight caps, but after the Soviet Union's dissolution, he went on to play for Ukraine on 52 occasions, regularly captaining the nation.
Full international —
Luzhny's form at club level led to an international call-up for the USSR in 1989. He won eight caps, but after the Soviet Union's dissolution, he went on to play for Ukraine on 52 occasions, regularly captaining the nation.
Gary M Prior/Allsport
Luzhny soon caught the eye of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who signed him from Dynamo Kiev in 1999. While never managing to hold down a regular first-team spot, he still amassed 110 appearances over four years, winning the English league and cup double as well as a further FA Cup.
Gunners days —
Luzhny soon caught the eye of Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger, who signed him from Dynamo Kiev in 1999. While never managing to hold down a regular first-team spot, he still amassed 110 appearances over four years, winning the English league and cup double as well as a further FA Cup.
ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Image
After a short spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Luzhny turned his eyes to coaching, becoming player-manager of Latvian side Venta in 2005. His tenure did not last long, however, with financial problems playing a part in the club's downfall. He officially hung up his playing boots in 2006.
Into management —
After a short spell at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Luzhny turned his eyes to coaching, becoming player-manager of Latvian side Venta in 2005. His tenure did not last long, however, with financial problems playing a part in the club's downfall. He officially hung up his playing boots in 2006.
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Image
Luzhny returned to his homeland and became assistant manager at Dynamo Kiev, taking the reins as interim manager twice and coming up against Manchester United in the Champions League in 2007. He left in 2010, before taking charge of Ukrainian outfit SC Tavriya Simferopol for a year in 2012.
Back to Ukraine —
Luzhny returned to his homeland and became assistant manager at Dynamo Kiev, taking the reins as interim manager twice and coming up against Manchester United in the Champions League in 2007. He left in 2010, before taking charge of Ukrainian outfit SC Tavriya Simferopol for a year in 2012.
ANDREW YATES/AFP/Getty Images