Former international striker Sergei Rebrov was named Ukraine coach on Wednesday, the Ukrainian Federation announced. “This is a new stage in the history of Ukrainian football. A special moment, since the new page will be written during martial law, in a special period for our country”, declared the president of the Ukrainian Federation Andriy Pavelko, quoted by the website of the authority, in reference to the war triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022.
Rebrov replaces Ruslan Rotan and his contract is due to end on July 30, 2026, so after the World Cup organized in the United States, Canada and Mexico. He will quickly get to the heart of the matter as Ukraine are due to play three matches in June: a friendly in Germany (June 12) and two Euro 2024 qualifying matches against North Macedonia (June 16) and Malta (June 19). Ukraine had started their qualifiers badly with a defeat in England (2-0) and still have to face Italy, the reigning European champions.
A former friend of Ukrainian football legend Andrei Shevchenko at the forefront of the selection’s attack in the 1990s and 2000s, Rebrov (49) spent most of his playing career at Dynamo Kiev (1992-2000) , winning nine national titles, before spinning in particular in England (at Tottenham from 2000 to 2004).
He has since coached Dynamo Kiev (2014-2017), crowned with two championship titles, before experiences on the bench in Saudi Arabia (Al-Ahli), Hungary (Ferencvaros) and the United Arab Emirates (Al -Ain) where he was dismissed from his post last week.
